Your child is going to school for the first time. What an emotional time this is! There is so much on your mind. How he or she will adapt? How he or she will be treated? Will he or she eat or drink enough? All these questions can be summed up in one: How do I find the right preschool or child care for my child?

What kind of child care is there available?

Home-based care:

Listed family homes: People who must list with the division are those who are compensated to provide regular child care (at least four hours per day, three or more days a week, for more than nine consecutive weeks) in their own homes for 1-3 unrelated children.

Registered Child Care Homes: Registered Child Care Homes provide care in the caregiver’s home for up to six children under age 14; they may also take in up to six more school-age children. The number of children allowed in a home is determined by the ages of the children. No more than 12 children can be in care at any time, including children of the caregiver.

Licensed Child Care Homes: Provide care for less than 24 hours per day for 7-12 children under 14 years old. All types of licensed facilities have published standards they are required to follow and are routinely monitored and inspected.

Center-based care:

Licensed Child Care Centers & preschools: are any operation that cares for 13 or more children under 14 years old for less than 24 hours.

Do not make the mistake to choose a facility based on proximity or cost alone. The closest school to your home might not necessarily be the right choice for your child. Also, keep in mind that the highest cost doesn’t always guarantee the best teacher and facility. Likewise, the least expensive rates do not necessarily mean poor teachers and facilities.

Since I’m a former preschool teacher, I thought I knew exactly what to look for when I had to make this decision, and even for me it was a little tricky. I visited a few preschools that were the closest to my home with the hopes of finding the right one for my son among those. I decided to try one that presented itself very attractive, even though I was a little uneasy about this one school: It was so close to home and it look so good as far as appearance goes, that I decided to give it a chance. To make a long story short, I was right about “my gut feeling” I had about this school. My son only lasted there two weeks, and he was miserably unhappy for the whole time.

And that is why I think “your gut feeling” is so important, and the first thing I would recommend when looking for the right school for your child is to pay attention to your instincts.

1. Pay attention to your instincts

You know your child best. Pay attention to any feelings of uneasiness you may have experienced during site visits or interviews. Could you picture your child in this setting? Were the toys and activities you observed the kinds your child would enjoy?

2. Look and listen

You can tell a great deal by observing and listening to what is going on in the classroom. Did the children seem happy and were they enjoying activities? Did the teachers seem to be loving, nurturing and responsive to all children in their care? Were problems handled promptly and appropriately? Did the teacher seem like the kind of people you can trust with the health, happiness and well being of your child? Is this a place where you would feel good about your child spending many hours each day?

3. Professional Qualifications

What is the lead teacher’s level of education? Research shows that children whose teachers have more education have better outcomes. Increased education and specialized training in early childhood education produces higher quality programs and positive child outcomes. Formal education plus annual in-service training equals higher quality levels.

Every state has mandatory hours of training required for childcare givers to attend, for teachers and helpers as well. For instance, in Florida, there is a 30-hour-childcare training that is mandatory for all childcare workers, teachers and helpers to attend, and then a 10-hour-Age appropriate-training thereafter. You may inquire whether your child’s teacher and/or helper have completed this mandatory training. The number of hours varies from state to state. To find out more about this you may visit your state’s DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & PROCTETIVE SERVICES or CHILDREN’S SERVICES Website.

4. Curriculum & Daily Routines

Do they use a curriculum? What curriculum do they use?

A curriculum based on developmentally appropriate practices should be utilized and teaching staff should have been trained in implementing this curriculum. This is extremely important if you are interested in your child being educated and not just being watched. Implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum is a strong predictor of children’s success in school.

Not only that, you don’t want your child in an environment where there is nothing planned to do. He or she is going to be bored out of his or her mind after he or she is done playing with toys, and most likely will engage in misbehavior and disorderly conduct due to lack of organized and planned activities. This is when children begin to hit and push each other and become aggressive to one another due to lack of planned activities. The day has many hours. We can not expect children just to play for 8 hours. And I’m a teacher, I know all about children learning by playing, but even play needs to be planned and guided by the teacher.

The following is what Broward County in the State of Florida requires on this aspect:

DAILY ROUTINES and PROGRAMS

1) Infants:
Infants shall have planned activity periods of play suitable to stimulate their interest, opportunities for talking and cuddling with staff members and ample opportunities for exercise outside their cribs on mats or on a clean floor surface. All infants should have a daily outdoor period, weather permitting.

