Urge Congress to reauthorize funds for child care

Today, more than 11 million children under age 5 are in some type of child care setting every week while their parents work.  On average, children of working mothers spend 36 hours every week in child care. 

A recent parent survey conducted by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) found that more than 50 percent of families with children under the age of 5 said the economy has impacted their child care decisions.  Parents need to know that their children are in safe, high-quality care settings to ensure that they get the strong start they need to succeed in school and in life. 

　

Parents’ Day is Sunday (July 25). It’s a great time to ask Members of Congress to honor parents everywhere by reauthorizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the federal law that allocates funds to the states for child care.

 

With the President’s FY 2011 Budget proposing a $1.6 billion increase in child care – the largest one-year increase ever – Congress has a tremendous opportunity to reauthorize and strengthen CCDBG to improve the quality of care for all children.

 

Sending a letter to your Senators and Representative is easy. Click here for a sample letter - either revise it to include your own words or personal story or send it as it’s currently written.

 

On this occasion of Parents’ Day, let’s remind Congress that we want our children in child care settings that are safe and promote their healthy development!

 

Indiana loses ground on state child care rankings

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)  recently updated their We CAN Do Better, Ranking of State Child Care Center Regulation and Oversight report.  The average score for states was 83 out of 150 points—the equivalent of an F. Indiana scored 89 and ranked 21.  When the report was released two years ago, Indiana was ranked 18.

The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, is our nation’s leading voice for child care.  They work with more than 700 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies nationwide. These agencies help ensure that families in 99 percent of all populated ZIP codes in the United States have access to high-quality, affordable child care. 

Day Nursery’s Child Care Answers program is a NACCRRA member and assists parents and child care providers in Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks and Johnson counties.

Get Your Children Moving

Has cabin fever started to set in at your house yet?  Here are some great tips for keeping your young children active when it is too cold to go outside for more than a few minutes of fresh air. At Day Nursery, children go outside every day per Indiana state licensing requirements, unless the temperature is below 25 degrees or the severity of the weather poses a safety hazard. For most children, a quick trip outside isn’t enough activity to satisfy their need to move. Here are a few suggestions that we use in the Day Nursery centers that you can try at home. If you like what you read here, you can get a regular helping of great ideas for parents when you sign up for the Parent Central monthly newsletter written by the experts at the  National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral agencies (NACCRRA).

Infants
Kicking and Moving: Put your baby on the floor on her back, and hold a soft object (like a stuffed animal) that she can kick. Act excited when she does. Give your baby a rattle or other noisemaker that he can shake. Babies love it when they can make things happen.
Patty-Cake: Your baby might not yet know the words. But, clapping hands and playing patty-cake gives him a chance to get moving.
Toddlers
Moving Like Animals: Call out names of zoo and farm animals. Once you have said the name, your toddler (and you!) should move the way the animal does, and make noises like the animal. It will be fun and help your young one use some energy.
Dancing: Everyone can dance. Play your toddler’s favorite music or yours – anything with a good beat – and dance together. Don’t be afraid to get into the music – the more you move around, the better
Preschoolers
Cleaning the House: Preschoolers love to help with chores.  Take advantage before this interest before it quickly disappears.  Chores such as setting the table, light dusting, picking up toys or sweeping are great ways to keep your child active. Put on some music to make the work more fun.
Stretching Out: Work on your flexibility (touching your toes, doing arm circles, jumping jacks) and help your child learn how to exercise healthfully by stretching together.

Counting down to the election

Volunteers at the recent Step Up for Kids day were spotted wearing this message on their tshirts.

Because many Day Nursery parents and staff members lead hectic lives, last week we arranged to make one thing easier for them.  Volunteers visited four of our centers to register people to vote.  Twenty new voters were signed up during this time. 

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (NACCRRA) sent out an email last week asking parents how much they know about the candidate’s position on major children’s issues and urging parents to speak out up on these issues.  Here is an excerpt from their email and a link to their positions.

One thing we know for sure– during these uncertain times, making child care a priority for the presidential candidates will be a challenge. We know the candidates have a lot to consider right now, but we need to continue make our voices heard about accessible and high quality child care. After all, parents can’t work without child care, and our economy can’t recover without working parents. Now is the time to learn more about the presidential candidate’s positions on children and child care. Both have posted information about their positions.
http://www.naccrra.org/policy/every_child_matters/candidate_positions.php