The impact we have

Have you ever thought about the impact your childhood has had on you as a teacher? Have you ever thought about how your past impacts the future of the children you care for? Dr. Tamar Jacobsen has written an interesting book, Don't Get So Upset. When we realize that research has shown us that "emotional memory stored in the brain during the first 4 or 5 years of life is un-erasable," you realize the enormity of responsibility we have when we care for children. Yet, our reactions to children's behavior is very often a reaction to the parenting we received. WOW! This book helps you to work through and think about your own life and its impact in your classroom. This reflective practice pays dividends for children. The author included a favorite quote that has impacted me over the years as well. I'd like to share it with you:
"I've come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. IT is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or deescalated and a child humanized or dehumanized. " Haim Ginott (1972)

Tips for Early Educators and Practitioners:

For the Birds

A child in my class asked why the birds weren't singing much anymore, which led to great explorations on migration and song birds. We are housed in an old, large church and can hear birds outside our windows and even sometimes even see them in the sanctuary! Fall and winter create inviting times to explore birds, their homes, and their behaviors, such as migration.

I like to create interesting display/play areas with bird-related materials to explore such as artificial nests, eggs, feathers, and bird families (craft stores are good sources), as well as nesting materials (dried grasses, leaves, ribbon, twigs, shredded paper) and books about birds. I will often make up little bird stories to share with the children at story times. I like to bring in real nests, eggs, and feathers, but display these in clear plastic cases to avoid any germs. I will also play bird recordings (and nature sounds) and make sure I put out lots of craft feathers in the art area.

We try to photograph the birds we see near our program and display these and use them in charting, etc. We work on simple charting, graphing, and categorizing by color, sound, size, same, different, etc. We like to enlarge the photos to get really close-up views of the birds. I've mounted these onto foam board and hung them from the ceiling in our room. The children have also glued feathers and such on the enlarged copies.

We find out what we know, don't know, and want to know. We like to see what direction these materials lead the children and explore their questions, ideas, and interests. ~PA Preschool Teacher

Do you have a great tip or good thing? Send us your best tips! Email Christine at crb16@psu.edu or contact the Better Kid Care Program at 814-865-7894 or 800-452-9108 (within PA).

This was taken from the latest issue of the BKC newsletter. You can read the rest here.

Take Care of those Baby Eyes

Do you care for infants? If so, there is important information to share with parents. Many parents never think about taking their baby to an optometrist but in fact they should schedule an appointment between 6 and 12 months of age. There are many vision problems that can be corrected early in life and quite simply. You can go to the INFANTSEE website to get information to share with the parents of children in your care. There are participating eye doctors who will provide free eye exams for infants. The list of those in our area who participate can be found at the INFANTSEE website.

Childcare is fun!

This year's Columbus Day event was a huge success! Thanks to the committee who worked to make it possible. We had 500 attendees and 13 breakout sessions. Would you like to work with us to plan the 2009 Columbus Day event? If so, email me or leave a comment and I will be in touch! All ideas are welcome.

Forever in your Heart

Although you’re not their parent,
You care for them each day.
You cuddle, sing and read to them
And watch them as they play.
You see each new accomplishment
You help them grow and learn
You understand their language
And you listen with concern.
They come to you for comfort
And you kiss away their tears.
They proudly show their work to you
You give the loudest cheers!
No, you are not their parent
But your role is just as strong.
You nurture them and keep them safe
Though maybe not for long.
You know someday the time will come
When you will have to part.
But you know each child you’ve cared for
Is forever in your heart.
Anonymous

Your Child's Developing Brain

The field of neuroscience has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. We have learned so much about how children’s brains develop and about what types of experiences help children grow to be the best they can be. While the knowledge base has grown, it is important to keep in mind that we are really not sure what else there is to learn about the brain as this is still a growing science evoking in us a sense of wonder and curiosity. We do know that the experiences of young children will have long lasting effects. These can be either positive or negative. Knowing this, parents and educators need to strive to assure that all children receive quality care from parents and others as they grow and develop.

Quality care for children begins before birth. We have long heard about the importance of pregnant mothers’ diets and rest and the need to avoid alcohol, drugs and stress. These recommendations are even more important as we understand brain development. Most of the brain’s growth occurs between the fourth and seventh month of pregnancy. By birth the baby’s brain has reached 60 percent of its development.

