I'm sitting here thinking of all the things that are just running around in my head, and don't even know what I want to let out.  There is so much I take on and take care of, and sometimes it's hard to let go of some of that stuff, even when I know it's for my best  that I do.

Being a mom is one of my most favorite things ever.  I have the coolest kids, and you are free to disagree that yours are cooler, I know my truth.  😄  I've gotten to watch as my dolly crafts a costume out of notebook paper and yarn for her brother.  It's so cool!  She is figuring out how to make all the pieces work together, and how to get it to stay on him without ripping.  My big kid has been working on his computer and piano skills- he's coming along amazingly at both.  And my super bud is just being so patient as his sister makes his costume. They are creative, and smart, and funny, and just fun to be around.

I love my work.  I get to hang out with babies all day, and about 90% of the time they are the cutest and most amazing little people ever.  *(The other 10% is crying and poopy diapers. No one loves that.) I love that I get to go to work somewhere I love with people I enjoy doing something I'm really good at every day. I get to make a difference for so many people, and it is the most amazing ever.

I have my classwork coming up.  I am so excited at the opportunity to learn more, and especially to learn about how to share the things I've learned and experienced with other people.  To make that difference to someone.  To be a teacher is one of my greatest blessings in life.

I have my parents, five siblings, siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews.  I know that there are people with larger families than me, but no matter what, family is a commitment, and takes time, attention, and care.  Everyone needs something a little different, and that can take a lot out of a person.

I have my church family. I have loved meeting and connecting (or reconnecting) with the people there.  There is so much support to be found and offered.

This next week, I get to be on vacation with my kids.  I don't know what all we are going to do, and that is so great.  We get to just be together.  As much as I love all the other people and commitments in my life, I am so looking forward to all the time I get to spend with my kids.  We get to spend some quality time with the cousins and some special friends who we don't get the opportunity to see as much as we would like, but there are so many things that come up in all our schedules it just doesn't happen. And we get to hang out with some new kids, and see what kinds of connections we make there.

Most of the time, it's just going to be me and them.  And I can't wait!  It's tough to step away from all the commitments I've made, but sometimes I have to. One thing I've learned in the last few years is that I'm not irreplaceable to the rest of the world. But to myself, to my kids, to my family... There's only one me, and I need to take care of me first sometimes.

Preparing for Parent Aware and Infant Learning

So, the child care center where I work is preparing for our re-rating through Parent Aware. For those of you who don't know, Parent Aware is a program that works with child care centers and providers to use research based ideas to help children in child care settings be more ready for kindergarten.

Now, I will be one of the first to stand up and say that I feel that our schools, teachers, and children are being pushed into accomplishing unrealistic goals.  Kindergartners are not developmentally ready for first or second grade work.  Five and six year old children should never be expected to be able to accomplish the things that eight and nine year olds can and should do.  But there are things that can be done with children before they ever set foot in a classroom that can help them be set up for success once they get to kindergarten. Even as an infant teacher, there are things that I need to do to be able to help my little learners get the best start possible.

Teach children that learning is fun, or at least interesting.  Creating an environment that promotes exploration and discovery on the child's terms allows a child to see that they have the ability to choose for themselves what interests them.  They can make things happen. They can become immersed in stacking cups or rings, climbing into or out of a bucket, standing up and falling back down as they try out their legs. They can make the baby in the mirror smile and wave an arm or kick a leg.  And all of this shows children that learning in a common, natural thing for them to do.

Make learning possible.  If a child is consistently in front of a screen, or tucked into an infant seat/swing, they are not going to learn about movement opportunities.  They won't learn the wonder of being outside, and feeling the grass or the sand or how it feels to swing. You have to make learning possible for children by giving them a place that encourages interaction with the environment.  Take them outside and let them see the trees and insects, let them play with the sand and grass (and yes, if you have infants, they will probably try to eat both.  It's usually not a big deal.)

Give them opportunities to try out new things that they haven't done before.  I have a couple baby friends who are around the 9 month mark.  They just started participating in our art experiences that involve paint brushes and crayons.  And they love it!  They get the biggest smiles as they swing their arms back and forth and color or paint their paper (or their teachers or the floor!)  Just remember that everything washes, even the children.

