Child Care Chatterbox - Mycccc.org

Child Care Chatterbox 

The quarterly newsletter of the Child Care Council of Cornell Cooperative Extension 

Volume 20, Issue 2 www.mycccc.org Summer 2012 

2012 Spring Conference 

This year, the goal we set for our Spring Conference was to present hands on activities and practical information that 

participants could take back to their programs and use with the children on Monday. We challenged each of you to 

show us how you used what you learned and send us a photo of it for the next newsletter. Kelly DeGrace and Mary 

Ann Vanderpool took us up on that and you can see the photos they submitted below. 

Kelly DeGrace attended “Let’s Create” workshop. She was 

so excited that when she left the conference, she went 

straight to the store and bought craft materials to share 

with the children in her DragonFly Dreams Group Daycare! 

“They created very different results, sharing each 

others thoughts while creating” said Kelly. 

Survey for Area 

Businesses 

Recently, we sent a packet of information to area businesses 

which contained detail about the services the 

Child Care Council provides in the community, including 

onsite “lunch and learns” (presentations to the workforce 

about selecting quality child care, issues related to 

child development and child rearing). We asked them to 

contact us if they were interested in more information 

and we were happy to get requests from some of the 

area businesses. 

If you would like an early childhood specialist to do an 

onsite presentation call Ellen at 404-0260. 

Mary Ann Vanderpool was inspired after participating in 

“Recycled Materials” workshop and re-created the St Patrick’s 

Day parade in downtown Utica, using recycled materials 

so the children in her program could stage their own 

parade! 

If you would like ideas to make things out of recycled materials, 

visit our website at www.mycccc.org. You can find 

instructions for Building Box Cards, Creating Invitations for 

Learning, Park and Play Garage, and Fun With Discovery 

Bottles by looking under “For Early Childhood Educators” , 

“Fun With Recycled Materials”. 

Inside this Issue: 

Outdoor Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Fun With Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Activities To Help Foster Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

In the Book Nook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

On Another Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Parent Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10 

Legislative Advocacy Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 

Training Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-14 

Child Care Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Spring Conference 

“In My Own Words” 


“Recycled Materials” 

SPRINGTIME EVENTS WITH THE COUNCIL 

Reading with Mrs. Potts & Clifford 

at the Creative Arts & Education Fair 

If you missed the Spring Conference or the 

SACC Science PLUS! 3-part training in March or the 

Creative Arts & Education Fair in April, you missed some GREAT events! 

Check out these pictures… maybe we’ll see you in some next time! 

CONGRATULATIONS to 

Susanne Cookingham— 

winner of the Artist Easel, Paints and Brushes! 

Susanne attended the Creative Arts & Education Fair 

at MVCC, Utica on April 28 and completed an event survey! 


“Just A Hop, Skip and A Jump” 

Page 2 www.mycccc.org Child Care Chatterbox 

SACC Science PLUS Workshop 

Parachute Fun 

at the Creative Arts & Education Fair

FUN WITH FITNESS 

Many items found around the 

house can be used to keep children 

fit and active in any season or 

weather. 

Try the following activities with 

common household items: 

WATER BOTTLES Fill with colored beads, dried beans, or 

even water to add weight. Vary levels and contents for 

desired heaviness, then work those triceps and biceps. 

SOUP CAN HAND WEIGHTS Build little muscles by raiding 

the pantry. Have the children lift the cans while seated so 

they’re less likely to drop a can on their toes. 

DETERGENT JUG CATCH/SCOOP Use a scoop made from a 

recycled detergent container to toss and catch small balls, 

alone or in teams of two. Be sure to smooth rough edges 

with sandpaper or cover with sturdy tape. Paint and other 

Visit the 

Parker F. Scripture 

Botanical Gardens 

Butterfly House 

and 

Indoor Bee Hive 

Cornell Cooperative Extension 

Oneida County 

121 Second St. 

Oriskany, N.Y. 13424 

736-3394 

Insect activity peaks in 

July & August 

“We do not quit playing 

because we grow old. 

We grow old 

because we quit playing.” 

-Oliver Wendell Holmes 

KEEP FIT WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS 

Source: http://familyfitness.about.com 

decorations are optional. 

BALANCE BEAM Make a balance beam by placing painter’s 

tape directly on the floor, or us an old 2” x 4” beam 

(sanded, to minimize splinters). Start off asking the children 

to walk a simple straight line, then encourage them to 

take turns balancing on the “beam.” After mastering heelto-toe 

walking, have the children try hopping on one foot, 

tiptoeing, or stepping sideways. 

TAPE TARGETS Jump, twist, and reach with simple shapes 

taped to the floor. Create obstacle courses, jumping challenges, 

and twisting games. As an alternative to tape, also 

try non-slip shelf liner cut in shapes, old mouse pads, or 

silicone hot pads. 

INDOOR SOCCER GOAL Get the ball rolling with a simple 

soccer-goal-style target made by hanging a sheet over a 

piece of string or rope. Designate a doorway or the area 

under a table as your goal. 

Playing it Safe 

By Arlene Brouillette 

Summer is fast approaching and we need to take a look at how 

we can keep children safe while playing outdoors. In the magazine 

Teaching Young Children an article entitled “Playing it Safe: 

Tips for preventing Playground Injuries” discusses the fact that 

playgrounds provide lots of fun through play and exploration 

for children, but they can also be dangerous if children are left 

unsupervised. This short, 1-page article highlights the importance 

of conducting a quick survey of the area, steering children 

to age-appropriate equipment, being alert, and discussing 

safety with children, as well as offering other helpful resources. 

