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Hello Providers!
As we welcome the month of May and signs of Spring are all around, this month, we shine a spotlight on the amazing child care providers who sprinkle love and learning into the lives of children and families every day. As we mark Provider Appreciation Day, we take a moment to shower these superheroes with gratitude for their unwavering commitment, infectious enthusiasm, and boundless kindness.
Join us in celebrating the positive impact you have as child care providers as you shape the future with each smile, hug, and lesson taught.
Enjoy this May edition of Monthly Minutes!
~ Child Care Aware of NH
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Enjoy This Wellness Moment: Shifting into the Light
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In the day-to-day intensity of early childhood education, it’s easy to get stuck in “survival mode,” focused on routines, behavior management, and to-do lists. But staying in that mode too long can dim your spirit, drain your energy, and disconnect you from the why behind your work.
Shifting into the light means consciously choosing to reconnect with what uplifts, nourishes, and inspires you.
Here’s why it matters:
Light Replenishes Energy
Joy, beauty, and connection are renewable energy sources. When you seek them out, you fill your emotional cup, making it easier to show up fully for the children and families you serve.
Light Radiates Outward
When you lean into joy and intentional lightness, it doesn’t just benefit you, it sets the tone in your classroom. Children feel your warmth. Colleagues are lifted by your spark. Joy is contagious.
A Quick Guide to Inviting Joy & Warmth
1. Notice Your “Light‑Up” Moments
Pay attention to when your mood naturally lifts, maybe it’s during a silly
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song with toddlers, a quiet coffee before class, or seeing a child master a new skill. Patterns will emerge that reveal what reliably energizes you.
2. Weave Joy into the Classroom
- Connection: Start mornings with a 30-second gratitude circle.
- Creativity: Set up a rotating “wonder table” with seasonal treasures children can explore.
- Nature: Open blinds for natural light or add a small plant that the class can nurture together.
3. Bring the Warmth Home, Too
Match each classroom joy practice with a personal one. If you share gratitude at work, text a “today I’m grateful for…” note to a friend after hours. If you water a classroom plant, tend a windowsill herb at home.
Remember: joy isn’t a luxury—it’s fuel. When you kindle your light, you illuminate the classroom and your life beyond it.
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This is a great time of year to update your Provider Profiles in NHCIS. Do you have vacancies? Our Outreach Specialists (CCRROs) are actively engaged in the community, participating in family resource events and assisting families at the District Offices in their search for child care. If you notice that your waitlist is a bit lengthy for families' needs, feel free to direct them to our outreach services. They can receive a tailored list of child care referrals by calling our office at (603)-578-1386 Ext. 2531 or Email: ccrr@caphr.org
| | Celebration of Early Childhood Professionals | | |
We want to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of NH Early Childhood Professionals. Congratulations to those who earned credentials between May 2024 and April 2025.
123 = Emerging Professional Certificate Credentials
60 = Early Childhood Associate Educator Credentials
316 = Early Childhood Educator I, II, III Credentials
74 = Early Childhood Administrator levels 1-2 Credentials
225 = Early Childhood Professional Development Specialist with the following endorsements: Mentor, Trainer, Consultant, Faculty, and Coach Credentials
99 = Infant and Toddler Endorsements
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On April 7th, 184 early childhood professionals attended the 2025 Celebration of Early Childhood Professionals event in Concord, NH. Here is what some of them had to say:
“I appreciated the vendor tables and all of the giveaways. Everyone loves some swag!!”
“I would definitely attend similar events because this is such a great way to connect with other centers and get information from supporting companies and early education players.”
“I LOVED the star of the show recognition! It was evident that a lot of time and effort went into making this happen. Thank you for adding this to the night and sending those recognized with the beautiful framed quotes. Seeing professionals feel noticed and appreciated was my favorite part of the evening.”
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Congratulations to the 2025 Gwen & Henry Morgan Award recipients. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to ongoing professional development by holding at least one credential for a total of ten consecutive years.
Sandra Berge, Valorie Burch, Donna Hajjar, Kerry Mahoney, Diane Manning,
Sally Paquette, Suelaine Poling, Kathryn Taft, and Katie Upton.
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Stars of the Show: A Celebration of Early Childhood Excellence
This spring, we invited early childhood professionals across New Hampshire to shine a light on the educators who go above and beyond in their work with young children. Not only did providers answer the call, they also shared this opportunity with families in their programs, igniting a beautiful wave of appreciation across the state.
The result?
Over 100 heartfelt nominations poured in from families and colleagues who wanted to recognize the love, patience, and dedication that early childhood educators bring into the lives of children every single day.
These powerful stories were brought together in a touching slideshow presented at the Annual Early Childhood Celebration on April 7—a tribute to the quiet heroes of early care and education who nurture, inspire, and uplift our communities. To respect privacy, only photos with signed media release permissions are included. We’re so grateful to everyone who participated—whether pictured or not, your presence made the celebration truly special!
We invite you to watch and share this beautiful presentation as we continue to celebrate the educators who are truly stars in every sense of the word.
| | | | CCAoNH Professional Development Opportunities | | The Spring 2025 Trainings At-A-Glance calendar is here! Explore opportunities coming up in May through June to enhance your professional development. | | |
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Join Child Care Aware of New Hampshire (CCAoNH) for a Water Safety Training with Scott Noyes on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
This training is offered at no cost for child care providers thanks to the generosity of our host site Little Antlers Learning Center, 742 Tenney Mountain Hwy, Plymouth, NH.
Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death in the United States and the second leading cause of death for people ages 5 to 44. For children ages 1 to 2, drowning is the leading cause of injury death. (U.S. Lifesaving Association) This program examines why and how children drown and what we can do to prevent it.
