News & Notes

FEBRUARY 2014 CHILD ACTION INC.

News & Notes provides you with the

latest happenings in the world of child care.

Tell a friend and stay connected!

TOPICS THIS MONTH

FIRST 5 NEEDS YOUR FEEDBACK!

Attend a community meeting near you to voice your opinion on children's issues and learn how your local dollars are being invested. Click for locations and times.

TAX TIME: DO YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER?

Running a small business is very different than being employed at a center. When child care providers start a new child care business, one of the areas that can be overlooked and confusing is taxes. For example, each year, parents will ask for your social security number so they can report their child care expenses on their income tax forms. An EIN is a number assigned by the IRS and can be used instead of your social security number on Tax Form W-10 or to give parents a year-end receipt for their taxes. This number will help keep your social security number private and secure.

It is free and easy to request an EIN from the IRS. Visit HERE to apply for an Employer ID number.

TAKE TIME TO REFLECT

You may have read the article in our recent newsletter about developing and reviewing your policies and handbooks. The new year might be a good time to look at your program and reflect on the service you offer, to think about what is working well and identify areas where you would like to grow.

As you reflect on your best practices, don't forget about sharing all your licensing information with parents. Taking the time to discuss these policies strengthens the partnership you are developing with the families in your care. Do you provide information about your licensing inspection or any records of complaints? Are you providing parents with the Notification of Parent's Rights form? Oliver's Law requires this of all licensed providers but having a quality program means valuing the trust that grows from sharing these conversations with parents. For more information, review our Child Care Referral policies here Referral Policy or give us a call at (916) 369-0191.

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

This month, the Olympic Games highlight what is possible when you keep your body strong with exercise. Every athlete was once a child that was encouraged to be active. You can help children get excited about moving by using common household items to design an obstacle course.

Place a board on the floor as a balance beam
Create a wiggly maze of masking tape
Stretch a hose along the ground as a "tightrope"
Use string to make circles and have children jump from one to another
Make a tunnel from a cardboard box for children to crawl through
Create a mountain to climb over out of a big pillow
Arrange stuffed animals or large blocks for children to weave around

Let your imagination run wild designing your course, have fun and along the way get some great exercise!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Click here to view the entire Child Action, Inc. Calendar of Events.

2/3, 2/11, 2/17, 2/25	Play Days
2/4	Information About New Affordable Health Insurance
2/13	Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
2/19	Directors Support Group: Reflective Practice
2/22	The Association of Family Child Care Educators Membership Drive
2/26	Ages & Stages Questionnaire

PROVIDER NEWS

In This Issue

Tax Time

Take Time To Reflect

Learning Through Play

Upcoming Events

Staying Healthy

Check It Out

Coming Up

March 3, 2014

NEA's Read Across America Day

For activities and ideas, visit nea.org/grants

Staying Healthy:

Spring may be on the way but we're not clear of flu season yet. Disinfecting surfaces and toys helps keep germs under control.

Click HERE for more sanitizing and disinfecting tips!

Check It Out:

Contracts and Policies by Tom Copeland

This book gives home-based child care providers some of the tools needed to create and use contracts and policies and build trust between yourself and parents. This title and many others are available in the Child Action, Inc. Resource Library. Come visit us Monday through Friday, 7:30-5:00, or check out the resource library on line at

resource library.

You can browse as a guest or set up your own account on line to reserve materials.

Call us at (916) 369-0191

or visit our website