Healthy social and emotional attachment is imperative especially during the first 2 years of life. Children need to have their needs met. When they cry they are telling us that they need something and as the adults in their lives, it is our job to assure they are well fed, clean, safe and cuddled. The experiences of bonding to an adult are vital for young children. They need to know that someone will always be there to care for them and meet their every need. Some people would like to consider this spoiling a baby, when in fact; it is laying a foundation vital for developing trust. Holding and cuddling a baby is also extremely important. Unfortunately in today’s busy world too many parents have turned to infant seats, swings and bouncy seats to contain children rather than their arms. There is nothing wrong with all of this baby gear but we need to be sure they are not abused. Children need time to be held.

The early years are also when children learn how to express their emotions. It is important that the adults around them provide a good example. If we want children to express anger, love, sadness and hurt appropriately, we need to model appropriate reactions when we face those very same feelings. Children who are neglected, exposed to stress, abuse or violence can actually have brains reorganize and make chemical adaptations that will reduce the child’s ability to regulate emotions later in life. I found it interesting when working with young children in childcare that I was able to see exactly where a child learned to behave as he or she did. Children’s behaviors are more often than not, a reflection of their parents.

Young children need sensory stimulation. Studies have shown that early sensory stimulation has long-lasting effects on learning. As children grow they learn best by actively moving and doing. It is through play that children experiment with and learn about the world around them. This makes sense when we understand that information is taken in by our five senses. The more senses we can employ in learning, the more learning occurs. Television and computer games do not provide the stimulation that children need. Providing children opportunities to play and move are vital. Choosing care based on play opportunities is far more important than academics. Young children should not be sitting and doing dittoes and learning the alphabet by rote. As adults we remember learning this way and expect it for our children. We know so much more today and children need to play, it is indeed their work.

Children need to have many experiences repeated over and over again. It is through repetition that neurons of the brain develop pathways and learning occurs. When young children ask the same question over and over again or when you find yourself telling them the same thing over and over again, it is not because they are trying to irritate you. They are involved in learning. This is how children learn. It is also important to understand that children’s learning has a scaffolding effect. That is, one skill builds on the next. Providing children with lots of safe, nurturing learning experiences when they are young will provide a foundation on which their continued learning can build.

Upcoming Professional Development

All of these sessions are held at the Berks County Agricultural Center and are posted on www.pakeys.org Go there to register and find out about how to pay for these sessions.

Communicating with Coworkers and Families (K5 C1 53) $5
September 18, 2008 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Tina Townsend, instructor
This training is appropriate for participants working with children of all ages. Basic communication skills will be addressed along with how to implement those skills into the classroom when working with families or co-workers.
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Classroom Management ( Two part session)
September 22, 2008 6:00 pm-8:00 pm (K2 C1 11) $5
September 29, 2008 6:00 pm -8:00 pm (K2 C2 11) $5
Tina Townsend, instructor
During this session participants will focus on correct ratios in a classroom, supervision issues, creating an appropriate environment, communication within the classroom, bringing humor into the learning environment, and transition techniques.
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Watch Me Grow! (this 2 part session will be taught in Spanish)
November 6, 2008 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM (K1 C1 01)
November 12, 2008 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM (K1 C2 01)
Cynthia Amaro, Instructor
THIS SESSION WILL BE TAUGHT IN SPANISHUnderstanding children's growth and development will help us to plan appropriate activities and have appropriate expectations of the children we care for. This session will review the development of the child with the understanding that all children are unique, and have variations in their growth and development.
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Effective Lesson Planning (Two part session)
November 13, 2008 6:00-8:00(K2 C1 13) $5
November 18, 2008 6:00-8:00(K2 C2 13) $5
Tina Townsend, instructor
This training will offer participants opportunities to reflect upon their own lesson plans, evaluate sample lesson plans to determine developmental appropriateness of preschool activities, using children's interests and developmental levels to drive effective lesson planning.
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Creating Learning Centers in the Classroom (K2 C1 12)
December 1, 2008 (K2 C1 12) $5
December 8, 2008 (K2 C2 12) $5
Tina Townsend, instructor
This session will focus on the creation of effective learning centers in the classroom. Emphasis will be placed on room arrangement and methods of organization and evaluation of the centers and use in the curriculum.
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Observing as a Tool to Guide Classroom Structure and Daily Planning
December 3, 2008 (K4 C2 A4) $5
Sue Giachero, instructor
Participants will learn how to take observations and use them to make changes to the classroom environment, their own teaching as well as to plan activities and routines for the day.
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What Does "Time" Mean to Children? SATELLITE K2C1 topic code 14 (CDA Competency 2)
December 4, 2008 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
What do children of different ages know and understand about time? Why do children and adults struggle when it's time to clean up? Learn ways to build on children's understanding of "yesterday," "today," and "tomorrow."

