Happy May Educators.

On behalf of everyone at the Agency, thank you for all the hard work and commitment you have demonstrated over the last year to provide safe and nurturing responsive environments for children to play, develop and grow in.

As a thank you, the Agency is hosting a Picnic and Games Morning at Wilfred Laurier Park. Come join us for games, food, prizes and a chance to connect with other educators and agency staff.

I hope that you can make it. Please click the link below to respond to our invitation.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h2iMTYsEz0uN3zRkXTp5a5jODrYglchKp_xpG3UrCKdUNEhDUDIxTEk5Q1NIS1NGWDdSUVNPVFFMUi4u

Healthy Day Home Environments

Recently I attended a very informative webinar hosted by the Canadian Childcare Federation (CCCF), in partnership with Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment (CPCHE) to review simple and inexpensive ways to reduce children’s exposures to toxins in the day home.

As a follow up, I received the following links, to extend learning further into auditing your home and I wanted to share them with you.

They are useful, free, and can lead to positive impacts on both the children’s and you and your family’s health.

Please look at the links and information below:

https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/healthy-and-sustainable-child-care-checklist/

https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/child-care-resource/

To access the free downloadable e book as well as a checklist click here:

https://cccf-fcsge.ca/ece-resources/topics/home-child-care/

Changes to first month fees

The Agency is pleased to announce that we will no longer be asking parents for their first month's childcare fees to be paid in full. If a parent qualifies for the provincial subsidy credit and the federal affordability grant credit, the agency will now apply these credits. Please note that if we do not have proof of subsidy approval then we cannot apply this credit.

If you have any questions about this, please reach out to your consultant.

We are so excited to announce that our consultant Aleysha Lail is getting married. Wishing her joy, love and happiness on her wedding day and as they begin their new life together! Congratulation Aleysha! 🎉🥰💖

It's our honour to congratulate to:

Consultant Kirandeep Gill and Jennie Nguyen for completing the Leading Through a Pedagogical Lens Series.

Neena Sharma for completing the Early Learning and Childcare Diploma.

Yashvant Parmar and Nirmala Patel for completing the SCP Flight Series.

Rajini Seth and Winkalpreet Khinda for completing the Brain Story Certification

Also, congratulations to Mercy Gen Delan for getting her Canadian Citizenship!

A hearty welcome to the following new educators: Stacey St.Marie, Ramandeep Brar, Pardeep Kahlon, Gurpreet Sandhur, Navreet Cheema, Amelia Greven and Leah Brodeur!

Shout out to Moriah who sold her couch and replaced it with this play couch! The Children are enjoying building forts, obstacle courses and climbing on the new couch cushions. Moriah shared with parents, “This build from yesterday was a lot of fun. The children decided it was perfect to set up 2 adjoining shops – one for food, one for books.”

Thank you everyone who participated our Educator Survey 2024. Please see below the result and the responses:

Educator Survey Comments

• My consultant Aleysha and My big boss Emma both are awesome.
• Thanks for all of your support and help.
• Consultant is a very good person and professionally helping and guiding a lot.
• All good.

• It is my pleasure to be an educator with the amazing agency.
• Emma Dejavs and Tadelech Midaksa were the best consultants I’ve ever had with the agency. They don’t come to my day home to find fault or mistakes, they were very supportive and very helpful. The last few years working with Emma and Tadelech were great I feel very much valued my work and myself working with them.
• The Agency is always there to help me in every situation especially the payments.
• I’m happy to be a part of this agency.
• I like the zoom workshops.

• Mariam Hunter is my consultant and I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding support Mariam has provided me in managing my day home. Her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment have truly made a significant difference in the success and smooth operation of my Bright Minds day home. From the very beginning, your professionalism and enthusiasm have been evident. Your willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our day home runs smoothly has not gone unnoticed. Mariam, your contribution to our day home is immeasurable, and I am incredibly grateful that your response is very quick and supportive with clear clarification. Your dedication, hard work, and kindness do not go unnoticed, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do. Thank you once again for your exceptional support and dedication. I look forward to continuing our partnership and creating wonderful experiences for the children in our care.
• I am pleased to serve as an educator within the agency.
• Agency has always been very supportive.

Thank you for all the kind words and encouraging feedback! We really appreciate it. We enjoy working along side all of you and look forward to the year ahead!

• Need kids by the agency. Please help the providers.

The agency does our very best to place children with Educators in their area, we mainly receive inquiries for children under 3 or sibling placements. This does eliminate a lot of our providers who’s under 3 spots are full or who only have one available spot open. We do encourage you to post in your local Facebook group or post flyers around your community.

• Food is very expensive, and fees are very low for day home children. The agency should help educators to add some fee for meals.

