FREE Summer StoryTime!!!

Bring the Family Out for STORYTIME!
 
Storytellers will engage audiences with
Fairy Tales & Multi-cultural Folktales!
 
We invite your family to ANY of the Storytimes listed below!
*~*All Storytimes are FREE and open to the public*~*
 
Saturday, May 19th @ Old Louisville SpringFest
10:30am-10:50am and 11:15am-11:35am
http://www.oldlouisvillespringfest.org/

Tuesday, July 3rd @ 2:00 pm

Louisville Free Public Library – Fern Creek Branch
6768 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40291

 
Tuesday, July 10th @ 2:30 pm

Louisville Free Public Library – Jeffersontown Branch
10635 Watterson Trail
Louisville, KY 40299
 
Saturday, July 14th @ 11:00 am

Louisville Free Public Library – St. Matthews Branch
3940 Grandview Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40207
 
Tuesday, August 7th @ 2:30 pm

Louisville Free Public Library – Bon Air Branch
2816 Del Rio Place
Louisville, Kentucky 40220

BE SURE TO MENTION THAT BLUE APPLE SENT YOU!!
 
Why Tell Stories?
Stories Can Help Children:
Motivate interest in reading
Develop language
Cope with stress
Develop imagination
Appreciate his/her own cultural heritage, as well as others
Make decisions
Form judgments and values
 
If you have any further questions please contact Heather Burns at Heather@blueappleplayers.org

What kid doesn’t love building and using hideouts?

This blog from Not Just Cute is a great resource for ready made or homemade tents, forts and hideouts. Click here to check it out.

Susan

Enter for a Chance to Win a Wooden Toy Box!

Share a short story or comment …

How has 4-C helped you!

Multiple ways to enter:

Post a comment on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/4CVOICE

Email kerri-baxter@4cforkids.com

Click here and post a comment

Winner will be chosen at random from all entries. Winner will be notified on or before June 6, 2012. Item must be picked up prior to June 15, 2012.

Dear 4-C families, child care providers and supporters,

It is with sadness that I inform you that 4-C will no longer administer the Child Care Assistance Program effective 7/1/12.  The Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Child Care has decided to centralize CCAP services in Lexington, KY and awarded the contract to an agency there.  Although all of this information is very new, we want to assure you that 4-C will work diligently towards a smooth transition of this program to the new service agent for the state.

We are not aware of all of the changes that will take place with the new “Centralized Service model” but will share information with you as it becomes available to us.  Again, a smooth transition is first and foremost in our minds.

We understand that the new service agent will have local meetings for child care providers to explain the new process.  We encourage you to attend to learn more about this “model” so that services are uninterrupted for you and the families we serve.

Your support is appreciated as we proceed to successfully transfer the program.  It has been an honor to have served as the service agent for the CCAP for the last fourteen years.  4-C will still be here as your local child care resource as we have been for the last forty three years!  We look forward to continued services for you and the communities that we serve.

Sincerely,

Susan

Susan A. Vessels
Executive Director, 4-C

It Doesn’t Take a Rocket Scientist To Make a Smart Kid

Have you ever heard a parent hope their kid grows up to be dumb? Of course not. All parents want their children to be smart. To do well in school and in life.
But what does the parent need to do to increase those chances? Baby Einstein? Flash cards? Tutoring?
It is so much easier than that. Read with them.
A new study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that children whose parents read to them on a regular basis during their first year in primary school did substantially better in reading at age 15 than children whose parents never or rarely read to them.
Dr. Seuss anyone?

Susan A. Vessels
Executive Director

Fabulous Fine Motor Play

If given half a chance kids take care of their need to move their bodies and develop those gross motor skills needed to walk, run, jump, etc. But the fine motor skills are often lacking when kids get to school. As a result, holding a pencil, buttoning their coat, tying shoes can be difficult for them.

That’s why I was happy to see the terrific list of fine motor skill builders at www.handsonaswegrow.com . All of the activities use common household items to encourage little ones to use those fingers, hands, and eyes in a coordinated manner. Check it out.

Susan A. Vessels
Executive Director

Week of the Young Child Event

Sign up at www.sullivan.edu/student-activities  click on the “Get Involved” tab and complete the Event Registration Form

Or

Sign up in the Student Services office on the Main Campus

Contact Kim Richardson at 502-413-8610 or Vicki Bowman at vbowman@sullivan.edu for additional information.

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF THE KENTUCKY ALLIANCE FOR SHARED SERVICES

It’s here and Child Care Providers are Going to Love It!

Ever since we heard about the Shared Service concept we’ve been working on making it a reality for child care providers in Kentucky.

So what is it?

 It is a user friendly website that has all of the things you need to make your job easier and your program better.

 Want to lower your food bills? It does that.

 Want a video that shows staff how important hand washing is and how to do it? It does that.

 Need some help writing or updating your parent handbook? It’s here.

 Kentucky regulations? How to talk to a parent about lice? What questions to ask in an interview of a new staff? Check. Check. And Check.

 Sample personnel policies, Program Marketing, Budgeting, Developmental Check Lists…….. It’s all here and ready to go.

How do you access this jewel? Easy.  Click Here to purchase your annual subscription now!

March 20th is the first day of spring.

This is a perfect time to start growing seeds in your home or classroom. Save jars  so that children can see the changes as they occur. Some seeds begin to root without soil, while others require some soil. Each child can assume responsibility for their own jar by watering. Later in the Spring after the last frost, you can help them replant outside, after together you pick a spot for a garden, prepare it for planting. Think of the pride they will feel for create a fruit, vegetable, or flower from the start. 

Pat

Daylight Savings Time

This is a reason to celebrate and yet it proves frustrating for some parents and children. March 11 brings more daylight at the end of the day because we add an hour, which means more outside time, whether gardening, playing, talking to the neighbors, taking children to ball practice, or actually playing games. It is confusing and frustrating at the same time because children who were used to going to bed in the dark may now being put to bed while it is light. It can lead to a wonderful discussion about changing our clocks twice a year, why and when it started, how just a few years ago, it was changed to start the 2nd Sunday in March and the 1st Sunday in November. It is easy to make a clock out of a paper plate, and by using a brad, even make hands which move so that a child can see the change. Pull it out again in the Fall and reverse it. This way, it keeps it simple, but at the same time, engages the young child in the process. Emphasize the positives of more daylight, like more play time, more outdoor time.

Pat