Quality Corner

Empathy is a key ingredient in positive friendships and relationships. It reduces conflict and misunderstandings and leads to helping behavior, kindness, and even greater success in life in general. And like any skill, empathy can be taught and developed in children. Follow the link below to explore the ways you can develop a child’s sense of empathy in your daily activities.

Read about 4 Daily Ways to Teach Your Child About Emotions.

Provider Spotlight

Meet our new "class pet!" Carrot the hamster, is the new class pet at Canterbury Day School, owned by Family Child Care Network Provider, Amanda Zeruth. Each week a new friend gets to take Carrot home. Children also take his journal so parents can write about the adventures Carrot goes on while in their care. Mrs. Amanda reads these stories to the class during circle time. They are also encouraged to draw pictures of him and take pictures and send them in for sharing with their classmates!

Carrot creates an opportunity for parents and children to plan adventures and collaborate on telling the story of his time with their family. The children have enjoyed the sense of responsibility that they feel when caring for Carrot and ensuring he gets his pretend food. We can't wait to hear about Carrot's next big adventure!

Regulation Reminder

Proper Handwashing is the best way to prevent illnesses in your Family Child Care Program! Make sure you brush up on How and When is best to wash your and your children’s hands.

Professional Development Training

View the WKU FCCN Training Calendar for more information and to register.

Personalized training based on YOUR needs!

The WKU FCCN offers customized and affordable training on a variety of topics.

Training Request Form

FREE TRAINING

The Family Child Care Network will be offering a 4-part training series focusing on strengthening business practices. The purpose of this training is to strengthen childcare providers’ foundational knowledge of fiscal terms, concepts, and practices. It encourages providers to realize the importance of financial planning to the sustainability of their business. It provides tips and best practices to help break down fiscal processes into manageable steps.

This training is intended to be one part of the learning process to build providers’ understanding of good business practices.

Whenever possible, it is recommended that this training be supplemented with technical assistance and ongoing peer-to-peer sharing opportunities such as communities of practice. During this training, you will be introduced to financial reports that can help you better manage your center’s finances. We will also be helping you understand the concept of internal controls and how they can strengthen your program's fiscal health.

The next series will be held February 20th - March 12, 2024.

Each month the WKU FCCN provides independent studies. Independent studies are online and work at your own pace. They are available for registration until the 15th of each month. Independent studies must be completed within two weeks.

Topics include:

Being Prepared for Emergencies
Caring For Infants In a Mixed-age Setting
Curriculum-based Assessment
Developmental Screening
Evaluating Your Services
Family Engagement
Family Engagement: Literacy Bags
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Infant and Toddler Development
Early Childhood Environments: Learning through Routines and Rituals
Language and Communication for Infant and Toddlers
Let’s Get Appy
Parent Handbooks
Preventing Burnout
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Neglect and Safe Sleep
Science in an Early Learning Classroom
Social Studies in an Early Learning Classroom
The Stressed Child
The Value of Play

Training Calendar

A publication of the WKU Family Child Care Network

Funded through Family Childcare Support Award SC 7362100001482

www.wku.edu/fccn