What is "High Quality" Childcare

McNeilly Center for Children is proud to provide high quality early care and education.  We know that the first five years of a child's life are critical and that high quality early care and education provides the foundation that children need to enter school ready to learn and ready to succeed. We are a model program when it comes to giving at-risk children a better start in school and in life.  What we may not do as well, is convey exactly why QUALITY care is so important. 

The Tennessee Department of Human Services Star Quality Child Care Program seeks to help parents choose high quality care by evaluating the ability of childcare providers to meet three basic needs of children:  protection of health and safety, positive relationships, and opportunities for stimulation and learning.  McNeilly Center's programs have all earned 3 Stars (the highest possible) as a program that excels in meeting these needs.  McNeilly, as well as other quality childcare agencies, is committed to providing excellent programs because the benefits for children enrolled in quality programs are far-reaching and significant.  Extensive research and numerous studies confirm that high quality early education programs positively impact children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.  Furthermore, high quality programs provided for low-income children have a significant return on investment.

According to a paper published in 2002 entitled The Economics of Education (by Jerrold Oppenheim and Theo Macgregor) "each dollar invested in the pre-school education of three- and four-year-old children from low-income families returns more than $9 to the nation."  Improved test scores and school performance, decreased placement in special education or need for students to be held back in school, increased high school graduation rates and decreased crime and delinquency rates are only a few of the tremendous benefits of quality education.  Perhaps one of the most powerful messages regarding the importance of high quality education comes from this video presented by the Ounce of Prevention Fund. 

We hope you will check it out, and then please "talk back" with us!  What do you value most about early education?  What is most important for you and your child when it comes to your childcare provider?  Do you have personal experience with how quality early care and education has had a positive impact?  Would you want to find out more about how you can help ensure a better start for children in need? We want to hear from you!

Reading With Your Child

OPEN A BOOK ~ 

      OPEN A MIND

Research shows that even the youngest children benefit from having stories read to them.

Children who learn to love books from an early age are more likely to become successful readers.


Reading to a child helps:

Develop A Sense of Wonder ~ Develop Imagination ~ Develop Listening Skills ~ Develop Vocabulary and Reasoning ~ Improve Speech and Verbal Skills ~ Build Social Skills ~ Encourage Children to Role Play and Fantasize

Gracie Kloutze, Literacy Coordinator for McNeilly @ Meridian shares some great ideas:

A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become enthusiastic readers.  What kind of books should you have?  Ask your kids about their interests.  If they are too young to have a preference, your local library can offer suggestions about age-appropriate books.  

Here are some other tips:

Keep a varied selection.  Collect board books, or books with mirrors or different textures for babies.  Older kids will enjoy variety; fiction, non-fiction, and poetry plus dictionaries and other reference books.  Kids can understand stories they might not be able to read on their own.  If a more challenging book interests your child make it something to read together.  Younger kids can look at illustrations in books and ask questions and follow along.  Don't limit reading material to books.  Kids might also enjoy magazines for children, audio books, postcards from relatives, photo albums or scrapbooks, newspapers, comic books, and the internet.  

Keep reading material handy.  Keep sturdy books with other toys for easy exploration.  Books near the changing table and high chair can be a helpful distraction for younger kids at appropriate moments.  Plastic books can even be kept in the bathtub.  Keep books next to comfy chairs and sofas where you cuddle up so you can read after feeding and naps.  

Create a special reading place.  As kids grow, keep age appropriate books and magazines on shelves they can reach in their favorite hangouts around the house.  Make these shelves appealing and keep them organized.  Place some of the books with the covers facing out so they are easy to spot.  Place a basket full of books and magazines next to their favorite places to sit.  Create a cozy reading corner and encourage kids to use it by setting up a "reading time" every day.

Reading presents wonderful opportunities to connect and spend time with your child.
It is important to:

Talk with your child.  Children love to hear stories about their parents and family.  Share your family history and experiences.  

Have conversations with your child.  Taking turns in conversation is a good way to teach "sharing."

Listen to your child.  Children learn to "listen" by talking with others.  Listening is very important for school success.  

Don't forget!  

Register with Imagination Library.   Dolly Parton's Imagination Library provides books for children up to age 5.  Register your child to receive a  high quality, age-appropriate book each month.  This program enables your child to have books of their own and learn to enjoy the magic of reading, regardless of your family income.  

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TALK-BACK

Do you have other suggestions for getting young children interested in reading?  We would love to hear your ideas, thoughts and questions........................... talk to us on this blog or on Facebook!