2) Other Age Groups:
The facility shall have a daily schedule of activities posted in a place accessible to the parents. The activities shall be appropriate to the developmental age of the child. The daily schedule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
• Broad blocks of time for activities in art, language development, music, block building, creative and dramatic play, science, manipulative play, active play, indoor and outdoor play periods
• Time period for providing meals and snacks
• Quiet time or nap period
Activities for both indoors and outdoors shall be provided by a flexible daily schedule of regular routines in order to give the children the sense of security they need to help them become self directing and independent, and to develop a positive self image. There shall be a sufficient amount of play equipment and materials available for the licensed capacity of the facility.

3) Each child three years of age or under shall have a daily rest period of at least one hour on a cot, mat, crib, bed or playpen.

5. Ratio and Group Size – research strongly suggests that smaller group sizes and more staff with children lead to better outcomes for children. Lower ratios and smaller group sizes allow teachers to give children more individual attention, a key to success.

I think this is the same for all the states, but again, you should check your state’s Children Services Website to be sure. Bellow is Broward County’s, Florida, student/teacher ratio rules. And I using Florida as an example because I completed my Early Childhood Education/Child Development studies there and I’m must familiar with the rules and regulations of this particular state pertaining to this subject.

RATIOS OF PERSONNEL TO CHILDREN

6. Family Engagement: The program recognizes that children’s chances for success increase when families get involved in their child’s early care and education program. The program promotes ongoing family participation in a variety of ways.

7. Program Administration: A strong set of management practices including record-keeping, financial management, staff hiring and retention practices, and emergency planning are key to a successful program.

Signs to look for:

What to look for:

Do the children look happy, involved in activities and well-cared for?

Do teachers get on the child’s level to listen, talk and play with children?

Do teachers give individual attention to each child?

Are teachers warm, kind, calm and patient?

What is your child’s reaction when he first sees his teacher in the morning?

Are there sufficient materials such as blocks, books, puzzles, art supplies and toys for all the children and are they available throughout the day?

Are well planned activities such as music, painting and dress-up play provided for children?

Does the facility seem cheerful, clean and safe with equipment in good repair?

Is hand washing and diaper changing done frequently?

Is there adequate indoor space for play, naps, meals, belongings?

Is the outdoor play are fenced, safe, well-equipped and supervised at all times?

Questions to ask

(You will probably receive an information packet that will answer some of these questions for you, but if you don’t, here are some important questions to ask)

Is the program licensed? Accredited?

Private accrediting agencies perform an important quality assurance function by accrediting or certifying early care and education programs that meet their standards. Accredited child care programs have a strong interest in quality and have met a set of standards higher than licensing standards set forth by the particular Early Childhood Agency or Association they have cared to join. Some of the well known National Early Childhood Associations are: NAEYC, ACEI and NAFCC, and there are many others.

Are references and background checks conducted on staff?

How many of the teaching staff has been employed in this facility or home for more than one year?

Does the person who will be teaching your child have training in early childhood education, First Aid and CPR?

How many children are there for each adult? (adult to child ratio)

How many children are in your child’s group? (smaller group size is a quality indicator)

Are there written policies/information regarding: philosophy of education for young children; discipline; on-going staff education/training; illness and injuries, napping; and toileting habits?

AND ALL OTHER QUESTIONS YOU FEEL THE NEED TO ASK. DON’T HESITATE…

Once you have made a choice. It doesn’t all end there. You will want to talk to your new teacher often and make occasional visits to ensure that your child is safe and happy– that your decision was the right one.

I sincerely hope this information was helpful to you and that you find the right Preschool or Child Care setting for your bundle of joy like I finally did for mine. When one’s child is excited and looking forward to going to school every time, one realizes that making the right choice makes a whole world of difference, and it will show…

If you would like to add your own thoughts or comments to this post, please feel free to do so bellow.

