CCCC is currently assessing ways that we can better serve you as our most valued resource.  We have heard your concerns about long wait times, delays in processing paperwork and feeling rushed through your meetings with our employees.

In an effort to address these concerns and to offer the highest quality of customer service possible, CCCC will be implementing the following changes beginning Monday, January 23, 2012:

1. All employees within the CCAP program will dedicate Wednesdays to processing documentation.  Clients and providers wishing to meet with CCAP team members can do so Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays 8:00am – 3:45pm.

2. All calls that come into the agency will be routed directly to your assigned case load phone extension.  This will increase the likelihood that you are able to speak to the same employee consistently to increase consistent messaging and a better understanding of your individual needs.

3. In order to ensure that all visitors have adequate time to receive the assistance they deserve, we ask that you arrive prior to 3:45pm each day to meet with employees. 

We appreciate your feedback and hope the above changes help us to serve you better each day.

Sincerely,
Tiffany Simmons

February’s Book is:

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

In this simple rhyming book Llama gets tucked into bed by Mama. Soon after being tucked in and Mama going downstairs drama begins to happen. Llama begins to worry and his soft whispers soon become loud yells when Mama does not come back. Will Mama come back to comfort him? Children will like the simple rhyme  structure of this book .

When reading books it is always a good idea to discuss what the children think before reading the book, what they think will happen next, and then what happened in the book afterwards.

Some good questions to ask before reading are:

• By looking at the cover, what do you think this book is going to be about?
• Tell me what a llama is.
• Tell me about a time when you felt alone and scared.

Some good questions to ask while reading:

• How do you think baby llama feels when mama is walking out of his room?
• Do you think it was a good idea for baby llama to “holler” for his mama? Why or why not?

Some good questions to ask after reading:

• What do you think would have happened if mama llama had not run up to baby llama’s room?
• Tell me about what you do before you go to bed?
• Baby llama had a stuffed animal that he slept with, what do you sleep with?

Here are a few, fun activity ideas that could go along with this book:

• Dramatic Play: Have a Pajama Party! Have the children wear pajamas and bring their stuffed animals.

• Literacy/ Music: Make up silly rhymes with the children. Sing songs or wordplays with words that rhyme or songs about bed or bedtime. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed is a good one.

• Games/ Gross Motor: Play Wake Up Llamas. Have the children pretend they are asleep and cover them up with blankets. Mama yells “Wake up Llamas in pajamas!” and the children “wake up”. You can also play a listening game telling them, they can only wake up when you say “Wake up Llamas in pajamas!” but then replace Llama with another animal. Also, you can use blankets and do parachute games with a blanket instead. This promotes cooperative play.

• Art: Gather materials that you may see on pajamas such as flannel, fleece, silk, etc. A good (and cheap) place to find them is thrift stores or in the odds and ends section, and craft stores. Have the children use toothbrushes to paint glue on. Instead of using paper use recycled materials such as boxes or containers.

Some of these ideas may not be appropriate for all ages. Use your best judgment on what the children in your care are capable of and modify if you need to. Please feel free to give Bill a call at 1(800) 676- 2805 or email at bbuss@cccconnect.org if you have any questions or comments.

January’s book is:

Alfie Runs Away by Kenneth Cadow

Alfie is fed up with having to take a bath, set the table and make his bed. His breaking point however is when his mother attempts to throw away his favorite red shoes, even if they are a bit too small.  He decides he is going to run away. With the help of his mom, Alfie packs his bag full of supplies such as snacks, water, a flashlight and a blanket. Feeling the weight of the bag, Alfie makes it as far as the backyard before settling down to figure out the one thing he was missing in his bag.

Here are a few, fun activity ideas that could go along with this book:

• Art: Give the children a wide variety of materials such as paper, crayons, markers, glue and collage materials. Collage materials can be magazines, different types of paper, stickers, yarn, etc.  Ask the children to make their favorite thing to wear or their favorite thing to take on a trip. The key as is to all art activities is to leave it open ended. If a child makes a pizza monster, that is okay. 

