Informal Family Child Care Project

What to do? Talk about what is happening as you and your child run fast, walk slowly, stomp like a dinosaur, or dart like a pigeon.

Why? Your child will learn words and develop skills in running and moving. This simple activity is a first step to forming an intentional plan about how to coordinate and control their body and actions.

For Preschoolers: Describe the move and make it like a "Follow the Leader" game. For School age children: Describe the move and have them do it. Create a word wall and write words like "fast, slow, forward, backward, etc."

Want to learn more about child development? Here is a copy of the NY State's Early Learning Guidelines (ELG). Search the age group of the child in your care and see what they can do!

What to do...Give your child a safe, hand-held mirror. Have him or her look into the mirror and make faces and actions. Offer them a comb, toothbrush or washcloth. Ask them to practice smiling, brushing their hair, move their eyebrows, brush their teeth, wash their face, etc. As they are doing it describe his/her actions and facial qualities. For example: "Wow, your eyes go up when you smile or move your eyes".

Why is this important? This activity builds your child's social and emotional and language skills. The more your child learns about himself or herself and what he or she can do, the more comfortable he or she will feel in new situations.

For school age children: Give them a safe mirror and ask them to draw a self portrait as they look at themselves in the mirror. You draw your self-portrait as well and compare the two together!!!

Do you know where your library is located? Are you aware that they offer fabulous activities for children and adults? Check out this website, find your local library and the activities they are offering.

What to do? Get a clear bottle (i.e. a used water bottle). Add water in the bottle about halfway and add six drops of oil. You can also get two paints/markers (red and yellow), mix them to make a new color (orange). Encourage your child to be a detective in discovering what caused something to happen. Ask them to tell you "How did that happen?" Offer a different idea if the explanation is inaccurate. Do not correct the child's theory but simply offer another view. Encourage any effort to figure out the cause of the mystery.

School age children: After the activity, give him/her a piece of paper, a pencil and have them draw what they notice. Let them write what they think cause things to happen.

Why is this important? Exposing children to activities that promotes curiosity, and persistence helps them build their approach to learning and social and emotional intelligence. They explore cause and effect! Try it with water freezing, a broken toy or leaves falling from trees.

Have you heard about Go Noodle? It is a fun, learning and teaching tool. Try this FREE resource to engage the child or children in your care to learn about personal and community wellness, mental and physical health, in ways that are fun, exploratory, and highlight their unique, natural self. Dance, rap, sing and mediate with your child/children. One of IFCC's favorite activity is called "MELTING". Search for it on the website.

What to do? Give children in your care simple and safe problems to solve. Offer the child choices when facing the problem. Ask them "which is best?" Some activities that can help with making choices are building a tall tower, playing board games, playing catch, playing JENGA and/or deciding which clothing to wear or snack to eat. For example: Build a tall tower with the child. Allow the tower to fall. Ask the child "do you think the tower needs a wider or shorter bottom?" Build the tower again and see what happens. Continue to encourage the child to come up with their own idea or give them choices.

For School-age children: use the same process for helping them make good decisions in school. For example: Give them choices for getting along with other children, setting time management skill for homework or projects.

Why is this important? Children need to know how to select the best solution to solving a problem. Weighing alternative paths of action is a key step in solving problems. Later children will use this skill independently to solve other problems successfully.

Do you have questions about childcare payments? CAPS ONLINE can assist! They can be reached at 212 835-7610 or capsonline@earlychildhoodny.org. You can also go to the Childcare Payment Portal and view or download your paystubs.

What to do? Go on a community walk or stroll around your home. Give the child in your care a baggie or bag and encourage your child to find small items that they feel are "treasures" or interesting on the walk. Ask him or her to collect the interesting items in the baggie. Find time to ask the child to display the items they collected and talk about them. Begin to ask the child questions about the item. For example: "What did you find interesting about this item?" If you are not sure what to ask remember to use your 5 "W"s...What?, Why?, When?, Where? Who?

For school age children, when you begin to look at your child's collection create a list of adjectives your child uses to describe the items or give them adjectives to use. For example, "big, small, shiny, rough, or bumpy" Afterwards, you can begin to sort or categorize them.