2008 Columbus Professional Development Day

NEW LOCATION : GLAD TIDINGS ASSEMBLY OF GOD

The church is located next door to Austin’s Restaurant at 1110 Snyder Road,West Lawn, PA 19609

7:30 AM-3:30 PM

$25 person, includes box lunch

Opening session with Jim Rule- see the last post

Vendors during the lunch hour.

Choose sessions based on the age group you work with:

PRESCHOOL TRACK

1. Music for the Non-Musical K2 C1 19Joan Buzick, M.Ed.
Music is beneficial for children in so many ways yet can be difficult for so many. This session will share ways to incorporate music into your classroom without feeling like you are the one on stage.

2. Tai Chi in the Classroom K1 C1 02Jan Gyomber
Tai Chi is a great tool to help children and adults relax. This session will teach basic moves of Tai Chi as well as the health benefits you and the children will gain with its inclusion in your classroom.

3. Beyond Words K5 C2 53Annarose Ingarra Milch
Did you ever think about the message you send even when no words come out of your mouth? Even when you say no words, your actions send messages. Communication is the key to building successful relationships with children, colleagues, parents, even your family. This interactive workshop will help you discover easy-to-use techniques to enhance your communication skills and help you build healthy personal and professional relationships.

4. STRESSED? Turn it into DESSERTS!!
K6 C1 62Choicie Sorrell, M.Ed.We all have issues—bills piling up, behind in mortgage, relationship gone sour, children acting out and need attention, work becoming even more demanding and all consuming. It’s enough stress to drive anyone bananas or to “burn-out.” Before you let stressed get the best of you, come learn how to take being STRESSED and make DESSERTS!

5. Children’s Friendships K1 C2 02Eric Lindsey, Ph.D.
This session will include the development of children’s social relationships. Included will be ways we can help children develop the skills needed to create lasting relationships.

6. Communicating with Children of Varying Backgrounds K5 C2 52
Michelle Szpara, Ph.D.Learn to communicate effectively when you are interacting with children who may use different social or cultural guidelines. Dr. Szpara will give examples and tips to improve communication and for reaching out to children with varying backgrounds and at different developmental stages.

7. Food Safety K7 C1 76Joan Cook
Preparing and serving food to children requires appropriate food handling procedures. This session will review safe food handling guidelines.

8. Learning to Observe K4 C1 A4Cynthia Amaro THIS CLASS IS IN SPANISH
What do you really see when you are looking at children? Our work is so busy that we often overlook information that could be helpful if we would only stop, look, and listen. This workshop is designed to help with both observation and recording skills necessary to plan most effectively for experiences that will promote children’s growth and meet their individual needs.

9. ERS101—Foundations K8 C2 101Ann GulaKeystone STARS
Core training, a pre-requisite for the ITERS-R, ECERS-R, FCCERS-R or SACERS seminars. Participants will learn how the ERS scales measure quality; how ERS scales are used in PA, and how to accurately score the ERS.

10. ECERS-R K8 C2 96Ann Gula
Pre-requisite: Foundations Keystone STARS core training and meets the needs of childcare facilities participating in Keystone STARS required to conduct an ECERS self-assessment of their early classrooms (37 months through entrance into first grade). Participants will learn about the indicators of quality in early childhood settings, how the scale measures quality, and how to use the scale as a self-assessment tool.

Find Your Smile Again K6 C1 61Sue Giachero, M.Ed.
Working with children is supposed to be fun, right? If it is, why do I feel so tired and unhappy so often? This session will help you to rethink the valuable work you are doing and find the smile to go along with it. This one-hour session is for the whole group.