• Math: Count the items Alfie puts in his bag. Match shoes and/or socks. Use water bottles with measurements on the side in your water table. 

• Dramatic Play: Try to include items in Alfie’s bag (flashlight, water bottle, teddy bear,etc.) in your dramatic play area. 

• Social Emotional: Discuss while reading the book how Alfie feels. Talk with the children about how they might feel if they were in Alfie’s shoes. 

Some of these ideas may not be appropriate for all ages. Use your best judgment on what the children in your care are capable of and modify if you need to. Please feel free to give Bill a call at 1(800) 676- 2805 or email at bbuss@cccconnect.org if you have any questions or comments.

Regardless of which holiday you and your family choose to celebrate, “‘tis the season” for giving and receiving gifts for children of all ages and stages of life. With so many options available, it is hard to know what is appropriate for the little one you are purchasing for! Here are a few tips that may help you this holiday season:

What makes a toy “good” AND safe: http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/goodtoy.htm

“Age appropriate shopping” cheat sheets: Which toy for which child?
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/285.pdf

Here is some additional advice provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Keep in mind that the most educational toys are ones that fosters the interaction of an adult with a child in supportive, unconditional play. Toys are never substitutes for the attention of devoted caregivers.

• Provide children with safe, affordable toys that are developmentally appropriate. Include toys that help promote learning and growth in all areas of development. Avoid toys that discourage children from using their imaginations. Social-emotional and cognitive skills are developed and enhanced as children use play to workout real-life problems.

• Make a thoughtful selection of toys and remember that a toy does not have to be trendy or expensive.

• Be skeptical of educational or developmental claims made by advertisers, especially product claims of intellectual enhancement.

Limit video game and computer game purchases. Total screen time, including television and computer use, should be less than 1 to 2 hours per day.Children younger than 5 years should play with computer or video games only if they are developmentally appropriate. Check the box for suggested age for usage.Children  should always be accompanied by the parent or caregiver when utilizing the internet.

For additional advice, please follow this link:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b111/4/911

Choosing a toy for a child must consider several things. A good toy should be:

• Safe for the child’s age, well constructed, and durable;

• Appealing and interesting to the child;

• Suited to the child’s physical capabilities, and

• Suited to the child’s mental and social development.

There are many materials available to help in selecting toys that meet these criteria. The below attachment is a booklet created by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Please be certain to look through the charts, beginning on page 6, for practical ideas you can begin using today.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/285.pdf

Playing outside: More than just “playing”

Myth

It is getting too cold for my kids to be outside.

Taking the time to play outside is just a way for children to “blow off steam”.

Fact

The Child Care Weather Watch encourages children to be outdoors a minimum of 15 minutes each day when the temperature is between 25 and 90 degrees Farenheit with the proper dress and sunscreen.  Check the weather, grab a coat and get out and play.

There are a variety of learning opportunities outside of those 4 walls of a classroom. This is a great way for parents to play an active role in educating their child(ren).

There are many inexpensive ways to offer outdoor activities:  

• collect different color rocks, leaves and flowers. Take time to discuss differences and similarities
• create rock creatures with paint, glue, and items you find around the house
• lay in the leaves and discuss what the clouds are shaped like.  Watch their imaginations go wild
• gather items on a nature walk in a baggy.  Create nature collages using your “treasures”
• take the children to your favorite park and watch as they learn social skills, problem solving, and relationship building.

Looking for a more structured option for your kids? Another fall activity that your children may engage in is SPORTS!

Participating in a team sport is a great way for a child to build self-esteem, get some exercise and learn teamwork.  For children under the age of six years old, non-competitive leagues would be recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  By participating in team sports, your child will be begin learning how to work together in groups and the three P’s in sports:

• practice,
• patience, and
• persistence.

