MomTrusted on Parenting, Kids, and Early Education

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

How to Select Quality Infant and Toddler Care

Christine Fields, Infant/Toddler Specialist at 4C for Children, talks to us about important considerations when choosing care for your child from newborn to 3 years old.

Find the full list here: http://www.4cforchildren.org/PS/qualityccc.html
Also, print off this checklist to take with you when visiting care options.

Summary of Interview

3 Aspects of Safe and Healthy Care for your Infant or Toddler:

1 – Group Size and Ratio – What is the maximum number of children allowed in the infant/toddler setting at one time? The fewer the better! When ratios are lower children form better relationships with their care providers and receive more one on one time with them.

2 – Consistency of Care Provider – Are the same caregivers with the children everyday? Infants and toddlers need to be able to build secure attachments and strong relationships with their caregivers to develop and grow. Children comfortable with the care providers will be more likely to explore their environment.

3 – Environment – Is the care environment child friendly? Is there space for children to move freely throughout the room? Are there child size furnishings with age appropriate activities for children to explore?

Source: 4C for Children

Begin your search for Quality Child Care Centers Now!

Future Of Education

There are no shortages of challenges and problems in our Early Education system. We created 249smiles to solve one particularly poignant problem, but it is only the tip of the iceberg. In the process we have been introduced to some great people/organizations working on very innovative solutions and people/groups that continue to, in my opinion, throw good money at bad solutions. But, we are innovators at heart, so we follow many of these conversations and initiatives trying to imagine solutions to the myriad problems facing our Early Education, and more broadly, our Education system.

There are plenty of people who will talk about the problems; I think the more interesting conversation revolves around those trying to create solutions. I want to introduce one of those conversations that recently sparked my interest. A couple of months ago Union Square Ventures brought together a group of “…academics, entrepreneurs, educators, and administrators” to a session the named Hacking Education

The session focused on driving dialogue between, groups that don’t communicate too frequently. I highly recommend reading the transcripts of the meeting, though a bit disjointed at times, the thinking challenges our current approach to fixing education and what education may, or should, look like in the future. Whether you agree with any of the conclusions or schools of thought (no pun intended), the conversation should be applauded. The event connected disparate groups of sharp thinkers to better understand, holistically, the challenges and requirements of a sustainable solution. This type of conversation will help avoid the “Not invented here” syndrome, we have seen with many organizations and initiatives.

The problem is complex, with many moving parts. Assuming that a solution will arise from any one silo is naïve. We need to encourage more of this interdisciplinary conversation and drive it to action. The current economic situation cannot be an excuse for not addressing the underlying problems. If it were a purely budgetary concern, this would have been solved during the boom years. But, the problem persists. I argue that when we, as a community or society, deem a problem important enough to ‘need fixin’, the money becomes fairly irrelevant. Poor or rich, with kids or without, the success or failure of our education system will affect you. Engaging now gives you, and your community, a head start. You can start small…start a conversation – simply talk to people you know about the problems you see. You can start bigger…mentor a student – share some of your wisdom. Or, you can go big…start creating solutions – we all have unique talents and this is a problem that requires an integrated solution, so put your talents to work and make your mark.

Daddy Moments

Little Moments, Big Smiles

Life is hectic. Asking someone how they are doing returns a familiar tale: too much to do and too little time. In the end, it really doesn’t matter why we feel like that. The simple point is that most of us feel like we are barely keeping our heads above the water. I know this well. I’ve made operating on 4-5 hours of sleep an art, if not a science. So with two little ones, a full time job, and a start up, there’s not a lot of time to go around. But, regardless of my work, responsibilities, or whatever, the most important thing I have to do, is be a Dad. That is why I smile every time I see this

It’s easy to forget how much each little minute matters. It might be painting, reading, playing baseball or being a hair model (you would be amazed at the amount of clips and “ponies” a 3 year old can attach to your head). The activity is irrelevant. What matters is the time, the engagement, and the love that’s shared. The first three and a half years of my daughter’s life have flown by and it scares me to imagine how much faster it will start to seem.

So Dads! Let’s be greedy! Let’s promise to steal as many of those moments as possible. Sometimes there are legitimate and important things keeping us from those moments. But understand this – There will always be reasons; the moments, however, are ever fleeting.

With Father’s Day around the corner, I am pledging to be a Greedy Dad. I promise to beg, borrow, and steal as many Daddy Moments as possible. Who’s with me?  Who else pledges to be greedy?

Pledge to be a Greedy Dad! Post a comment on this page to make your pledge.

Now post this on your blog or social profiles! Let everyone know about your commitment to being a greedy dad.