To access the article go to http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/ 

Volume 20, Issue 2 888-814-KIDS Page 3

ACTIVITIES TO HELP FOSTER PLAY 

TIPS FOR RAISING ACTIVE HEALTHY & FIT KIDS 

Make it Fun! Show children how much fun it is to be active. 

Run like a gorilla, walk like a spider, hop like a bunny, stretch like a cat, crawl like a crab. 

Have family contests: Who can jump rope the longest, hula hoop the longest, throw a ball the farthest? 

Enjoy: Wheel barrel races, potato sack races, run backwards races, three-legged races, relay races. 

Use parties as an opportunity to promote activity: Ice skating party, bowling party, touch football party 

Get up early with your children to walk the dog. 

After dinner: do jumping jacks together, take a family walk , go on a family bike ride. 

Take it outside: create sidewalk art with chalk and play hopscotch, fly a kite on a grassy field or beach. 

Visit: a playground at a school or a park, a swimming park or hiking trails. 

Play: at a batting cage, miniature golf 

Vegetable Garden Games & Activities 

Vegetable Sorting: Gather an assortment of fresh vegetables 

and let the children sort them by color, size, texture, 

Etc.. 

Vegetable Tasting Party: Cut up a variety of vegetables, 

including some unusual ones the children have probably 

not tasted before. Allow them to taste which ever ones 

they want. Provide tooth picks for the older children to 

pick up their veggies. 

Circle Time: Discuss which vegetables grow underground 

and which ones grow above ground. 

Game: Play Carrot, Carrot, Corn instead of Duck Duck 

Goose. 

Social Studies: Discuss what vegetables come to us from 

other countries. Discuss how veggies are transported to 

the grocery store. 

Veggie Hunt: Hide toy vegetables in sand or in the sensory 

table and have the children dig them up. 

Vegetable Graph: Make a graph of what vegetables the 

kids like and dislike. 

Vegetable Book: Use construction paper folded in half for 

a book. Have the children glue pictures of vegetables in it. 

Felt Board Fun: Make fruit and vegetable shapes for the 

kids to identify. 

Food Group Memory Game: Make your own fruit and 

vegetable flash cards that can also be used as a memory 

game. 

Veggie Seed Sort: Have the children sort vegetable seeds 

out. They can also sort beans or peas. 

Field Trip: Take a field trip to the grocery store or farmers 

market. 

Fish use their bodies to swim 

through the water. They can 

turn their fins and twist their 

bodies to help them move up, 

down, left and right. Encourage 

children to try moving 

their bodies like fish. When 

fish swim together in a group, 

the group has a special name. 

A group of fish is called a 

“school.” The fish move together 

to stay in the group, without bumping into each 

other for protection from predators. Try swimming as 

a school of fish. Remind children to be aware of their 

fish friends while swimming together! 

Run to the Ribbons 

Materials: Brightly colored ribbon 

Directions: 

1. This activity provides visual cues that will get most 

children moving at top speed. Cut the ribbon in 2foot 

lengths and tie it to trees, doors, a water hose, 

etc. 

2. At the word “go”, run from ribbon to ribbon, touching 

each one. 

Extensions: 

� Let your child suggest objects to tie the ribbons to. 

� Let your child give the directions about which ribbon 

to run to first. 

� Use different colors of ribbons and give sequenced 

running directions by color 

Read more on FamilyEducation: http:// 

fun.familyeducation.com/early-learning/growth-anddevelopment/34951.html#ixzz1qbpmvJVK 

Page 4 www.mycccc.org Child Care Chatterbox

Climb a tree 

Catch a grasshopper 

Dig a hole to China 

Pick ripe berries 

Smell the flowers 

Build a fort 

Hide in the bushes 

Feel fuzzy plants 

Peak into a birdhouse 

Burrow through a thicket 

Glide on a tall swing 

Collect rocks and shells 

Whack trees with sticks 

Roll down a hill 

Gaze at the clouds 

Find a secret hide-away 

Follow an animal trail 

Balance on a log 

Toast marshmallows 

Marvel at the Milky Way 

Run through open fields 

Dive into leaf piles 

Build an igloo 

Sleep in a tent 

Catch tadpoles 

Zoom down a sledding hill 

IN THE BOOK NOOK 

Dam up a tiny stream 

Climb up boulder piles 

Skip stones on a pond 

Dig up a carrot 

Paddle a canoe 

Catch a bluegill 

Design a tree house 

Dig in the sand 

Grow a beanpole teepee 

Make mud pies 

Walk barefoot in dew-y grass 

Paint with watercolors 

Play Pooh sticks 

Find a bright feather 

Read books under a tree 

Follow raccoon tracks 

Spy a turtle on a log 

Bicycle through a park 

Snap a photo of a deer 

Make a willow whistle 

Catch a garter snake 

Build a snowman 

Make your own waterslide 

Search for Monarch chrysalises 

Chase a cottontail 

Whistle a happy song 

Nutrition FUN with Brocc & Roll and 

How to Teach Nutrition to Kids 

by Connie Liakos Evers, MS, RD 

Children are notoriously picky eaters. Getting some kids to look past the chicken nuggets and 

pizza they typically eat is no easy feat. Connie Liakos Evers has great ideas on teaching children 

to try new foods that are nutritious by making it fun and delicious at the same time. In How to Teach Nutrition to Kids, 

Evers talks about making small changes in your program to encourage good eating habits. She gives examples of small 

activities you can incorporate to your daily activity plans, as well as whole lesson plans to carry you through a week or a 

month. The author incorporates language arts, math, science, social studies, performing arts, art and physical education 

to the activities. Evers also dedicates a chapter to talk about the media and the advertising that 

is aimed at children, and the role that advertising plays in the childhood obesity issues. 

