CASY Family Newsletter
December 2024
The CASY office will be closed
Tuesday, December 24th - Thursday, December 26th for the Christmas holiday
Tuesday December 31st - January 1st for New Years
The Booker T Washington Community Center building will be closed
Monday, December 23rd - January 3rd
During that time, staff will be working remotely on those days not listed above as holidays.
Winter Weather
Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms including blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds. Read more here.
Small Battery Safety at Home: A Winter Holiday Walkthrough
In many family homes, the winter holidays bring extra cheer but also some extra hazards for young children. An important one to keep in mind is button batteries and lithium coin batteries, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries if swallowed. These small batteries are found in items throughout many homes any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. Think twinkling holiday decorations, for example, or newly opened gifts of electronic toys and gadgets. Learn more here.
Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It is caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The infection attacks the lining of the breathing passages. People can get whooping cough any time of year, but generally infections are seen in late summer and fall.
Symptoms of whooping cough vary based age, medical conditions and whether the child is vaccinated against the disease. A main sign is strong coughing. Between coughs, children take deep, fast breaths. This can create the high-pitched "whooping" sound that gives the illness its name. The cough of pertussis has also been called the "100-day cough" because it may last for months. Sometimes, the cough returns with future respiratory infections.
Make Winter Slime
Rosie makes slime to order — and so can your child! Experiment with color and get in the holiday mood with this ooey gooey sensory activity. Your family can make this peppermint-inspired slime in less than 30 minutes after a quick trip to the store for supplies. Just like Rosie shops for supplies for her Slime Store, take the materials list with you to make sure you get what you need! Click here for more details!
Afterschool Activities
Winter is here and it’s time to make sure the kids have enough activities to work out their energy and engage their minds. That’s why it’s time to start thinking about signing up for extracurricular activities. There are hundreds of different options for families to explore each year. This time, we decided to put together a list of activities that you might not have considered before including flag football, scuba diving, coding, robotics, skateboarding, pickleball and more. Extracurriculars can be a great way to introduce kids to a new activity they will love but they can also create opportunities to develop passions the whole family can enjoy. Check out this list of fun and different activities and try something new this winter!
Toy Buying Tips for Children with Special Needs
Which toys are best for children with special health care needs? It's simple. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says toys that enhance parents' play with their child are always appropriate.
"Parents should choose toys that they can use to play together with their child," said Alan L. Mendelsohn, M.D., FAAP, an expert in early childhood. "The goal is to have high quality, bonding, warm time together as they play, rather than looking for the toy to advance the child's development in some way."
Expensive toys and electronics are not necessary. Creativity and play are enhanced by simple toys like wooden spoons, blocks, puzzles, crayons and by parents who read, watch, play with, and talk and listen to their kids. Click here for more.
11 Holidays the World Celebrates in December
While December may be synonymous with the arrival of Christmas for many, it includes other major cultural and religious holidays around the world as well, such as celebrating Buddha’s enlightenment; commemorating an apparition of the Virgin Mary; and honoring African-American heritage.
Here are several important celebrations that occur during December’s holiday season...
Kwanzaa facts for kids
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States to honor African heritage and culture. People light a kinara (candle holder with seven candles) and give each other gifts. It takes place from December 26 to January 1 every year. Read more here.
10 Facts about Christmas
As the year draws to an end, millions of people around the world look forward to sparkling decorations, colourful lights, delicious food, jolly music, silly jokes and exciting gifts. Yup… because Christmas is coming! But how much do you know about this super-fun holiday? It’s time to find out in our ten facts about Christmas…
New Year's Resolutions for Kids
As adults, we typically think about New Year’s resolutions as goals for ourselves, and the common ones that come to mind are generally fitness/health related: “I’m going to lose 20 pounds.” “I’m going to go to the gym every day.” “I’m going to start eating healthy and go on a diet.” I want us to rethink how we do resolutions, especially when it comes to our kids. Resolution setting is a great opportunity to model our experiences with resolutions and goal setting with our kids, and practice these important skills together. Click here for more.
Enjoy the Holidays with Mindfulness
Divorce and Holidays: How to Help Kids
How to Handle Holidays After a Death in the Family
24 Ways to Make the Holidays Kid-Friendly
Strategies to help families of children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other challenges sidestep common sources of stress
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, holiday excitement can be overwhelming for some children, especially those with autism, ADHD, sensory challenges, or anxiety. Here are some ways to make the season more enjoyable for everyone.
Family Resources in the Area
Bartholomew County
Delaware County
Randolph County
Statewide Resources
Supporting the whole family
Families, teachers and children are better together. That’s why the Child Care Resource and Referral Network is proud to serve as a navigator for families, expertly assisting them in finding high-quality child care and connecting them with additional opportunities to meet their needs.
Is your family struggling to make ends meet? Could you or someone you know use assistance with paying for utilities, accessing a food pantry, or connecting to job training or employment services? Call 800-886-3952, ext 2. to learn more!
For personalized support in finding a child care program that best meets your family's needs,
contact CASY, Child Care Resource and Referral, Family Engagement Specialists
at 800-886-3952 and choose option 2.
Our Family Engagement Specialists will follow up with you by the next business day when you submit the online form.
Do you prefer a language other than English? ¿Habla español? Ou pale kreyòl ayisyen? ဗမာစကား ပြောတတ်လား။ Our family specialists can support you in any language, whether via emails or texts, communication over the phone or a conversation in person. We can provide information in any language you need on finding quality child care, paying for care and connecting to resources your child needs to grow, learn and develop. For free, personalized information on child care and other resources, complete our online referral request form or connect with your local child care resource and referral agency for assistance.
CCDF Income Updates
As of April 1, 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) has increased.
You may now be eligible for child care assistance.
Visit these links for more information.
Income Guidelines to be approved for CCDF:
https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/files/Income-Get-on-CCDF.pdf
Income Guidelines to stay on CCDF at recertification:
https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/files/Income-Stay-On-CCDF.pdf
Click below to find your county's CCDF Eligibility Office
Email: ccrr@casyonline.org
Website: http://casyonline.org/
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47802
Phone: 800-886-3952 ext. 2