Connections - Family Guidance Center

Child Care
Connections
J a n u a r y, F e b r u a r y, M a r c h C a l e n d a r 2 0 1 0
A publication of Family Guidance Center of Alabama
January, February, March 2010
Ideas to Beat Those Winter Blues
Winter is finally here. However, in Alabama that statement takes on a
whole different meaning. One day it is a beautiful sunny day, warm enough
to run and play outside all day long. The next day, we experience gray
clouds, rain and a blustery, icy wind. So we want to offer a few ideas to
help keep those wiggles and giggles busy with fun learning activities to last
the winter through. Whether, it is so cold outside that five minutes of fresh
air seems like an eternity or it’s raining, here are some simple tips and
ideas for you to try.
I like to move it
i Gather brightly colored scarves or large ribbon for the children to
dance along to their favorite song
i Go ice skating-place a piece of wax paper under each foot and skate
(works best on carpet)
i Have a snowball toss; make “snowballs” by rolling
white socks into a ball, stuff white socks with polyester
fiberfill or use white bath scrunchies
Themes for the winter months
snow, cold weather, penguins, bears, dressing for cold weather,
hibernating animals
Stories for a cold, cold day
Before cozying up with a good book, toss oversized pillows and blankets
on the floor for the children to curl up with on the floor
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Five Little Penguins Slipping on the Ice by Steve Metzger
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? By Bill Martin, Jr & Eric
Carle
The Hat by Jan Brett
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Keep a Song in Your Heart
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Montgomery - Teaching the 3 C’s: Creativity, Curiosity &
Courtesy
Before we can teach the 3R’s we need to instill in our children a
love of learning, problem solving
techniques and positive social skills.
Patricia Dischler’s Keynote at Sensational
Saturday on February 20, 2010 will help
you unlock your own creativity and bring
out the explorer in YOU! You’ll leave
inspired and ready to open the doors to a
bright future for all the children in your
care.
Her Director’s Session Controlling the Craziness: An
Administrators Guide will help us learn how embracing the
craziness of our business can be the key to creating a positive,
stress-free environment for all the families and staff in your care.
Learn to tackle problems head on with a smile!
Family Guidance Center of Alabama
2431 West Main Street, Suite 1102
Dothan, Alabama 36301
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #567
Dothan, AL
Sensational Saturday: Montgomery
Sensational Saturday - Dothan
To say that Jenny Nolen is contagious is an
understatement. She is enthusiasm personified!
Jenny will go to any lengths to make sure her
audience is relaxed, has fun, and is ready to learn
and retain! If it is using props, singing songs,
music, poetry or magic, you will leave not only
having laughed a lot, you will also have valuable
lessons in wit, wisdom and wonder.
Resource Room - Barbour County
Winter
When winter comes the wind is cold.
It chills my fingers, toes, and nose.
But nice and warm is what I’ll be,
With coat, cap and mittens, you see!
Frost
When I wake up, I look and see
Frost on the car, and frost on the tree.
Frost on the window, and frost on the lawn.
When the sun comes out, the frost is gone.
Dance Like Snowflakes (tune: Where is Thumbkin?)
Dance like snowflakes, Dance like snowflakes
In the air, in the air
Whirling, whirling, twirling, Whirling, whirling, twirling
To the ground, to the ground.
The resources include children’s books, teacher resource
books, videos, manipulatives, and activity materials. For more
information concerning the schedule please call 334-271-7777
or 800-290-0933 ext 254.
Bring the outdoors in
i Create an indoor obstacle course using chairs, tables, hula hoops, and
masking tape
i Add colored ice cubes to the water table
i Toss bean bags into a basket
i Shoot hoops with a beach ball or sock ball
i Add shaved ice for snow to the water table
January 13, 2010
February 16, 2010
March 10, 2010
Do the “Cold Weather Pokey” - Use items you could wear in cold
weather such as mittens, scarves, boots, etc.