The agency, along with childcare providers across the country, are not able to raise fees at this time as directed by the Government. We understand the struggle to provide quality food while keeping costs manageable. We have offered a workshop, “Feeding your day home children on a budget.” If you were unable to attend speak to your consultant about getting some of the resources shared at this workshop. The Agency has considered the pros and cons of parent provided meals and feels it isn’t in the best interest of the Educators, parents or children to move ahead with this format at this time.

• Sometimes I feel that I am overburdened with paperwork and documentations.

We are sorry to hear you are struggling with paperwork and documentation. I would suggest reaching out to your consultant for support and suggestions on ways to manage your paperwork.

• It’d be nice to work with the same consultant consistently.

Although it can be nice to keep the same consultant, the agency sees the benefits of getting new perspectives from different consultants. We have also had an abundance of pregnancy leaves which has increased the changes in the past 2 years.

• I hope to attend some of on-site workshops.

The agency offers core training monthly along with monthly meetings with our pedagogical mentor. We also offer other training events through out the year like, “Feeding your day home children on a budget.” We hope you can join us, reach out to your consultant for more information!

• Thanks for everything. We deserve more of your support. We are dreaming for better situation for everyone.

If you feel you are not being supported in the way you require, we ask that you reach out to your consultant with your specific concerns so we can better assist you.

Please click on the link to the Parent Newsletter to read the results of the parent survey.

https://secure.smore.com/n/t19h8

Standard 4: Family day home program accommodations Cont.

The program residence must have sufficient space for the developmental activities of

the children in care.

Standard 4C: Outdoor play space

The program must ensure that children have access to outdoor play space.

If the outdoor play space is part of the program residence, it must be securely enclosed.

If the outdoor play space is not part of the program residence, it must be within a safe

and easy walking distance. The agency can exempt a program, using a CS-approved form, from the requirement to have the outdoor play space securely enclosed if outdoor play space that is securely enclosed is not reasonably available and if children will be adequately supervised and

protected in the outdoor play space provided. The form used to exempt a program must be approved by CS annually and any changes to the form must be pre-approved by CS. A copy of the exemption form must be stored on the program’s record with the agency and parents must be informed at the time of enrolment that the program has an exemption.

Cooking with children is a delightful and rewarding experience that can create lasting memories, strengthen family bonds, and inspire children to develop essential life skills. Involving children in cooking activities not only teaches them about nutrition and the importance of healthy eating but also enhances their creativity, confidence, and ability to work in a team. Whether you're making a simple snack or a complex recipe, cooking with children can be a fun and educational adventure for both parents and children alike.

1. Developing Essential Life Skills:

Cooking provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop a range of essential life skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Measuring ingredients teaches them about math and precision, while following recipes improves their reading and comprehension abilities. Additionally, cooking nurtures critical thinking and problem-solving skills as children learn to troubleshoot and adjust if something doesn't turn out as planned. These skills promote independence and self-sufficiency, enabling children to become confident and capable individuals.

2. Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits:

Introducing children to the world of cooking empowers them to make informed choices about what they eat. By involving them in meal planning and preparation, you can educate them about the nutritional value of different ingredients and the benefits of a balanced diet. Children who participate in cooking activities are more likely to develop an appreciation for fresh, whole foods and are more open to trying new flavours and textures. This early exposure to healthy eating can lay the foundation for a lifetime of good nutrition and well-being.

3. Fostering Creativity and Imagination:

Cooking is a form of creative expression that encourages children to explore their imagination. From decorating cupcakes to designing colourful fruit salads, cooking allows children to experiment with different ingredients, flavours, and presentations. Encouraging their input in the kitchen sparks their creativity and gives them a sense of ownership over their culinary creations. These experiences can inspire children to develop a lifelong love for cooking and even pursue careers in the culinary arts.

4. Strengthening Educator/Children Bonds:

Cooking together creates meaningful opportunities for quality time and strengthens the bonds between educators and children. It provides a shared experience where everyone can contribute, collaborate, and have fun together. As you work side by side, conversations flow naturally, and a chance to share stories, traditions, and family recipes. The kitchen becomes a space for laughter, learning, and building cherished memories that will be treasured for years to come.

5. Age-Appropriate Tasks:

When cooking with children, it's important to assign age-appropriate tasks to ensure their safety and enjoyment. Younger children can wash vegetables, mix ingredients, or decorate dishes, while older children can take on more complex tasks such as chopping, stirring, or reading recipes. Providing clear instructions, supervision, and guidance is crucial to creating a positive and empowering experience for children in the kitchen.

Cooking with children is a valuable investment in their development, fostering essential life skills, healthy eating habits, creativity, and family bonds. So, roll up your sleeves, educators, put on those aprons, and embark on the delightful journey of cooking with your day home children. Together, you'll create not only delicious meals but also beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

The office will be closed on Monday, May 20 for Victoria Day. We will reopen on May 21, 2024. Please call the After-Hours Emergency Phone at 780-245-3097 in case of any emergency.