Why should you do this? This activity builds your child's personal choices and interests, which supports their decision-making process.

Check out the CDC website for the Development Milestones and a milestone tracker. You can order one of each.

What to do? Shapes are all around us. Point & say: That window is a rectangle. Ask: "What shape are the wheels on the car?" Or "Can you find a circle, square, rectangle and triangle?"

School-age children: Look for shapes on the bridges. Show pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge or a bridge near where you live. Play "I spy" naming the shape you see and see if they can find it.

Why should you do it? You can help build your child's math and language skills by pointing out shapes and asking questions about them.

Interested in receiving a CDA? Happy May! It is time for new beginnings! Are you interested in getting a CDA (Child Development Associates)? Attend CUNY School of Professional Studies CDA Information Sessions on May 8 at 7pm. Click to learn more information.

What to do? As you put the dishes away, count the plates 1-by-1 with your child. Try it again with the bowls. Forks? Cups? Can your child count the cups by himself(herself)? You can help by counting items during everyday activities.

School-age children: Be creative! You can count the number of steps to the car, bus stop or to school. Incorporate addition, subtraction or multiplication.

Why should you do it? Counting is one of the first math skills that children learn. Keep counting. You're preparing your child with math literacy!

What to do? Encourage your child to be curious. Give children opportunities to ask questions.

School age children: Give them scenarios (ex: A girl or boy doesn't want to go to the supermarket with her/his mother." Ask them to ask questions about the scenario. If they need help ask them "what do you want to know about this situation?" Write down their questions.

Why should you do it? Kids have lots of questions! Encouraging them to ask questions, encourages them to be curious. Curiosity guides learning. It also supports a child's ability to problem solve.

What to do? As your child gets ready for the day, noticing what your child does well! Comment on good behaviors right away! For example, say “You’re great at putting your shoes on! Good job!” or “I like it when you play so nicely & share your things!”

Why should you do it? Kids can do things we don't like. One way to change that is to compliment and talk about their good and wanted behaviors. They will do those more and unwanted behaviors less.

Want us to know how it went? Text us back and tell us how it went! Remember, give us a thumbs up if you like this or a heart if you plan to use this tip. In this case, share with us some good compliments that work with kids we can add it to our website. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize raffle wheel.

Consider logging on to https://www.gonoodle.com/ for games, songs, and skill building activities. The account is free and the activities are plentiful. Let us know how it went! Did you like this suggestion? Give us a thumbs up!!

What to do? Look for times when children (all ages) are ready to sit quietly. Snack time might be perfect for reading time! Ask the child where they want to read the book (on the sofa, laying down, on the floor, etc.) and how they want to read (picture walk (just looking and talking about the pictures), you read to them or take turns reading). If they get restless, say: “Let's finish this book later. What should we do now?”

Why should you do it? Learning to love books helps children become readers! Make reading time a fun activity for both of you.

Want us to know how it went? Text us back and tell us how it went! Remember, give us a thumbs up if you like this or a heart if you plan to use this tip. In this case, share with us some books the child in your care enjoys. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize raffle wheel.

May is a good month to change the batteries of your smoke detectors. Make sure to have working smoke detectors near the bedrooms in your home. In addition, consider having fire drills with children. Smoke detectors and emergency drills can save your lives! Let us know if you changed the batteries in your smoke detector or if this was helpful by giving us a thumbs up.

What to do? Ask your child to help with a task (simple or difficult). For example: set up the table, take out or hold the items for snack time, help with laundry or fold blankets or sort toys and games. Notice his/her effort. For example: Say, “I love how hard you worked to set the table! It looks great!”. Let them know that you see them trying - focus on their effort, not on the end result.

Why should you do it? Noticing children's effort helps him/her try harder. Keep noticing children's effort. You’re preparing them for problem solving, self-regulation and building relationships! Even if a child doesn't finish, say: I like that you worked so hard!

Want us to know how it went? Tell us how it went! Share with us some tasks you gave the child in your care. Did you like this give us a thumbs up. If you plan to use this tip, give us a heart. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize raffle wheel.

Did you know that the Bronx Zoo offers free admission to the park on Wednesdays? Read the details below.

