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Miami Valley Strategic Director Recognized as ‘Education Champion’

Feb 5 Award CeremonyLisa Babb, 4C for Children strategic director of program operations in the Miami Valley, received of one of five Dayton Mayor’s Awards given at the Feb. 5 City Commission meeting. The awards are given annually to honor people who, according to Mayor Nan Whaley, “work every day to make our city great.”

Babb received the Education Champion Award which recognizes a person in the Dayton, Ohio, community who is working to provide a brighter future for children.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” Babb says. “My commitment to supporting our families, children and child care providers to ensure that all children receive the quality early education they deserve is unwavering. Read More »

Kindergarten Readiness: It Starts at Birth

Father and son building with Legos

Although it’s hard to imagine thinking about the next school year when this academic year is barely half over, that’s exactly what families with children entering kindergarten next year are doing as the kindergarten registration process is kicking off in school districts throughout the region.

But getting children ready for kindergarten isn’t something that just begins at registration or even in preschool—it really begins at birth!

By the time a child is three years old, the areas that are foundational for later school success and learning are set. So when thinking about kindergarten readiness it’s important to look at the whole child because there’s much more involved than the child knowing letters, numbers and colors. While those things are important, so too are social-emotional, language, cognitive, literacy and physical development.

Read More »

Northern Kentucky Office to Close

More than 25 years ago, 4C for Children opened a regional office in Northern Kentucky and began actively helping find quality child care options for the region’s children and families as well as supporting child care providers by offering coaching and continuing education opportunities.

Some Background
4C for Children’s responsibility for the critical education of Northern Kentucky’s youngest minds for the majority of these years was supported by state funding. In recent years, the state chose to centralize these efforts, shifting the funding to the University of Kentucky (UK) to deliver early childhood education support services to the state’s families and child care providers. 4C for Children then became a subcontractor for this region through UK.

Over the past five years, UK has gradually discontinued the use of subcontractors like 4C for Children. This has ultimately resulted in a complete loss of state funding for our services.

Read More »

Freytag Named to Groundwork Ohio Advisory Committee

4C President Vanessa Freytag

CINCINNATI (January 6, 2020)—Vanessa Freytag, president and CEO of 4C for Children, has been named to the 2020-21 Groundwork Ohio Advisory Committee. She joins 41 members who represent 62 Ohio counties and who are trusted to provide insights on the needs of young children and families in Ohio and advance Groundwork’s mission to champion high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies.

“I am honored and excited to represent the early childhood education needs of our community as a member of the Groundwork Ohio Advisory Committee,” Freytag says.

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New Year’s Resolution: Healthier Eating

child eating“Healthy eating is a way of life, so it’s important to establish routines that are simple, realistically, and ultimately livable.” – Horace

Families today have busy schedules. The “busyness” of our lives can sometimes sway us to make not so healthy food choices. It is easy to stop for fast food as families run from one event after another. But too much of one thing isn’t beneficial to any of us, especially when it comes to food.

Children need healthy foods and a diverse diet to best meet their growth and development needs. Eating healthy isn’t something children readily choose—oftentimes the things they like best are not the healthiest! So they need to be taught healthy eating habits. Read More »

Spreading Holiday Cheer as a Family

Family Making Holiday CardsRather than a series of obligations to go and do and buy, the weeks leading up to the holidays can be a time of connection for you and your family. It’s easy to get caught up in the commercialization of the season and lose sight of ways to connect as a family and ways to connect with those around us. When we focus on being present in the moment rather than focusing on the presents under the tree, we’re creating memories that will last our children a lifetime. Read More »

Developing an Attitude of Gratitude

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” — Randy Rausch

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! At the center of this holiday is celebChild hugging motherrating all that we have in our lives and all that we have received. It’s a time to express our gratitude and give thanks for the kindness of others. Read More »

Digi Schueler Named Philanthropist of the Year

Servant Leader. Connector. Dedicated. Humble.

These are just some of the adjectives used by 4C for Children and other local nonprofits to describe Digi Schueler in letters supporting her successful nomination by 4C as Philanthropist of the Year.

Her 30 years of volunteering with local organizations that support the arts, education and women will be honored on Nov. 7 at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Read More »

What Is Social Emotional Development Anyway?

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults.” -Frederick Douglass

Social emotional development is a child’s ability to understand the feelings of others, control their own feelings and behaviors and get along with peers. It provides them with a sense of who they are in the world and teaches them how to establish quality relationships with others. Read More »