INFANT/TODDLER TRACK

Professional Ethics in Infant and Toddler Settings K4 C2 63Tim Graves
Meet the needs of the parent? The child? The co-worker? Early childhood professionals are often faced with the dilemma of meeting the conflicting needs of the children and adults with whom they interact on a daily basis. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to the NAEYC Code of Ethics and problem-solve various provided scenarios as well as specific scenarios from their own experiences.

Practical Discipline for Infants and Toddlers K2 C1 21Tim Graves
The young child is learning about both self and the world including which behaviors are acceptable and which behaviors are effective. The participant in this workshop will improve his or her understanding of the purposes of discipline and an understanding of the impact that adult attitudes and confidence have on child behavior. Participants will have an opportunity to practice strategies for understanding child behavior, for teaching self-control, and for managing groups of children.


SCHOOL-AGE TRACK

School-Age Child Care Assessments K4 C2 41Cristin Cates
This much requested workshop will provide you with information on assessing school-age children. We will discuss the importance of assessments and answer the why, how, and when questions. Information on how to observe and document will be shared along with ideas for creating assessment portfolios for each child. Each participant will receive a free copy of Robert Newman’s Creating Portfolios with Kids in Out-of-School Programs, which includes developmental checklists for school-age children from ages 5-12!

Introduction to School-Age Developmental Assets and the School-Age Professional K1 C2 01 and K6 C1 62Cristin CatesThe Search Institute ™ has identified 40 positive experiences and qualities that all of us have the power to bring into the lives of children and youth, which are called Developmental Assets™. For many people, the assets have become a source of ideas and inspiration in the face of frustration and even despair. This workshop will introduce the concepts of the assets, the latest research findings, and how to begin building assets in your program. PLUS—what is the SAPC? What are the benefits of getting a school-age credential? Am I eligible to apply for a credential? What are the steps in getting a credential? All of these questions plus many more will be answered during this informative session for school-age practitioners and professionals.


DIRECTORS/SUPERVISORS TRACK

Reflective Practice in Supervision K8 C2 93Lou Warren-Groomes, M.Ed.
This workshop is designed for directors/supervisors who are responsible for observing and appraising the teaching practices of staff who come from a variety of educational/cultural backgrounds. Participants will be introduced to the process of reflective practice as a strategy to build relationships, while shifting dispositions through non-judgmental interactions and feedback. Come and learn how to apply the essential skills needed to incorporate reflective practices in your program that will ultimately strengthen your role in becoming a transformational agent for achieving and maintaining high standards of quality.

OR

Understanding and Planning for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
K6 C2 61Deb TerfinkoKEYSTONE STARS CORE TRAINING.
This module defines and presents the philosophy of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), the basic premise for the Keystone STARS Quality Rating System. Participants will practice writing goals and objectives for a CQI plan and be introduced to the Keystone STARS CQI planning tool.

AND


Let’s Talk Shop…! K8 C2 91Lou Warren-Groomes, M.Ed.So . . . you’ve had a “Murphy’s law” day or even a great day, but . . . who can you find to talk to that really understands what your day in the life of a child care director/supervisor looks or feels like! This seminar is a “facilitated forum” designed specifically for directors to talk . . . to vent . . . to share their worst nightmares or greatest moments and to network with others who can relate.

OR

Facilility Professional Development Plan (FPDP) K6 C2 62Deb Terfinko
KEYSTONE STARS CORE TRAINING. This module will assist practitioners in their development of a professional development (PD) plan for their program. Several sources of evidence will be used to practice identifying PD needs of staff and how individual needs inform a plan for their facility.

Request a brochure through email or phone call to register!

Columbus Day 2008

We are busy planning the 2008 Columbus Day Professional Development Day! There are lots of great presenters. Jim Rule will start our day out singing. This year we will be at Glad Tidings Assembly of God! Look for registration information within the next few weeks.

Building a Strong Emotional Foundation for Your Child

Raising children is such an important job and one that requires time and commitment. So often parents are bombarded by commercials for “stuff” that will make their child smarter and better able to succeed in life when instead, the best tools they can impart cost little in terms of money. A child who has had a strong emotional foundation is better able to cope with the roadblocks and obstacles that we each face in life. Laying this foundation begins at birth.