In Nutrition FUN with Brocc & Roll, Evers gives a lot of usable activities, such as a Pocket Tally for 

children to mark down what food groups they eat. There are hands-on ideas for making a Nutrition 

Abacus, and an assortment of recipes that are interesting, fun and delicious. With spring 

here, it is the perfect time to start a garden with the children in your care. Evers has a chapter 

in this book on starting a garden full of vegetables and fruits. 

Between the two books, you are sure to come up with ideas you can use in your program to 

help the children learn about nutritious foods. And, you might even get them to try new foods 

like asparagus or mangos. For ideas from these two books or other resources in our lending 

library, please call us at 223-7850. 

What Can a Child Do in Nature? 

Sail a walnut-shell boat 

Pen a poem 

Explode touch-me-not 

Seeds 

Splash in puddles 

Splash through a creek 

Nap in a hammock 

Make a snow angel 

Watch a meteor shower 

Listen to an owl calling 

Catch fireflies in a bottle 

Blow dandelion seeds 

Create sandbox sculptures 

Gather acorns for trading 

Climb a hill 

Follow ant trails 

Watch the sun set 

Dig up earthworms 

Suck honeysuckle nectar 

Fly a kite 

Plant a vegetable garden 

Catch snowflakes on your 

tongue 

Skip down a boardwalk 

Stalk a lizard 

Chew on a wild onion 

By Nicole Dillon 

101 Ideas for Parents Who Have Forgotten—And for Children Who Have Not Yet Learned 

(Green Hearts—Institute for Nature in Childhood www.greenheartsinc.org/) 

Feed the birds 

Listen to bullfrogs 

Wear a bedstraw crown 

Walk in the rain 

Swing on a rope 

Have a snowball fight 

Start a flower box 

Jump from rock to rock 

Race a friend 

Sniff a lilac bush 

Fly maple seed helicopters 

Plant a tree 

Go on a picnic 

Play king of the hill 

Find a four-leaf clover 

Pick daisy petals 

Look under stepping stones 

Paint a gourd 

Make leaf rubbings 

Run through the sprinklers 

Start a home bird list 

Water the garden 

Play hide and seek 

Be a chalk artist 

Day dream 


ON ANOTHER NOTE 

WAYS TO USE MUSIC IN EARLY 

CHILDHOOD SETTINGS 

*Use a song to greet each child in the morning, 

or during morning meeting as part of attendance. 

*Use a song or instrumental music during transition times 

such as clean-up time or snack preparation time. 

*Play background music during free play or centers time. Be 

sure the music isn’t too loud or distracting from the 

children’s activities. 

*Play quiet lullabies or soft classical music during nap time 

or rest time. 

*Use music to teach letters, shapes, numbers or any other 

concepts in the curriculum. 

*Sing songs and play instruments as part of the daily 

routine. 

*Use music to enhance games and movement activities. 

*Add music to creative drama and art activities. 

*Use music to help children learn about other cultures and 

other lands. 

*Use music to celebrate special events. 

Oneida County Health Department WIC 

Family Fun Day 

Tuesday July 31 from 10 am—2 pm at Quinn Park, Utica NY 

(located at the corner of Rutger Street and St Vincent Street) 

Fresh fruits and vegetables will be available for purchase 

as well as plenty of activities for the whole family! 

HOW IS YOUR ROOM 

ARRANGED? 

Children appreciate an environment 

that is organized and free of clutter. 

It allows them to explore and enables 

them to make their own choices. 

Just a minimal amount of modifications to your 

space can make a big difference in children’s growth & 

learning experiences! 

Things to consider in an early learning environment: 

Safe and Clean—soft and comfortable; washable 

Room Arrangement—allow a variety of spaces for 

multiple play areas 

Environment—well lit, colorful and bright 

Postings—at eye level; reflect cultural and social 

diversity 

Shelves, Bins, Baskets—in reach of children; labeled 

with words and pictures 

Information for Parents—bulletin board of upcoming 

events, changes, etc. 

For FREE help in creating an environment that 

supports relationships and invites exploration in 

your program, please call the Child Care Council at 

223-7850 ext 222. 


ONEIDA COUNTY 

SUMMER CAMPS 

(partial listing subject to change) 

Boys and Girls Club: 

7:30 am—5:00 pm 

Mel Fite Program 520-6159 

Parkway Site 792-5238 

Main Office 724-2524 

Mohawk Valley Community College: 

8:30 am-4:30pm (to register and bring packet) 

792-5300 

Summer Fun at Lourdes: 7:00 am—5:30pm 

Janis Farley (Our Lady of Lourdes Church) 792-9196 

Camp Bethlehem Day Camp 

(Camp Nazareth Adirondack Center) 

through Catholic Charities 724-2158 X 263 

Sitrin’s Summer Day Camp at Sitrin Campus 

Ages 6-14 yrs 7:30 am - 5:00 pm 737-2255 

Junior Junction Summer Camp 732-7389 

(105 Genesee St) 

