Archive: Resources

Finding Good Preschools. How to I know?

We spoke with Kim Ginn of 4C for Children in Cincinnati, OH for her thoughts on how to select quality preschools for your 3, 4, and 5 year olds.

What Kim had to say:

Be sure to evaluate the physical environment of the Preschool.
1. Look for a clean, safe, and healthy environment. The space should be free of potential safety hazards.
2. Ask about policies on storing and distributing medication.
3. Are the teachers and staff trained in first aid?
4. Is the outdoor play area fenced?
5. Are emergency and exit plans posted and drills practiced regularly?

The importance of group size and ratios
Lower ratios allow teachers to respond and support children’s individual development and learning needs. NAEYC, National Association of Education of Young Children, reccomends 1 teacher for every 10 children with no more than 20 children in a group. A group is the number of children in a room and/or doing the same activities.

Qualified teachers and ongoing training are important for up to date understanding on how children learn and grow.

Trained teachers will:
1. engage children in conversation at the child’s eye level
2. ask who, what, when, where, why, and how questions
3. allow children to choose their own activities and toys most of the time
4. encourage the children to solve their own problems

In a qualified teacher’s classroom you will see boys and girls playing together and hear music, laughter, and singing.

Find quality state and parent rated preschools at MomTrusted.com

Selecting an Inhome or Family Child Care Provider

Charlene Olson, Family Child Care Specialist at 4C for Children, speaks with us about important considerations when selecting an inhome or family child care provider.  Watch the video or read more about the topic below!

What is an inhome or family child care provider?

A family child care home or inhome provider is most often one person caring for a small number of children in her home (not the home of the family).  The children’s ages can range from birth to school age.  People choose inhome care to have a home-like environment for their young children, for the children to receive more one on one attention, or to have interactions with children of different ages.

How many children can be cared for at a time?

State and local regulations vary by location.  Ohio Regulations, Kentucky Regulations

Tips for searching for a family home child care or home preschool provider

– talk to several providers to get a feel for what you like or want your child care provider to have

– ask about fees, hours of operation, vacation and holiday policies

– make appointments and visit a few providers with your child to observe them in the setting and with the daycare provider

– talk to other parents who are currently using the provider or have used the child care provider in the recent past

Characteristics of a good child care home

– warm, nurturing, kind, and patient

– respectful of children as little people/individuals

– laughs with, talks with, and listens to the children

– reads, plays, and sings with the children

– has experience caring for and educating children

– the caregiver nor anyone in the household should ever have been convicted of child abuse or neglect

Be aware of or establish the following policies and procedures

– accepting or exluding sick children

– holiday/vacation payments and time off

– posted emergency numbers including where parents can be reached

– plans for a substitute in case of an emergency

The home environment should

– limit tv watching

– protect stairways, windows, doorways with gates

– have heaters, stoves, electrical appliances, and furnaces out of children’s reach

– have child sized tables, chairs, and potty chairs

– have highchairs and a crib for each infant and a bed or cot for each preschool child

– lock up cleaning supplies and other dangerous chemicals

– cover electrical outlets

– have toys and activities easily accessible to children on low shelves or tables

Daily activities should include:

– quiet active play periods

– enough toys and interesting things to do for each aged child

– babies out of their crib most of their waking hours

– infants and toddlers able to eat and sleep according to their individual needs and schedules

At meal times:

– babies should be held when fed from a bottle

– children should be encouraged to try new foods but not forced to eat

– hands should be washed before meal preparation and eating

– well balanced and nutritious meals served

– food never withheld as punishment

Toilet or Potty training:

– should be viewed as a natural and positive process for the child

– diaper changing surfaces should be disinfected after each baby’s diaper change

– child care providers should wash hands after changing each baby

Health and Safety practices should include:

– a first aid kit should be available at all times

– an established emergency exit route everyone understandds

– a physically healthy caregiver

To find an inhome child care provider near you, search on 249smiles.com

Early Education Gets a Boost

Parents and early education providers are in a unique position right now. We have the opportunity to help, encourage, push our State’s to increase their investment in Early Education & Child Care. Legislation passed on September 18^th (H.R. 3221, or the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009,) allocates over $1 billion per year for the next 8 years to Early Education. Every dollar moving into Early Education is a step in the right direction, so we are very excited to see this happen, although we would always like to see the investment be higher.

