By Susan DiNatale, QUALITYstarsNY Quality Improvement Specialist, Western New York It’s late on a Friday afternoon and as the program director, you’re juggling multiple issues. A parent is frustrated [...]
As New York State’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, QUALITYstarsNY uses a model of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) to systematically assess, improve, and sustain early care and education quality [...]
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded initiative that reimburses early childhood programs for serving healthy meals and snacks to children. Hunger Solutions New [...]
QUALITYstarsNY Specialist Stella Lundie gives examples of how early childhood education professionals can promote learning through play.
QUALITYstarsNY Specialist Stella Lundie gives examples of how early childhood education professionals can incorporate culturally aware practices into their program.
We have all heard the saying “you are what you eat”. The food that fuels the body plays a role in physical health and mental well-being. Nutrition is critical to the growth and development of young children. For many families, putting healthy food on the table is not that simple. Food insecurity, access to wholesome meals, and cost can be barriers. Child care programs can reduce these barriers for children by participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Have you ever paused to consider the learning environment you're creating for young children in your program? Does it truly reflect the philosophy that inspired you when you first set out on this journey? If it does, what are the elements that bring this philosophy to life in your space? If not, it may be time to revisit that foundational philosophy and consider how and why children learn, ensuring that your environment mirrors these values.
Summer is a natural time to reflect on your program’s calendar. Do you intentionally create a program calendar for staff meetings and professional development? Do you have an internal policy or procedure for how many staff meetings are held per year or how they are executed? What are some ways you share important updates and new information with staff?
March is National Reading Month, a celebration that encourages reading for all ages and promotes reading as a key feature for overall learning, social-emotional, and professional development. Reading is an integral part of early childhood cognitive development, building relationships, fostering language and vocabulary development, and establishing critical thinking skills and beginning concepts of print.
Winter lends itself to all sorts of exciting ways to explore the outdoors. We all know it can be a trick to get all of the children ready to go outside, but that too can become a wonderful learning experience, and a necessary step in getting fresh air throughout the year. One of the ways we support programs enrolled in QUALITYstarsNY is to brainstorm how to implement program changes that enhance children’s development. We understand the great importance of daily outdoor play, but are also aware of the numerous hurdles that make this a challenge. Sometimes reframing and planning can make a difficult task more manageable. Here are some things to consider when planning outdoor winter play for children: