Your April News & Updates
Greetings!

It's official, spring is here because I put my snow shovel away, and my children and I saw a robin and a butterfly in our yard on the weekend - these are great signs that it hopefully won't snow again in the Valley!

We have some fun news to share and a request for support! The winner of the Child Care Wage Survey for a $50 coffee gift card for her team was Caroline Noga of The Clubhouse Child Care Centre. Thank-you to all those who participated!

But unfortunately, there was not enough engagement from the childcare community for us to be able provide results from the survey. So we are trying again! If you work in the child care field, please click on the link and fill out the Child Care Wage Survey and enter to win a $50 gift card (survey closes April 16): Child Care Program - Wage Survey 2021

This information is collected confidentially and will help us support the child care sector and advocate for important change for our children, families and childcare educators!

The week of April 18-24 is Unplug & Play Week and the Central Okanagan Early Years Partnership (COEYP) has organized another Story Walk to support movement and literacy. There will be 17 stories in this Story Walk, and they will be set up in various parks in Peachland, West Kelowna and Kelowna from April 16-26. Please check our website for detailed list of parks and stories! And we have Barbara Coloroso joining us for an online speaking engagement on April 21.

And coming up around the corner is May - and that is Child Care Month! We are thrilled that the City of Kelowna has provided us with Proclamation that May is Child Care Month. For the Month of May, we have a lot of exciting professional development opportunities coming up with Hannah Day of Happy Day Yoga, Crystal Jenson, Ann Douglas and a contest too for a change to win a Healthy Happy Hour with Journey Henkart! Please see more details in our newsletter below.

Thank-you for all you do to care for the children and the parents in your programs!

Take care,
Melissa Hunt,
Executive Director
CCRR Manager
Please share our newsletters with your families and co-workers by forwarding emails or encourage them to sign up for their own newsletter.
Childcare Educators: Did You Know?
Child Care Fee Reduction Grant
Did you know that child care providers are eligible for grants to lower fees for their families? The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) enhances child care affordability by offering funding to eligible, licensed child care providers to reduce and stabilize parents’ monthly child care fees. 

Subsidy Information
Families who make up to $111,000/yr are eligible for Affordable Child care Benefits (ACCB). Families require an "Arrangement Form" from their care provider to apply.
This applies to in-home care providers, in child's own home care providers and even grandparents who may be helping out with care of a grand child!

Health & Safety
This information is to assist child care providers with health and safety information and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated frequently asked questions for child care operators and staff here from the BC Centre for Disease Control
Empowering Parents: Quality Childcare = Caring Family Support
Celebrating and encouraging the parents of the children in our care will improve the relationship of that parent and child. Let's tell the parents that they are doing a great job, and that they are enough. Build up their self-confidence and celebrate them as parents and watch the relationship improve between the parent and child! Spring is a chance for new beginnings and opportunities to connect with the parents in our programs.
To support this week, we have helped COEYP organize 17 Story Walks in our community. Check out where you can find them here: STORY WALK Info!

And we hope to see you out and about in the community exploring the parks and stories.

And we are also hosting a wonderful community engagement with Barbara Coloroso: Parenting Through Crisis.
To find out more info and to register click on these links:
  1. AFTERNOON Session
  2. EVENING Session
With Spring in the air, there is no better place for the children to be than outside in the fresh air. This improves all areas of health, mental, physical and emotional for all, young and old!

For a refresher on the licensing regulations regarding outdoor play, active play and screen use, please see the Standard of Practice below - Active Play under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act for guidance and recommendations around active play in childcare settings.

Outdoor play expert, Beverlie Dietz is launching a new magazine, the inaugural issue of Play Outdoors Magazine…Exploring Outdoor Experiences in the Early Years is launched! It will ignite curiosity, inspire creativity, empower wonderment, and give opportunity to reflect upon practice!
May is Child Care Month: Month of Wellness
And we have a great line up to celebrate YOU:

  • CONTEST All Month Long - enter your favorite childcare program or provider in to win a Healthy Happy Hour with Journey Henkart: Enter Here

  • YOGA Every Monday in May - Yoga in the Park with Hannah Day of Happy Day Yoga: Register Here

  • EVENT - May 4 - Journeying Together: A Pandemic Survival Guide for Early Learning Professionals and Parents with Ann Douglas: Register Here

  • COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - May 20 - June 24 - Mindfulness Training with Crystal Jensen: Register Here
Early Childhood News, Articles & Events
Spring is Here!
Take action to connect a new generation of Canadians with nature! Pick up the Nature Playbook. Plan your play. Make a difference!
Come into our office and pick up a free copy of yours free from the Canadian Parks Council. 
Membership and Service Survey
The renewal membership form, survey link and Childcare Pro Portal login for the 2021/2022 membership year has been sent to all of the current child care provider members.
Front-Line Worker Vaccinations
Did you receive your e-mail from MCFD on March 18? Appointment information will be communicated clearly and directly to each employer over the coming weeks and all vaccine appointments will be organized by employers.
Early Years Library
Check out our new light cube available for borrowing. This can be used both indoors as well as outdoors - Imagine the possibilities! Light Cube #811
Learning Through Play
Engage children in these fun April activities! And always remember that The mud will wash off, but the memories will last a lifetime!
Save The Date: ECEBC Online Conference
To celebrate child care month we are thrilled to announce that we will be bringing conference to you on May 15th, 2021!
Training, News & Resources
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