Obama Voted against banning partial birth abortion

In 1997, Obama voted against SB 230, which would have turned doctors into felons by banning so-called partial-birth abortion, & against a 2000 bill banning state funding. Although these bills included an exception to save the life of the mother, they didn’t include anything about abortions necessary to protect the health of the mother. The legislation defined a fetus as a person, & could have criminalized virtually all abortion. Source: The Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson, p.147-148 Oct 30, 2007
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm#1

Obama Trusts women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion

Q: What us your view on the decision on partial-birth abortion and your reaction to most of the public agreeing with the court’s holding?

A: I think that most Americans recognize that this is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions. They don’t make them casually. And I trust women to make these decisions in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy. And I think that’s where most Americans are. Now, when you describe a specific procedure that accounts for less than 1% of the abortions that take place, then naturally, people get concerned, and I think legitimately so. But the broader issue here is: Do women have the right to make these profoundly difficult decisions? And I trust them to do it. There is a broader issue: Can we move past some of the debates around which we disagree and can we start talking about the things we do agree on? Reducing teen pregnancy; making it less likely for women to find themselves in these circumstances.

Source: 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm#1

Obama Undecided on whether life begins at conception

Q: Do you personally believe that life begins at conception?
A: This is something that I have not come to a firm resolution on. I think it’s very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So I don’t presume to know the answer to that question. What I know is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we’re having these debates.

Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm#1

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that anything that has the ability to grow is living; it’s alive, not dead or non existent. With that in mine, wouldn’t it be accurate to say that the unborn baby no matter how many weeks old he might be in the mother’s womb, he or she is alive and growing, and if we don’t interrupt the process it will continue to grow until it riches necessary maturity, and then it will be born, and it will continue to grow, and become a toddler, a child, a teen, an adult, a mother , or a father, a doctor, or a lawyer, a dentist,………. a member of society.

I was given that opportunity. You were given that opportunity. Had my mother decided to terminate her pregnancy when she was carrying me, I wouldn’t be here today, in which case I would have been murdered; because I was a person inside of my mother’s womb, in the most fragile and vulnerable stage of my life, but none the less, I was a person. The stage of life we are in does not change the fact that we are alive and have the right to continue to live.

When a pregnant woman decides to terminate her pregnancy, at whatever stage, that woman is terminating a life. I don’t care if it is only one week pregnant, two weeks, three, or four… Or whether one wants to call it a fetus to emotionally detach herself from it or be politically correct ……. The truth is that a living thing, a baby, another human being is growing inside that womb and it’s alive. And if it was alive and then is dead, and it didn’t happen due to natural causes, then it would be safe to say that someone killed it.

An unborn baby is a person in its most fragile and vulnerable stage, defenseless and at the mercy of those who conceived them. Anyone who performs, approves or supports the termination of the unborn child is nothing but a coward. Why don’t they try to mess with someone their own size? The atrocities being committed against the unborn babies, such as, the partial birth Abortion, all in the name of giving women choices, is inexcusable.

Women have plenty of choices. Let me tell you all the choices women have out there to prevent an unwanted pregnancy: there are condoms, plenty of contraceptive pills to choose from and contraceptive devices, and how about abstinence. It is not a secret that when one has sexual intercourse there is like a 99.9 percent chance of getting pregnant. So if a woman doesn’t want to get pregnant, why doesn’t she try one of the above mentioned choices? Is it such a big of an inconvenience to go to a store or pharmacy to purchase contraceptives? Women and teenage girls spend tons of money buying cosmetics, clothes, shoes, music cd’s, etc. If they know that they are going be having reckless sexual intercourse but don’t want to get pregnant, why don’t they behave more responsibly and invest in one of the preventive methods mentioned above, instead of foolishly getting pregnant and then wanting to terminate the pregnancy?

Some people may say what about the women who get pregnant due to rape? And what about the women who did used contraceptives but they failed and they don’t want a baby? Well, for that, there is a beautiful choice call adoption. And besides, let’s look at the statistics and see who are the people performing abortions. Of all the abortions being performed only 2% were due to rape, incest, physical life of mother, health of mother or fetal health. The other 98% of abortions were performed due to”personal choice”:
–too young/immature/not ready for responsibility
–economic
–to avoid adjusting life
–mother single or in poor relationship
–enough children already

REASONS FOR ABORTIONS IN THE US: COMPILED ESTIMATES Click bellow to see complete story http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/abreasons.html

As you can see on the table above, 98% of abortions could have been prevented by responsibly using a contraceptive method. Instead these individuals recklessly enjoyed the pleasures of having sex and then don’t want to pay for the consequences of their irresponsible actions. That’s why abortions needs to banned altogether and Specially the Partial Birth Abortion.