Registration is required—to ensure your spot and learn more click on the Registration button below!
| | Be Well, Care Well Self-Care Series: Financial Health 101 | | |
Join us for Be Well Care Well, a dynamic six-part training series dedicated to exploring self-care in the Early Childhood Education field. Each session is designed to empower educators with strategies and tools to prioritize their personal and professional well-being.
We understand that educators can do their best work when they feel their best. That’s why our Well-Being coaches provide on-site support, resources, and actionable strategies to foster a culture of well-being in child care centers and family child care homes.
Through consultation, training, and coaching, Be Well Care Well helps programs create healthy work environments that enhance job satisfaction, reduce stress, and strengthen team relationships.
| | Whether you're seeking practical strategies, new perspectives, or a supportive community, this series is for you. Prioritize your well-being—because you deserve to thrive. | | CPR & First Aid Training for Early Childhood Providers | | Registration is now open for the CPR/First Aid Training on May 17th (for the waitlist) in Manchester and June 21st in Bow, through NHCIS. If you need this training, don't wait—spots are limited. Please remember to withdraw if you’re unable to attend. | | For questions, contact Child Care Aware of New Hampshire at (603) 578-1386 ext. 2532 or email ccrrtraining@caphr.org. | | |
Safe Splashing: Essential Water Safety Tips for Child Care Providers
Summer’s on its way, with warm days and lots of time outside for the kiddos in your program! This is a good time to give some thought to how you will safely provide activities for children to experience the fun and learning that comes from water play.
Will you provide wading pools for children to experience the water with their whole body? Will you take children on field trips to a beach or pool? Will you provide sensory tables filled with water for exploration? Will you spray water on the children with a sprinkler or a hose? What other fun water activities can you come up with? The possibilities are endless!
Each of these opportunities provides a great way for children to learn while using their senses, having fun, and cooling off. Here are some things to consider when finding ways to make water play fun while keeping children safe.
- Be aware that children can drown in as little as 2 inches of water. Supervision is of utmost importance when children are around any amount of water!
- Be aware of NH Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU) rules as they relate to water play, found in section He-C 4002.32.
- Be aware of slippery areas and follow safety rules to prevent slips and falls.
- Attend CCAoNH’s Water Safety Training, scheduled in Plymouth on May 17th, or other CCLU-approved water safety training. If you are unable to attend the in-person class, here is an online training.
- Provide tools/toys for children to learn about sinking and floating, pouring and measuring, mixing with sand or dirt to make mud, etc. Keeping kids engaged with the water can prevent or reduce challenging behaviors, such as fighting or unwanted splashing.
Check out this article about the benefits of water play for young children, along with some fun ideas! https://napacenter.org/water-play/
| | | Other Early Childhood News And Updates | | TEACH NH and Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program | | May 9th is Provider Appreciation Day! | | |
#ThankYouChildCare!
On Friday, May 9th, we honor the exceptional early childhood professionals who shine like stars in New Hampshire, diligently guiding and nurturing the young minds. Your hard work and passion make a world of difference to our community.
Enter to win!
Please, take a moment to complete the survey below to enhance our training offerings to serve you better. We tailor our training programs to meet your needs and support your professional growth.
Every program or provider completing the survey will be entered in a raffle for the chance to win a prize of either a Child Care Center Bundle or a Family Child Care Bundle! The more team members participate, the greater the chance of winning.
Deadline: Friday, May 23rd.
| | Child Care Workforce Assistance Project | | |
Now open!
January 1 - June 30, 2025
Applications Accepted
until May 30, 2025
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The Child Care Workforce Assistance Project (CCWAP) is a temporary funding opportunity that expands the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program for eligible child care staff working 25+ hours a week who need child care for their own child.
What do providers receive?
Eligible applicants will receive an individualized weekly amount sent directly to their child's provider to help offset the cost of tuition.
To see if you qualify for this project please visit the CCWAP page on NH Connections or take the Intent to Apply Survey!
Additional Questions?
Please email
CCWAP@Pyramidmodel.org
| | | NH Get the Lead Out of Drinking Water | | The State Early Learning Alliance (SELA) | | |
ACTIVITY RESOURCES - Let's Get Moving!
Weaving physical activity into your lesson plans just became easier. These resources will provide you with tips, songs, poems, activities, family newsletters, and much more to include movement in your everyday environment. Simply download and print!
https://www.selanhmembers.com/in-the-classroom/physical-activities/activity-resources/
NEMOURS CHILDREN'S HEALTH - Extensive resources are available to support ECE professionals in nurturing healthy physical development. These resources make it easy to incorporate strong practices for physical activity.
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Get Kids Moving - Benefits & Best Practices - Learn about the benefits and best practices of physical activity in child care and early education settings. Physical activity habits learned in early childhood can last a lifetime. Since many children are in child care throughout the week, it’s important for providers to give kids daily opportunities to be active in a safe play space.
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Children's Activities - Keep children moving while learning with daily, quick and creative physical activities. Ideally, kids should have two to three active play times every day. Instead of thinking of exercise as a separate scheduled activity, just try to weave quick “moving” moments throughout the day.
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Administrative Resources, Curricula & Lesson Plans and more - Learn creative ways to get children moving several times a day with these physical activity resources.
Child Care Weather Watch Poster - Temperature and weather are important factors to consider when planning. Use the Weather Watch Poster to learn more.
https://ece-publisher.useast01.umbraco.io/media/spcm4ndp/weather_watch_poster.pdf
| | To learn more, log into or register for free on the SELA Platform at www.selanhmembers.com. You will receive approval of your registration within one business day. Once you log in begin with the START HERE tab. | |
| Child Care Aware of NH is a statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Community Action Partnership Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties. The preparation of this document was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and/or such other funding sources as were available or required, e.g., the United States Department of Health and Human Services. | | | | |
