Child Care Aware of New Hampshire

Summer is the best time for fun! What's your favorite summer memory so far? Share it with us!🌞

Are you Getting the Lead Out?

NH State law (RSA 485:17-a) requires all schools and child care facilities to
test their drinking water for lead.
▪ Have you Enrolled in the program?
▪ Have you completed 3 rounds of testing six months apart?
▪ Do you need funding to pay for remediation?
We are here to help you!
▪ Visit gettheleadoutnh.org, and email [email protected] or [email protected] or call (603)506-6469 for help!

What an amazing opportunity for Family Child Care providers of NH! Check this out!

Attention all at-home family childcare providers in New Hampshire: we have an amazing opportunity for you!

We are partnering with 100 at-home family childcare providers and providing them with GIANT play-based learning manipulative toy kits (our basement is overflowing with creative and open-ended supplies), monthly activity ideas, online programming, workshops, and more...all free of charge!!!

To apply to receive one of these kits and related programming or learn a bit more about the program, please visit this Google Form: https://forms.gle/ETNCiNQq3Y4vXEyV7 We are accepting applications until we have filled the 100 spots.

Note: If you have already applied, there is no need to apply again.

A big shout out to Community Development Finance Authority and Granite United Way for helping to make this program possible.

As record-breaking heat waves sweep across the country, it's crucial to keep young kids safe and cool. Ensure they stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and dress them in light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Schedule frequent breaks in shaded or indoor areas to avoid heat exhaustion. Engage in cool activities like swimming or indoor play. Never leave children unattended in hot cars. Watch for signs of heat illness, such as fatigue, headache, or nausea. For more detailed advice, visit the Healthy Children website.

Extreme Heat: Tips to Keep Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar Extreme heat can cause children to become sick in several ways. Make sure to protect your child from the heat as much as possible, watch for symptoms, and call your doctor if you see any develop.

Calling all Family Child Care Providers - check out this exciting announcement from the The Children's Museum of New Hampshire!

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire has partnered with The Community Development Finance Authority and Granite United Way to provide at-home family child care providers (licensed or licensed-exempt--or even those in the process of getting licensed) with giant play-based learning manipulative toy kits as well as monthly activity ideas, online programming and workshops, and more.

All of these services are FREE and all providers need to do is apply. Follow the links below to learn more and apply. We are accepting applications through the month of July or until we have filled all available spots.

Questions? Please email [email protected]

To learn more, please download this PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8b8UvhcWf1uyiTBMhDUz2d-7JH-mBtH/view?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3ubgqYRZFYiJFLyf5srHcuX9y_PEqoZDUwQUtbvrG1KT45kIELPXY9lkg_aem_XxD_n0i7tVbDb2nHpW5Cqw

To apply, fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/1h73LzttDZQCNjtd9

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone a joyful and safe 4th of July! Enjoy the celebrations and stay safe! Please note that Child Care Aware of NH will be closed on the following dates this week.

We asked, and you answered! At Child Care Aware of New Hampshire, we are committed to continuously improving our training offerings to better serve your needs. Thanks to your valuable feedback, we have gained insightful perspectives on how to enhance our programs to support your professional growth. Your input is instrumental in helping us create more tailored and effective training opportunities.

We encourage you to continue sharing your feedback at the link below to help us further improve our services.

2024 Provider Voices: Child Care Aware of New Hampshire Professional Development Survey

Looking for some 4th of July fun & celebrations?
Check out the dates for town firework displays!

Fourth of July parades, celebrations and fireworks schedule Dates and times for New Hampshire July 4th fireworks displays, parades and other Independence Day community events in NH.

Join us for this insightful 3-part training series where we will explore the essential elements of inclusive education. We'll focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), resources and support for educators, and fostering strong partnerships with families. These sessions are designed to empower early childhood educators with the knowledge and tools to create supportive learning environments that celebrate and accommodate diverse abilities and unique health needs.