Jewish Community Center Summer Camp 

Ages 3-6 yrs 9:00 am—12:00 pm 733-2345 

Rome Parks Recreation Dept @ Pinti Field 339-7656 

Town of Marcy Day Camp 865-8488 

* * * * * * * * * 

REGISTERED SCHOOL AGE 

PROGRAMS 

(do not need packet for summer care) 

YMCA Before care 6:30 am—8:30 am 

Camp 8:30 am—4:30 pm 

After care 4:30 pm—6:00 pm 

Oneida - YMCA Oneida 363-7788 

Rome - YMCA Rome 336-3500 

New Hartford - ST Stephen’s Church 797-4787 

North Utica Senior Center 724-2430 

Oriskany—Eastern Star Extended Care 736-0687 

Whitesboro Tree House Summer Care 768-6712 

Utica - Neighborhood Center 272-2630 

Utica—Thea Bowman (both sites) 797-0748 

Boonville—Hand In Hand 942-5243 

FAMILY LIFE 

At what age is it okay to 

leave my children 

home alone? 

OCFS is often asked questions regarding 

the appropriate age to leave 

a child alone, or what age is appropriate 

to allow a child to begin 

babysitting. There are no straightforward answers to 

these questions. All children develop at their own rate, 

and with their own special needs and abilities. Some 

children are responsible, intelligent, and independent 

enough to be left alone at 12 or 13 years of age. Likewise, 

there are some teenagers who are too irresponsible 

or who have special needs that limit their ability to 

be safe if they are left alone. 

Parents and guardians need to make intelligent, reasoned 

decisions regarding these matters. 

Below are some items for these decision-makers to 

consider before leaving a child alone. Be aware, this is 

just the beginning of issues to consider. It is not an allinclusive 

checklist to guarantee intelligent and reasoned 

decision-making: 

� Consider the child: How mature is the child? How 

comfortable is the child with the circumstances? 

What has the child done in the past to show you he/ 

she is able to take on this kind of responsibility? 

� Consider the child’s knowledge and ability: Does the 

child know how and when to contact emergency 

help? Is the child able to prepare food for him/ 

herself? Are there hazards to the child in the environment 

such as accessible knives, power tools, a 

stove or oven? 

� Consider the circumstances: 

Where will the child be when left 

alone? How long is the child to be 

alone? 

These same questions should be 

asked when considering whether a child is old enough 

to baby-sit. However, when considering a child as an 

adequate baby sitter, you must evaluate these factors 

for both the potential baby sitter as well as the needs of 

the child or children who will be cared for by the baby 

sitter. A child of 12 might be fine alone for two hours in 

an afternoon. Yet, the same child may be incapable of 

responsibly caring for a 5-year-old for that same period 

of time. For more information, visit http:// 

www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/prevention/sp#supervision 


Plan Activities Ahead When you are planning a road trip that will involve the kids, you’ll 

need to plan their activities ahead of time. Estimate the number of hours they will be in 

the car, and according to their age group and their temperament, schedule rest stops so 

that they will have frequent opportunities to get up and stretch their legs to expend that 

excess energy, eat, and use the restroom at frequent intervals throughout the trip. 

Road Snacks Having a variety of good snacks to eat while riding in 

the car helps the time to pass be more quickly. When choosing road snacks, don’t pack anything 

that will be messy, sticky, or stain their clothes or upholstery in the back seat. Dry cereal snack 

mixes, crackers, fresh or dried cut-up fruit, and juice in boxes or sealed sipping cups are good options. 

Bring snacks out at varying intervals, and try offering the kids special snacks that they don’t 

usually get at home. 

Amusement Bags You know your children and what activities they enjoy. Prepare a bag for each 

child that contains things like coloring books, crayons, stickers, a favorite doll or action figure; any toys 

that do not contain small pieces that will get lost in the seats. If your kids use hand-held electronic 

games, make sure to have plenty of spare batteries in the car. 

Small Surprises at Planned Intervals In addition to the individual bags for each child, the adults on board need to 

be prepared to be able to deal with outbursts of, “I’m bored!” You could keep a bag with new coloring books, small, 

inexpensive toys, or a new deck of cards set aside ready to be pulled out when the items they have are no longer 

amusing them. 

Music Helps Sooth…. Before your trip, burn some custom CDs with your kids’ favorite songs that you 

can play either on their personal CD players or on the car’s stereo. Storybooks on CD are a great diversion, 

as well. A road trip is an excellent opportunity to buy a few new DVDs that they have not yet 

seen. Because kids love repetition, be sure to also bring along their old favorite DVDs as well. Make 

up a list of familiar songs to sing with them, have them teach you some new songs that they have 

learned from school, and learn some new songs together. 

I Spy ... is an easy game that requires no pieces or special equipment. One person looks around and 

finds a fixed object that everyone playing the game can see. Then they say, “I spy with my little eye 

something that is …” and then they go on to give clues about the appearance of the object. The other 

players can ask questions about the object until someone guesses the correct answer. The one 

making the correct guess then chooses the next object. 

Twenty Questions … is another guessing game where one person thinks of a well-known person, place or thing. 

Each player gets to ask 20 yes or no questions in order to get clues to discover who or what the thing 

is. The person who correctly guesses the answer leads the next round of the game. 

License Plate ID … Players try to see how many license plates from different state they can identify. 

I am Going on a Journey … This is a memory game. The leader of this game starts off by saying “I am 

going on a journey and I am bringing with me a …(blank).” They then describe an object that begins with the letter A 

The next person must repeat what the first person said and then must add an object that begins with the letter B, 

and so on. Subsequent players must remember all of the objects in alphabetical order. 

