December Calendar



Basic Health and Safety with Breastfeeding - Virtual

Monday 12/09/2024 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

$5 Rochetta Gordon Fleming 3 HSN  

This training will satisfy the CCDF Health and Safety Requirements as well as the requirement for the Breastfeeding Workshop. This training is meant to be highly interactive and is based on the research-based concept of “learning disfluency” which challenges the learner to 1. Think about what they know; 2. Through discussion and research confirm or expand their knowledge base; and 3. Share their experience with others.

Small World Play: Building Imagination in Children – In person

Tuesday 12/10/2024 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

$5 Abena Njeeri 3HSN 

Little learning opportunities can go a long way. With a bit of imagination, play on a miniature scale or small world play can support children’s development and boaster their imagination, self- confidence and problem-solving skills. This workshop explores the wonderful world of small world

play.

Including All Children and the ADA - Virtual

Wednesday 12/11/2024 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

$5 Rochetta Gordon 3 SN

Workshop will cover information, strategies and resources on how to develop and implement an early childhood environment that is inclusive to all children and their families. The fundamental principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act will be covered using best practices standards to create policies and procedures that reflect the ADA and strategies for inclusion. This will meet the licensing requirement for the Including All Children and the ADA Training.

The Basics: How Children Learn to Think - Talk, Sing, Point - Virtual

Wednesday 12/18/2024 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

$5 Georgia Ferentinos 2 CUR

The Basics aims to bolster brain development for social-emotional and cognitive skill building among children ages 0-5 as a sturdy foundation for school readiness. This program believes every child can be provided fun, simple, and powerful ways to enhance their brain development. There are five pillars used to encourage parents and care providers to support social-emotional and cognitive development of children. The activities included for each pillar will emphasize the importance of building that skill, how parents and caregivers are essential in facilitating skill development of young children, and opportunities for children to become better learners for the future.

Include families in the learning in this complementary family training: The Basics: How Children Learn to Think

Talking, singing and pointing with your child teaches them about the world around them.

Learn how vocabulary is the foundation of reading and how to incorporate fun, simple, and powerful ways to enhance their brain development in the early years.

Monday, December 16, 7:00 p.m. Free virtual workshop, Families register here

The 2024 Annual Basic Health & Safety Update Training is available now on MSDE CANVAS webpage. This training meets the regulations for the annual health and safety training, as required by the office, by the end of each 12-month period. Access the course at MSDE

The training must be completed by all child care staff and family child care providers by December 31, 2024. All newly approved family child care providers and staff hired from October to December 2024 must complete the training by March 31, 2025. This training is also recommended for child care substitutes and volunteers. The training qualifies for Core of Knowledge/Hours: Health, Safety, and Nutrition/1.5 and it is a 90-minute training. Upon successful completion of the training, the system will produce a “Certificate of Participation”. Download and save the certificate in order to email to your licensing specialist. Access the course

Join us for the 2025 Child Care Fair

January 25, 2025

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

East Columbia 50+ Center ***NEW LOCATION** 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045

The Office of Children and Families has hosted the Child Care Fair for over 30 years and gives Howard County parents of young children an opportunity to learn about preschools, child care programs, and community resources in one single location. Registration is now open and will continue until all tables are sold. Registration closes Monday January 6. We anticipate hosting approximately 45 programs. Exhibitor Fees: For Profit Organization - $75, Non-Profit (501c3) - $50 Use coupon code: OCFNONPROFIT

All registrations and payments will be handled on-line through ActiveNet. Both the Exhibitor Registration form and the Exhibitor Agreement form must be received to participate. Confirmation and additional event instructions will be emailed prior to the event. 

If you have any questions, please contact

Georgia Ferentinos, gferentinos@howardcountymd.gov, 410-313-1943 (voice/relay) We look forward to seeing you at the Child Care Fair!  To register,click HERE

Unlock your potential as a Family Child Care Provider with the support of the Howard County Child Care Resource Center. The team will walk you through the process, providing guidance and personalized one/one coaching to navigate the licensing process, develop a nurturing environment, and successfully launch your home-based childcare business. Benefits include professional development, business planning, marketing and outreach, access to technology and prepared curriculum. 

Call 410-313-1943 or email gferentinos@howardcountymd.gov for more information.

Is your program and classroom ready for success? Welcome new children and families to your programs with all the programmatic supports you need! Enhance educator skills around transitions, daily routines/schedules, welcoming new children to the program, and child/teacher social emotional interactions. Prevent challenging behaviors before they start! Coaching and mentoring around program enhancements such as room arrangement, lesson planning, curriculum implementation, educator skills building, and overall classroom management for infant/toddler classrooms and pre-school classrooms, also available. Contact the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), 410-313-1940 (voice/relay), or email our Early Childhood Program Specialist, Abena Njeeri, anjeeri@howardcountymd.gov

Don’t wait until challenging behaviors become unmanageable! 