This Thursday, we start off the series discovering UDL: A Framework for Early Learning Success. It focuses on designing early education settings so all children, as equal and valued members of the program, may access and engage in all learning opportunities, learn from a common curriculum according to their strengths and abilities, and demonstrate their learning in multiple ways.

Register on Eventbrite at the link below in the comments!

2024 Summer Food Program!
Southern New Hampshire Services is sponsoring the 2024 Summer Food Service Program, administered by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture (USDA) for al children 18 and under.

Operating Mon.-Fri. June 17th - August 30th (Closed July 3rd-5th)

Click the link below to find the summer food program schedules with sites in Manchester, Nashua and the Seacoast.

Summer Food Service Program The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that at-risk children and teens have access to healthy meals and snacks during the summer months when school is not in session. During the school year, 22 million children receive free or reduced lunches – and this program was designed to fill the gap...

Summer's here! Time for adventures, sunshine, and lots of fun! Here's to making this season unforgettable! ☀️

Our staff is attending an staff development day today, June 19th. We will have limited access to our e-mails and phone lines. We will resume normal business hours tomorrow.

Important Update: The 2024 Keys to Quality Conference has been canceled due to lower-than-expected attendance. If you've already purchased a ticket, rest assured a full refund will be processed and should appear in your account within 8-10 business days.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events this fall!

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight

Set a course for an enchanted workshop where participants learn how to create their own folktale, fairy tale, or fable. Participants will learn the importance of storytelling ethics and how to research a story at their local library. Everyone will be educated entertained and engaged while learning how to do sound effects and character voices that help bring stories to life. Participants will learn amazing and fun theater games to get ready to tell their own stories… and much more!

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

This training session will explore the realities of homelessness in New Hampshire and its impact on young children and their families! Learn how to spot and support children and families facing homelessness, understand the trauma connection, and pick up top tips for making a difference. Enjoy engaging activities, from interactive lectures and group brainstorms to videos and lively Q&A.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and The National Association for the Education of Young Children's Early Math Interest Forum (NAEYC EMIF) have collaborated to produce a new, complimentary webinar series focusing on creating developmentally appropriate math for PreK and Kindergarten.

This three-session series will take place this June through August. Registration is complimentary for all attendees.

The first session will begin tonight!
Session 1. Routines and Games to Illuminate the Big Ideas of Number Sense - Tuesday, June 11 | 7:00-8:00 PM ET

Find more information and register at the link below:

NCTM/EMIF Announce Early Childhood Math Webinar Series - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and The National Association for the Education of Young Children's Early Math Interest Forum (NAEYC EMIF) have collaborated to produce a new, complim...

Southern NH Services would like to congratulate Grace Allen on completing her DOL Early Childhood Apprenticeship. Grace is one of our most ambitious apprentices to date! While attending The Virtual Learning Academy Grace not only earned her high school diploma but also took 6 college courses and 120 hours of CDA training! Way to go, Grace!

While studying Early Childhood Education she put those skills to practice in her on-the-job training placement at Merrimack Valley Day Care Services. Here she was paired with mentor Brenda Martin, a legend in her own right with 30 years of experience in the ECE field. Together these two make an apprentice/mentor dream team. Grace will be attending UNH in the Fall and we are so proud that she got her ECE start with our apprenticeship program and the amazing staff at Merrimack Valley Day Care Services.

To learn more about the Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, please visit NH Connections: https://www.nh-connections.org/early-childhood-apprenticeship-program/

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

Following her keynote, join our keynote speaker, Jeanine Fitzgerald, for Live Joyfully! Anyone who has ever watched the life cycle of a helium balloon has also seen the full range of the human heart. When lightened, the heart soars, flying above all constraints. When saddened and heavy, it deflates, sinks, bounces along the ground, shrinking to a fraction of its original size. Like any balloon, all it needs is a good dose of helium to get it soaring again. And the best helium for the heart is joy. While life can certainly beat the joy right out of us, play, humor and laughter are choices. This session explores moving beyond quiet desperation to laughing and playing more. The time to live joyfully starts NOW.