It is during the first two years of life that children first learn about trust. When they are hungry and are fed; are dirty and are changed; are afraid and are comforted, they are learning that someone is there and can be counted on to meet their needs. It is important that babies are held and cuddled. This is not “spoiling” the child, but rather helping them to build this most important bond and to affirm that relationships are important and loving. A child who is well handled, nurtured and loved is able to develop trust and security.

As children get a bit older, it is important that we help them to learn how to handle feelings. This begins first by watching the adults who are caring for them. Children need adults who can express their own feelings in suitable and constructive ways. If we want children who are able to be emotionally mature, we as adults need to spend time being sure we are reacting appropriately so that we can model this for them. As hard as it can be sometimes, it is important that we accept children’s feelings and the emotional response that results. It is the action that we need to help shape. When your child strikes out by hitting when they are angry or upset, it is important that they learn that feeling angry is okay. After all, we all get angry. The lesson to learn is that it is not okay to hurt other people no matter how angry we get. Instead, acknowledge the feeling and ask the child to tell you what it is he or she is feeling. Help the child to problem-solve and come up with acceptable solutions to whatever the problem may be. It can be something as simple as learning to take some time away in order to calm down when we get angry.

Learning to be empathetic is also an important skill for children to acquire. By observing our children’s emotions and then sharing what we see is a good way to start this process of learning. One example is if you observe your child looking sad, you might say to your child, “You seem sad.” Listen to what your child responds and if he or she confirms that they are sad, give them time to talk and just listen to what they are saying. Avoid being negative with them when they share their feelings. Also be aware that you are not humiliating, denying, pitying and lecturing your child. It is better to listen and help your child to problem-solve.

It is also important for children to have limits set by those who care for them. Limits help children to feel safe and secure. Limits should be consistent, fair and age-appropriate. Knowing what to expect and count on is very important for children.

Taking the time to create a safe, secure, nurturing and caring environment when children are young will reap big rewards for them and for all of us as they grow into secure, caring, self-regulating adults.

Professional Development in SPANISH

Each of these Keystone STARS core trainings will be presented in Spanish:

July 1 6:15 PM -9:15 PM Core Body of Knowledge and the Professional Development Record

July 15 6:15 PM- 9:15 PM Continuous Quality Improvement

August 5 6:15 PM - 8:15 PM Developing a Facility Professional Development Plan

All sessions are at the Berks County Agricultural Center and cost $5 each. Registration may be made online at www.pakeys.org or by contacting our office at 610-378-1327. Registration fee may be made out to Berks Extension Program Acct and mailed to
Berks Extension
Suite 110
1238 County Welfare Rd.
Leesport PA 19533

Incorporating Math in Everyday Life

Below are some articles on math and young children from our Toddler Topics newsletters. Math is a topic that many adults feel inadequate in teaching to their children. In fact, children acquire math fundamentals through play and everyday activities. These articles will help us to see that enriching children's lives with math activities is something we can easily do. If you work in a childcare setting, you may wish to share these articles with parents. If you contact me, I can send you the 6 issues of Toddler Topics that are available for 2008.

Chores and Math?

Take advantage of these early years to get your child involved in everyday tasks. Not only will you be helping to create lifelong habits but you will also be helping to develop skills that will be used as your child begins to read and even do math! Chores that involve sorting are one great example. Ask your children to sort your silverware or to set the table. Involve your child when doing the laundry. They can sort lights and darks before washing and sort towels from clothing after the washing is done. Matching socks will help children to pick out similarities and group like objects. This ability to match items one to one is a very important pre-math skill. Counting objects provides the child with a concrete experience with numbers. Think of things you can count at home. Start with napkins at the table, shoes in the closet, members in the family, books on the shelf and make a game of finding things to count. So the next time it’s “clean up time” know that while the toys are being put away, your child is practicing lots of great pre-math skills. So make it fun by encouraging and praising their efforts.

Talking Math with My TODDLER???

It’s amazing how many adults have negative feelings about math. The thought of teaching our children about math may seem foreign or even frightening. Try and put your own experiences behind you and let your child take the lead. Children are naturally curious and ask all sorts of questions. Be there and ready to answer them, adding your own questions to enrich their experience when you can. Ask thoughtful questions such as “What else can you find that is like this?” or “ What if…?” Take time to stop and collect things when you are out on a walk. Seashells, fall leaves and rocks, can be sorted, counted and manipulated, giving numbers a concrete meaning. Sort snacks. Toasted O’s cereals, small crackers and pretzels can be sorted and counted. Sharing snacks by counting and dividing takes this activity one step further. As your child grows you can encourage them to solve simple word problems that come across in everyday life. “How many steps does it take to walk from the table to the door? From the door to the chair? Write it down and let’s figure out how many steps further away the door is from the chair than from the table.” Math is all around us, let’s enjoy it together!

