FEBRUARY 2025 MDNP NEWSLETTER

2025 Mountainview Daycare Nutrition Program

HAPPY HEARTS MAKE LIFE A JOY

Winter is entering it’s final 6 weeks (check with Phil the Groundhog to be sure). We’d like to take this opportunity to

remind you of the tax reports available to you in KidKare. You will find an explanation of how to find and print your tax report in the link below. These reports will be necessary for your use as you complete your 2024 Tax Returns. https://www.kidkare.com/tax-season-tips/

For Child Care HOMES to be in compliance with the USDA Food Program these 3 items MUST be documented by the end of each current day, either in KidKare or on paper:

1. Dated MEALS / MENUS (posted)

2. IN/OUT times—The actual daily arrival and departure times for each child.

3. MEAL COUNTS—The children who attend each meal or snack.

For Child Care CENTERS the same 3 items above must be documented at Point of Service. Changes on the posted menus must be made prior to serving the meal.

FEBRUARY header holidays:: 2nd Ground Hog Day; 4th Thank a Mailman Day; 7th Send a Card Day; 10th Umbrella day;

12th Lincoln's Birthday; 14th Valentine’s Day; 17th President’s Day; 22nd George Washington Birthday; 27th Polar Bear Day

Great Childcare Ideas for a new year -

From Gifts to Graduation Goodbyes

There are so many important administrative things to have in place for your child care setting – from menus to recordkeeping to understanding and reporting for your tax returns – but the little extras for families can be important but overlooked. This blog page provides some fun ideas for parent gifts; Grandparent involvement; thank you card to families leaving your setting; “graduation” ideas for littles who will head off to school next fall.

We hope some of these ideas spark you to develop some of the little extras that can set apart your child care in the minds of the families and create business for you by word of mouth advertising.

7th SEND A CARD DAY

17th PRESIDENT'S DAY

27th POLAR BEAR DAY

FUN INDOOR RECESS GROUP GAMES

When rain or cold weather keep your preschoolers indoors, it’s important to have a plan in place for providing engaging and fun indoor games and activities. These games and activities are great for keeping active preschoolers entertained indoors while having fun.

Indoor recess is the perfect opportunity to introduce hands-on activities that encourage teamwork, improve fine motor skills, enhance listening skills, and boost social interactions among young learners. This list includes various games and activities that preschoolers can play indoors. The goal is to ensure that they have fun and enjoy their playtime to the fullest.

Many of these indoor recess games also help develop important gross motor and social skills – yes, please!

4 Corners; Popcorn!; Bluebird through the Window; Chicken Dance; Limbo; Huckle Buckle Beanstalk

Need some fun ideas for

little hands?

http://www.craftymorning.com/

GROUNDHOG POP UP CRAFT

VALENTINE'S CRAFTS

Click titles or photos for links

BAKED CHICKEN NUGGETS

HOMEMADE SOUPS

Click titles or photos for links to the recipes

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies,

this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity

and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Contact MDNP at: 360-653-7273 / 800-631-1118 / www.mdnp.org