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Posts tagged ‘daycare’

Creating A Program That Stimulates the Mind of Infant/Toddlers

Photo Credit: Imagination Plus Child Development Center

According to the National Center for Infant’s, Toddlers and Families, the first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development. Moreover, it is vital that infants are in home daycares or childcare center programs  that enrich their brain development.

The National Association of Childcare Resource and Referral Agency 2010 Child Care Facts reports, “more than 11 million children under age 5 in the United States are in some type of child care arrangement every week. Also, 58% of mothers with children under the age one are in the workforce.

These statistics are a clear indication that there is a need for infant/toddler care. Furthermore, I think that it is vital that we as childcare providers strive to meet the developmental needs of the infant/toddlers in our care.

In 2002, I completed a college class title, Child Growth & Development. After completing that course, I decided to make changes in my program to meet the developmental needs of the infant/toddlers in my care. Many of the changes included:

  • Reading stories to the infants through out the day
  • Providing indoor climbers
  • More crawling space
  • Playing music throughout the day
  • A variety of stimulating colors
  • Infant/toddler games and activities

This is just a small illustration of what a day was like in my infant/toddler program. In fact, many of the parents called me in the evenings, because their young toddlers were so busy at home.  They needed ideas to keep them stimulated at home. I suggested that they create an evening routine for their infant/toddlers.  

I have learned that once you stimulate the mind of an infant/toddler, they will want more stimulation. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the parent and the caregiver to provide them with a stimulating environment that promotes brain development.

Baby Brain Map

The Brain Map was adapted in 2006 by ZERO TO THREE from BrainWonders, a collaborative project between Boston University School of Medicine, Erikson Institute and ZERO TO THREE. The brain map is broken down into age groups from 0-36 months.

It also describes what you can do to enrich a very young child’s development  in the following areas:

  • Touch
  • Crying
  • Feeding
  • Hearing
  • Vision

You will be  amazed at the smallest things that you can do to stimulate a young child’s brain in all five of the above areas. Check out the Baby Brain Map on the Zero-to-Three website.

Thanks for all that you do for young children,

Shiketa

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Category:

Child Care Center, Curriculum, Home Daycare, Infant/Toddler Care, Program Planning, Quality Care

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5 Ways to Encourage Communication Skills in Your School-Age Program

It is vital that your environment for school children encourages communication. In fact, it is very important that your environment is filled with communication materials that enhances play and communication skills.

Children must be exposed to a variety materials that encourage them to communicate, such as: computers, a variety of newspapers, magazines,signs, language games, reference books and many other materials that will help them to learn communication skills.

Here are 5 ways to promote and build communication skills  in your school-age program:

1. Quiet Area–  Provide children with a quiet place to read, write or type on a computer. Be sure to stock the area with plenty of paper, notebooks, pens and pencils.

2. Dramatic Play- Adding markers and writing materials to the dramatic play are will enhance the play. Play themes that promote communication includes: patient sign-in sheets, message pads, appointment books, phones books,etc.

3. Block and Construction- Along with a variety of blocks, add road signs, blueprints, instructions for building homes or bridges. Also, add materials for making signs and maps.

4. Board Games and Tables- Arrange tables so that the children can gather in small groups and play games such as: Pictionary or Scrabble. Encourage the children to write down their own rules for playing the games.

5. Science Area– School-age children love to experiment with a variety materials. Be sure to encourage them to chart their findings and observations with poster board and markers.

As you began to add any of the items above, observe how the children experiment with the communication tools and ask open-ended questions about how they are using the materials. For example: How many rules do you think we need for the game area? Should have a dictionary near the game area?

Thanks for encouraging communication!

Shiketa

Category:

Curriculum, Quality Care, School-Age Program, Uncategorized

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