• Building flexibility with lots of choice for providers.

Do you serve mixed age groups in your child care setting? Research shows there are many benefits for children of all ages in this environment

• Multi-age groups offer children more opportunities to develop and practice social skills.
  
• There is often less competitive and more cooperative or helpful behaviors.
  
• Mixed-age group care is often a more comfortable and secure setting for young children.
  
• Siblings spend more time together.
  
• By design, mixed-age group care is geared more to the needs of individuals. Children have   greater freedom to develop at their own rate.
  
• Older children learn to adapt their language and social skills to relate with younger children, often learning patience, compassion and problem solving skills.
  
• Younger children are challenged by older children and often engage in more complex activities then when they play with same age peers.
  
• Older children learn how to help care for younger children.  They can tie shoes or help a child write their name.
  
• Mixed ages builds leadership skills and self-esteem.  The older children can give the younger children a "mentor" while learning a particular skill.
  
• Developmentally Appropriate Practices: A mixed age groups are visible in the "real world".  It reflects the natural setting of real life.
  
• Younger children are exposed to more complex play, advanced language, and educational activities by observing and imitating older children.  

Although it can be beneficial to serve mixed aged groups in a child care setting it can still present  obstacles in planning smooth activities throughout the day.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind while serving mixed ages

1. Provide a wide range of choices. Most caregivers find that part of the day is made up of unstructured "free play".  This is where they will provide a wide range of materials and activities that are appropriate for various age groups. 
   
2. Provide some materials that are used specifically for an age group. Not all toys or areas need to be "one size fits all." It is fine to have some toys that are of specific interest for only one age group.
   
3. Consider ages of children when you set up the childcare space. Safety is most important. Scissors that are used by school-aged children need to be stored out of the reach of toddlers.  Materials that are safe and appropriate for younger children can be arranged in easy to reach bins or containers. You may want to provide smaller sized furniture and step stools for younger children too.
   
4. Select toys and materials that are open ended and can be used in many ways. Balls, art materials, blocks can be used by children with various abilities; they will use the material in increasingly complex ways.
   
5. Focus on individual or small group activities.  Asking a group of children of differing ages to participate together may bore older children or frustrate younger children.
   
6. Use the opportunities to promote cooperation and team work. Encourage children to help each other and solve problems together.
   
7. Accept the fact you may need to be flexible when scheduling daily routines. Meeting the needs of individual children may mean you need to veer from routine. You may find a need to prepare an extra snack for an afterschool child or set up a quiet area for the youngster who still needs a nap.
   
8. Separate older children when they are playing with small objects. Older children can be placed in an enclosed area, such as super play yards so that they can play with toys with small objects. This will allow the younger children access to the whole room while older children play undisturbed.
   
9. Create activities that suggest a variety of roles.  An activity such as a circus would be an activity that has a variety of roles at individual levels.  Older children might be the ringmaster while younger children could be animals.  
   
10. Children can enjoy being a part of each role in the group.  Each child will at some point be the youngest, middle and the oldest in the group.  This exposes them to different learning experiences.  

Adapted from: http://www.childcarelounge.com/family-child-care/caring-mixed-ages.php and

http://www.familychildcare.org/pdf/parents/Benefits_of_Mixed_Age_Groups.pdf

People who live in communities of close proximity, like college students, are more likely to contract a virus like mumps.  they go to class and do activities in groups, as well as exchange saliva through sharing food or drinks, making it even more likely for them to get infected.

Pennsylvania isn't the only state experiencing the mumps outbreak -- in 2017, 42 states have reported mumps infections!  

Read the rest of this article in the Get Smart July Newsletter.

Child Care Wellness Mini-grant Project 

We are very excited to announce that the Child Care Wellness Mini-grant Project is officially accepting applications for the 2017-18 program year! 100 selected licensed child care sites will begin the project in September 2017 and complete in June of 2018.

WHO:  100 Licensed Child Care Centers, Group, and Family Child Care Homes Serving Children Birth - Five 

WHAT: PA Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (PA NAP SACC)

 PA NAP SACC is an interactive, easy-to-use online tool that provides professional development for child care providers. This completely web-based process includes self-assessment, action planning, implementation, policy development, post-self-assessment, and reflection.   

WHERE: Online 

WHEN: Applications are due by August 18, 2017.  This Child Care Wellness Mini-grant Project will begin in September 2017 and wrap up in June 2018.

WHY: Beyond the reward of making a difference in the health of the children in your care, participants also receive a $500 mini grant to support their action steps and enhance their nutrition and physical activity practices and policies.

