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Provider Appreciation Month | |
This month's issue is dedicated to you!
In this issue, we will be spotlighting Family Child Care Providers, as well as providing resources and self care. Don't miss the special FREE one hour training on Burnout highlighted at the bottom of the newsletter.
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Thank you to all FCCN Providers! | |
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There are many aspects you look for in a quality child care provider. Some may look for someone who talks with the children respectfully. Some may look for someone who hugs the children. Some may look for someone who provides certain hours or curriculum.
Family Child Care Providers not only offer quality child care, but offer the quality child care straight from their homes. You are inviting the families you care for to become part of your family, even if it's just for a little while.
There are many roles within the typical child care setting, and even more for a Family Child Care Provider.
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You work out of your home, pull longer hours, work with fewer assistants, and care deeply for the children, all while taking care of your own families and households.
As a Family Child Care Provider you truly wear all the hats: business owner, teacher, nose wiper, referee, cook, janitor, baby whisperer, secretary, the list goes on and on. While carrying all these responsibilities, you are genuinely excited to welcome children into your care each day.
As an educator, you cultivate a warm and loving environment in your home to prepare children for school and lifelong success, often without receiving recognition for the work you do.
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Not everyone gets to see the true joy and hard work that happens in each Family Child Care Home. As part of the Family Child Care Network, we are lucky enough to get to witness the amazing ways that you impact each child in your care, their families, and the communities that you serve. Thank you for opening your heart and your home to provide great care and education for Kentucky’s littlest learners. | |
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“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them FEEL.”
— Carol Buchner
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Denise's Childcare
Monroe County, KY
Denise Steenbergen
For 28 years Denise Steenbergen has provided an educational, nurturing, and quality environment for children 1-12 years of age. Denise says her favorite part of owning a Family Child Care home is “Becoming part of each family.” When asked if she could give advice to a potential Family Child Care provider she said, “Patience, it is not always easy but well worth it.”
That is such a true statement in many aspects of life but especially in this business. Child Care is so rewarding, but it also has its challenges. I asked Denise what the biggest challenge was when opening her business she stated, “Always being home you cannot take a break when you want. Never getting away from your job because everywhere you look, your job is always there.”
Thank you, Denise, for giving yourself to so many children over the years. Even through the challenges, your home remained an atmosphere where children could grow and learn.
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Loving Home Child Care
Shepherdsville, KY
Kristina Jo Norris
Kristina Norris owns Loving Home Child Care in Shepherdsville, KY. She has been in business for a year and two months.
In that short amount of time, she is already making a significant impact on the lives of children in her community. Her favorite part of being a Family Child Care provider is “Watching the children learn and grow.”
Because Kristina recently went through the certification process, her advice for new providers is truly relevant. She says her best advice for anyone thinking about diving into this career is “Have fun and be silly with your children. Purchase a desktop computer; laptops just do not cut it. Designate an office space in your home. Check out the Redleaf Press Calendar Keeper, it's very helpful for maintaining your records.” Having a space designated for the administrative side of the business is great advice. Thank you, Kristina, for opening your heart and home!
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Cynthia’s Little Playmates
Hopkinsville, KY
Frances Russell
Cynthia’s Little Playmates in Hopkinsville, KY has been open since June 1997.
Frances Russell operates her family child care and cares for children from toddlers through school aged.
Her favorite part of owning and operating a Family Child Care is watching the toddlers reach milestones.
Frances says, “The parents are so appreciative when we can accomplish a mission as a team. The parents are pleased when the children bring good habits home and use them daily.”
Her advice for anyone interested in opening a Family Child Care is to visit another center or home to see how it is run. “If this is what you decide to do, get educated in the field. The state of Kentucky will make it worth your while, because they will pay for you to get your degree in education. The impact you make on the children will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
We want to thank Frances and other Family Child Care Providers for all the work and dedication they put in every day, month, and year.
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Junie B’s Play and Learn
Daviess County, KY
June Ogilby
June Ogilby recently opened her own Family Child Care Home in Daviess County, KY. The B stands for buddies!
