October 2018          
   914.761.3456
Parent Connections
Our 50th Anniversary 
 It's the Child Care Council of Westchester Day
  We were so happy to wake up on the day after our 50th Anniversary Celebration to see that October 19th was dedicated to the Child Care Council! A tremendous thank you to our Westchester County Legislators that made this happen!

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration 
 
Board President Craig Ruoff
 
Our 50th Anniversary Celebration was a huge success, with over 300 guests in attendance! We were able to network, enjoy the company of our quality child care supporters, and raise over $20,000 for Child Care Scholarships! We were delighted by the event, and want to thank each and every person who came and supported the Council as we celebrated 50 years and prepare for 50 more!
 
Kathy Halas (CCCW Executive Director), and Craig Ruoff (CCCW Board President) with our honorees: Peter Edelman, Dr. Marsha Gordon, and Rob Clarfeld of Clarfeld Financial Advisors.
  


Top 3 Things To Know
#1 Help Advocate for Children
Election Day is November 6th!
Voting matters. Make your vote count.
There are really important races this year in New York - Governor, Senate, Assembly, and the Court system. Polls are open from 6 am to 9 pm.  Here at the Council, we give everyone time off to get to the polls because we believe voting is that important. So please get there!

Mark Your Calendars to Make a Local Impact!

Let's Advocate for Child Care

Council staff and Board members are encouraging parents to let our elected officials know that child care is a priority.
 
County Budget Hearing Schedule
  • Nov 20th at Ossining High School
  • Nov 27th at Yonkers Riverfront Library
  • Dec 5th at Westchester County Board of Legislators Chambers, 148 Martine Ave, White Plains
All Budget Hearings begin at 7 pm; speakers should arrive by 6:15 to sign up for first come/first served spots.   Come speak up for child care!  
#2  What Screen Time Does to Your Child
What Screen Time and Screen Media Do To Your Child's Brain and Sensory Processing Ability


 

In many ways screens have changed our lives for the better. In other ways, they've changed our lives and the lives of our children - and not necessarily for the better.

Full Article 

#3 Universal preschool boosts presence of D.C. moms in the workforce, study finds
Yolanda Corbett knows she would have to remain at home with her youngest child if he was not enrolled in preschool. She would lose her job as an administrative assistant at a nonprofit and would have to scramble in the evenings to find friends and relatives to watch her three children while she worked a night shift in retail. Full-priced day care, which can cost thousands of dollars a month, is not an option.

But the District's public preschool program has enabled Corbett and thousands of other mothers with young children to enter the workforce,  according to a study showing the nearly decade-old universal preschool initiative has benefited more than just the city's youngest residents. A decade ago, Corbett remained at home with her oldest son during his toddler years. She knows the loss of income and structure for a child can be devastating.

 
Children's Corner
Celebrating Thanksgiving with Children

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. Families and friends come together for good company and a feast of our favorite holiday dishes. We take time to think about the things in our lives for which we are thankful.

However, November can be a month where children of all ages are kept very busy doing all kinds of projects that do not teach anything meaningful about the holiday. What does a hand print turkey teach us about turkeys? Where is the creativity when all of the children's projects look the same? And turkey may not have been eaten at the first Thanksgiving dinner.
 
We also must think that many Thanksgiving projects give children "disrespectful and stereotypical messages about Native Americans."  Click here to read the "Anti-Bias Thanksgiving."
 
If Thanksgiving is not about gluing feathers on paper turkeys and "Indians," then what can we do with children to help them learn about the holiday?
 
The first question to ask yourself is what can children at each age understand about Thanksgiving. Then ask yourself what is the best way to teach that. Lastly, ask yourself if Thanksgiving is about turkeys or something more important. Then focus on that. Don't think it's your responsibility to teach even the youngest child all about the holiday. Each year as they grow there will be another opportunity for them to learn more.
 
Also keep in mind that holidays can be stressful for many families and not entirely joyful!
 
Health Corner
Influenza Season

It's That Time of Year - 


Is Your Child's Program Prepared?
Influenza is a contagious disease that easily spreads every winter, usually between October and May. It can cause mild to severe illness that may result in hospitalizations and at times can lead to death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year an average of more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of influenza complications. Severe complications are most common in children younger than 2 years old.

All child care programs and schools are required to post influenza educational material where it can be easily viewed by parents. The purpose is to ensure that families receive information about influenza and the benefits of vaccination.