<a href="http://blog.249smiles.com/?p=137" mce_href="http://blog.249smiles.com/?p=137" target="_blank" id="link_69673c41d0fac"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq218/249smiles/greedydadpledge.png" mce_src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq218/249smiles/greedydadpledge.png" border="0" alt="249smiles.com Greedy Daddy Pledge" /></a><script>_kmq.push(["trackClickOnOutboundLink","link_69673c41d0fac","Article link clicked",{"Title":"<img src=\"http:\/\/i449.photobucket.com\/albums\/qq218\/249smiles\/greedydadpledge.png\" mce_src=\"http:\/\/i449.photobucket.com\/albums\/qq218\/249smiles\/greedydadpledge.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"249smiles.com Greedy Daddy Pledge\" \/>","Page":"Daddy Moments"}]);</script>
(copy the code from this text box and paste it into your blog or profile)

Kudos to Campbell-Ewald the creative agency that created this spot.

Types of Child Care

When searching for care there are several things to consider. What are my options for child care? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of care? And what should I look for when interviewing providers and visiting centers?

Karen Middendorf, Director of Parents Services at 4C for Children, talks to us about these important considerations in the video below.

For more information from 4C for Children go to: www.4cforchildren.org
Also, view this list at: http://www.4cforchildren.org/PS/types.html

What are the my options?
1. Child care centers
2. Inhome or Family care providers
3. Nannies
4. Babysitters

What do these child care types mean?
1. A child care or early education center is a state licensed facility with multiple teachers and children. Some centers have established teaching curriculums while others serve more as daycares.
2. Inhome or family care providers care for children in the providers home. Some inhome providers care for their own children in addition to children from other families, while others choose to care for children from several families in their home. Some states require this type of provider to register for a state license or certificate.
3. A nanny is a child care or early education provider that offers full time care in the family’s home. Nannies can live-in or live-out of the family’s home. Au pairs are a type of nanny who are foreign citizens that travel in to work with a family.
4. A babysitter is a child care or early education provider that offers part time, occasional, evening, or weekend care.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of child care? What should I look for when I interview a provider or visit a center?

Child Care Centers

Child Care Center Advantages
– licensed by the city or state
– trained staff
– age appropriate activities, equipment, and supplies
– dependable care
– social environment for your child
– supervised caregivers
– structured

Child Care Center Disdavantages
– exposure to illness
– may need to stay at home or arrange care when your child is sick
– less flexible drop off and pickup times
– often closed on holidays
– less one on one time for children
– teacher and staff turn over can create instability

What should I look for in a Child Care Center?
– warm and loving teachers
– safe and engaging environment
– low teacher to child ratios
– a balance of structure and free play
– compliance with health and safety regulations
– current license and certificates

Inhome Family Care

Inhome Family Care Advantages
– small group size
– chance for child to socialize with other children
– varying child ages and home environment creates a family feel
– often less expensive than child care centers and nannies
– may be more flexible hours

Inhome Family Care Disadvantages
– providers often have less education or training in early care
– less dependable care
– not as monitored
– difference in teaching or childrearing styles can create issues

What should I look for in an Inhome Family Care Provider?
– warm and loving teacher
– safe and engaging environment
– low teacher to child ratio
– compliance with health and safety regulations
– current license and certificates
– compatible teaching or parenting styles
– has references from other families

Nannies and Babysitters

Nanny and Babysitter Advantages
– less stressful transitions
– familiar environment
– one on one attention
– flexible scheduling
– reduced exposure to illness
– convenient location

Nanny and Babysitter Disadvantages
– hard to monitor care
– can be very expensive
– difficult to find
– no socialization with other children
– may need to provide benefits

What should I look for in a Nanny or Babysitter?
– warm and loving personality
– compatible teaching or parenting styles
– responsible and dependable
– has reliable transportation
– has references from other families

Overall, when selecting care…
1. Take your time and explore many options.
2. Interview several care providers and visit centers.
3. Ask lots of questions.
4. Observe the teachers and care providers with children.
5. Find providers with matching teaching philosophies and parenting styles.
6. Develop a written set of expectations.
7. Talk to other parents who have used child care.
8. Most importantly, trust your instincts.

For further assistance call 4C for Children at 513-221-0033 or visit 4cforchildren.org
To locate child care in your area and talk to other local parents visit 249smiles.com

Sources:
4cforchildren.org
babycenter.com
naeyc.org
nanny.org

Help us find all the playspaces in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky!

249smiles.com is teaming up with national non-profit KaBOOM! to find 100,000 Playspaces in 100 Days!

– and you can help us earn money for JumpStart, a national early education organization that works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.

Just visit http://playspacefinder.kaboom.org/teams/2764-249smiles to join our team and start entering information about the places to play in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky into the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder. For every valid playspace you enter, $1 will be donated to JumpStart.  Plus every valid playspace you enter gets you a chance to win a trip for four to meet Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough and other great prizes! So what are you waiting for!

Help KaBOOM! find great places to play across America, help 249smiles.com help JumpStart, and help yourself win a chance to meet Julianne Hough. And don’t forget that this is an awesome resource for parents…so let’s help each other!

Join our team and start adding playspaces now! :)

 

Soapbox Media Story

We’re excited to announce our first news story!  Today, Soapbox Media released a piece about us fabulously written by Melissa Sheffel with photos by Scott Beseler.

http://soapboxmedia.com/features/63249smiles.aspx

Thanks Soapbox!  We <3 you!