The Bill allocates the $1 billion per year to States in two areas, based on the following guidelines.

QUALITY PATHWAYS GRANTS, as awards to high-capacity states pursuing models of reform and excellence in early learning. Innovative plans would already reflect significant progress toward establishing the elements of a comprehensive, high quality early learning system needed to improve quality and learning outcomes for children, and a desire to take such improvements to scale

– DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, as awards to a set of states that show promise for strengthening and expanding their early learning systems, but need additional assistance to launch a standards-based, outcomes-driven system. see ed.gov

This funding is on top of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Feb 09), which included $5 billion for Early Childhood. This Bill is directing funds toward Head Start, early Head Start, preschool grants, child care grants, and special infant programs.

Not all States will benefit equally from this funding, however, and likely several will not receive any help. So, as parents, child care providers, and preschool educators we can influence where this money flows. Contact your State’s Department of Education and Governor and find out what they are doing to receive these funds and what programs they intend on funding. Politics aside, Early Education has significantly trailed other areas of education investment even as research continues to demonstrate its important role in education and career achievement. Funds are coming and we need to make sure they are put to good use.

Step Up to Quality Child Care Provider List :: Cincinnati Ohio

List compiled 9/7/09 – Hamilton County

Step Up to Quality Rated Child Care Programs in Cincinnnati with 3 stars

ARLITT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
CHAMPIONS – REX RALPH
CHILDREN’S FOR CHILDREN
CHILDREN’S FOR CHILDREN – P & G
CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING CENTER – EAST END
CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING CENTER – EAST WALNUT HILLS
CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING CENTER – WESTWOOD
CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING CENTER – WALNUT HILLS
CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING CENTER – HARRISON
CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING CENTER – YWCA OF GREATER CINCINNATI / DOWNTOWN LOCATION
HYDE PARK COMMUNITY UMC PRESCHOOL
MT WASHINGTON U M C CHILD ENRICHMENT CENTER
PLEASANT RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN NURSERY SCHOOL
SYCAMORE PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL
THE CHILDREN’S HOME OF CINCINNATI EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE
UC EARLY LEARNING CENTER
WILLIAM L MALLORY EARLY LEARNING CENTER
YMCA CHILD CARE AT RAYMOND WALTERS COLLEGE
YMCA EARLY LEARNING CENTER (VALLEY)

Step Up to Quality Rated Child Care Programs in Cincinnnati with 2 stars

CHAMPIONS – FAIRFAX
CUB EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY (CAMP WASHINGTON)
CUB EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY (SILVER OAK ESTATES)
EMANUEL COMMUNITY CENTER
FOREST CHAPEL PRESCHOOL NURSERY SCHOOL
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER #1395 (at Montgomery Rd)
MONTGOMERY COMMUNITY CHURCH PRESCHOOL
PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL
SHARONVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WEEKDAY NURSERY
STEPPING STONES CENTER
THE CHARLOTTE R. SCHMIDLAPP CHILDREN’S CENTER
YMCA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER-WEST
YMCA CHRIST CHILD DAY NURSERY