These are all virtues that will translate into important life lessons later in life.  Check with your local YMCA or Youth Sports Association for registration deadlines.

If you would like to read more about outdoor activities you can visit: http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/

You can also contact Kayla at kjohner@cccconnect.org

When: Tuesday, December 6, 2011  6:30 pm-7:30 pm

Where: Barnes & Noble, café area- 3111 S. Veterans Parkway in Springfield

Book: “Big Body Play: Why Boisterous, Vigorous and Very Physical Play is Essential to Children’s Development and Learning” by Frances Carlson

Facilitator: Daphne Southern, Publications Chair

• One hour of in-service training will be offered

• Registration is not required

• Participants are responsible for the cost of the book ($16 members/$20 non-members). Contact Daphne for details on ordering the book or you may want to order through the NAEYC website www.naeyc.org/publications

• For more information call Daphne at 217-638-2805 or at 217-744-0216

Additional “Save-the-Dates”..

• Capital Area AEYC: Celebrating Diversity
When: Saturday, November 19th, 2011     Time: 9:00 am- Noon
Where: Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL- Timberlodge
Cost: AEYC Member $10/ Non AEYC Member: $20
www.capitalareaaeyc.org

• Capital Area AEYC: Neila Connors, author of “If You Don’t Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students”
When: Saturday, January 14, 2012     Time & Location: TBA    
www.capitolareaaeyc.org

Five Green Speckled Frogs

I made this felt board story and it is a class favorite. The story can be made by printing the patterns, cutting them out, and laminating them. You can then attach Velcro sandpaper (even magnets for a magnetic board) to the back of the story pieces.

- Provided by a Current Child Care Provider

  If you would like some more fun ideas for felt board activities for your program, as well as the pattern printouts for the ideas listed above, simply follow these links:

http://www.childcareland.com/feltboard.html

http://www.preschooleducation.com/fletter.shtml

 If you don’t have a felt board in your program, click here to get some great, easy ideas on how to make one.

*If you would like additional ideas for using felt boards or any literacy activities for your program, please contact our Resource Specialist, Bill. The Lending Library program has Storytelling Kits, felt board activities, as well as the machines necessary to create your own at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.  Bill can be reached at 217-525-2805 ext. 8534 or by e-mail: BBuss@CCCConnect.org

NO!!! According to research results provided by John Medina, the author of Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five.

Here are a few myths that Mr. Medina clears up in the Introduction of his book…

Myth: Playing Mozart to your womb will improve your baby’s future math scores.

Truth: You baby will simply remember Mozart after birth, along with many other things she hears, smells, and tastes in the womb.

Myth: Exposing your infant or toddler to language DVDs will boost his vocabulary.

Truth: Some DVDs can actually reduce a toddler’s vocabulary. It is true that the number and variety of words you use when talking to your baby boost both his vocabulary and his IQ. But the words have to come from you- a real, live human being.

Myth: To boost their brain power, children need French lessons by age 3 and a room piled with “brain-friendly” toys and a library of educational DVD’s.

Truth: The greatest pediatric brain-boosting technology in the world is probably a plain cardboard box, a fresh box of crayons, and two hours. The worst is probably your new flat-screen TV.

If you would like to learn more about the different myths and truths you can click on this link: http://www.brainrules.net/brain-rules-for-baby where you will find excerpts from his book.

Soapy dough

Make several batches of this easy dough-each in a different color.

Here’s what you need:

• ¼ cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon liquid tempera paint
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon liquid dish washing soap
• Mixing bowls
• Mixing spoons
• Measuring cups, dry and liquid

Step 1- Measure the salt and flour and place in bowl. Stir gently to combine.

Step 2- Measure paint, water, and soap. Add flour mixture, and stir well to blend. Add a bit of water if the mixture is too dry.

Step 3- Store the dough in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerate for future use.

This great idea was provided by the Illinois Child Care Journal. For more ideas and recipes, e-mail us at info@cccconnect.org