Went to a good training last night, lots of good materials given out with ideas for new things to do with some old favorite books.

Its funny how you can go to a training and just tell who in the room works for a child care center and who is a family child care provider.

I was sitting at a table with one lady (plus the two other family child care providers that I was moving around the room with) and we struck up a conversation about the activity we were doing and then we started talking about our child care children. This happened twice more during the evening with different family child care providers.

But when I walked over to a table and asked the ladies that were sitting there what activity was at this table; each of them looked up from what they were doing and never spoke just kept on doing what they were doing. Finally, one of the ladies pushed the instruction card to my end of the table never saying a word.

I guess as preschool teachers, child care workers, or whatever term you want to call someone who works in a child care center; they have bonds with the people they work with and don’t need us "outsiders". On the other hand, family child care providers do not have anyone around all day so we talk to other people?!

But the long and short of the night; lots of good ideas to bring back to use here with the kids and best of all it was a FREE training!

~Lisa

I have an opening for full time child care in my family child care home starting Monday, August 15, 2011.  Sophia will be leaving us a week earlier than I was told.  Although I have done several interviews with families to fill the spot, I haven't found the family that will fit in well as of yet.

The children and I have had a relaxing summer, trying to stay cool in this Florida heat.  During the summer we do less structured activities since the children are not always here on a consistent basis, with family vacations and long weekends we keep our focus on playing and creative activities.  Once school starts we will again focus on our learning program.

Thanks to Addison's mommy, we have a field trip scheduled at Home Depot.  I will be sure to post pictures of our activities there.

So, as you can see I'm not real good at the blog stuff but I'm trying. 

Today I thought I would share a little of what we have been up to here.  In May, we welcomed a new little one into our group.  Her name is Sophia and she is such a happy little girl. She and Baby Zane sit and "talk" about things, I think they are plotting a takeover.
The older children and I have been busy working on colors, numbers and shapes. 

For June, we have a trip planned to the Glazer Children's Museum.  I will post pictures at a later date.  Amber is joining us with the two little one guys that she is a nanny for.  Another family child care home will be going too, Dee and Frank Chillura, and will be bringing their group of children.  I'm sure we will have lots of fun.  We also have Ethan's birthday this month, he will be 3, time flies!

For the summer, I'm working on some other trips for us to take, just to get out a bit.  It seems we go outside to play and spend longer getting everyone ready to go out (potty, shoes, etc.) then we do playing because of the heat.  At least going on trips gets us out for awhile.

~Lisa