Also, these children are beginning to pull themselves to stand, and get themselves around the room under their own power.  These moments are huge for an infant.  For the first times in their lives, these children are able to make a decision about what they want and get themselves to their goal.  Create a space that allows movement, and encourage the opportunity.  Trust me, I know how fun it is to snuggle that squishy baby, but let them do their own thing.  They will thank you for it. Promise.

Lastly, for here at least, TALK TO THEM! Let them know the correct words for what they are doing, the things they are learning, what they are feeling, where they are going, reading to them.  Children learn language by listening to you talk. Make sure they hear you, and that you are talking and reading about a variety of topics.  Teach them how to have conversations so they can express themselves, and listen to another person.

There are a million and five things that you can give to a child, but the most important is your support of their exploration.  Teach them that they are capable learners, encourage them to try- even if they can't quite get it right the first time, and you will help your child become ready for the things that life is going to throw at them.

Enjoying the Outdoors

It's been a while since I've written...  There has been so much going on! But, I am here now.  :)

So the snow has been taking a hiatus and we have been getting some nicer (and by that, I mean warmer) weather.  I know that there are lots of people who like the cold and snow, and that there are some great activities to be done with my little family when there is snow on the ground.  But I personally, have a preference for the weather we get in the spring and fall.  Most of the summer is nice here, but sometimes it gets so darn hot and humid, we just don't want to do anything but sit inside and not over heat.

But, spring is here now, and we are finding it much easier to get outside and spend a lot more time enjoying the world around us... Except when it rains, which it is doing now.  But, what do you do?  :)  (Actually, I've always liked the idea of having a rain coat and pair of rain boots on hand to go jump around in the puddles, but my budget so far has not allowed for this.  Sad momma.  But we find lots to do inside when the day is just not what we need for outside play.)

Today, we got outside for probably 45 minutes so the older two could practice with their bikes.  We took little man's training wheels off last weekend, and baby doll wanted her's off too.  So, off they came.  They both are working hard on take offs, heading down the road, and stopping without crashing or tipping over.  So far, there is some progress, and the rest will come with practice.  And all the while, the super baby is loving zooming up and down on his trike, with a smile on his face.  :)

I didn't get any pictures of it, because I am working on not bringing my tablet and/or phone out with me when I am spending time with the kids, but yesterday we played in the backyard on the swing set and with our boccie ball set.  I just found \out how much my kids like boccie... yesterday.  Never would have guessed, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.  A game with the objective of throwing a ball?  For sure a kid favorite.

My kids are lucky (and I am lucky) to know their uncle Dave.  Dave is a great hiker, and blogs at Hiker Adventures.  One of my all time favorite blog posts that he has written was about his other nieces and nephew from Florida, and the things he discovered about getting them interested in going on hikes with him.  As a professional teacher of young children, I love that he (an awesome teacher, though not someone who had chosen to make teaching children his life's work) discovered so seemingly easily how to motivate these children to want to hike.  And his tips are so right.  :)  

Uncle Dave

Finding the key to interest and excite a child to a new activity- it doesn't have to be about the hike, but about finding something that interests the child.  Mud, wildlife, bugs, plants, photo opportunities.  Anything to make them realize that they have an opportunity to explore what interests them, and even better, that you want to make it happen for them.  

Stopping before they are bored with the activity can be a tricky balance, but it is good to keep in mind.  If a child gets bored with an activity before they (or you) move away from it, it holds less appeal the next time it is suggested.  They will remember those feelings of boredom, or overdoing, and associate them with not having as much fun.  If you are able to leave the activity while they are still interested and not over tired, that keeps them thinking about it, and wanting to do more.  They associate hiking or biking or boccie with fun times.  :)  Dave also made a great point about ending on a high note.  Ending with the memory of not having fun and enjoying the activity promotes the likelihood of resisting a return to the activity.

Celebrating the activity, and the accomplishments found, is a great wrap-up to any outdoor activity.  Had a great hiking trip?  Go for ice cream.  Mastering biking techniques (without the training wheels)?  It can be as simple as stickers and a high five.  Or, take pictures and/or video of them, and send them later to remind children of the fun times you had together, and all they have learned.  Let them know that you are proud of them and what they are learning to do.  Children (and adults) crave the attention that you notice what they are doing, and the reinforcement that they are doing it right.