FAMILY WELCOME CENTER— Programs for parents, children and the whole family. 

Come, see what we offer… 

GED Classes Financial Literacy 

Citizenship Classes ~ Links to Community Services ~ Health Literacy ~ Career and Education Planning 

English as Second Language (ESL) ~ Career and Education Planning ~ Help with Homework for Children 

WHERE... WHEN... WHERE... 

Kernan Magnet Elementary School Monday through Thursday 10 am to 6 pm Resource Center for 

929 York Street , Utica Friday: By appointment Independent Living (RCIL) 

(315) 738-7310 409 Columbia St, Utica 


CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND LEARNING 

NEW YORK STATE 

EARLY LEARNING 

ALIGNMENT 

The most effective teachers plan experiences that are 

meaningful for children. In New York State there are 

three resources to guide early care and learning professionals 

in understanding children’s development and 

crafting meaning experiences. These documents are 

based on the same research and are aligned in their vision 

of how children develop and what children should 

know and be able to do from birth to age five. To read 

more about the NYS Early Learning Alignment visit: 

ccf.ny.gov/HS/hsResources/alignment 

Lead Poisoning In 

Young Kids 

The threshold for lead poisoning in 

young children has been lowered– the first time in 

20 years. This means that hundreds of thousands 

more youngsters could be diagnosed with high 

levels of lead. Too much lead is harmful to developing 

brains and can mean a lower IQ. For more 

information, visit the Center for Disease Control 

at www.cdd.gov. 

RANKING OF STATE 

STANDARDS 

he National Association of Child 

Care Resource & Referral Agencies 

(NACCRRA) released its latest 

report in March, ranking states on their current small 

family child care home standards and oversight policies. 

The report, entitled Leaving Children to Chance: 

NACCRRA’s Ranking of State Standards and Oversight 

of Small Child Care Homes: 2012 Update reveals that 

most states fail to protect the health, safety and wellbeing 

of children being cared for in small family child 

care homes. According to the report, only four states 

scored 70 percent or higher on the basic requirements 

needed to ensure that children are safe and in settings 

that promote healthy development. To download the 

full report, go to http://www.easterseals.com/site/ 

PageNavigator/ntlc10_mffc_homepageasq.html 

Seizures in Children Treatment - 

Self-Care at Home 

Adapted from http://www.emedicinehealth.com 

Your initial efforts should be directed 

first at protecting the child from 

additionally injuring himself or herself. 

�Help the child to lie down. 

�Remove glasses or other harmful objects in the area. 

�Do not try to put anything in the child's mouth. In 

doing so, you may injure the child or yourself. 

�Immediately check if the child is breathing. Call 911 to 

obtain medical assistance if the child is not breathing. 

�After the seizure ends, place the child on one side and 

stay with the child until he or she is fully awake. 

Observe the child for breathing. If he or she is not 

breathing within 1 minute after the seizure stops, then 

start mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing (CPR). Do not 

try to do rescue breathing for the child during a 

convulsive seizure, because you may injure the child or 

yourself. 

�If the child has a fever, acetaminophen (such as 

Tylenol) may be given rectally. 

�Do not try to give food, liquid, or medications by 

mouth to a child who has just had a seizure. 

�Children with known epilepsy should also be pre 

vented from further injury by moving away solid 

objects in the area of the child. If you have 

discussed use of rectal medication (for example, 

Valium) with your child's doctor, give the child the 

correct dose. 

ONLINE TOOL 

TRACKS CHILD DEVELOPMENT 

One in five households with children has a child with a special 

health care need who could benefit from screening and 

services, but less than 20 percent of children under age five 

receive a developmental screening, according to the National 

Survey of Children’s Health 2007. A new free online 

screening tool is designed to help parents easily track their 

children’s development through age five. Traditionally 

used by clinicians, therapists, professionals and educators, 

Brookes Publishing’s Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is 

now available parents and caregivers on the Easter Seals’ 

Make the First Five Count Web site. Be prepared to answer 

a questionnaire prior to accessing the information. 

The questionnaire can aid parents in identifying potential 

issues so that any concerns can be addressed to make sure 

that children receive appropriate services and are ready to 

enter school. Access the Easter Seals Web site and the ASQ 

at http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageNavigator/ 

ntlc10_mffc_homepageasq.html 


HEALTHY INFORMATION 

TEN ACTIONS ALL PARENTS CAN TAKE TO 

HELP ELIMINATE BULLYING 

� adapted from education.com 

The latest research shows that one in three children are directly involved in bullying as a perpetrator, 

victim, or both. And many of those who are not directly involved witness others being bullied 

on a regular basis. No child is immune—kids of every race, gender, grade and socio-economic 

sector are impacted. But it doesn’t have to be this way. As parents we have the power to help reduce bullying. 

Here are Education.com’s top ten actions you can take to help address bullying: 

1. Talk with and listen to your kids—everyday. Spend a few minutes every day asking open ended questions about who 

they spend time with at school and in the neighborhood, what they do in between classes and at recess, who they have 

lunch with, or what happens on the way to and from school. 

2. Spend time at school and recess. Whether you can volunteer once a week or once a month, you can make a real difference 

just by being present and helping to organize games and activities that encourage kids to play with new friends. 

3. Be a good example of kindness and leadership. Your kids learn a lot about power relationships from watching you. 

When you get angry at a waiter, a sales clerk, another driver on the road, or even your child, you have a great opportunity 

to model effective communication techniques. Don’t blow it by blowing your top! Any time you speak to another person 

in a mean or abusive way, you’re teaching your child that bullying is OK. 

