Red, White, and Blue...

Plus Fireworks Too!

July Activities

July is an exciting month because we get to celebrate Independence Day!

Independence Day is a special time of year and a cause for celebration! It is the perfect time to learn about the American flag, discover the beauty and wonder of fireworks, and enjoy time with family and friends with activities like parades and barbecues.

Here are a few ways to celebrate in your home!

Host your very own parade and family picnic! Invite everyone to wear red, white, and blue, and wave a flag proudly.

Play patriotic music and make firework paper crafts for all to enjoy.

Turn your dramatic play area into an Ice Cream Parlor or Ice Cream Truck. Use pom poms, Fabric or Play Dough. Add "Toppings", Ice Cream Scoops, and Bowls.

Add red, white, and blue blocks to your block area. Invite children to create the American flag.

Provide plenty of photos, posters, or books that display the flag for inspiration.

Do some bubble wrap stomping! Stomping on bubble wrap is a fun way to get in some movement, children can pretend the sound is firecrackers.

International Friendship Day

In 1998 Winnie the Pooh was named the world’s Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations, and in April 2011, the United Nations officially recognized 30th July as International Friendship Day.

Friendships developed during the preschool and early school years give children valuable contexts in which to learn and practice skills related to social, cognitive, communicative, and emotional development.

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside." —Pooh

Why It Matters.

Friendship Enhances Emotional Resilience.

Friendship May Improve Sleep.

Friendship contributes to children’s ability to adjust to changes within their environments.

How to Celebrate!

Host a Christopher Robin Tea Party

Make a friendship quilt

Make cards to send to friends

Sign up for a pen pal service (Do your research before signing up for any online service)
The Best Places To Find A Pen Pal For Your Kids

Read books about friendship. Here is a read aloud about friendship: Winnie the Pooh Story Book - What good friends do / read aloud storybook

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.

August 5th - The Science of Early Childhood

September 12th - Family Thrive

Coming Soon:

From Managing to Leading in Early Childhood Education
Sensory Play/Development

This 6-hour course fulfills the mandatory orientation requirement for early care and education professionals in Kentucky. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Division of Child Care’s (DCC) new regulatory requirement for each center to ensure that every staff member has received training on first aid and CPR.

Upcoming Dates:

July 18th & 19th - Online via Zoom

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. Sign up now for the next series that begins in November!

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

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.

Coming in July - Benefits of Family Style Meals

August 12th - Laying the Foundation for Inclusivity in the Early Childhood Learning Space

Coming Soon:

Understanding Social and Emotional Development
Positive Guidance for ECE

Do you need CPR and First Aid?

FOR A LIMITED TIME GET IT FREE!

The WKU CCR&R offers both hybrid and face-to-face sessions. During hybrid sessions, the session content is online and the skills check is in person. Please make sure you are registering for the session that best meets your needs.

In-Person Classed: July 15th, August 5th, September 16th

Hybrid Class: July 15th, August 19th, September 23rd

Training Calendar

A publication of the WKU Family Child Care Network

Funded through Family Childcare Support Award SC 7362100001482

www.wku.edu/fccn