Literacy development begins in the very early stages of childhood, even though the activities of young children may not seem related to reading and writing.  Early behaviors such as 'reading' from pictures and 'writing' with scribbles, are examples of the earliest forms of literacy and are an important part of children's overall development.

Child care providers strive to provide a variety of educational and recreational activities which promote, foster and inspire literacy-rich opportunities for experimentation with reading and writing.  Such activities include: drawing, scribbling, writing stories, repeating nursery rhymes/songs, helping children dictate and decorate letters, and pretending to read with materials such as sign, phone books and menus.

As literacy is such a complex topic involving many issues - whole language, phonics, development, natural environment, direct teaching, and intervention - family child care providers are another vital link to laying foundations for later success in reading and writing.

As children have a natural inclination to sing and play with little inhibition, the role of music in the family child care setting provides valuable opportunities for enjoyment, self-expression and learning.  Music plays a vital role in a child's social-emotional, physical, cognitive, creative and aesthetic development.

Research demonstrates some of the major benefits of a music filled environment include:  fine and gross motor skill improvement through improvisational dancing and handling of the instruments, vocal and speech development through singing, listening skills and concentration improve with aural training, and goals of cooperative sharing.

Family child care providers strive to provide a learning environment that will foster such development, while having a whole lot of old-fashioned fun doing it!

Math is form of problem solving. Children make Math and Science connections using various tools such as, puzzles and literacy.

Science is to ask, to wonder, and to discover.

Building a math/science rich environment for your children is the one of the many goals for child care providers, and it can be great fun! Our purpose, as teachers, is not to give directions, rather to spur the children's own creativity.  It is our intent that the enrichment be there for the child to discover, rather than the teacher to teach.

Numbers and experiments are everywhere.  For example, children in a sandbox are filling and emptying containers, pouring from one to another.  They are experiencing the relationships involved in measuring volume.  One child may be counting the number of spoonfuls of sand required to fill his container. While another may be using various sizes to fill with sand, counting these containers, matching the sizes or noticing the colours.  He or she may be asking, which holds the most sand?  I wonder if..? What would happen?  What else could we use..?  Where could we...?

As a child care providers, we create this opportunities, daily for the children in our care.  Whether it be in the sand box, at snack time, or any of the many opportunities that present themselves through out our day.

Family Child Care Providers are dedicated to encouraging and guiding children in various areas of growth, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development.

• Children's physical growth is achieved when using the large muscle group.  Activities using the large muscle group are running, jumping, and walking.  Activities using the small muscle group are cutting, drawing, and sorting objects.
• The intellectual growth is evident by a child's ability to think and solve problems.
• Expressing feelings, as well as understanding the emotions of other children attains emotional development.
• Social development is experienced through relationships with others.

The various areas of growth, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development are supported in independent and guided play, exploration, and community outings.  Our family childcare providers work with parents in establishing a safe, stimulating and warm environment needed for successful development.

Open-ended self-expression and imagination foster creative development in children.  Exposure to creativity develops connections among the brain cells.  These connections are the vital networks that children need to think and learn.  Creative development also aids the academic components such as math, science and literacy that they use in every avenue of life.

Story time, treasure chest, art and props support and encourage creativity.

Story time - We encourage children to create their own open-ended stories by using their imagination.  One method to achieve this objective is by using a picture or natural resource.  A child may perceive the shape of a cloud to resemble the image of a dinosaur.

Treasure Chest - A chest or box filled with dress up clothes, hats, blankets, and towels.  A towel used for a picnic with a teddy bear at a pretend beach or spaceship ready to travel to the moon are examples of how children can use their imagination to create a scene.

Art - Children use their imagination to develop art by using various mediums such as, paint, clay, glue, crayon, felt pens, and pencils.  Natural and discarded resources are also used in the children's art projects.

Props - The imagination grows with the use of props.  A cardboard box can be used for a spaceship, boat, car, bus, train, plane, or a stage for puppets. An ice cream bucket can be used as a drum and a blanket over a table creates a house.

These tools not only expand the creative development of children, but also provide children with an opportunity to create friendships.