Hello Early Learning Champions,

Welcome to our fall newsletter; I hope it finds you well. We have been busy here at Care Connections & Education getting ready for some great training, bringing in some new staff and unleashing our new website. Please take the time to review our newsletter and training calendar so that you can plan ahead to learn new skills and connect more with your peers. Fall conference is nearly here and registration will be open soon. You won’t want to miss it. I am always excited about the fall conference but this year especially. This year we are going to learn about parent engagement and what it means to build those powerful and valuable relationships in our programs. We are thrilled to host Yoncalla Early Works parent leaders to present at our Friday night session. Also, we have the return of our SOU in-person workshops which are always a great way to get those set 2 classes in or college credit. 

Just a reminder, we are always open to hearing what would be meaningful and valuable to you. Please share with us your thoughts and ideas on how we can serve you better at 672CARE.org or give us a call at 541.672.CARE (2273). Lastly, please join us in welcoming two of the newest staff to CC&E, Jessica Torske and Kelly Wahl. Jessica is joining our Klamath team, serving both Klamath and Lake, as a Quality Improvement Specialist and Kelly Wahl is joining our Douglas team as a Preschool Promise Facilitator. Both have tremendous skill and expertise in early learning settings, and you can read more about them in the articles below. With that, I’ll leave you with a quote from Anne Frank, ““How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Thank you for supporting our children well and all you do to support our community and families.

Sincerely,

Heather Freilinger

CCR&R Program Coordinator

Save the Date:

Nov. 4th 2023

Klamath Community College

(in person conference)

Watch your for the flyer coming soon!

Registration Opens Soon

Infant Toddler Mental Health

Douglas County Sept. 30, 2023

8:30am-4:30pm

Douglas ESD- 1871 NE Stephens St., Roseburg OR 97470

Participants will gain understanding about the influences from society and cultural expectations in retrospect of planning curriculum. Participants will also explore developmental appropriate activities for Infant and Toddlers.  This training one college credit is available for a cost of $60. Please bring a sack lunch. 

Trainer: Sue Hamilton

The 2Generation Classroom:

Family Engagement and Empowerment in ECE

Klamath County Oct. 21, 2023

8:30am-4:30pm

KCC Building 6- 7390 S. 6th St., Klamath Falls 97603

Two-generation approaches draw from findings that a child’s social-emotional, academic, physical and economic well-being is grounded in the well-being of their parents. At the same time, parents’ ability to succeed in life is affected by how well their children are doing. Teachers and early care providers play a profound role in creating opportunities for families and children to grow and learn together. Explore how to close the opportunity gap, support families’ financial wellbeing, and become partners with parents in growing great kids. This training one college credit is available for a cost of $60. Please bring a sack lunch. 

Trainer: Felicity Elworthy

You must be enrolled in the Child Care Licensing Division's Central Background Registry if you are 18 years or older and; a child care provider, owner, operator, employee or volunteer of a program regulated by the CCLD.

DELC Provider Resources:

Tip of the Term

Did you know….

Fidgets help children navigate through transitions, stay engaged during structured large group activities, and can easily be created with items you already have in your program?

Waiting is hard, for everyone. Fidget items provide busy hands an opportunity to remain engaged with a positive activity while children are moving through a transition or are expected to be idle. These tools help children remain engaged during times when their disengagement leads to disruptive behaviors.

When selecting fidgets for the children in your program, consider ages and stages of development, sensory needs, and interests. A child’s preferred fidget may be a handful of Legos, a squeeze toy, a popit, playdough, a piece of fabric, or any other handheld, calming item. Having multiples of the same fidget

will help prevent social conflict.

Fidgets provide a new focus or challenge and allow children to self-regulate and have a mindful moment. Remember, any new item will be exciting and distracting. Introduce fidgets at group time as

tools, not toys. Have them readily available and revisit expectations consistently. Allow time for all children to explore them and when the novelty wears off over time, children who need fidgets will use them.

Providing activities for busy hands is an example of an inclusive practice that supports all children regardless of age or ability. For some great ideas about many kinds of fidgets and uses for fidgets, reach out to Inclusive Partners!

Call 971-673-2286

Go to Inclusive Partners website

Book your child a ticket to the Imagination Library!

Enroll your child for free in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and we’ll send them a new book every month until their fifth birthday. Families can register at the Imagination Library

website or any County library. The first book every child receives is The Little

Engine That Could.

ZOOBILEE at Wildlife Safari

October 22 & 21, 2023 5pm-8pm

Zoobilee is a family-friendly Halloween event at Wildlife Safari that features trick-or-treating, games, animal encounters, and a spotlight tour of the Asia exhibit.

This is a great opportunity for kids of all ages to dress up in their Halloween costumes and have a fun and safe time. With a variety of local businesses participating, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. And, with the animals getting into the Halloween spirit, you're sure to see some amazing sights.

Zoobilee Purchase tickets here

Lake County Resource Guide

Open: Mon-Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm

Holiday Closures:

November 11 - Veteran's Day

November 23-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 17 - Jan 2, 2022 - Christmas Holiday