Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association

"Why did the candle go to school? To get a little brighter! 😄 Wishing you a bright and cheerful Hanukkah!

If you give a mouse a cookie, he will want to celebrate National Cookie Day.. and so do we! Incorporate this fun holiday into your classroom by asking children to vote on their favorite sweet treat.

Creating a bedtime routine for your kids could be the best thing for them to catch quality zzz’s. The Brush, Book, Bed program by the American Academy of Pediatrics is a great place to start. Check out their resources. ➡ https://bit.ly/3DdcC0K

November is National Scholarship Month! Don't forget to visit our workforce development page to learn more about the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship! https://occrra.org/workforce-development/

"We don’t know them all, but we owe them all! "It is with respect, honor and gratitude, that we THANK our veterans.

Don't forget, daylight savings ends this weekend! Why is the daylight savings transition challenging for children? Children thrive on schedule and routine; this means when they experience things that feel out of the ordinary, it can feel overwhelming. To alleviate the challenging transition, talk with your child(ren) about what changes they can expect related to time change such as, when it will be light and dark outside.

Develop a love for reading and celebrate National Literacy Day by exploring books that have made it to the Top 100 Best Children's Books of All Time, list! https://time.com/100-best-childrens-books/ 📖

Check out these helpful safety tips for Tick or Treat! https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/autumn-safety/halloween 🎃

Serving more than 1 million children from birth to 5 each year, Head Start programs are helping America’s children succeed in school and in life.
Looking for your local Head Start center?
Check out the Head Start Center Locator tool here: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator

Head Start Center Locator | ECLKC

Sweet treats can be part of a child’s holiday celebrations with friends, family, and other festivities. There are other ways to celebrate!
· Have a scavenger hunt for items related to the holiday theme.
· Have a dance party.
· Set up themed craft stations.
· Plan special party games.

Costumes are fun, but consider these tips to ensure your kids have a healthy and safe Halloween:

🦸‍♀️ Add reflective tape to your child’s costume.
👨‍🚒 Make sure your child’s shoes fit well.
🧛‍♀️ Hats and masks should fit properly to prevent them from falling and blocking vision.
For more tips 👉bit.ly/3sBSfHL

Congratulations to these students and their commitment to health and human services.

It is always a pleasure to connect with the professionals serving in the early learning space. Thank you for children, for hosting us at the Leadership and Early Childhood Conference! 📚✏️

Celebrate by visiting your local orchard and creating a yummy treat with your children. Here's an idea!: Cut apples into fry-shapes and dip them into peanut butter or another yummy dip!

Pumpkin Tradition Safety Tips 10/18:
The time-honored tradition of carving pumpkins can be fun, but maybe not appropriate for little ones. Here are some tips to continue the tradition safely:
🎃 Allow your child to draw a face with markers, then have an adult do the cutting.
🎃 Paint your pumpkins instead.
🎃 Consider using a flashlight or glow stick to light your pumpkin.

Since 1965, Head Start programs have provided services to more than 37 million children. Dedicated staff not only spark the love of learning in our little ones, but they also nurture the well-being of their families.
Help us raise awareness about the impact of Head Start programs this .
Discover what Head Start programs offer:
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/discover-what-head-start-programs-offer

Cooking Matters is designed to empower early care and education professionals to serve healthy meals and create a positive food environment for the children in their care. Registration for this opportunity is available through OCCRRA's "find training" search by typing "Cooking Matters: Safe Cooking with Confidence."

Addressing Trauma in Children on "World Mental Health Day."

Trauma can involve actual or perceived threats to the safety and well-being of a child, or to someone close to them. These experiences result in feelings of fear and helplessness. These are normal responses to disturbing events, not signs of weakness.

A child can be affected at any developmental stage, beginning at infancy. Some children recover quickly, while others have more extreme reactions. For some, the response is immediate; for others, it is delayed. These reactions may have wide ranging effects on a child’s physical health, emotional responses, behaviors and school success.

Children need to know that they’re safe and that people care and will help them through whatever events they have experienced. Caregivers, teachers and service providers should be trauma-informed and sensitive to a child’s needs.
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services understands the importance of addressing traumatic experiences in children. Take a look at the framework provided for various resources that may fit your families and your child's needs.https://mha.ohio.gov/static/learnandfindhelp/TreatmentServices/TCC/Framework-for-TCC.pdf

OCCRRA will be closed today, October 9th, in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. We will resume our normal office hours tomorrow October 10, 2023.

Listening to and creating music helps children learn numeracy, literacy and emotional skills. Incorporating music into routines and play in the early years has a positive influence on your child's early development. It can get them moving, thinking and inspire creativity.

Congratulations to Apollo's Early Childhood Education students for participating in Ohio’s Health and Human Services Signing Day! These students have committed to completing Child Development Associate (CDA) training this academic year. CDA training is a great first step toward a career in . We know they will make excellent teachers someday.

October 5th marks World Teachers Day and Ohio's Fall Signing Day. We recognize high school juniors and senior as they commit to 120 training hours this academic year for their CDA Credential.

While October is officially designated as "Diversity Month," the celebration and acknowledgement of diversity should be recognized and supported year-round. As professionals in early learning environments, it is critical that we consistently embody and demonstrate inclusive habits and continue to shine a positive light on diversity.

Now accepting applications for T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships. To learn more, click on the link below.
https://occrra.org/workforce-development/teach-early-childhood-ohio-overview/

It is never too early to start implementing lessons on literacy! Check out this FREE PD event through OCCRRA's "Find Training" search to foster language development and early literacy in your classroom.

"Early Literacy: Print Awareness, Phonological Awareness, and Alphabet Knowledge"

Start the school year off on the right foot by preparing your staff to offer high-level before and after school care! The School-Age Endorsement supports school-age professionals in obtaining age specific training and classroom experience to meet the needs of school-age children. Click the link to learn how!
https://occrra.org/ohio-professional-registry/school-age-endorsement/

“Reading is important, because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.”

Tomie DePaola

10 Inspiring Organizations That Promote Literacy and Education | See Word Design 10 Inspiring Organizations That Promote Literacy and Education Literacy See Word Reading believes in the importance of a quality education and education equality . To celebrate this, we have pulled together a list of 10 organizations doing wonderful work in the educational community. To learn more a...

Ohio Department of Higher Education Announces New College Credit Guarantee for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. Here is more information on what an ITAG is.

Have questions about the new mobile responsive OPR profile? Check out our webpage dedicated to this change!

➡ https://occrra.org/mobile-responsive-opr/ ⬅️