CCRC PARENT NEWSLETTER

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN

As your little ones head out for some spooky fun tonight, we wish all a safe and joyful Halloween filled with laughter, imagination, and sweet memories.

FINDING CHILD CARE JUST GOT EASIER

With so many child care programs already closed — and more still at risk — these are truly challenging times for families in our community. While we all work together to solve the child care crisis, we have a new tool to make it easier for families struggling to find child care.

Find Child Care NC is a FREE one-stop resource for families living in North Carolina. You can search by 19 different filters to find the programs that work for you! Just plug in your search criteria (star rating, transportation availability, ZIP code, etc.) and find licensed care that fits your schedule and budget.

Find Child Care NC brings together every licensed program in the state—including family child care homes, child care centers, Pre-K, and school-age programs—into one easy-to-use platform that works on your phone. It includes real-time vacancy information directly from providers. Families can also filter by the details that matter most, such as pricing, hours of operation, quality ratings, program schedules, and services for children with special needs.

Check it out at www.findchildcarenc.org and help spread the word to other families looking for child care. It's quick, easy and free.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

"This summer, I received a letter that would cause any parent’s head to spin: Leaders at my children’s child care program, Little Sprouts Child Care in Frisco, informed us it will close its doors at the end of the year.

For years, the program had hung on, but couldn’t overcome the severe staffing shortage facing so many child care centers today. The owner had sought to offer care that working parents could afford, but also needed to offer fair wages to recruit and retain qualified staff. In the end, despite their best efforts, the numbers didn’t add up.

I have three children who have benefited tremendously from the quality care and education this program provided: a 5-year-old and 2-year-old twins. My husband and I run a small business together, and I’m also a broker and office manager for a local real estate company. Reading that letter, my mind swarmed with questions: What would we do? How could we keep our business afloat and afford to stay in our community if one us needed to drop out of the workforce to care for our kids?" This is Erin's story

Will you share your story on what child care means to your family here?

Lawmakers need to understand the importance of child care and we need your help in convincing them to save our state's child care system. Share your story and we will share it with Lawmakers.

PARENTING CORNER

Every giggle, question, and cuddle helps your child grow! Here are a few simple ways to make everyday moments count:

Sing, Move, and Learn - Music helps children develop language, rhythm, and memory. Try singing your child’s favorite song together while clapping or tapping along.

✨ Bonus: Repetition builds confidence — so don’t worry if they want the same song again (and again!).

Talk About the Day - Ask your child open-ended questions like:

“What made you smile today?”
“Who did you play with?”
“What did you build or draw?”

Conversations like these help children build vocabulary and feel proud of what they’ve done in child care.

Take Learning Outdoors - Collect leaves, count steps, or watch clouds together. Nature sparks curiosity and helps kids develop observation and problem-solving skills — plus, fresh air is great for everyone!

Read - Reading just 15 minutes a day builds language, imagination, and focus.

A Magical and Fun book to read for Halloween

Author, Julia Donaldson, had to have fun while writing this playful story! Room On The Broom tells the story of a kind witch and her cat who keep losing items. Thankfully, their animal friends find and return the items in exchange for a ride on their broom. This funny tale features catchy rhymes, beautiful pictures, and an adventure filled with friendships and teamwork! One would think that after losing her hat, bow, and wand in the wind that the witch and cat would be worn out. But, the story keeps on going and, in the end, the animal friends save the witch from a hungry dragon after the broomstick breaks. This turn in the book is cause for all the characters to work together in the most positive and best way ever!

Child Care Resource Center. (CCRC) is here — to:

Connect families to quality care
Train and coach child care professionals
Help employers support working families
Expand access in underserved areas
Use data to shape smart policy
Advocate for systems that work for all families

Now more than ever, this work is essential. And we need you.

💛 Small Gifts. BIG IMPACT

Every gift, no matter the size, helps children in our community step into school prepared and empowered

GIFT

www.childcareresourcecenter.org