Child Care Action Council

🍎 Back to School Time is Approaching! 📚

As some prepare for the new school year, we want to hear from YOU! What are your top tips for getting your little ones ready for back to school? Whether it's a favorite morning routine, a must-have school supply, or a fun way to ease those first-day jitters, we’d love for you to share your ideas! 💡

Comment below with your best tips and let’s help each other get ready for a fantastic school year ahead! 🚌✏️

Do you want to learn more about Trauma and how it affects young children but do not have time for a 27 hour advanced training?? This class is right for you. This 3 hour class will give you a sense of what trauma is and how it affects brain development.

WHEN: August 17th from 9:00 am to noon/Online

https://bit.ly/4dDlgF5

Early Achievers offers consultation, coaching and resources for child care providers to support each child’s learning and development. Research shows this kind of assistance helps providers improve the quality of their programs. And when more young children are ready for school, we all benefit.

Early Achievers Impact Video Hali Farah FINAL

All ages are welcome, and all activities are FREE. Bring your friends, bring your family, and let’s build something amazing together!

https://ccacwa.org/building-through-play-2/

Back to school community resources - please share

To learn more and register for Thurston and Mason County families, click on the link below:

https://ccacwa.org/parents1/dolly-partons-imagination-library/

It warms our ❤ to receive testimonials from families in Washington expressing their love and gratitude for receiving a monthly book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!

Children from birth to age five can sign up to get a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed directly to them every month until their 5th birthday.

Sign them up today by visiting imaginationlibrarywashington.org and start your reading journey together!

Back-to-school season is (eek!) approaching. Here's the single best thing you can do to get ready....READ. With your child, to your child, next to your child....just READ.

https://ccacwa.org/parents1/dolly-partons-imagination-library/

Good reminder for the HOT weather from Safe Kids Thurston County:

KNOW the WATER KNOW your LIMITS WEAR a LIFE JACKET
Thanks to Seattle Children's Hospital for being our July calendar sponsor! And for reminding us how to recreate SAFELY in and around water! Check out their tips HERE:

https://bit.ly/4fvrVmv

🌟 Join Us for Kaleidoscope Play & Learn! 🌟

Looking for a fun and educational activity for your little one? Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is the perfect place for children ages birth to five and their caregivers/parents! 🎨📚

Our development-centered playgroup is led by trained facilitators who create an engaging environment with:

📖 Story Time: Spark your child's imagination with delightful tales.
🎶 Songs: Sing along to fun and educational tunes.
🎲 Interactive Games: Encourage play and learning through exciting games.
🎨 Art Activities: Let your child's creativity shine with hands-on art projects.
Come play, learn, and grow with us in a supportive and welcoming community! 🌈

📅 Check out our schedule and join us for a session that works best for you. We can't wait to see you and your little ones!

https://ccacwa.org/parents1/kpl/

In Person Community Child Care Forum!✨

DCYF is holding Community Child Care Forums statewide to give child care providers an opportunity to meet DCYF Leadership from Licensing and Early Learning, connect with local Child Care Licensing Administrators and Licensors, and Early Learning team members, and learn about updates and opportunities, and share experiences through questions or discussions. These forums are open to Licensed Child Care Centers, Licensed Family Homes, Outdoor Nature Based, School-age Providers, including Certified providers who may be located on tribal lands.

The Community Child Care Forums aim to:
• Strengthen relationships between providers and the agency.
• Allow providers and DCYF to share what is going well.
• Foster opportunities for ongoing collaboration.

Please attend and share your voice at our region’s forum!

Olympia (Region 6):

Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m.
1500 Jefferson St SE, Room 1213
Olympia, WA 98501

Visitor parking is available at the 1500 Jefferson building and across the street at the Jefferson & Maple Park Parking Lot.
All metered parking is free after 5 p.m.

Prior to attending, please fill out the Registration Form linked below.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5635decb0b0c4a9db78612f1a0cd0a74

Thank you, FORMA Construction, for being a cornerstone of our upcoming FREE community event, Building Through Play, and for helping us make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families. We are grateful for your support and dedication! 💖👷‍♂️

Please click on the link for more information and mark your calendars for August 19th for a fun filled afternoon at the Lacey Community Center!

https://ccacwa.org/building-through-play-2/

Bring your little builders and curious minds for an unforgettable afternoon of interactive fun at Building Through Play! 🎉 Join us for a FREE event packed with activities designed to spark creativity and inspire young learners.

🔧 What to Expect:

🧱 Building Blocks: Let imaginations soar with creative constructions.
⚙️ Engineering Concepts: Explore the basics of engineering through fun challenges.

It's all about having fun while learning! Whether they're budding engineers, future scientists, or math enthusiasts, there's something for everyone at Building Through Play.

https://ccacwa.org/building-through-play-2/

Olympia Peninsula: West Sound STEM Network and Peninsulas Early Childhood Coalition are leading a regionally co-created plan to increase equitable access to high quality early care and education for the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas. This plan is aligned with WA State's Early Learning Coordination Plan. Register in advance here for log-in details for this series:

Business Model & Funding Overview, Mon 8/5, 1-2 pm
Provider Workforce, Mon 8/12, 11-12 pm
Quality of Care, Wed 8/14, 1-2 pm
Accessibility & Affordability, Thurs 8/27, 11-1 pm (extended two-part call)

Register HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ucuihqTMtEtVrMNhg6zvJ3R2Kp8YgO2ds #/registration
You can also provide offline feedback in the survey linked below.

https://bit.ly/4fB1wDG

Check out where the South Sound Reading Foundation will be this week!

