The Opportunity Of A Lifetime

The Opportunity Of A Lifetime to have an impact in children's lives!

1. Do you want to be a family day care provider but don’t know where to start?

2. Are you already a family day care provider and need assistance with managing and marketing your facility?

3. Do you want to stay home to raise your own child, ideally in a small group environment, but you need an income to accomplish that goal?

4. Do you believe you have the skills and knowledge to have a positive influence on a child’s life, but never considered that being a family day care provider would be the opportunity that would work for you?

5. Do you love being with children but thought you needed to go back to school to get another degree to accomplish that goal?

Well Wonderschool may be the answer!

I have just joined this new organization that has positioned itself to be a worldwide presence.

Wonderschool is based on the genius idea that the best possible social and developmental environment for the first five years of a child’s life is with a small group of multi-age children in a home environment. To expand on that belief, they are tapping into the experience and skills of existing long term successful day care providers, and utilizing them to recruit and train the new providers.

They are also providing management and marketing support which is especially critical for individuals whose primary skills are non-operational and promotional.

If you want to follow up, please visit their website and be advised of the details of their program:

I am really looking forward to expanding the opportunities for more caregivers and children to be guided and taught using the “Anka Philosophy” that children are incredibly intelligent from the minute they are born and when that intelligence is acknowledged and respected, every child will achieve their maximum potential.

In fact, I am leading a workshop today at our school.  Please do tell any friends who may be interested in joining! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/incorporating-a-philosophy-of-care-education-in-family-child-care-tickets-41449499569

We will also benefit from even more case studies to help all of us be more successful.

We are all off on a new journey!

Good Luck!

How To successfully Transition Your Infant From Baby Food To The Family Menu

This has often been a challenge for a family. We have had children join our day care who had remained on an infant menu well past their first birthday or who had transitioned but had a menu that was restricted to two or three items. In that case, they usually never had vegetables as part of any meal.

One of the most successful transitions involves:

1. The infant is seated at the family table as soon as they can successfully sit up and manage food in a high chair. This usually occurs around eight months when both their gross and fine motor skills can handle the challenge. Most infant have at least four teeth at this time but I have seen this approached be successful even when that is not the case.

2. They are slowly introduced to new foods one at a time for 2/3 days in case the child has a reaction to the food. This can occur by spoon feeding them or encouraging them to pick up the food themselves.

3. They should always begin with green vegetables. Peas or beans, well cooked broccoli and then begin to add in sweet potatoes etc.

4. Proceed to soft proteins that are moist such as chicken, eggs or cheese.

5. You can keep some of their infant foods in order to have a balanced meal.

6. Translate this approach to all their meals providing as many choices that are safe and that they can manage themselves.

7. Remember, place small amounts within reach so they will learn to focus on the task. When they begin to push or play, either reduce the quantity or move on to another choice.

8. We also find that at the same time, they should be introduced to a cup for small sips of water. This should be a 3” to 4” cup with no top. This is the first step to being ready to be off the bottle, usually around one year. This suggestion is also true for nursing babies.

They keys to this success are:

-Including them at the family table.

-Making the experience smooth and uneventful (no drama).

-Starting early before they remain on an infant menu too long.

-Taking this approach at home and day care at the same time when that is the situation.

This is an important transition and can influence their eating habits and nutrition input for their entire childhood.

Start them early! Keep them calm! It is a perfect time to build food experiences that will last a lifetime!

Good luck!

Have a happy New Year! Sorry we have been absent for a few week, it has been a very hectic time!