HOW: To apply, please complete and submit the application electronically using the link provided.  **Please note that this application was created in Survey Monkey, and cannot be started and then returned to at a later date to complete. Please allow yourself enough time to complete the application in one sitting. To preview the questions on the application ahead of time, click to access a PDF of the application questions. You can also click here to view the full grant announcement. 

**Remember - Applications are due by August 18, 2017**

Visit this link to apply today:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZRB6PD9

If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Lori McMonigal, Coordinator for Special Projects at Tuscarora Intermediate Unit, at 717-248-4942 x 112 or lmcmonigal@tiu11.org.

Reminder: Complete the New Health & Safety Training Requirements by September 2017 

Free online training is available now for 9 of 10 required topics.
One new requirement of the federal Child Care Development Block Grant is for all child care directors and staff to complete training on 10 health and safety topics by September 30, 2017. Please see OCDEL's Announcement for more information.

In order to meet the new requirements:

• Take a free, six-hour "Health & Safety Basics: Requirements for Certification" course online through Better Kid Care or in person through the Regional Key, or provide transcript of courses already taken that meet the requirements.

AND 

• Must take face-to-face Pediatric First Aid and CPR training.  Child care certification representatives are checking professional development records for these topics as part of inspections and new providers must complete pre-service training on the 10 topics before submitting an application.

Visit the PA Key website  or contact your Regional OCDEL Certification Office for more details.

Children who learn multiple languages will often need to learn multiple words for the same object, so when counting the number of words that a child has acquired, count words in both languages. It may seem that children who are dual language learners know fewer words but the opposite is true when we count words in both languages. Learning two languages does not cause a delay in development. It is critically important though, that teachers use key words in the child’s home language to reinforce and help the child learn words in both languages. Connecting with the child’s family and learning common words can go a long way to help a child develop receptive and expressive language skills.

From Zero to Three Critical Competencies for Infant –Toddler Educators ; 2017

New Standards Work Group 7/27/17, 1:00-3:00, at CAECTI Office, 777 W. Harrisburg Pike, Penn State Harrisburg, Church Hall, 3rd Floor, Middletown with Corrie

ERS Work Group with Amy Hoffman 8/2/17, 10:00-11:30, at Panera Bread, Carlisle Road, York with Carrie - Amy Hoffman will be there to answer any questions you may have!

**************Other Community Meetings******************** 

Lycoming County Early Learning Team 7/20/17, 11:00-1:00 at Penn State Coop Extension, 542 County Farm Road, Montoursville, RSVP Angela Mamrak angmam@pakeys.org

Birth to Five Committee 8/8/17, 10:00-11:30 at Adams County Head Start, 705 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg with Christina

ECE Coalition Meeting 8/9/17, 1:00-3:00 at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, 33 Springbrook Drive, Canton.  RSVP Desiree Rockwell Desiree.Rockwell@memorialhospital.org

Opening of School Year Special Presentation: Nurturing the Resilient Child 8/22/17, 12:30 - 2:00 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 201 W. Louther Street, Carlisle with Marcy Witherspoon, MSW, LSW, Senior Training Specialist, Health Federation of Philadelphia   

Transition to Kindergarten Conference at PATTAN Center, Harrisburg  10/26/2017  For Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lebanon County Educators!  Learn the best transition techniques, ideas, and strategies to implement in the fall!

The Art of Play Early Learning Academy is looking for an experienced child care provider (mother or professional) or early childhood educator to be our part time teacher. Days and hours vary but are flexible. Typical hours are between 7:30am-4:30pm. Check Out Job Details Here!

The Goddard School of State College actively recruiting teaching professionals to partner with our team.  We are currently looking for a Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher.  More Details Here!

2017 ECE Summit Update

ECE Summit Scholarships Available
The 2017 ECE Summit will be held October 16-18, 2017 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA. This annual event provides early care and education practitioners, parents and advocates an opportunity to dialog and learn while building a stronger early learning community.

With support from the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development & Early Learning the Summit will again this year be able to offer scholarship to support staff working in DHS regulated child care programs -- center, group and family to attend the ECE Summit. Additionally, staff from the 32 state- funded Family Centers are also eligible to apply for scholarships to the ECE Summit.

Scholarship funding may be used to pay for Summit registration and/or overnight accommodations. Scholarships will be available for both full and partial Summit registrations or a combination of both.

Scholarships will be awarded with consideration given to geography, availability of funds, and financial need. Apply for an ECE Summit Scholarship here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017SummitScholar

Applications must be submitted by Friday, August 18, 2017 at 11:59 PM EDT. Applicants will be notified of their status via e-mail by Friday, August 25th. More information on the registration process will be provided at that time.