Step Up to Quality Rated Child Care Programs in Cincinnnati with 1 star

A CHILD’S GARDEN
AGAPE CHILDREN’S CENTER
AMAZING GRACE LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL
ANDERSON HILLS PRESCHOOL
CHAMPIONS – INDIAN HILL ELEMENTARY
CHAMPIONS – LOVELAND
CUB EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY (COLLEGE HILL EAST)
CUB EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY (WINTON CAMPUS)
FUTURE ENVIRONMENTS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
HILLTOP PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE
JCC EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL
JOHN WESLEY EARLY LEARNING CENTER
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER (at Anderson Ferry Rd)
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER (at Five Mile Rd)
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER #1561 (at Seven Gables Rd)
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER #421 (at Kemper Rd)
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER #552 (at Loveland Madera Rd)
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER #733
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER – CORNELL
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER – PLAINFIELD
LITTLE LAMB CHILD CARE LEARNING CENTER
LITTLE PEOPLE
LOVELAND CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL
MEMORIAL CHILD CARE
MONTESSORI CENTER FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
PLEASANT RUN CHURCH OF CHRIST DAY CARE
PRECIOUS YEARS LEARNING CENTER
SERENDIPITY EARLY LEARNING CENTER
SON RISE LEARNING CENTER
THEODORE M. BERRY CHILDREN AND FAMILY LEARNING CENTER
VISIONS CHILD CARE & TEEN SUPPORT CENTER
YMCA CHILD CARE AT MONFORT HEIGHTS SCHOOL
YMCA CHILD CARE AT WEIGEL SCHOOL
YMCA NORTHSIDE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Congratulations to these child care centers for achieving stars in Ohio’s quality rating program, Step Up to Quality!

Find more information about these and more child care centers, daycares, and preschools in Cincinnati at 249smiles.com

What does Ratio mean in a Child Care Setting?

A child care ratio is the number of teachers or caregivers to the number of children.

For example, a 1:5 (or 1 to 5 or 1/5) ratio means there will be 1 teacher/caregiver for every 5 children. If there are 15 children, then there must be 3 teachers/caregivers.

Webinar: How to Assess a Child Care Setting

Child Care Aware is running a free webinar for parents on How to Assess a Child Care Option. More about this web event:

Choosing good child care is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your child. How do you know which child care setting meets your family’s needs? How do you assess quality? Join NACCRRA’s outstanding Senior Early Education Specialist and Consumer Education Specialist, Niki Smidt and Mujaahida Latif, for an informative session about what you should look for when you choose a child care center or family child care home. This interactive session include questions and answers, so come armed with your burning questions about child care.

Wednesday July 22nd at 8:30pm – 9:30pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Central 7:30 – 8:30pm, Mountain 6:30 – 7:30pm, Pacific 5:30 – 6:30pm, Alaska/Hawaii 4:30pm/2:30pm

It’s FREE! Click here to REGISTER.

Free Montessori Education in Cincinnati!

Did you know that Cincinnati is a leading city in Montessori? Cincinnati has an extensive Montessori history, educator training program, and public Montessori schools. Read more about it at: Soapbox Media > CPS’s Montessori Story

List of Cincinnati’s Public Montessori Preschools
– Dater Montessori in Price Hill : website | report card | 249smiles link
– North Avondale Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link
– Pleasant Ridge Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link
– Sands Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link
– Winton Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link

Also, here’s some preschools that are not free but still Montessori…

List of Cincinnati’s Private Montessori Preschools
– Central Montessori Academy
– Children’s Meeting House Montessori School
– The Child’s Place Montessori School
– Cincinnati Country Day School
– Discovery Center Montessori Preschool
– Cornerstone Montessori School
– Country Hills Montessori Eastgate | Springboro | West Chester | Harrison | Ft. Thomas | Erlanger
– Farmview Montessori Garden
– Garden Montessori School
– Kennedy Heights Montessori Center
– Kinder Garden School
– Maple Knoll Child Center
– Mercy Montessori Center
– Montessori Academy of Cincinnati
– Montessori Center for Lifelong Learning
– Montessori Center Room
– Northern Kentucky Montessori Center
– Queen of Angels Montessori
– Park Montessori
– Renaissance Montessori School
– St. Rita School for the Deaf
– St. Ursula Villa
– Spring East Montessori
– The Summit Country Day Montessori School
– Terry’s Montessori School 209 | 425 | 435
– The New School Montessori
– Trent Montessori
– Villa Madonna Montessori School

Learn more about Montessori…
Cincinnati Montessori Society
American Montessori Society