National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day - May 9th

On May 9^th, place a piece of green ribbon on your lapel and when asked why you are wearing it share that today is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day for the eighth anniversary.  The primary goal of the day or week is to increase the public awareness on the importance of children’s mental health, that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth.  To gain more information check out the “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration” website and parents look at “Children’s Mental Health – How to Get Help” to let you know you are not alone. 

Here are some activities that can be done for mental health awareness.

1.      Create feeling faces (draw circles on paper then make feeling face).  Ask the children “feeling” questions like:  “How do you feel right now?” and “How do you feel with (child’s name) did that?” using feeling faces then continue the conversation giving positive ways to respond.

2.      Create a feeling chart, when children enter the room place feeling next to their name.  Throughout the day children can change feelings and adult will know when to intervene, if needed.

3.       Role-play different scenarios that have or could happen in the classroom to discuss feelings and the most ways to handle situations.

4.      Write situation completion cards, where children will fill-in-the-blank.  This gives adults the opportunity to discuss and validate feelings and positive alternation resolutions.

5.      Have children draw pictures and discuss with them what was drawn.

6.      Visit local library are search book for children’s age for mental health

7.      Teach children yoga positions.

8.      Blow bubbles to relieve stress.  Help children to recognize body signs when need to blow bubbles.

9.      Dance! Dance!

National Children Mental Health Awareness is day to seek out age appropriate activities all year to work with children ensuring they have the best and understand ways to handle situations.  Mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of but embrace and research what is best for children.  Remember knowledge is powerful!

Bills to Watch in NC

The Bills to Watch continues to grow! A goal is to put the major ones for pre-k education bills at your fingertips. To learn more about any of these bills and their status, visit www.ncleg.net and search in the top right search bar. Look at HB 965 sponsored by Lucas with the Title:  “Teacher Licensure Fees” and a summary to increase teacher licensure fees and grants the state board of education authority to raise fees.  The status is referred to Committee of Education.  Remember knowledge is powerfulJ!

Wake Education Partnership is proud to offer Teacher Leadership Grants for 2013-2014!

 
Innovative Instruction Grants:

• Arts
• Dental Health
• Early Childhood Literacy
• Exceptional Children with Autism
• Life Science
• Math
• Nutrition Health
• Dr. Sherri Merritt Literacy Scholarship
• General (any content not mentioned)
   

Up to $1,000 for an individual teacher application
Up to $3,000 for a professional learning team

Application deadline: April 26, 2013 (Fri.)

Grant workshop attendance is NOT required!

Visit the Partnership's website for Teacher Leadership Grant proposal guidelines and application submission information. For additional questions, call Julie Crain at 919-821-7609 or email jcrain@wakeedpartnership.org. The Partnership offers a special thanks to these proud sponsors of the 2013 Teacher Leadership Grants!

Send Thank You Letters to President Obama

Mail letters and drawing with dictations by the children on your letter that will be delivered to the White House. NAEYC needs all letters by April 29 sent to NAEYC - Attn. Kayleigh Rogers-Torres, NAEYC 1313 L St. NW, Washington DC, 20005. The letters will be collected than sent directly to the White House following security protocols.

 

Here are some suggestions.

1. Work with the children and families at your site to draw and sign your letter as a reminder and thanks for the impact President's Obama proposal will have.
2. If you cannot send children's artwork still send your letter.
3. On the artwork include center's name, city, state and child's age. 

For more information contact Kayleigh Rogers-Torres at 202-350-8840 or via email at krogerstorres@naeyc.org

Here is a sample letter that is from NAEYC (http://www.naeyc.org) website to guide your writing thoughts. 

 Dear President Obama,

As a [TEACHER, DIRECTOR, PARENT, etc.] I want to thank you for offering a comprehensive birth through prekindergarten plan and significant funding in your proposed budget.

I know the value of high-quality early childhood programs. Your plan would help us serve more children in high-quality, comprehensive programs for children starting at birth and each age as a child grows up. Too many children lack the early development and learning support they need and deserve. Too many families cannot afford the programs that let them work and that nurture their young children.

I applaud you for making early childhood education a priority for your Administration and the country. Thank you again for your leadership. By working together, I know that we’ll help ensure that every child enters school ready to succeed and with positive skills that will be valuable throughout his or her life.

Sincerely,

[INSERT NAME]

Remember we must ADVOCATE for our youngest citizens who are not able to vote for acts reflective their lives.

Earth Day - Ways to save our planet all year!

Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22^nd but we must look at doing the activities throughout the year.  This is a great time for children to learn about how to save the environment that will become a part of their day-to-day lives.  Some activities that can be done with children are as following:

Plant a tree – this is a great outdoor activity and an opportunity to take about the importance of trees to the air.  You may want to visit your local library to brush up on your knowledge.

