Articles under Community

Resources for Child Care Providers to Promote Lifelong Learning

May 23, 2023

Building Brain Activities

Children learn and practice important executive function skills through games and playful activities. For babies and toddlers, play can start to build brain architecture and the foundation to lifelong learning and healthy development. Use the tools in the 4C for Children quality practices library to support the following skills:

Focus attention
Strengthen working memory
Develop self-control

Parenting Hot Topic: Embrace Earth Day in Ohio

March 31, 2023

Children dig it! Earth Day, tabbed this year on April 22, is an opportunity to celebrate our planet and learn about ways to protect it. You and your family can celebrate Earth Day by diving into nature, learning about the Earth’s importance and discovering ways to conserve it.

Here are some simple tips to help protect our natural world:

Survey Results Show Little Change in Child Care Landscape

April 21, 2023

The data collected from a February 2023 4C for Children survey of local child care program administrators shows little change in the local child care landscape from similar data collected by 4C in 2021. Classrooms are still shuttered and a staffing shortage continues. These outages are resulting in more than 4,000 infant, toddler, preschool and school-age children in Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley combined who can’t access quality early learning.

Parenting Hot Topic: Talk About Teeth

January 30, 2023

February is for flossing—not the dance move but the dental hygiene activity! This month is National Children’s Dental Health month.

Poor dental health can lead to pain and infection that may cause problems when eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss school more and receive lower grades compared to other children.

The good news is cavities are preventable! Daily dental hygiene routines at home and regular visits to a dentist can help. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), parents can support young children by developing good dental habits. Read More about Parenting Hot Topic: Talk About Teeth »

Parenting Hot Topic: Reading Can Be a Resolution

January 3, 2023

Can you believe 2023 is already here? Have you thought about a New Year’s resolution that you can stick to? Consider this: helping your child excel at reading. This is a goal that you and your child can tackle together.

Studies have shown that when children are read to regularly it helps improve vocabulary and communication skills and develop a lifelong love of reading. Plus, the more time you and your child spend together strengthening their love of reading, your relationship will also grow stronger.

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Child Care Issues are Impacting Businesses

April 11, 2023

The U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey reported in August 2022 that nearly 870,000 women have left jobs to care for one or more child under 5.

In a recent blog post featured on the Workforce Innovation Center, 4C for Children president/CEO Vanessa Freytag shares current child care trends like this and how these trends are impacting local businesses.

A ‘State of Crisis’ for Parents in Ohio

May 13, 2023

Child care staffing continues to impact programs, families

A recent 4C for Children survey showed due to the lack of teachers, there’s more than 4,000 children unable to be placed in child care programs in the Cincinnati and Miami Valley regions.

“The big problem is that we have a huge teacher shortage,” Vanessa said. “The survey results showed us that in this (Cincinnati) region alone, we’re missing more than 300 teachers. And of those teachers, each would serve six to 15 children, depending on what ages there are.”
Read More about A ‘State of Crisis’ for Parents in Ohio »

Celebrating Child Care Providers in Southwest Ohio and Miami Valley

May 17, 2023

4C for Children delivers nearly 750 gifts on National Provider Appreciation Day

In-home child care providers often care for children whose parents work non-traditional hours like third shift and weekends. This type of care allows adults to go to work and provide for their families.

“This is a day to honor child care professionals who run in-home businesses to provide care for infants, toddlers, and children in our community,” 4C for Children President and CEO, Vanessa Freytag said. “It’s important that 4C for Children and others recognize their hard work and dedication.”

Take a look inside the special delivery in this video.

Ways to Thank Your Child’s Teacher

May 2, 2023

When you are at work, school or other events, child care providers are there for your children, providing quality care and critical early education. Without their hard work and dedication, our lives would look very different.

Celebrate and thank the early childhood educator in your life every day, but especially on the day set aside especially for them: National Provider Appreciation Day on May 12.

Here are a few quick and easy ways you can show your gratitude:

The Power of Quality Care at Fairfield Child Care Center

May 9, 2023

High-quality care for a developing child makes all the difference. It supports and nurtures the growth of early learning and emotional development and strengthens the relationships children make with other children and adults.

4C for Children lead specialist Tracy Schnirring recently coached a child care program that went the extra mile and increased their Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating to ensure that children in their care are receiving enhanced learning opportunities.

Tracy shares the impressive journey Creative Beginning Learning Center and their staff have completed.