4. Learn the signs. It is important for parents and teachers to learn to recognize possible signs of being victimized, such as 

frequent loss of personal belongings, complaints of headaches or stomachaches, avoiding recess or school activities, and 

getting to school very late or very early. 

5. Create healthy anti-bullying habits early. Coach your children on what not to do—hitting, pushing, teasing, "saying na-na 

-na-na-na," or being mean to others. Help your child to focus on how such actions might feel to the child on the receiving 

end (e.g., “How do you think you would feel if that happened to you?”). 

6. Help your child’s school address bullying effectively. Whether your children have been bullied or not, you should know 

what their school is doing to address bullying. 

7. Establish household rules about bullying. Your children need to hear from you explicitly that it’s not normal, OK, or tolerable 

for them to bully, to be bullied, or to stand by and just watch other kids be bullied. Make sure they know that if 

they are bullied physically, verbally, or socially (at school, by a sibling, in your neighborhood, or online) it’s safe and important 

for them to tell you about it—and that you will help. 

8. Teach your child how to be a good witness or positive bystander. Although it’s never a child’s responsibility to put him 

or herself in danger, kids can often effectively diffuse a bullying situation by yelling “Stop! You’re bullying” or “Hey, that’s 

not cool.” Kids can also help each other by providing support to the victim, not giving extra attention to the bully, and/or 

reporting what they witnessed to an adult. 

9. Teach your child about cyber bullying. Children often do not realize what cyber bullying is. Cyber bullying includes sending 

mean, rude, vulgar, or threatening messages or images; posting sensitive, private information about another person; 

pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad; and intentionally excluding someone from an 

online group. 

10. Spread the word that bullying should not be a normal part of childhood. All forms of bullying are harmful to the perpetrator, 

the victim, and to witnesses and the effects last well into adulthood (and can include depression, anxiety, substance 

abuse, family violence and criminal behavior). 

June 29th is MUD DAY - need we say more? 

World Forum International Mud Day 2012 

International Mud Day is children and early childhood 

professionals all over the world celebrating nature, 

outdoors, and mess by getting really muddy. 

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful. 

-- ee cummings 


LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLS 

Tips for Visits with Elected Officials 

� Call ahead to arrange a visit. 

� Arrive early. 

� Avoid bringing any questionable items or wearing excessive amounts jewelry that might set off any 

metal detectors and hold you up. 

� Contact info for our elected officials is on our website at mycccc.org or go to http:// 

assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?zip (for Assembly members) or http://www.nysenate.gov/contact_form (for Senate members) 

� Dress nicely and appropriately for your meetings. 

� Bring your cameras. Gathering together for a photo will help you establish a relationship and will provide a tangible 

memory of your visit. Also you can send the photo to your newspaper for press coverage. 

For more valuable advocacy tools, go to http://www.winningbeginningny.org/WBNYMarketingKit.php 

Talking Points For Early Childhood Education 

Students that participate in quality early care and learning programs are more likely to: 

� Graduate from high school 

� Attend college and get higher paying jobs 

� Avoid teen pregnancy 

� Avoid welfare dependency 

� Avoid delinquency and/or crime 

As a result of decreased subsidy funding, families have experienced: 

� Increased parent fees 

� Fewer available subsidies 

� Fewer child care options as programs struggle with rate changes and delayed payments. 

Employers are affected too. Studies show that employees with childcare problems can lead to: 

� Increased tardiness and absenteeism (29% of employed parents experienced some kind of child care breakdown in the 

past three months resulting in absenteeism, tardiness and reduced concentration at work [ABT Associates]) 

� Higher turnover rates (The average American working parent misses nine days of work per year, which increases to thirteen 

as children move through daycare into elementary school. The results are high turnover in employees and an estimated 

one and half times annual salary for an exempt employee and three-quarters of annual wages for hourly workers 

[Phillips and Resiman 1992]). 

� Higher recruiting and training costs 

● QSNY is a cost effective rating and improvement system that is designed to help parents access the best possible care for 

their child while raising the quality of all early care and learning programs. 

● We use rating systems every day to make decisions about restaurants, movies, and buying a new car. Yet parents don’t 

have all the information they need to help them make a decision in choosing an early learning program for their child. 

● More than two dozen states have already adopted similar programs. 

ATTENTION INFANT AND TODDLER ADVOCATES 

According to Zero to Three, “infants and toddlers are the single largest group of children entering foster care. Every year 

nearly 200,000 children aged birth to 3 years come into contact with the child welfare system and 76,862 are removed from 

their parents care. Of the 1,740 who died of abuse and neglect in 2008, nearly 80% were less than 3 years old. It is during 

the first years of life when the brain undergoes it’s most dramatic development. Early experiences both positive and negative 

have a decisive effect on how the brain is wired”. For more information go to http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/ 

federal-policy/childwelfareweb.pdf 


***Visit www.mycccc.org for the latest additions to our training calendar*** 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 

Informational Sessions for Prospective Family Child Care Providers. These 

sessions familiarize those interested in becoming a NYS certified family/ 

group family child care provider with the application process, NYS regulations 

and services available to assist in start-up and beyond! Presented by 

Child Care Council staff. 

Fee: FREE, pre-registration is required by calling 223-7850 

3 4 

10 11 Make & Take: 

Use of Dolls: Is It 

Just Dramatic Play? 