Partial Birth Abortion

http://www.nrlc.org/ABORTION/pba/diagram.html

To see detailed images of partial-birth abortion, and documentation from medical experts on the accuracy of these images, click here.

Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby’s leg with forceps.

The baby’s leg is pulled out into the birth canal.

The abortionist delivers the baby’s entire body, except for the head.

The abortionist jams scissors into the baby’s skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.

The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child’s brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

To see detailed images of partial-birth abortion, and documentation from medical experts on the accuracy of these images, click here.

This friends is nothing but a slaughter and it should be stopped immediately and punished to the maximum extend of the law. And anyone who performs, approves or supports these massacres is nothing but a cold-blooded criminal.

I came across the following article on a new technology being developed aimed to aid parents remember a child left in a car, although written in 2004, I find this report very interesting and relevant today since the hyperthermia-deaths-of-children-in-hot-vehicles continue to happen.

However, we are already nearing the end of 2008, four years after this report was written, and I have not heard of anything of this nature already in place. Does anyone know anything about this new technology out there? If you do, would you be so kind to share with us by placing a comment on this post?

Some people say that this could happen to anyone. But c’mon, are we really that forgetful? How can we forget our children in the back of our cars? I don’t know, maybe I’m a paranoid parent, but I have to know minute by minute what my kids are doing and where they are. They’re constantly on my mind. Maybe it helps that I’m stay-at-home mom and know that if my children are not with me they are not with any one else, but still, being a working parent or not, I just can’t comprehend how can anyone forget their child in the back of their car for hours.

Some may argue that it’s easy to forget a sleeping baby in the back of a car. And I say what? How can anyone forget about their baby? You know that they are going to need milk soon or later, so they are always on your mind, or they should be anyway. I don’t know, maybe some of us are suffering of an epidemic early case of Alzheimer’s disease. Excuse my bluntness, but just the thought of a baby or child dying in the back of a car just angers me. I already made the decision that this is not going to happen to me. I know that I have two kids, and I’ve made the decision that no matter where I go, and no matter what short of time I’m going to spend there, I will never leave my children in my car. I will always bring them along with me. So when I turn that key to off, and the engine of my car stops running, the first things I do is get out of my car and go to the back and open the door to get my children. I have made this a habit–even when my children are home with my husband and I go somewhere, I get out of my car and then go to open the back door to check if my children are there.

Let’s be proactive, don’t be of the mindset that this could happen to anyone and just hope that it doesn’t happen to you. Let’s take the necessary measures to ensure that this horrible thing doesn’t happen to our children. If you consider yourself a forgetful person, or if you’re going trough a busy or difficult time in your life which causes you to forget things, please make sure you come up with a plan that will work for you, to remember your baby or child in the back of your car.

This is what could happen to child left unattended in a vehicle:

• Heatstroke occurs when a person’s temperature exceeds 104 degrees F and their thermo regulatory mechanism is overwhelmed
  - Symptoms include : dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, hallucinations
• A core body temperature of 107 degrees F is considered lethal as cells are damaged and internal organs shut down
• Children’s thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult’s and their bodies warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

• NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE. NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE!
• Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don’t overlook sleeping babies.
• Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
• Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat and when the child is put in the seat place the animal in the front with the driver.
• Or place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
• Make “look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of the car.
• Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

STATISTICS

• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2008: 15
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2007: 35
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 1998-2008: 376
• Average number of U.S. child hyperthermia fatalities per year since 1998: 36
  

An examination of media reports about the 361 child vehicular hyperthermia deaths for a ten year period (1998 through 2007) shows the following circumstances:

· Circumstances

· 51% - child “forgotten” by caregiver

· 30% - child playing in unattended vehicle

· 18% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult

· 1% - circumstances unknown

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For additional information on Hyperthermia visit: http://ggweather.com/heat


Those are my thoughts on Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Hot Vehicles, I would love to hear your thoughts and or concerns on this matter. Please feel free to leave a comment. Look forward in hearing your thoughts.