To better serve the educator community and offer more comprehensive support services for early childhood educators and children, the CCRC has increased is capacity with the addition of the IECMH Program team. The expanded team includes behavior consultants who work directly with teachers and individual children to support programs in managing and reducing challenging behavior, as well as supporting children’s social emotional development. The behavior consultants offer, developmental and classroom screenings; onsite behavior observations; goal setting and practice-based coaching, and resource and referral information. The Behavioral Consultant team works collaboratively with the Early Childhood Program Specialists to offer comprehensive services for both infant/toddler and preschool classrooms. For more information, contact the Care Line, 410-313-CARE.

MD EXCELS and Maryland Accreditation individualized support services are available. Work with the CCRC to enhance and improve program quality and increase educator professional qualifications. Contact the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), 410-313-1940 or email Abena Njeeri, anjeeri@howardcountymd.gov

The CCRC Resource Room features a Lending Library to enhance your reading centers, lesson plan ideas and materials, new die cuts, laminating services, and a computer lab (internet access and printing available). Children’s books are organized by theme (5 to 6 books per theme) and can be checked out for a 2-week period. No appointment necessary.  

For new and approved, expanded workshop offerings that meet Maryland child care requirements, coaching and support on all aspects of owning and operating a child care in Maryland, visit -www.prosolutionstraining.com/md(English portal) and https://www.prosolutionstraining.com/md-espanol (Spanish portal).  Courses are available through the MCCRN, a program of Maryland Family Network. Please contact Maryland Family Network with any questions, MCCRNinfo@marylandfamilynetwork.org.

For additional Early Childhood Education and Provider news, and updates in and around the State of Maryland, checkout Tuesday Tidbits

Are you interested in advancing your educational career by pursuing a college degree in the Early Childhood field?  Howard Community College is pleased to announce that the application period for the Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF) will be open from January 1 to March 1, 2025.  The CCCPDF pays for the tuition, fees and books for those students pursuing either an AAS in Early Childhood Education (2-year degree) or an AAT in Early Childhood Education/Special Education or Elementary Education/Special Education (which allows you to transfer to a 4-year program).  To be eligible, the applicant must have a least one-year licensed childcare experience, work a minimum of 10 hours per week in a licensed childcare program, be eligible to hold a level 2 or higher Maryland Child Care Credential Certificate, and be willing to complete a service payback after their degree is completed.  

To learn more about the grant and its application process, please contact Joan Johnson at jjohnson6@howardcc.edu or 443-518-3249.

Looking for Training? Search the Maryland Child Care Training Calendar. Lists of trainers, training organizations and online training organizations.

OCF Workshops and Newsletter for Families

Help parents learn how to support their child’s development by sharing the workshop information and our monthly newsletter, the Parent Pages. Share either digitally or print off fliers for a family information board. December Workshop Flier

The Basics Howard County 

Give parents the gift of knowledge with helpful information to support their child's ever changing development! Share this free parent workshop along with free text messages that are personalized to their child's age.

The Basics: How Children Learn to Think Introduction video can be seen here.

Talking, singing and pointing with your child teaches them about the world around them.

Learn how vocabulary is the foundation of reading and how to incorporate fun, simple, and powerful ways to enhance their brain development in the early years.

Monday, December 16, 7:00 p.m. Free virtual workshop, Register here

Basics Insights text messages

Research shows that 90% of brain growth happens by age five. The Basics provide five simple things parents can do to make the most of these early years. Parents in Howard County can receive free tips directly to their phone to support their child by signing up for Basics Insights. These weekly text messages provide suggestions based on each child’s developmental stage, from birth to age five (available in English or Spanish).

 English Flier | Spanish Flier Questions about sharing The Basics, contact Lisa Rhodes, lrhodes@howardcountymd.gov

The Family Support Center (FSC) offers comprehensive, family centered, community-based preventive programs for parents, caregivers and their children ages birth to five. Through its services the FSC promotes the full development and wellbeing of children, enhance the quality of parent and child interactions, and be the link to services for overall parent and family self-sufficiency and sustainability. Program highlights include child development, parent education, and health education, as well as resources and referrals.

Parenting little ones is hard, the FSC is here to help! View the December FSC Activity Calendar to see all the fun things they have scheduled.

Howard County families can get one/one assistance with the Child Care Scholarship program application process by calling the Office of Children and Families Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), 410-313-1940 or emailing Amber Eash, the Family Resource Specialist directly, aeash@howardcountymd.gov or Carla Lunn, Resource and Referral Specialist, clunn@howardcountymd.gov.

CALL 911 FIRST

Wandering is a critical safety concern for many individuals and families in the Autism community. Because of the potentially dangerous outcomes, accidents, injuries or drowning, wandering can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience for both the individual and their family. Whether you are the parent of a child who has eloped, a family member, educator, provider or part of the greater community, it is imperative to know what to do to help prevent wandering or a tragic outcome when someone wanders. The most immediate message is to encourage families to CALL 911 FIRST if a child is missing. Seconds matter and getting the assistance of the police can make all the difference. For more information, visit https://autismsocietymd.org/safety/ 

Share Call 911 First fliers: English | Spanish