When she was a child, her mother had a licensed in-home daycare. “When I turned 16, I immediately started in the restaurant industry and never left. Until last year. In October 2021, I found out I was pregnant with my third child. I desperately wanted to be able to be home with my three children, but the work from home industry isn't always exactly a reliable source of income. That's when I realized I should open my own daycare. I've always loved kiddos. They say the funniest things and are so precious and pure hearted! I honestly didn't know why I hadn't thought of it sooner. So I guess you could say my motivation for opening my own daycare was initially wanting to be home with my own children more, but then realizing later that it really is my calling!”
She has many favorite parts of her work day. “Craft time is always fun because you get to see the kiddos unleash their creative sides and really come alive. I also love lesson time, because when they learn something new they get so excited! Then later, it's always wonderful to hear that they went home and told their mommy's and daddy's all about it!”
Thank you June for all your hard work!
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Nannies House of Home Child Care
Livingston, KY
Sarah Shuecraft
Sarah Shuecraft has kept children in her home for about 15 years. She started as a Registered Family Child Care Home and quickly transitioned to a Certified Family Child Care Home after she enrolled her first family.
Her favorite part of being a Family Child Care Provider is “listening to the honesty of a toddler and their bluntness. I also consider it a privilege to be in their lives, if you think about it I get to share in birthdays, holidays, I am a part of their life. I have children that I kept years ago that come and ask if I'm still doing it, so they'll have a place when they start their families.”
The biggest piece of advice she would like to give potential providers is “Follow your heart, it is the most rewarding job I have ever had. I just posted a memory on my Facebook page from 2014 that said, a hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car/truck I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. Thank you so much for letting me share my home, work and my blessed life with you. I truly believe this is my mission in life.”
Thank you Sarah for all your hard work!
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Mary Rosario
Hopkins County, KY
Mary Rosario, in Hopkins County, has been a Certified Family Child Care Home Provider for 3 years, but has kept children in her home full-time for around 8 years.
Her favorite part about being a Family Child Care Provider is teaching the children and being able to watch many of them grow and reach milestones from birth to kindergarten. She also loves collaborating with families to provide the best experience for their child.
Her advice to new or potential providers would be not to forget your own family while serving others, take advantage of the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Scholarship, look up Tom Copeland’s books for many record keeping materials, and to participate in the food program.
Her biggest challenge has always been paperwork. "Paperwork has always been something I was never excited about, but Tom Copeland's books on record keeping, policies, taxes and insurance helped me a lot. I know a lot of child care programs use pencil and paper, but KidKare has been a great accounting program to help me keep all of my income, grants, attendance, food program, mileage, extra time and expenses organized and I keep all of my receipts in an accordion file labeled by month. It all makes the end of the year much easier!"
Thank you Mary for your dedication and hard work!
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Amanda ZeRuth directs Canterbury Day School in Murray, KY.
Photo by Callie Haulk
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Parent Testimonial
During COVID, I was very concerned about how my son would ever safely attend preschool. Once Mrs. Amanda shared the precautions she would take to keep our children safe, along with the small class size of 6 children, I knew Canterbury Day School was the perfect place to send him. She focuses her program around a play-based learning environment, allowing the kids to be kids. Recently, my son had trouble focusing and keeping his hands to himself during instruction. She scheduled a meeting with my husband and I to work through how to help him succeed and even re-structured her classroom setting to help the class as a whole so everyone could thrive. My son has grown so much since beginning the school year in August and I can't wait to see him continue to learn and grow through her amazing program.
-Callie Haulk
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Self-care is a term that has been trending since the COVID-19 pandemic. Simply put, self-care is taking care of yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. As a provider, you spend so much time taking care of others. We hope this article gives you tips to help nourish and replenish your mind, body, and spirit! | | | |
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“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.”
— Scott Hayden
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Free 1 hour Preventing Burnout Training!
Think back to your middle school science fair. All those volcanoes having reactions that build and build and build until they overflow with vinegar and baking soda. Is that what you feel like? Do you feel like your stress is just building and building and building until you explode? If so, you might be interested in taking our Independent Training on Preventing Burnout as we explore what burnout is and find strategies to better manage our stress. The better we can manage our stress, the less we feel like a volcano.
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We want to take a moment to thank everyone who has completed the Training Needs Survey.
We appreciate all the feedback we have received, and we are working on having more training available for our providers.
| This survey lets us know what days and times you would be available and what topics you would be interested in. If you have not taken the survey yet, or you already have and would like to add another response, please click the button below to complete the survey. | |
A publication of the WKU Family Child Care Network | | | | |
