March 2024

Here's "The Scoop!"

As March arrives and spring comes closer, we want to say a big thank you to all of you dedicated child care providers.

Your love and kindness make a big difference in children's lives. We appreciate all the hard work you do every day.

~ Child Care Aware of NH

Got something specific on your mind that you'd like us to cover? We're all ears! Your thoughts and ideas shape this newsletter, so send us an email at outreach2ccrr@snhs.org.

TA Tip: Building Family Engagement

As an early childhood provider of a mixed-age program, you understand the significance of developing a strong relationship with the families you work with.

Creating a welcoming, supportive atmosphere that encourages open communication is crucial for the growth and well-being of both the children and their families. 

One way to initiate connections with families is to invite them to spend time in your program so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level.  

One great way to foster this relationship is by inviting parents or family members to join you during story time. They can either sit with their child and listen to the story or read to the children if they are comfortable doing so. You can suggest they share a story they enjoy reading to their child at home.   

Reading together not only improves the bond between you and the parents, but it also helps the children feel more connected to the family members of their peers, which may foster a more cohesive culture in your program.  

For more ideas on how to build strong relationships with the families in your multi-age program, click on the link below.

This TA Tip was graciously shared by Connie Davis,

Family Child Care Support Specialist.

Child Care Aware of NH is here to assist you! To learn more about how we can support your practice, please refer to our Services and Supports Guide.

Resources for Providers

Join us on Saturday May 4th, 2024 for a jam-packed morning guaranteed to pack your toolkit with new and fresh tips and tricks.

First, we will discover how to seamlessly blend Social Emotional Learning into your curriculum while leaving room for pure fun! Join us for Melissa Davis' simple and effective tips and tricks. 

Wrapping up our day with the ladies you've been eager to meet! Join us to unleash your inner science geek, share some laughs, and dive into learning with the dynamic duo, TWO PUSHY DAMES! Kathy Gallo & LeeAnn Soucy explore a plethora of STEAM activity ideas for various ages, stages and interests.

This training will award participants up to three (3) hours of professional development.

Training Hours count towards the 18 hours of annual required professional development needs.

The Research to Practice Series addresses each of the Family Engagement Outcomes of the Office of Head Start (OHS) Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework.

Aligned with Head Start Performance Standards, each resource presents a summary of selected research, proven interventions and promising practices, and program strategies intended to be useful for the Head Start and Early Head Start community. Designed to support program efforts toward systemic and integrated engagement, the series highlights strategies that programs can use to foster strong relationships and support positive outcomes for children, families, and staff.

Resources for Families

There are many ways to enjoy reading with your child. Here are a few ways to make reading a fun part of your everyday life.

March is National Reading Month and Reading is Fundamental (RIF) wants to support our community of parents, caregivers, educators, and volunteers to engage and motivate the readers in your lives. National Reading Month is an important opportunity to encourage reading every day and to foster a love of books for children across the country.

To celebrate reading throughout March, take a look at the ideas and resources on this page. And, showcase your own love of reading and local literacy impact. Use hashtag #ReadWithRIF throughout National Reading Month when posting online to share the books you’re reading, your book stack, your students reading or your literacy-minded service activities. Join RIF in creating an online reading movement!

Child Care Aware of NH is a Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this (report, document, etc.) was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and/or such other funding sources as were available or required, e.g., the United States Department of Health and Human Services.