All of these tips are great for any activity, but especially for getting children motivated to spend time outdoors.  Teaching children to love the outdoors, and all the movement and learning opportunities presented is a gift that cannot be replaced.  Get up, get moving, and find what motivates your child (and you!) to spend some time in one of the greatest classrooms of all.

The True Story of the Sick Child Policy

I am kinda bummed that we are getting snow again.  I know that there are people in my life who are glad for it, and should really expect it for living in the part of the country I do, but still.  It's spring, Mother Nature.  Some nice weather and less snow would be nice for me.  :)

So, for me, one of my least favorite parts of my job is to have to make the phone call to parents that their child is sick and needs to be picked up as soon as possible.  I have great parents, but I know first hand how stressful it can be to arrange for time off to care for a sick child.  Unfortunately, I've also worked with more difficult parents who have a harder time understanding why we send children home when they are exhibiting specific symptoms.  They've already exposed everyone, so what's the big deal?

Well, let me tell you, there are several reasons...

1.  The state requires the separation.  The MN Department of Health detailed the list of symptoms that require that a child is removed from the group.  It is not your provider deciding that they do not want to deal with your child, they can get in some serious trouble for not following the rules.

2.  All new families are given a copy of the health policy when they register their child with the center.  The director goes over all the information, and they are asked to sign that they have read and understood that if their child has symptoms meeting the criteria listed in the health policy, they are required by the state to be removed from care until they are symptom free without medication for a minimum of 24 hours.

3.  One of the symptoms/criteria for exclusion from the group is that the child requires more care than the program staff can provide (AAP- Healthy Child Care America).  If I am having to change diarrhea diapers every 30 minutes- 1 hour, if I have a feverish child who is needing extra snuggles and love, if a child is throwing up and needing clean clothing and carpet clean-up, it is taking away from the time that I need to be available to the other children in my care.  In a child care center, infants have one staff to up to four children, toddlers are 1:7, and preschool is 1:10.  If the teacher is alone and trying to deal with this, that is leaving the other children with that much less supervision and interaction, as well as expecting the child who is not feeling well to share you when they need that extra to feel better.  Even if you have enough children to have a second or even third teacher, it still leaves the room short handed and scrambling when one child needs more care due to illness.

4.  Along with some symptoms requiring more work for the teachers, it can pose a sanitation risk- which increases the likelihood of another child becoming ill- for the other children in the room.  If a child vomits, or has a diarrhea leak out, another child could put their hand or foot in the mess before the teacher has time to clean it up.

5.  Exposing staff to illness for longer than the time increases the likelihood that staff will need time off to get better.  One staff who is in a room with an ill child can carry the illness to all of the other rooms (staff and children), and become sick themselves.  I once experienced a situation where an illness took out 3 staff and about 10 children for two days.  It was extremely stressful on those of us left standing.  Even with all the child absences, the loss of two staff/day for those two days was felt by all of us, and this goes back to the quality of care we are able to offer.

Sick children will get better faster if they are kept home, or with an adult who is able to focus solely on them.  (Nurse Grandma is great!)  They can be monitored more closely, they can get more rest without interruptions, their needs can be met more quickly.  There is less risk of reinfection, as their environment can be kept freer of the germs that are bugging them than a child care setting can.  We do the best we can with cleaning and sanitizing, but a smaller setting with fewer toys/equipment and fewer children to get spit/boogers/poo on things the easier it is to keep things clean.

Also, think of this.... When your child is not the sick one, you (rightfully) expect your provider to be able to offer the highest quality of care that they are able to.  When they are having to take care of illness on top of the other children, that takes away from the quality that your child is able to receive.

Communication is so huge!  Let your child's teacher know when they are not feeling well, especially if they are nearing any symptom that will get them sent home.  Ask your provider to call you if they feel that your child is in an in-between--  not feeling great, but not at a point where they are required to be excluded.  This lets you prepare for the potential of a sick child, and keeps that communication flowing.  Follow up with your child's teacher the next day, even if you are keeping your child home.  If they are diagnosed, there are illnesses that need to be posted.  Even if it isn't anything more serious, your child's teacher cares how they are doing- even when they are not in our care.

Prevention is also huge.  All child care settings have policies about preventing illness which include hand washing procedures and cleaning procedures for the toys and environments.  Helping by keeping your sick child home for the required amount of time keeps the spread of illness as small as possible.