Math and Meals

There are lots of math opportunities around mealtimes. Measuring, counting, adding, timing and following a recipe all build math concepts. Serving, portioning and dividing food among family and friends is another way to include some “math talk.” You can cut sandwiches and other foods into shapes that your child can identify and count. Create place mats showing place settings so your child can match and set the table. Include your child in meal planning and shopping. You can create a shopping list just for them by cutting pictures from coupons and circulars. They can then look for these items in the store, match them to the picture and add them to the cart. Allow your child to pick out a certain number of items, such as 6 carrot sticks, 2 cookies, 10 blueberries, during meals or snacks.

Math on the Road

No need to turn that DVD on for your child to learn math on your next road trip! There are plenty of math experiences to enjoy together when you simply look out the window. Count cars and trucks by color or type. Count stop signs, green lights, trees, whatever you choose. Sing songs and play games such as “I Spy.” Give your child a clip board with paper and a crayon so they can draw their own “map” as you drive. Look at a map together before and after your trip. Time how long it takes and how far you have gone. Count the gallons at the gas pump. Talk about your longest and shortest trips and which way has the most cars, trees or buildings. Before you know it, you will be at your destination!

Music and Math??

Did you know that musical experiences help to prepare your child for math? They do! Music seems to be a perfect jump-start because of the way our brains are organized. Watching your child you will probably soon agree with neuroscientists and psychologists who believe this intellectual response to music is inborn. Babies and children love to bounce, dance, move and sing to music. What does this mean for parents who want the best for their children? Be sure to provide your child with lots of musical experiences where they can explore music on their own. It is important that we remember that these experiences need to be fun and appropriate for the age of our child and should not be overly formal or regimented. It is also not necessary to purchase special tapes or videos. Allow your child to experience all types of music, beginning with the style you enjoy. Talk about similarities and differences in the music that you listen to. This helps children to learn to sort and classify. Let your child see you enjoying music on the radio, on cds and at live performances. Experiences providing a steady beat are an important way for children to make connections between their brain and their bodies. Songs are a great way to build memorization skills. Including movements in a sequence such as in the song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, adds further to the child’s skill set as they are actually arranging patterns, another pre-math skill! So go ahead, clap with the music, stomp your feet, dance. Keep beat with the music and encourage your child to join you! Now you know that in addition to the fun, your child is truly growing an important set of skills.

Creating an organized environment

Creating a classroom that is organized creates a sense of calm for both children and adults. Look at these classroom settings. Don't they just look ready for hands-on learning and exploration?

Visiting other childcare settings is a great way to gain ideas to adopt into your own classroom environment.

Look at the slop sink that has been placed at a child's level. Makes cleaning up easy! These are widely available at home centers and are not very expensive. Great idea!


This cardboard barrel makes a perfect cozy nook for one. Children need a place to "get away from it all." This is one creative way to find a place where a child can read or just simply snuggle away from the busy-ness of a classroom.

Cell Phones

Are cell phones creating problems in your childcare center? Perhaps you want to consider banning them. Too often parents are distracted from their children at pick up and drop off times because they are on their cell phone. Unfortunately some staff may also misuse their cell phones and take time away from the children. We have a laminated sign you can post plus a letter to share with parents to tell them about your "NO CELL PHONE" policy. Send me an email with your center address and I will send one to you.

Creating Balance in Your Life

Just what is a balanced life? We can divide our lives into four areas, physical needs, emotional/spiritual needs, intellectual needs and relationships. Achieving balance means that we are feeling a sense of fulfillment in each of these areas. What that balance is varies from person to person. For many of us it may seem like we could spend the rest of our lives trying to achieving balance and still not get there. Perhaps this is because we are expecting too much when we think of a balanced life.

