INCENTIVE$
Salary supplement for early care providers
1.800.939.9694
(toll-free)
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship program for early care providers
1.800.939.9694
(toll-free)
Training and Technical Assistance
Assistance for centers, group homes and family care providers in Smart Start Plus counties to achieve higher levels of quality
1.877.STARTGA
(toll-free)
Smart Start Plus counties currently include Berrien, Bryan, Chatham, Clayton, Dodge, Dougherty, Effingham, Fulton, Houston, Laurens, Muscogee, Schley, Sumter and Tift.
For more information visit smartstartga.org, call us at 1.877.STARTGA, or email us at info@
smartstartga.org.
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| Make the Family Vacation an Early Education Adventure |
No matter where your summer get-away takes you and your family, visiting new places, meeting new people and trying new things away from home are all part of the learning process for children, especially for those under the age of five.
If organized correctly, this family time can be well spent with activities and games especially designed to enlighten and educate young road warriors. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your family vacation:
? Involve your child in pre-trip planning. Look through travel magazines, guidebooks or brochures with pictures of your destination and talk about what looks fun and interesting.
? Let your child pack an activity bag. Include items like crayons, paper for drawing, stickers and brochures about your destination. Books are an essential bring-along, too. Consider including large picture books, which are great for letting your child tell the story when you can?t comfortably or safely read to him from the front seat.
? Play games. Playing games like ?I Spy,? finding license plates from different states and spotting letters of the alphabet on road signs are all great ways to pass the time and work collaboratively as a family?and help your child learn at the same time.
? Talk about the scenery. Discussing what?s going on outside is a great educational experience for children. Point out a herd of cows or horses in a pasture and talk about the animals. Count things you see along the road, such as water towers or boats being towed. Talk about the color of the trees or the sky ? anything to get your child thinking about his surroundings.
? Keep a daily journal. Not only does a journal help you remember your trip for years to come, it?s also a fun activity for younger children who can draw pictures or collect interesting scraps (flyers, menus and paper placemats or even exotic candy wrappers) to decorate the pages. Set aside some quiet time each afternoon to add to the journal and talk about your day.
? Pack some disposable cameras. It's fun to see what children view as important memories of your trip, so let them be the vacation photographers. Cameras can also reinforce the importance of counting and numbers?when 12 or 24 pictures have been taken, that?s it! |
| Local Children?s Author and Child Care Expert Announces Two New Books |
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Elaine Banks Collins
| Elaine Banks Collins has released the first two books in her four-book Read, Play and Learn series. ?See What I Can Do? records the special times that children share with family and friends. ?I Like Dressing Up? depicts the various reasons children dress up, including for special occasions or for play. Both books include tips parents can incorporate into their regular activities.
Both books were introduced at the BookExpo America 2005, which was held in New York City from June 3-5. A local book signing event is currently being planned.
Elaine Banks Collins is the Founder and President of EBC Education Services Inc. and a consultant with the Black Child Development (BCDI). She works specifically with BCDI?s Early Childhood Leadership Mentoring Project. Elaine is the former Director of Early Childhood Education for the New York City Agency for Child Development and former Associate Director of Program for the Sesame Street Preschool Education Program. She is also the recipient of the National Council of Negro Women?s Legacy Lady Award.
The Read, Play and Learn series was developed to assist parents and educators in using literacy as a foundation for young children?s learning. For information on how to obtain any of the books in this series, email sheila@ourrainbow.com or call 770-514-8794. |
| Learning Outside of the Home: Choosing a Child Care Center |
High-quality early childhood programs do much more than help children learn numbers, shapes and colors. Good programs help children learn how to learn; to question why and discover alternative answers; to get along with others; and to use their developing language, thinking and motor skills. High quality preschool and child care programs can have lasting benefits. There are a number of characteristics associated with high quality programs.
When looking for high-quality early childhood programs, do your homework. It?s important to understand what qualities create a rich learning environment for your child.
Some tips on what to look for:
? Quality centers should be clean and safe. For instance, rooms, play areas and playgrounds should be uncluttered and free of barriers and obstructions. Toys and equipment should be stored on easily accessible shelves. Bathrooms and diapering areas should be sanitized continuously and smell clean.
? A high quality center should be accredited, or be in the process of applying for accreditation. Accreditation is available from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning as well as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC).
? The children in the program should be comfortable, relaxed and happy.
? Daily schedules should include active and quiet play, rest time and outdoor play.
? Teachers and administrative staff should have education and training in areas such as safety; nutrition; children's physical, intellectual and emotional development; and child abuse prevention.
? The younger the child, the more individualized attention is needed. NAEYC recommends that all groups have at least two teachers. Infants should be in groups of no more than 6 to 8 children; 2- to 3-year-olds should be in groups of 10 to 14 children; and 4- to 5-year-olds should be in groups of 16 to 20 children. Specialized training in child development and early education helps assure that staff understand how children grow and learn so they can be more effective teachers and caregivers.
? Staff turnover should be low. Low staff turnover is an important indication of the stability and quality of a child care provider.
? Interactions between children and caregivers should be developmentally appropriate, pleasant and caring.
? Child care providers should welcome a parent's active participation in the care provided for the child.
? Child care providers should be warm and friendly to both children and parents, maintaining an open-door policy for visiting whenever parents or family members want. |
| Striving for Quality . . . |
Every month Smart Start Georgia shares early care and education accomplishments and good news. Each accomplishment was a team effort involving the center/home staff and the Technical Assistance (TA) provider. This month the highlighted programs include:
? A Supreme Academy, Riverdale, Clayton County, received NAEYC Accreditation June 2005, TA ? BCDI.
? Town and Country Kids Learning Center, Chester, Dodge County, received Center of Distinction July 1, 2005, TA ? Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).
? Childcare Network #22, Savannah, Chatham County, received Center of Distinction July 1, 2005, TA ? DECAL.
? Goshen Learning Center, Augusta, Richmond County, received Center of Distinction July 1, 2005, TA ? DECAL.
? Children?s Friend #19, Warner Robins, Houston County, received Center of Distinction June 9, 2005, TA ? Quality Care for Children.
? Children?s Friend #1, Warner Robins, Houston County, received Center of Recognition June 9, 2005, TA ? Quality Care for Children.
? The Sheltering Arms ? Norcross, Gwinnett County, received Center of Distinction July 1, 2005, TA ? DECAL.
? Dalton Daycare, Dalton, Whitfield County, received Center of Distinction July 1, 2005, TA ? DECAL.
? Brookhaven Christian Child Development Center, Atlanta, Fulton County, received Center of Distinction June 1, 2005, TA ? DECAL.
? Warner Robins Daycare DBA Cherished Children, Warner Robins, Houston County, received Center of Recognition July 1, 2005, TA ? DECAL.
? Lisa Riley, Perry, Houston County, received Home of Distinction June 21, 2005, TA ? Quality Care for Children.
? Goddard School, Alpharetta, received Center of Distinction April 2005, TA ? Quality Assist.
? Sunshine House #92, Norcross, Gwinnett County, received Center of Distinction April 2005, TA ? Quality Assist.
? Sunshine House #94, Atlanta, Fulton County, received Center of Distinction April 2005, TA ? Quality Assist.
? Kindercare #411, College Park, received Center of Distinction April 2005, TA ? Quality Assist.
? Legacy Academy, Sugar Hill, received Center of Distinction April 2005, TA ? Quality Assist.
Congratulations and thank you for Striving for Quality for Georgia?s children! If you have good news, email us at info@smartstartga.org or call 1.877.STARTGA. | | |