Hours for the above dates: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Let’s get creative
i Make snow creations-mix equal parts shaving cream (non-menthol)
and glue, allow children to spread, pile and shape the mixture then let dry
i Make a snowman out of various sizes of paper plates, let the children
decorate with felt and other fun art materials
Read it again
i Check out you favorite children’s author’s website. Many of them offer
great activities to extend their story.
i Turn your reading area into a cozy bear cave for children to curl up with
their favorite book ; drape a brown sheet to create a cave or use a
refrigerator box with a cut out in the front
i Make your library into an arctic wonderland by covering various sized
boxes with white paper, then add stuffed animals like polarbears and
penguins
i Add story prop to allow the children to act out their favorite story
abcteach.com
kinderkorner.com
Websites
crayola.com
pbskids.com
filefolderfun.com
sparklebox.co.uk
For more tips and ideas check out our newsletters Quality Tips and
Activities sections.
i Visit our resource libraries in Dothan, Eufaula and Montgomery for
more ideas and books about winter themes.
Save the Date
Activities
FGC DATES TO REMEMBER
Beating the Winter Blues
Director’s Conference
6 Hours of Power - A Day for Directors
March 20, 2010
Watch for more information
Week of the Young Child Special Training
with Johnete Downing
April 15, 2010 - Teacher Training at Family
Guidance Center
April 16, 2010 - Children’s Concerts at Family
Guidance Center
Important Dates to Remember
Southern Early Childhood Association Conference
The Early Years; A Time of Opportunity
Date: January 21 - 23, 2010
Place: The Peabody, Little Rock, AR
Alabama’s 5th Annual Pre-K Conference
Growing Together Our Children, Teachers & Community
Date: April 7 - 9, 2010
Place: Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
(Downtown Montgomery)
Keynote: The Learning Station with Don Monopoli
For more information contact Danielle Golston @ (334) 223-0716 or
Danielle.golston@dca.alabama.gov
Connecting to the FGC Website
To access calendar and training information go to
www.familyguidancecenter.org - go to the gold column on the left
side of the home page, scroll down to the third category, Early
Child Care & Education Programs, and click, next scroll down the
light yellow column to Education and Training and click, continue
to scroll down the page until you see the listings to view the
quarterly newsletter, calendar or other information. Select what
you want to view. Watch our website for news about on-line
training!
Important Information
When making your selection for class registration please note the
title of the class you are going to attend. We do offer the same class
in various locations to allow easier access for providers in all our
counties. If you have already attended a class in one county, it
would be best to choose a different title so you receive the most
information and can be confident that it will be counted towards
your total professional development hours for the year. If you have
any questions, please don’t hesitate to check with the office you
contact to register for training.
Infants - Snow Babies
Materials: child’s white tube sock, fiberfill, black permanent marker, yarn,
colored child’s sock, needle/thread, jingle bell
Stuff a child-size white tube sock with fiberfill. Put a jingle bell
inside the fiberfill. Tie a knot in the opening. Tie a piece of yarn
around the stuffed sock to make a head and body shape. Use a
permanent marker to draw facial features on the face and buttons
on the body. Cut off the elastic cuff of a child’s colored sock. Tie the cut end in a
knot. Fit the elastic end of the colored sock onto the head of the snow baby for a
cap. Sew the cap securely in place. Babies may squeeze, shake, or hug the snow
baby.
CDA Update
Montgomery CPR and First Aid Schedule
Is it time to renew?
The initial CDA Credential is valid for a period of three years. Subsequent
renewals are required every five years. The renewal process involves three
steps: (1) purchase CDA Renewal Packet ($13.00 plus $5.00 shipping and
handling); (2) compile required documentations; and (3) mail the
required documents and $50 renewal fee to the council.
If you need additional information you may check the Council for
Professional Recognition Website www.cdacouncil.org, call the council at 1800-424-4310 or contact the Family Guidance Center CDA Specialist at the
office you normally call to register for classes.
Toddlers - Snowballs
Materials: Child-size white socks, fiberfill, plastic bin or laundry basket
Stuff socks with fiberfill up to the bottom edge of the elastic cuff. Tie a knot in the
cuff. Turn the cuff back to cover the sock. Squeeze and shape the socks into ball
shapes. Place a plastic bin or laundry basket in the middle of the floor. Toddlers
can throw the snowballs into the container. These are washable and can be put
into the dryer to keep them clean and healthy for use again and again.
