Category Archives: child care

A Bridge Without Rails

One of my favorite early childhood experts is Janet Gonzales-Mena. If you’ve never read her books, and especially if you work with infants and toddlers, I highly recommend you stop reading this blog and go buy all her books – … Continue reading

Posted in child care, discipline, guidance, limits, parenting | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A Bridge Without Rails

Activity: Cooperative Musical Games

Play classic games such as Farmer in the Dell, Ring Around The Rosie and Musical Chairs! To get the most out of these activities, allow children to choose among themselves the roles they will play. Encourage them to share their … Continue reading

Posted in activities, arts and crafts, child care, children, competitive, day camp, games, music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Activity: Cooperative Musical Games

10 Things To Do With A Paper Cup

Ever think that being stuck in an airport could be the best afternoon of your week? It was for me! On a recent trip, after a grueling week of lots of board work and little sleep, I was finally on … Continue reading

Posted in activities, child care, children, games, parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 10 Things To Do With A Paper Cup

New Mom

Many of you work with, or are, new Mom’s. The new Mom is unlike any other woman. They’ve experienced the pure love and joy of seeing a small one look at them with complete trust and love. And they’ve experienced … Continue reading

Posted in child care, new mom, newborns, parenting | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on New Mom

Tips & Tricks

Here’s a potpourri of ideas from my booklet, 101 Tips & Tricks: For an inexpensive puppet rack, use an over the door wire shoe holder. Mount it to a wall and slip the puppets over the metal sleeves to display … Continue reading

Posted in child care, children, early childhood, first aid, parenting, tips | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Tips & Tricks

Celebrating Accomplishments

How do you help your board or staff celebrate accomplishments? If you find you’re not celebrating much, it’s possible that it’s not because you’re not accomplishing anything but instead that you’re not measuring anything. You might just need to back … Continue reading

Posted in child care | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Celebrating Accomplishments

10 Reasons To Love Mud!

It’s free. (No yard? Sweep your floor every day and save it, add water = mud!) It washes up easily. (Even if the kids paint your entire house with it!) It comes in a variety of colors. (Different types of … Continue reading

Posted in activities, camp, child care, parenting | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 10 Reasons To Love Mud!

Activity Idea: I Know Someone Who

Teach the children to share compliments with each other with this game. Start by making a compliment about someone in the group, leaving their name out. For example, “I know someone who wears very pretty dresses.” The children try and … Continue reading

Posted in activities, child care, day camp, games, group | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Activity Idea: I Know Someone Who

Possibilities

Possibilities. It’s just one little word. With so much meaning for the lives of children. I truly believe every moment we have with a child could be a moment that defines that child for the future. It’s so overwhelming sometimes … Continue reading

Posted in child care, children, parenting | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Possibilities