ASQ Screenings:

At Cindy’s Kids we use Annual evaluations such as ASQ Screenings for children under kindergarten.  This is to be done within the first 30 days of care.  This is to assure we are providing everything possible to the child.  If we find out that additional services are needed Cindy’s Kids can help to steer parents and staff to the correct source.  If you have any concerns about a child’s development please share that with Cindy so we can help the child be the best possible. 

DOCUMENTING CONCERNS FOR A CHILD

Any severe or major problems you become aware of while working with the children need to be documented (written down) and discussed with Cindy.  Remember documentation should be facts only not opinions. Do not make any recommendations at all to parents regarding this problem, Cindy will take care of this.  Referrals made to Early Intervention Services or other resources, will be made by Cindy.

Using the results from ASQ evaluations will help to make sure we are providing the best education and care for the children at Cindy’s Kids. 

The Creative Curriculum is used at Cindy’s Kids.

This includes developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for children within four main categories of interest: social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language.

There are five basic components that comprise the curriculum. From these five categories, focus and planning can be aimed so that learning is best achieved.

• Knowing children — describes the social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language development of children

• Creating a responsive environment — offers a model for setting up the physical environment for routines and experiences in ways that address the developing abilities and interests of children

• What children are learning — shows how the responsive relationship you form with each child, the interactions you have every day, and the materials and experiences you offer become the building blocks for successful learning

• Caring and teaching — describes the varied and interrelated roles of teachers who work with children

• Building partnerships with families — explores the benefits of working with families as partners in the care of their children

Social / Emotional

The social/emotional stage helps promote independence, self-confidence, and self-control. Within this stage, how to have group interactions and how to follow rules. We use the additional Second-Step curriculum. 

Social development in early childhood refers to the gradual process by which a child learns to interact with others, and form relationships by making friends and developing a sense of self to others. Children learn important skills such as communication, empathy, cooperation, and conflict resolution during this stage.

1) We have a housekeeping area with realistic utensils and dishes including play food from different countries.  This includes children's cookbooks.

2) The doctor/vet/dentist area allows the children to role-play experiences they have had or to prepare for 

3) By playing games together children learn to wait, and problem solve

4) Cooking and getting meals ready is a team-building activity

Emotional

Emotional development involves learning what feelings and emotions are, understanding how and why they occur, recognizing your feelings and those of others, and developing effective ways to manage those feelings

.1) It is important to build self-confidence in the children, Praise often

2) Encourage pride in work by displaying their art

3) Sharing photos of the child’s family, pets, or vacation makes them feel important and valued.              

Physical

The physical stage is intended to increase children’s large and fine motor skills.

Gross  or large motor skill development involves the large muscles in the arms, legs and torso. Gross motor activities are important to everyday physical activities like walking, running, throwing, lifting, kicking, etc.

1) Using a ball takes turns by asking a question such as “What’s your name?” “What’s your favorite color?” “How old are you?” “What color is your hair?” then pass the ball to another child and ask another question.

2) At Cindy’s kids I love to create fun obstacle courses in the yard: using hoops, tires, ladders, pool noodles, string, rope, tunnels, cones, and maybe even the water hose!

3) At Cindy’s Kids I have multiple tricycles, scooters, and wagons for children to have active play outside.

4)  Inside we do yoga to stretch our bodies.

5) Outdoor water fun with sprinklers, water pumps and ramps, and of course, our foam machine to fill the yard with bubbles to run in.

Fine motor

Development is the process of developing the small, precise movements of the hands, fingers, feet, and toes. It involves the coordination of muscles, joints,  and nerves, and works with the brain and nervous system to control movements. Fine motor skills are important for many everyday tasks, including eating, writing, manipulating objects, and getting dressed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1) Perler beads take a lot of fine motor skills. Children are so proud when they finish one so it can be ironed and sent home.

2) It is fun to use beads, pasta, or straws for beading projects.  Included in this is sewing cards.

3) Writing is always available for the children. Cindy’s Kids offers many opportunities for children to use a large variety of materials for writing.  A writing tub is in easy reach of the children; it contains pens, pencils (color and regular), markers, stamp pads, crayons,  and a variety of different types of paper and  paints.    Included are other tools such as rulers, glue, and sizzlers that are helpful in creating their daily journals. 

We have whiteboards large and personal sized.  I have many write-and-wipe books to encourage the writing and copying of skills and letters.  Chalkboards are available for the children inside and outside

4) As we practice cutting and gluing we create fun projects at the same time as building skills and control

5) Children love sorting small items with tweezers helps children to sort by colors or objects and use fine motor skills 

6) Children use eye droppers to drop liquid watercolor onto a coffee filter

7) Lego, play dough, puzzles, pouring, clothespins, peg boards, coloring, and dot-to-dots are other favorites.          

.                                   

Cognitive

Cognitive activities for preschoolers are games and tasks that help improve their mental processes. These activities encourage children to think critically, solve problems, and understand complex concepts. Cognitive development in preschoolers involves skills such as attention, memory, logic, reasoning, and mental representation. 

1) Singing promotes memory and word identification by repeating over and over.

2) We practice the ABCs by singing and reading books about them. Using ABC puzzles, alphabet beads, and ABC blocks to also help with fine motor. 

 3) Children learn to recognize sounds such as a dog - barking, a cow going moo etc.

4) Children learn their colors, shapes, and sizes and can sort. For example red together, small, medium, and larges together. 

5) We share ways to help children learn to problem solve. 

6) Let them make choices. For example, would you rather have an apple or an orange?

7) It is helpful to expose the children to everyday items in their areas.  Example: child-sized real utensils in the kitchen area for children.  I have real baby items in the family area. 

Language

Language development in children is the process through which we gain the ability to comprehend and communicate through speech. We work on developing the interest in speaking, with the child being able to use words effectively to express thoughts and desires. 

1) I encourage children to use descriptive words to describe objects daily.  

2) I believe it is important to teach proper grammar by example, when we are talking to children. 

 3) When the children draw pictures I always have them tell me about the story. 

4) At Cindy’s kids the tubs of toys are labeled.

5) I like to ask the child to describe what they are hearing, touching or smelling.  It is important to use all senses to be able to interpret surroundings.

6) We make alpha bags that the kids take home and return with an object starting with the letter of the lesson.  The child gets to describe it first and the kids guess, then it is shown to them.  

7) We have fun cutting photos from magazines, then telling stories about them.

8) I do have a favorite board game called “Once Upon a time” by Discovery Toys. The children each add to the story, repeating each other’s addition to the story. 

9) We use language to identify our feelings and emotions.

10) Signing and gestures are a way of using language to communicate            

I will be happy I will behave

i will follow rules I will respect myself

I will be nice I like learning

I am smart I like to do new things

I like science I will not fight with other kids

I will be proud of myself I will be nice to others

I will be kind I will take deep breaths

I will use safe hands  I will make good choices

I will earn trust  i will forgive myself

I will not get angry I will say i am sorry when wrong

i will show love 

I will be helpful I will share my treasures with my family 

I will show friends and family love 

I will do my jobs without complaining

I will tell the truth I will follow rules 

I will do what teachers tell me to do I will be an artist

I will try to understand my friend's feelings 

I will use inside voices when asked

I will Love Myself