To learn more, click here

Did You Know...
The Council is Here for You!
  Resources & Referr a l s!
Financial Help!
Summer Camp too!

Call us at 
(914)761-3456 x140 
visit 
or
  email us at  referrals@cccwny.org
 
Our FREE Services are:
  • Consultation with a trained Counselor
  • 24/7 search for child care
  • Information to help pay for child care
  • Guidelines to choose a quality child care program
  • Resources to Camps
  • Checklist for your visits
And much, much more...
In This Issue
  • Advocate for children
  • Screen time
  • Celebrating Thanksgiving
  • Win a $100 gift card
  • Fun family activities
Complete an 8 minute survey and be entered to win $100 gift card. 
What's happening at the Council
Council Office Closings 
All Day
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Friday, November 23, 2018
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Early Closing:  (office closes at 3pm)
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Monday, December 24, 2018
Monday, December 31, 2018
Send your child's caregiver to our 
Fall Infant Toddler Conference
Friday, November 16, 2018
8:30am-1:00pm
Peas & Karrots Child Care Center Ossining, NY
For more information  click here
We're looking for a few good women & men

Come to work at the Child Care Council and make a difference in the life of a child.  We currently have the following openings:  
 
 
 
For more information contact Juanita Pope at 914-761-3456 ext. 106 or
  
 


Things To Do
November 8th is 
National STEM Day!

At it's most basic,
 STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 
 STEM education is far more than just sticking those subject titles together. It's a philosophy of education that embraces teaching skills and subjects in an a way that resembles real life.


To celebrate STEM Day, here are some suggestions:
  • Create Magnetic Slime
  • Make Homemade Catapults
  • Jellybean Building
  • Pipe Cleaner Counting
For more information  click here



Baby Time

 
When : November 5th, 2018 & November 12th, 2018 at 10:30AM
Where : Lewisboro Library
Cost : Free
For more information,  click here


Parent Education
Click below to see a full list of 
Community Resources
 
United Way's 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, multilingual information and referral helpline open 365 days a year, 9am-7pm.

United Way's 2-1-1 call specialists can give you information about things such as:
  • Food Assistance
  • Housing assistance and shelters
  • Abuse prevention
  • Elder care
  • Mental health services
  • Recycling regulations
  • Services for people with disabilities
  • How to become a foster parent
  • Where to get medical help and more
Learn more:  www.uwwp.org

 
Sometimes a little help can go along way. 

If you struggle with having enough to eat, there is help. 


Learn more: 

  Prevent Child Abuse 
New York
 
 
There is nothing more demanding than parenting and all parents benefit from support, information and resources.  
 
Take advantage of all the materials that this organization provides including tips on preventing child sexual abuse and bullying.   Visit their website at  Prevent Child Abuse New York
 

What's Cooking
Pumpkin Rice  
Krispies Treats


INGREDIENTS
  • 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • 3 Tbsp salted butter
  • 1 (10 oz) pkg. of mini marshmallows
  • Orange gel food coloring
  • 3 pretzel rods, end portions broken off into 2 inch pieces
  • 6 mini green airheads or green fondant
  • Non-stick cooking spray
DIRECTIONS
 
1.  Measure our Rice Krispies cereal and pour into bowl. Melt butter in a 4 quart non-stick saucepan or pot over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows and stir. as they begin to melt add food coloring until desired color is achieved. Stir constantly until marshmallows have melted. Remove from heat then immediately pour Rice Krispies and gently stir and fold with spatula until cereal is evenly coated. Let mixture cool slightly.
2.  Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray then shape mixture into balls about the size of a baseball. Insert 1 piece of pretzel rod into the top center and reshape the pumpkin as needed. Transfer to plate sprayed lightly with cooking spray.
3.  Beginning on one side of the airhead candy or fondant cut out leaf shape with clean scissors. Use the remaining portion to roll and shape into a thin rope shape. Place candy on the sides of each pretzel. Repeat with remaining candy. Store in airtight container.


Support the Council while you shop!
 
Through Friday, Nov 2nd, when you shop Amazonsmile and select the Child Care Council of Westchester as your charity, we will receive 5% of the cost of your purchases.   So get started on your holiday shopping today and thank you!

 
Sign up at: SMILE.AMAZON.COM

Support the Council