• Advance Reservations: You must reserve your free tickets online.
• Limited Admission: The Wednesday tickets provide access to the zoo, but some exhibits and attractions may have an additional fee or require a separate ticket.
• Limited Admission: The Wednesday tickets provide access to the zoo, but some exhibits and attractions may have an additional fee or require a separate ticket.

Find tickets at: https://bronxzoo.com/plan-your-visit/faqs, click on “Limited Admission Ticket” then scroll to the bottom and click on “Find Wednesday Tickets”.

What to do? Make up a story about visiting a farm or summer plans. Make it interactive and take turns to add to the story. Let kids act like each animal (horse, cow, chicken) & make its sound or use hand gestures as they add their part to the story. Start your story with “One day, the cow met the horse.” OR “Once upon a time, there was a playground that had yellow and red shining swings.” Ask the child, “what happened next?” or “and then?”

Why should you do it? Sharing stories builds imagination, curiosity and language. The stories can be fantasy or real and can include rhyming. It’s totally up to you and the child.

Want us to know how it went? Tell us how it went! Did you like this give us a thumbs up. If you plan to use this tip, give us a heart. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize give away wheel.

If you have a library card and are over the age of 13 you can get a Culture Pass! The Culture Pass will provide some fun and educational outings. Using your library card, New Yorkers can reserve a pass and get free admission to 100+ NYC cultural institutions: museums, gardens, theaters, and more.

What to do? You can help children build other skills during craft time. Set up a magazine, newspaper or drawing paper around the room. Ask your child(ren) to help gather materials for a project. At craft time, you can encourage them to cut out the letters of their name, numbers, things that make them happy or sad. Glue or tape items and create a collage. If using the drawing paper, you can ask them to draw a picture. Talk about their drawing and how they felt.

Why should you do it? Craft time helps build children's imaginations and hand-eye coordination. These activities will specifically build cognitive skills such as counting, spelling and identifying feelings.

Want us to know how it went? Tell us how it went! If you like this give us a thumbs up. If you plan to use this tip, give us a heart. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize give away wheel.

Visit and explore all that New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute has to offer. https://earlychildhoodny.org/

What to do? Go on a community walk. Encourage your child to point to things that are high above their heads and low below their feet. Describe the things your child points to. Encourage your child to pick up one thing during your walk (i.e. a leaf, grass or rock). With older children, get an old phone or your current phone and let them take pictures of items. Examine the item and ask them to state what they know or want to know about the item. Begin to answer their questions. Hint: You can use the internet to help you with the answers.

Why should you do it? This activity can help children understand the world and learn new words or expand their literacy skills.

Want us to know how it went? Tell us how it went! Did you like this give us a thumbs up. If you plan to use this tip, give us a heart. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize give away wheel.

Interested in visiting dinosaurs or learning more about other cultures? Consider planning a trip to the beautiful and amazing American Museum of Natural History! "Pay What you Wish" admission.

What to do? Encourage your child to build a structure. They can build with blocks, books, pillows, boxes or scraps for the recycle bin. While building, copy what your child builds and later invite him/her to follow your lead. Use as much language as possible as you build. For example: “I’m putting my short block on its side, just like you did!” For older children, build their listening skills by tell them the instructions for building a structure. Ex: “Place the long green block in an upward or vertical position. Place the long block on its side.”

Why should you do it? This activity will help your child become more aware of patterns and learn that patterns can be repeated or varied. Want us to know how it went?

Tell us how it went! Did you like this give us a thumbs up. If you plan to use this tip, give us a heart. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize give away wheel.

What to do? Get the summer started with a dance party. Play your child’s favorite songs or the classic songs Electric Slide, Cha-Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle or the Macarena. Encourage the children to clap or follow your steps or bust their own dance moves.

Why should you do it? This activity will build your child’s focusing, listening and motor skills while you build a positive, fun relationship with him/her. Want us to know how it went?

Tell us how it went! Did you like this give us a thumbs up. If you plan to use this tip, give us a heart. All responses will be entered into our monthly prize give away wheel.

Back to school readiness starts at home! School safety drills can be anxiety inducing and scary for young children. Consider visiting this website to talk about fire safety and fire drills (both at home and in school).