It is important to understand that a balanced life does not mean that we are going to achieve balance each day. There are too many things impacting us for that to happen. Unknowns creep in and just when we think we have it all together, something unexpected happens. There are some steps that we can take to make sure that in general our needs in each area of our lives are being met and thus creating a sense of balance for us. Having a feeling of control over most areas of our life makes us better able to handle those things that we have no control over.

Begin by setting goals, both short-term and long-term. Knowing what it is you want out of life will make it easier to move to the next step of setting priorities. Remember, you do not have to do everything. Choose instead to do the things that are right for you. If you have set your goals and priorities you will know better what those right things are. Set some personal rules for you and your family. Perhaps you will make it a point to only work late two nights a week, or only allow outside commitments to take up a certain number of days. Another family may decide that, no matter what, “we always have family dinner on Sundays.” Once you have established your rules, stick to them. The busier we are, the more important it is for us to take the time to plan our lives. As you look at your calendar and plan your time, be sure to set aside time just for you.

Just as farmers choose to leave fields fallow, we need to find time in our lives to just relax and rest. Finding time to rest and do something that we find relaxing allows us to recharge our bodies and our enthusiasm. As we work to gain balance within our own lives, it is important that we look beyond our own personal interests. Finding ways to help meet the needs of others is actually very rewarding and can contribute to our own sense of well-being and balance.

Achieving balance is a process of continual adjustments. Our bodies let us know when we need to stop and re-think what it is we are doing. It is important that we listen to the signals and take time to readjust what we are doing when our lives begin to tilt too far in any one direction.

Pa Keys Website

Have you been to the pakeys website? If not, I encourage you to go online and access your information to check it for accuracy. Your first step is to go to the site, click here and you will find yourself there! You will then need to log into their intranet. If you have been there before you should be able to log in with your password. If this is your first visit, click on "other login options" on the bottom left of the page. Follow these directions and you will be able to begin exploring this site. Check and make sure your contact information is correct. I would also encourage you to add an email that you actually check. This will keep you current should instructors try to email you about a class you have registered for. You will also want to make sure that your correct place of employment is listed. You can also check your professional development history for accuracy.

The PaKeys site is a great place to look for professional development opportunities across the state of Pennsylvania. If you are logged onto the intranet you can also register for many of these online. You will still need to mail your payment to the sponsoring organization PRIOR to the class.

Summer reading

I am looking forward to a few days on the beach this summer and of course need a good book. One I have wanted to read and have just added to our library is Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. I have concerns when I see so many children spending so much time in front of screens instead of outside playing- the way I remember playing as a child. In fact, one of the quotes in the front of the book is from a 4th grader in San Diego, "I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the outlets are." What are your thoughts on children and computers and tvs? I know that we set limits in the classrooms but so many children spend so much home time in front of screens. Is there anything we can do to encourage children and families to spend time together outside? I'll let you know more about this book when I have read it. Let me know if you would like to read it too.

Books

We have an extensive library available for you to borrow from. This book is one of the latest additions. Do you have a child in your care that is a real challenge to feed? This book by Lori Ernsperger may help. In it she outlines detailed strategies to encourage children to eat.

From time to time I will highlight resources in our library that may be of use to you. If you are looking for something in particular, give me a call or send me an email.

Special Needs Conference

I hope you saw today's Reading Eagle! There were two pages of the Lifestyle section devoted to our upcoming April 26 Special Needs Conference. If you have not seen the story, you can read about our keynote, Nelson Lauver here.
Rita Miller is also going to be at the conference, helping us to de-stress. You can read about Rita here. All in all this looks like it will be a great day. There are a few spots left if you call before 4:00 today (610-378-1327). The cost is $15 and includes lunch. I can also give you all the details if you get in touch today.

Water Safety Class

Water Safety Classes for Childcare Practitioners

$10 person all classes 6:30 PM-8:00 PM

April 23 in Birdsboro at Aquabilities

April 30 in Blandon at Aquabilities

May 14 in Birdsboro at Aquabilities

May 21 in Blandon at Aquabilities

Bring a bathing suit and towel and be prepared to participate in this fun class!

Register on line at PA Keys or by calling 610-378-1327

Week of the Young Child

We are nearing the end of Week of the Young Child. I would love to hear what you have done this week and if you allow me to, I would like to include your events and activities in the next issue of the East Penn AEYC newsletter. Add them to the comments section below. You can also email me photos!