Welcome back to your weekly SSRF program update!! Here's where you can find us out in the community this week:

*8/5: at Pleasant Glade Elementary's Summer Program 11am-12p &
at Grapeview Elementary's Summer Program 11:30a-1:30pm
*8/6: at City of Lacey's Summer Program at Lydia Hawk 1p-1:45p
*8/7: at Shelton Library's Touch a Truck event from 10a-12p
*8/8: Back to Shelton Library for the Lego Club and Dog Tales from 2p-5p

If you're looking for ways to help SSRF, feel free to donate your gently loved children's books. Our amazing volunteers clean and prep them for redistribution to those in need of books. You can donate at our office at 2830 Willamette DR NE Suite A in Lacey, Tue & Thu from 9am-1pn and Wed from 2-5pm.

Thank you for your support and donations!! We couldn't do this without you!!

Try this sidewalk chalk paint recipe for a fun summer afternoon of art!
https://fun-a-day.com/sidewalk-chalk-paint/

We are incredibly grateful to Hands On Children's Museum for their generous support of our Building Through Play event. Together, we are building a brighter future for our little ones! 🧩🏗️ Click on the link below for more information about the event - August 19th at the Lacey Community Center!

https://ccacwa.org/building-through-play-2/

REGISTER: Enhanced STARS Credits/Creating Inspiring Spaces - August 10th

Ready to elevate your understanding of environmental design beyond the basics of the Environment Rating Scale? Join us for an exploration of Reggio-inspired concepts for child care environments. Discover how to design spaces that reflect your program's values, engage all the senses, inspire children's creativity, celebrate culture and families, and feel more like a home than a school.

This session offers a chance to collaborate with fellow educators, reflect on new ideas, and reimagine your classroom through fresh perspectives. Bring an open mind and a readiness to challenge the norm!

Registration link below. Please share widely.

https://ccacwa.org/event/creating-inspiring-spaces/

😀Check out the latest ThurstonTalk.com article on our 8/19 FREE Building through Play event, our FREE ECEAP programs (and school year 24-25 sign-ups!), and our FREE Kaleidoscope Play and Learn groups!

Free Family Event, ‘Building through Play,’ Introduces you to the Child Care Action Council - ThurstonTalk Bring your little ones to “Building through Play” put on by the Child Care Action Council. This free, family event will engage all participants in early learning fun. Stop by the Lacey Community Center on Monday, August 19, between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

We're excited to invite you and your family to Building Through Play, a fun-filled afternoon of STEAM activities and games! 🧩🔬🚀 Bring your little builders and curious minds for a day of interactive learning and discovery! From building blocks to hands-on experiments, there's something for everyone.

👉 Don't miss out! Mark your calendars and join us for a day of exploration and excitement - August 19th at the Lacey Community Center!!

Child Care Providers - check this out and share widely! Clallam County location!

At Child Care Action Council, we believe in the power of friendship and the joy of sharing stories. 📚 On this special day, let's celebrate the friendships that bring warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging into our lives.

Reading together is a beautiful way to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. With Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, children receive the gift of a new book each month, opening doors to new worlds and adventures. Whether you're reading with a friend or sharing a favorite story, books have the magic to connect us all. ✨

As we honor the friendships in our lives, let's also celebrate the joy of reading. Encourage a child to pick up a book today, and let’s inspire a lifelong love of learning and exploration. Together, we can nurture young minds and create a community where every child has the chance to thrive.

Tag a friend you're thankful for and share your favorite childhood book! 📖💕

Imagination Library of Washington
https://ccacwa.org/parents1/dolly-partons-imagination-library/

Check out when and where to get school supplies!

Need School Supplies?

🎨 Craft a one-of-a-kind Brain Building adventure with today’s Vroom Tip! 💡
Fill in the story blanks together and see where your imagination leads, while also building your kids' problem-solving skills and improving their ability to think on the fly! 🧠

Paper Plate Tropical Fish Craft!
CRAFT HERE → https://buff.ly/4dbcJsN
These paper plate tropical fish have bright, cheery and vibrant colors. There's no doubt that your children will love making this paper plate craft!

Grab your sunscreen, flip flops and your July imagination library book! These titles are on their way to your mailbox this month. Swipe to check them out. Happy reading! ☀️📖

To learn more and register (for Thurston and Mason County): https://ccacwa.org/parents1/dolly-partons-imagination-library/

Happy Parent/Caregiver Appreciation Day!

To all the amazing parents and caregivers out there, we see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate you today and every day. Keep shining and continue being the extraordinary individuals that you are! We want to remind you that you don't have to navigate this journey alone. Our FREE parenting program, Parents as Teachers, is here to provide valuable information and support.

https://ccacwa.org/parents1/parents-as-teachers/

Enhanced STARS Credits: Creating Inspiring Spaces - August 10th/Registration linked below.
You may already be familiar with Environment Rating Scale suggestions for environments. Are you ready to move to a more advanced level of environmental design? Come explore Reggio-inspired ideas for child care environments. Consider how your classroom can better reflect program values, appeal to all the senses, foster creativity in children, represent culture and families, and look more like “home” than “school.” You will have the opportunity to reflect on topics with other teachers and think about your classroom through the lenses discussed in this session. Come with an open mind and a willingness to question the status quo!

https://ccacwa.org/event/creating-inspiring-spaces/

Tomorrow!! FREE life jackets at Kenneydell County Park, while supplies last! Click the link below for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/events/867228215429184

Safe Kids Thurston County

What does a strong STEM education look like at the student level? What STEM activities do you like to do at home?

Washington STEM Ask Luna, their STEM learning correspondent:
https://bit.ly/4efFkyz

✨ Why is STEM important in early childhood education?

Encourages Curiosity 🔬 Builds Critical Thinking ✨ Promotes Creativity 📚 Prepares for the Future