6pm—8pm TBD in 

Herkimer County 

Friends of Children 

Early Childhood 

Recognition Dinner 

5 

12 

Informational 

Session 

4 pm to 6 pm @ 

Little Falls Public 

Library 

6 Conscious 

Discipline II 

5:30 pm to 9:00 pm 

@ Farm & Home 

Cntr, Oriskany— 

topic areas 1,3 

$25 fee. 

13 Beyond Centers 

& Circle Time I 

5:30 pm to 9:00 pm 

@ Farm & Home 



$25 fee. 

17 18 19 20 Beyond Centers 

& Circle Time II 

5:30 pm to 9:00 pm 

@ Farm & Home 



$25 fee. 

24 25 26 

Informational 

Session 


Remsen Library 

TRAINING/EVENT CALENDAR 

June 2012 

CALL 223-7850 to register 

1 FARM 

FEST 

4:30-9:00 


7 

14 SUNY Video 

conference— 

Behavior Management 

(NOTE: Not 

available in 

Oriskany) 

27 28 SUNY Video 

conference— 

Behavior Management 

ORISKANY 

SITE ONLY 

2 

8 9**MAT class 

8 am to 5 pm 

at the Oneida 

Cnty. Farm & 

Home Center. 

Call Arlene at 

ext 227 for 

more info. 

15**MAT class 

Independent Study 

9 am to 1 pm 

Oneida Cnty Farm 

& Home Center. 

Call Arlene at ext 

227 for more info. 

16 

21 22 23 Herb & 

Flower Fest 

9:00-3:30 

29 

MUD DAY 

**This course is a mandatory component of gaining NYS certification to administer medications to the children in your program. The independent 

study MAT course tuition is $80. MAT Fee: $120, non-refundable. For more information or to register for MAT classes, contact Arlene at 223- 

7850 x 227.(Funding is available through NYS to cover $100 of the fee. For information on funding, contact SUNY at 800-295-9616 or 

www.tsg.suny.edu) 

30


1 2 3 

8 9 10 

15 16 

*Health & Safety 

Training for 

Family/Group 

Family Day Care 

10 am to 4 pm @ 

Farm & Home 

Center, Oriskany 

17 


Training for 

Family/Group 


10 am to 4 pm @ 

Farm & Home 


22 23 24 

Info. Session 


Utica Library 

29 30 31Make and 

Take: Use of 

Dolls: Is It Just 

Dramatic Play? 6 

pm to 8 pm TBD 

in Madison Cnty 


July 2012 



4 5 6 7 

11 12 13 14 


Training for 

Family/Group 


10 am to 4 pm @ 

Farm & Home 


18 

Info. Session 


Basloe Library, 

Herkimer 

19 

25 26 

Info. Session 


Earlville Library 

20 21 

27 28 

> Pre-registration is required for all Child Care Council-sponsored professional development 

workshops. 

> Refunds/credits will not be given to no-shows. 

> Scholarship funding to participate in training may be available through the Educational Incentive 

Program (EIP). For more information, on scholarship funding visit www.tsg.suny.edu. You 

may also contact EIP at eip@tsg.suny.edu or 800-295-9616. 

*Health & Safety Competency Training for Family/Group Family Child Care Providers This training fulfills the mandatory 15 hour Health & Safety training 

requirement necessary to become a NYS regulated family or group family child care provider. Presented by a NYS certified Health & Safety trainer. Fee: 

$260 reimbursable through SUNY Health & Safety Rebate upon registration. Payment must be received via money order or bank cashier's check. 



5 6 

1 2 3 4 

7 8 9 10 

12 13 14 15 

Informational 

Session 


Bridgeport Public 

Library 


16 

17 **MAT 

class Independent 

Study 1 pm to 

5 pm Herkimer 

Cnty. Call Arlene 

at ext 227 for 

more info. 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 


August 2012 



29 

Informational 

Session 


Clinton Library 

30 31 

11 

**MAT class 

10 am to 6 pm in 

Herkimer Cnty. 

Call Arlene at 

ext 227 for more 

info. 

Informational Sessions for Prospective Family Child Care Providers. These sessions familiarize those interested in becoming a NYS certified 

family/group family child care provider with the application process, NYS regulations and services available to assist in start-up and beyond! 

Presented by Child Care Council staff. Fee: FREE, pre-registration is required by calling 223-7850. 

**This course is a mandatory component of gaining NYS certification to administer medications to the children in your program. The 

independent study MAT course tuition is $80. MAT Fee: $120, non-refundable. For more information or to register for MAT 

classes, contact Arlene at 223-7850 x 227. (Funding is available through NYS to cover $100 of the fee. For information on funding, contact 

SUNY at 800-295-9616 or www.tsg.suny.edu) 

18

RNs, Nurse Practitioner, Physician 

or Physician Assistants 

The Medication Administration Training (MAT) - Training of 

Trainers (TOT) is a three-day course designed to prepare licensed 

healthcare providers to effectively facilitate the child 

care provider medication administration course. The TOT covers 

the entire MAT provider curriculum in detail and focuses 

on objectively observing participant skills and competency. 

Prospective trainers will be expected to pass a written test, 

and successfully demonstrate observation of skills demonstration 

and a teach-back component. Training is offered at no 

charge and successful participants will be provided with 

training materials. 

If you are a Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, 

Physician or Physician Assistant, currently licensed in New York 

State, and you have a working knowledge of Child Day Care 

regulations in NY, you may qualify to share your professional 

expertise and guidance while earning some extra income. 

