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School Readiness in Family Child Care
January 22, 2008
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.
-Mary Anne Radmacher
Beverly Schmalzreid encourages family child care providers to "Step Up to the Plate for School Readiness."  Writing in the Fall 2007 issue of The National Perspective, the newsletter of Exchange Strategic Partner, the National Association for Family Child Care (www.nafcc.org), she observed that family child care programs, for all their strengths, are often not as successful in the area of school readiness.  She recommended that family home providers consider the following ideas....
  • Make reading a part of each child's day.  Have a selection of board and other children's books readily available for the children to hand and look at.
  • Do math, science or social studies activities several times during the week....Ask the librarian for books that include simple-to-to science, math and social studies activities. Display rocks, feathers, vegetables, and other natural materials of interest to young minds.
  • Provide space and time for older children to do their homework....After a nutritious snack and some down time, school-agers can be encouraged to finish their homework...Provide table or desk space, good lighting, and a quiet area.
  • Let parents know you are concerned about their child's preparation for school and that your program will help them prepare for this important step in their lives...Let parents know you are familiar with the state education standards.  Also let them know that you are offering activities such as daily reading, to help their child achieve the standards.




The Exchange Insta Poll for this week invites you to share your views on the topics for which training is most urgently needed by family child care providers.  Make your voice heard!

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Comments (6)

Displaying 5 of 6 Comments   [ View all ]
Bess Goodman · February 04, 2008
Positive Steps Pre-School
Lynwood, CA, United States


I disagree with the article, stating that
children do not fair well in Family Day Care
setting. This is just the opposite, where as the California Statistics on Child Care states children fair far better in Family Child Care homes with licensed Directors
who holds some type of credentials or degree, and staff with ECC units, than in the traditional schools, and centers. Providers are limited to the number of student they can teach, whereas the other entities are overcroweded, and has a tendency to loose their teaching impact
on children.

Nancy Chavez · January 23, 2008
Valley Oak Children\\\'s Services
Chico, CA, United States


I currently work closely with family child care providers in Butte County, CA and the providers I work with are encouraged to value the whole child and provide children an opportunity to grow in all areas...socially/emotionally, cognitively, physically. etc. We need to educate parents about what school readiness really means...we want children to be prepared for life and we do that when we love and care for them unconditionally...children are born eager to learn and achieve...we don't need to cram education down their throats.

Diana Smith · January 22, 2008
Centennial Family Child Care
River Falls, Wisconisn, United States


I feel that many of us who have been family child care providers for a long time and have actively pursued education in the field of early childhood are very cognizant of school readiness and do provide programs that work towards school readiness. I for one have found many of my students are too prepared and are bored that first year. I work with local kindergarten teachers in order to provide a seamless progression from child care to school. As a teacher of early childhood providers and teachers one thing that I often find is people are doing a great job working with young children they are just not aware of the importance of the work they do. In class we give them the research and name the lessons that they are teaching. I feel that support and giving them the language to support their good practice is important. I also found that sometimes challenging them to defend their practice encouraged growth and better practices.

Vernita Coleman · January 22, 2008
New Birth Family Child Care
Clarksville, TN, United States


This was an excellent article, if the providers are following the FDCERS book for Family Child Care, all these area which you spoke about in the article are covered on the Lesson Planning and more. I will share this information with other providers in our support group.

Elaine Piper · January 22, 2008
Nashville, TN, United States


Thanks Kathleen - you have mirrored my thoughts exactly. I truly believe that the very best care is in family child care - but, sadly, also the very worst. As the nursery rhyme says "when it is good, it is very, very good. and when it is bad, it is awful." The individual attention that builds a child's belief in him or her self is the most valuable thing we can give our children to ready them for school!



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