Preschoolers - Pretend Snow
Materials: Mild white soap bar, roll of toilet tissue, warm water, large plastic bin
Children can help shred a roll of white toilet tissue into small pieces into a large
shallow plastic bin. Shave white bar soap with a vegetable peeler. Add the soap
slivers to the torn tissue in the bin. Add enough warm water to wet the tissue and
soap. Children squeeze and squish the tissue and soap together until it is well
mixed and has a playdough-like texture. Add more warm water until you get the
texture you want. Children can use the pretend snow to make snowmen as they
enjoy the soothing texture and pleasant smells of the pretend snow. Children
simply rinse their hands under running water for easy cleanup.
Schoolage - Snowy Pictures
Materials: Black or dark blue construction paper, white crayons,
Epsome salt, water, paint brushes
Children use white crayons to draw winter scenes on black or dark blue
construction paper. Mix 1 T. Epsome salt with 1/3 C. water for each child.
Children brush the Epsome salt mixture over their picture. Allow the pictures to
dry. The pictures will have a sparkly, snowy-looking glaze.
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New Information
Training Express
The Child Care Education and Training
Program staff in Montgomery and Dothan
are always ready to support caregivers by
providing technical assistance or bringing
training sessions you request to your site.
Sessions, with topics based on your needs, can be planned for 1
or 2 hours either during the day or evening. To schedule these
sessions, please call the office you normally contact to register
for training.
DATES OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED
January 1, 2010
January 18, 2010
February 15, 2010
New Year’s Day
Robert E. Lee/Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day
President’s Day
MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Infant/Child CPR
January 9, 2010 (Saturday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm)
January 13, 2010 (Wednesday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm)
February 3, 2010 (Wednesday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm)
February 6, 2010 (Saturday, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm)
COST: $5.00 per person. If payment is not received 1 week before
the class, your name will be removed from the list.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY - FIRST AID
March 2, 2010 (Tuesday, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm)
March 3, 2010 (Wednesday, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm)
COST: $5.00 per person. If payment is not received 1 week before
the class, your name will be removed from the list.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY - CPR and First Aid
(American Heart Association)
February 23, 2010 (Saturday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm)
COST: Call for Payment Information
All Montgomery classes will be held at: Family Guidance Center
Fairlane Drive, Building D
To register call Angela at 270-4100 0r 800-499-6597 ext 289
Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes or Wilcox County
If you live in Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes or Wilcox County and need CPR
or First Aid Training, please call Nancy Wilson, Healthy Child Care
Alabama, at 334-874-2550. Please leave your name and phone number.
Elmore or Chilton County
If you live in Elmore or Chilton County and need CPR or First Aid, please call
Debbie Parker, Healthy Child Care Alabama Nurse, at 205-280-5700. Please
leave your name and phone number.
Registration
Registration Procedures
• Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
• To attend any class please call the number listed below and on the calendar grid.
• Cancellation calls are accepted prior to the training. Please remember that if you
are not able to attend, by calling you will allow someone else to use that slot.
Registration Guidelines
• To register in Montgomery please call 334.270.4100 ext. 235 for local calls or
1.800.499.6597 if long distance. To register in Dothan please call 334.712.7777 ext.
251 or 1.800.290.0933 if long distance.
• At either location, you may leave a voice mail message after office hours on the
appropriate extension. The call will be returned the next business day.
• Walk-ins will be accommodated as seating allows.
Registration Notes
SINCE CHILD CARE IS NOT AVAILABLE, PLEASE MAKE OTHER
ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR CHILDREN. Due to limited seating, unregistered
guests cannot be accommodated.
Family Guidance Center’s training is open to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, handicapping
disability, age, sex, political beliefs or religions. If your attendance is hindered by transportation, language,
location or any other reason, you may contact the Montgomery office at 334.270.4100 or 1.800.499.6597 or
the Dothan office at 334.712.7777 or 1.800.290.0933 to discuss the matter. As resources are available, attempts
will be made to overcome obstacles that hinder attendance. Funding provided by Alabama Department of
Human Resources.