For more information, visit http://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/ 

or e-mail MAT@pdp.albany.edu or 

call: 518-443-5940/800-295-9616 

Trouble with Biting, or 

Behavior Issues? 

The Child Care Council can offer 

you FREE on-site assistance! 

�Are you searching for effective ways to deal with biting or 

other difficult behaviors? 

�Would you like tips on effective ways to talk with parents 

about issues or concerns? 

�Would you or your staff benefit from a free, on-site, technical 

assistance program developed to increase the quality of your 

program? 

�Do you have other questions about best-practices when caring 

for your infants, toddlers, preschoolers or school-agers? 

�Could your child care program use a room arrangement 

make-over? 

We have experts available to help you increase the quality of 

care for children in your program through free, on-site Technical 

Assistance upon request. You may qualify for training 

credit. For further information on Technical Assistance, 

please call 315-223-7850 ext 222 or email taa24@cornell.edu 

CHILD CARE BULLETIN BOARD 

NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE 

The Child Care Council recently purchased new 

resources that should prove to be of great value 

to your program! 

.Caring for Infant and Toddlers 

.How to Motivate Staff 

.Children with Challenging Behavior 

.Communicating Effectively with Parents 

.Dealing With Difficult People 

.Building An Effective Team 

.Inspiring Practices Part I 

.Leading People 

.Observing Children Part I 

.Observing Children Part II 

.Child Assessment 

.Leadership Challenges 

.Perspectives on Change 

.Nutrition and Childhood Obesity 

.Implications of Brain Research Part I 

.Implications of Braine Research Part II 

.Multiple Intelligences Guide in the Early Childhood Classroom 

.Making Toys for School-Age Children 

Video resources: 

.Normal Development in the First Ten Years of Life 

.Normal Development in Middle Childhood and Adolescence 

If you are interested in borrowing any of these resources, 

please call Mariann 223-7850 ext 236. 

NYS School-Age Care 

Credential Preparatory Program 

With a minimum of 5 participants, the Child 

Care Council will once again offer the NYS 

School-Age Care Credential (SACC) that promotes quality services 

to children and families by providing specific standards, 

training and evaluation of school-age staff and providers. 

Coursework, written work and evaluations are based around a 

candidate’s competency in 14 different skill areas. Classes will 

start August 27 and will run every Monday from 9am to 

12noon through May 2013 (except for Holidays) at the Farm & 

Home Center, Oriskany. For more information on SACC, contact 

Richelle at the Council, 223-7850 ext 226. 

to: MVCC Kiddie Campus 

Child Care Center 

for achieving accreditation by NAEYC… 


The Child Care Council promotes and supports quality child care and services related to the education and well-being of children. 

The Child Care Chatterbox is a quarterly resource and informational newsletter published by the Child Care Council 

and is made possible with funding from the NYS Office of Children & Family Services. 

Child Care Council Staff: 

Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen, Council Director, lmk23@cornell.edu (223-7850 x223) 

Tammy Ablang, Referral/Provider Services Specialist, taa24@cornell.edu (223-7850 x222) 

Arlene Brouillette, Infant/Toddler Specialist, aab36@cornell.edu (223-7850 x227) 

Lori Bunce, Oneida County Enhanced Referral Specialist, lab99@cornell.edu (731-3426) 

Beverley Burton, CACFP Monitor Assistant, bjb255@cornell.edu (223-7850 x229) 

Nicole Dillon, Early Childhood Educator, njd63@cornell.edu (223-7850 x231) 

Christine Dutcher, Legally Exempt Clerical Examiner, cad227@cornell.edu (266-6161) 

Donna M. Gatto, Financial Supervisor, dmg23@cornell.edu (223-7850 x224) 

Joan Gorton, Intensive Technical Assistance Educator, jhg274@cornell.edu (223-7850 x232) 

Mariann Joslin, Administrative Assistant, mj284@cornell.edu (223-7850 x236) 

Lori North, Legally Exempt Coordinator, Oneida County, lrn22@cornell.edu (798-5811) 

Michael Perkett, Legally Exempt Home Examiner, map345@cornell.edu (798-5811) 

Ellen Perrone, Herkimer County CCR&R Coordinator, elp32@cornell.edu (867-1555) 

Amanda Samsel, Legally Exempt Program Assistant, als354@cornell.edu (798-5024) 

Kim Schillaci, CACFP Monitor Assistant, kas393@cornell.edu (223-7850 x234) 

Richelle Singer, CACFP Coordinator, rfs35@cornell.edu (223-7850 x226) 

Jodie E. Southwick, Enhanced Referral Specialist, Madison County, jen8@cornell.edu (361-1890) 

The Child Care Council is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. 

Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County office if you have any special needs. 

121 Second Street 

Oriskany, NY 13424 

www.mycccc.org 

If you have any questions, contributions or suggestions for this newsletter, 

please contact us at 223-7850. Please call if you no longer wish to receive this publication. 

Main Office: 

121 Second Street 


315-223-7850 ~ 888-814-KIDS 

Fax 315-223-7855 

Main Office Hours: 

Monday—Friday 

8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m. 

Satellite Offices: 

Herkimer Co. DSS, 

Herkimer ph. 315-867-1555 

Fax 315-867-1528 

Madison Co. DSS, 

Wampsville ph. 315-361-1890 

Fax 315-366-3039 

Oneida Co. DSS 

Utica ph. 315-731-3426 

Fax 315-266-6188 

Visit us on the web: 

mycccc.org 

NONPROFIT ORG 

U.S. Postage Paid 


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