OOPSIE!! Update on Arts and Crafts for 9/30/09

Well, last night I forgot to color the rice for our rice pictures today. Since it takes several hours for the rice to dry... we will be switching out Thursday's art with today's. So instead of doing rice art pictures today, you child will be creating a paper plate fish!

Just an update so you know what's going on!

Much love and thanks!
Amanda

Arts and Crafts 9/29/09

Here is a picture of what the kids did for arts and crafts today! This was a very fun and easy project to put together! All you need is construction paper, cotton balls, red food coloring and imagination!

Outside Play 9/29/09

We had so much fun playing outside this morning! My neighbor/friend Angela (and my emergency care provider), who also does in home childcare, came outside with us and brought her group of kiddos! We road "bikes" in the grass, played on the see saw and rolled down the hill!We also had races to the tree and back to see who could be the fastest! The children had a BLAST! We brought out a playpen and infant toys for the babies and set them up in the shade. After a little over an hour everybody started to a little bit cranky because they just wore their little selves out. So we came inside and had lunch and laid down for a nap! We plan on going outside again a little later on this afternoon! The weather is just to nice outside to keep the little ones cooped up in here. When we go out this afternoon, I won't forget my camera! I will post pictures for you parents so you can see what your kids are up to!

Hope you are having as great of a day as we are!
Much love and thanks!
Amanda

Activities for the week of 9/28/09-10/02/09

Mon - Popsicle picture frames ~These will not go home with your children today. You will have to wait until tomorrow! We have still got to put pictures in them for you guys!

Tue - Cotton ball Art ~We are going to make colored cotton balls and glue them onto "trees" for apples!!

Wed - Colored Rice Pictures ~ This is a great sensory project for young ones! We color the rice with food coloring and then when they are dry we sprinkle them onto paper with glue on it!

Thu - Paper Plate Fish ~ We will make a fish out of a paper plate and torn construction paper for the scales!

Fri - Nature Collages ~We are going on a walk around our "neighborhood" today! This collage will have little pieces of nature that we collected while we were out!

Children's Meal Plan 9/28/09 - 10/02/09

Note to Parents: This menu may vary due to your child's age. For children under the age of 2, some foods may be hard to eat, therefore substituted with something a bit easier for them. As always, you will be able to see exactly what your child ate on their daily communication log!
Much thanks and love,
Amanda


Mon - Breakfast: Blueberry Pancakes and milk
Snack: Cheerios and 100% fruit juice
Lunch: Mini Corn Dogs with french fries and fruit. Apple juice to drink.
Snack: Nutrigrain bar and milk

Tue - Breakfast: Oatmeal, fruit and milk to drink
Snack: Rice cake and apple juice
Lunch: Tyson chicken nuggets, a veggie and milk to drink
Snack: Animal crackers and juice

Wed - Breakfast: French Toast, fruit, and milk to drink
Snack: Fruit snacks made of 100% fruit juice
Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwich, apple sauce, milk to drink
Snack: Ham and Cheese Cubes, White Grape juice

Thu - Breakfast: Cereal, white grape juice
Snack: Yogurt
Lunch: Spaghetti O's, fruit, and milk to drink
Snack: Banana Pudding

Fri - Breakfast: Smashed Eggs, whole wheat toast, orange juice to drink
Snack: Cottage Cheese, carrot sticks
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich, baby goldfish, milk to drink
Snack: Graham Crackers with homemade cream cheese fruit spread

Starting your chldren on the right path!

Hi there! My name is Amanda and I am the founder of Stepping Stones Educare. I run a very affordable, loving, nurturing and educational in-home childcare service. I have a 3 year old son who is just the light of my life! Children are my absolute PASSION! I know, it sounds so cliche' but I only have one child and so much love to give! There is nothing in this world that brings me greater happiness than to help children learn and grow into wonderful little people!

In my home, we do not just sit around and watch TV. We follow a daily schedule to provide the children with structure and stability away from their home environment. This helps them adjust to a daycare/preschool atmosphere and also cuts down on behavioral issues. Our daily schedule includes a morning circle time (Sing-a-longs, dancing, picking out daily helpers), learning time (shapes, colors, ABC's, number recognition etc.), and arts and crafts (the children go home every day with a special keepsake or something to hang on the fridge). We also go outside and play when the weather permits. While I have the children on a structured schedule, I also believe that some of the best learning comes with play, so therefore I set aside time for learn through play time. I provide a balanced Breakfast, Lunch, and snacks daily. Many childcare providers only offer 2 snacks daily. I do not do this. If a child is hungry they will be fed regardless of whether they have already had 2 snacks.

I am NOT a babysitter. I am a childcare provider. There is a big difference. A babysitter is someone who watches your children. I interact with the children and are involved with every activity that they do. I love and care for all the little ones in my care as if they were truly my own. I think of them as "my" kiddos. I treasure the time that I am able to spend with them and thank the parents profusely for allowing me to be a part of their child's life.

More to come later, just wanted to tell all of you a little bit about what we do here.

Talk to you all soon!