Quality Corner

Join us for a Collaborative Work Group to discuss ways to implement and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in early childhood environments.

When you register to participate in the Collaborative Work Group, you are committing to regularly attending a monthly session over the next six months with other participants in your cohort. There are four separate cohort groups: Directors and Administrative Staff, Family Child Care Providers, Infant and Toddler Teachers, and Preschool and School-Age Teachers. For Child Care Programs with staff, you may register yourself, your infant and toddler teacher, and your preschool and school-age teacher.

In addition to the content and feedback from like minded participants, each participant will receive 2 hours of ECE-TRIS Approved Credit Hours after each session, a Lakeshore Learning Classroom Kit with Developmentally Appropriate Materials that follow the content of that month, and Stipends to Lakeshore Learning. As of now, we are accepting registration from all Child Care Providers.

Due to capacity per cohort, we are limiting Child Care Programs who register multiple participants to one person per cohort.

Regulation Reminder

According to Regulations, there is no approved range indicating high and low appropriate temperatures for outdoor play, but you should always observe the children for their levels of comfort while outside. Don't forget to check your local weather outlook for any advisories or warnings which may limit any outdoor play!

Playing outside in winter can have many benefits on the young children in your care. It can help boost immune systems, boost creativity, improve mood and mental health, and promote problem solving skills.

Professional Development Training

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

The WKU FCCN delivers comprehensive, high-quality, and cost-effective face-to-face professional development opportunities. Our training focuses on topics of ongoing interest, recent innovations and initiatives, and current best practices in all content areas.

Join us for live training from the comfort of your home!

We strive to provide personal, live sessions that are welcoming to all that allow for networking no matter where in Kentucky you live.

You do not need any special skills to attend, however you do need access to the internet and a free Zoom account.

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