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

Are you struggling to achieve your career goals in the early childhood field? Join us for a planning session to learn how to create a roadmap to success! Discover how the Department of Labor (DOL) Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program and T.E.A.C.H. NH Scholarship can help you achieve your goals. Additionally, explore other financial resources that are available for those who want to further their careers in early childhood education. Learn about what doors a Child Development Associate (CDA) or degree in early childhood can open and the resources available to help you.

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

Join us for a discussion on understanding addiction as a treatable chronic medical condition and strategies to enhance communication for building trusting relationships with families affected by substance use disorders. In this session, you'll gain insights into the science of addiction and learn effective strategies to engage with and support these families. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills in this critical area!

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

Nature holds boundless lessons waiting to be discovered! Join Dee Dee Thurber, and dive into why children (and even adults) are drawn to nature and uncover ways to infuse more natural elements into daily activities and play. Extending outdoor playtime can be an adventure for both children and educators. Get ready to explore strategies for embracing different weather conditions and witness the resilience that blossoms when young ones engage with the elements!

Join us this Thursday, June 6, for a virtual Lunch & Learn with Child Care Accelerate, featuring founder Dr. Adrienne B. Haynes, Esq.! Dr. Haynes will be sharing how Child Care Accelerate’s personalized business coaching is helping New Hampshire childcare providers streamline operations and achieve their business goals. This is the perfect event to attend if you’ve been curious about the work we do or are interested in applying for personalized coaching for your childcare business.

The Lunch & Learn is free to attend and begins at 12pm ET - register at the link below!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApcOuprDwuHdxv_JnyvNgkDIfhEsySwXqp #/registration

Child Care Aware of NH is excited to host a training series where we will explore the essential elements of inclusive education. We'll focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), resources and supports for educators, and fostering strong partnerships with families. These sessions are designed to empower early childhood educators with the knowledge and tools to create supportive learning environments that celebrate and accommodate diverse abilities and unique health needs.

📅 Thursdays, June 27th, July 25th and August 22nd
⏰ 6:00-7:30 PM
💻 Online via Zoom
Register through Eventbrite

This training will award participants up to 1.5 hours of professional development per session, (4.5 total)
Core Knowledge Area: Developing as a Professional

Find more information on the Summer 2024 Professional Development Opportunities on NH Connections here: www.nh-connections.org/providers/professional-development/

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

Positive relationships with caring adults are essential for brain development. Join Julie Choiniere for this informative session and learn how you play a critical role in developing the 7 essential life skills in young children.

K2Q Conference: Session Spotlight!

Get ready for an engaging session with CCLU Licensing Chief Melissa Clement and Licensing Coordinator Christine Conlon! They will unravel the most frequently cited rules, shed light on them, share top compliance tips, and answer all your burning questions. Don't miss out!

Our June Monthly Minutes are here! Packed with fun tips, awesome resources, and cool insights just for you!

CCAoNH June Monthly Minutes Keys to Quality Conference, June PD Opportunities, and more! Highlights in this month's edition of "Monthly Minutes" Keys to Quality Conference coming up in June! Beyond Limits: Celebrating Children's

🌟Are you ready for the K2Q Conference?!🌟

Join us on Saturday, June 22nd, for the Keys to Quality Conference at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH! Dive into your choice of fourteen (14) dynamic training sessions designed for early childhood professionals, and be inspired by an incredible keynote speech from the renowned Jeanine Fitzgerald!

We'll be highlighting each training session in the coming days. But don't wait—take a look at the event brochure and reserve your spot now!

Don't miss out—register on Eventbrite through the link in the comments!

Attention parents and caregivers seeking quality child care!

Join our Outreach Specialists for an informative session on how to choose the best care for your family's needs. This session is held every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM. However, please note that the June session has been rescheduled to Wednesday, June 26th at 1:00 PM.

Scan the QR code to join.

The Keys to Quality Conference is just 25 days away! Join us at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth on Saturday, June 22nd. For more details, visit the link below!

2024 Keys to Quality Conference Join Child Care Aware of NH, a program of Southern NH Services, for the 2024 Keys to Quality Conference!