Clean up the classroom – remind children that the classroom is part of their environment and this activity will work on fine motor skills as well.  A clean room cuts down on germs and a clean environment is good for our overall health.

Set up recycle box – in the classroom set up a box with recycle symbol explaining to children different materials they can contribute to the box (e.g., plastic bottles, newspaper, empty cereal boxes).  Write letters and/or engage in conversation with parents on items they can bring to recycle.  With the recycled materials let the children use they creative minds to create classroom art projects or usable materials. 

Use both sides of paper – once information has been used and/or printed on paper do not trash but have a box ready for children to place in then use the other side when needed.  Remember, this paper can be used in the housekeeping center (e.g., writing grocery list, taking order), writing center and other centers.

Turn off lights – one of the classroom helpers can be the child to turn off lights when leaving the classroom.  Talk with the children about the importance of turning off lights when no one is in the room to conserve energy.

Start compost bin – go online with the children and research “how to start a compost bin” and chart the process to creating one for the classroom.  Select the site, ask parents to assist and start composting and if you are planting seeds once compost is ready let the children enjoy the soil. 

Parents as you celebrate “Earth Day” with your child check out these free online games to celebrate.  Also, depending on the age of the child, check out Dr. Seuss’ Lorax on YouTube and you may decide to plant trees and/or flowers at your home.  

Remember, this is all our Earth and we must save the planet.  Teaching our children at young ages to appreciate the planet gives more meaning to “Earth Day”.   

  

Celebration the Week of the Young Child April 14-20

The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  During this week early childhood education programs, individuals and advocate organizations will focus on bringing public attention to the needs of your children and their families.  The theme for the celebration awareness is “Early Years Are Learning Years”, remember children learn everything in the first five years needed that will be built upon as they continue to grow and mature into adulthood. 

If you would like to assist with this awareness but cannot think of what to do then just select one or more of these activities.  Contact local child care facilities and ask to read stories to the children (remember to ask for book titles and practice before reading to children).  Ask local child care facility what events they have planned and how you can volunteer.  If you attend special events (e.g., church, civic organizations) ask leaders to give recognition to children, families and those who work for or with young children highlighting the importance of educating our youngest citizens.  Conduct a brown-bag lunch gathering to inform colleagues of the week and why it is important to share what young children are gaining from being in structured facilities and those who work with them.  In addition, share with the group how they can help to make these learning years more effective for the lives of children in the communities they live in.

Hopefully, the activities have given you some ways to celebrate and bring awareness for WOYC.  Remember, knowledge is powerful.

April is national child abuse awareness and prevention month

April is national child abuse awareness and prevention month.  If you live or travel through the state of North Carolina you may notice blue pinwheels and wonder why?  Child advocacy groups are using them to bring attention and education the public about child abuse.  It is all our responsibility if we see or suspect abuse to contact your county legal officials to determine if further investigation is required.  Remember, the state of North Carolina law says anyone who sees or suspect child abuse must report it or they could be held criminally responsible. Adults must be the voice for children because we must protect them from hurt or harm.  Listen to Dr. Phil on YouTube on why you should help bring awareness to child abuse and prevention deducing the number of children being victims.  President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation that April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Millions of children are being abused or neglected each year that caring for our children must always be our first obligation.  Reassure children that are something is happening that they do not feel comfortable about to be able to come share knowing you are on their side to maintain a stable environment.  Check out the National Child Abuse website for activities you can do with your child not only this month but forward.  Place a blue pinwheel in your yard or window, then start the conversation why you have it.  You are the voice to advocate for children to decline and reduce the number of children being abuses or neglected.  Knowledge is powerful!

April is autism awareness month: Working with autistic preschool age children

 April is Autism Awareness month a time to inform people and plan fundraising activities for research for quality treatment.  Autism is a disorder that affects one in every 110 children in the United States that more attention must be addressed at younger ages.  Some early indicators that one may have autism is lack of interest in social play with same-age children and imaginative play, lack of eye contact, repeating motions or words and delay in speech development for age.  Review this YouTube click titled, “What is Autism?  Do You Know the Signs? for more information on autism.  Presently there is not cure but there are effective treatments that can begin in the child’s early years.

As a preschool teacher or parents these are some activities that can work with autistic children.  Use a dollhouse and pretend the dolls are going through the daily routine at school (pretend play), spray shaving cream on a table and let the child smear it all around (sensory), play a board game like “Candy Land” and reward each child for taking turns (taking turns), play “I Spy” where both children had to look at the same object (sharing experience) and pretend to be different animals where children must mimic animal behaviors and sounds (imitation).

When you engage in these and other activities remember to have fun and offer frequent rewards to keep the autistic child engaged.  As you continue to engage in different activities with the child work on phasing out rewards as the desired behaviors are increased.  Continue to research and provide best practices culturally developmentally age appropriate activities.