When considering providing child care, it is essential that individuals are aware of the personal and professional qualities Little Lambs considers to be of importance and would assist them in caring for children.

A great home child care provider is someone who:

• Enjoys children and is happy to spend time with them.
• Sees a child as an individual and makes every effort to understand and encourage his/her development.
• Is aware of children's developmental stages and ages and can provide fun learning activities appropriate to the children in care.
• Accepts her/his work with children as a major responsibility while the children are in her/his home.
• Is friendly, warm, affectionate and understanding.
• Has patience and can maintain control in different and/or surprising circumstances.
• Is responsible/reliable: the children and the parent/guardian depend on you
• Is flexible: when working with children, things change and seldom go as planned.
• Has knowledge of nutritional needs of children and will provide nutritious snacks and lunches to promote healthy eating habits.
• Has lots of energy, whether caring for infants, chasing two year olds or coping with the emotional ups and downs of school age children.
• Is willing to share his/her home and some personal possessions.
• Has good health: working with children means exposure to colds, viruses, and a variety of normal childhood illness.
• Has knowledge of first aid and a plan for dealing with emergencies.
• Is willing to follow appropriate behaviour management techniques
• Communicates and cooperates with the parent/guardian of the children in his/her care as well as his/her ECE Home Visitor and Agency.
• Uses discretion: as a provider you many come upon things about your families, which must remain confidential. 
• Is willing to keep accurate records as required.
• Is willing to increase and enhance her/his qualifications by attending workshops and learning to use the available community resources.
• Has a willingness to work in partnership with the parent/guardian and the staff of Little Lambs. 

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The video in this post quickly highlights the many ways arts in curriculum are important. Children learn best by doing, by being active participants in their learning journey. Art experiences allow for this hands on learning to happen in an intrinsic and holistic way. 

Art/Creative Expression assists Early Childhood Development in the following ways, 

Social: 
through visual art experiences, a child
*interacts with others
*observes peers
*observes the uniqueness of others
*develops an understanding of the individuals within the social environment 

Emotional:
through visual art experiences, a child
*makes choices (independence)
*expresses self
*externalizes self
             -places through and feelings outside self
            -takes confidence, courage, the feeling that the self is okay and that it is               
                     alright to explore and make mistakes 

Cognitive:
through visual art experiences, a child
*learns colour, shape, texture, transformations 
*conceptualizes images
*invents forms for the expression of images(symbols)
*involved in process requiring abstractions and transformations of one thing into another
*problem solves
*gives though concrete form
*creates visually persuasive images
*produces a number of ideas
*sees relationships
*increases flexibility in thinking patterns
*finds differences and similarities
*shows independent thinking 

Physical:
though visual art experiences, a child
*uses whole arm movement (pounds claim marks with crayon, and paints with brush)
*uses wrist action (markers, paint brush)
*develops eye-hand coordination and refines fine motor skills

Children are to be encouraged to be their creative selves. Through the use and growth of their creativity they are establishing their social, cognitive, emotional and physical abilities. It is more then simply putting paint to paper or molding with play dough. Arts in Early Childhood development are incredibly important and not to be forgotten. 

Thank you for reading, 
Kindest regards, 
Kristina 


references: 

        Pear Cohen, & Gainer, R.S. (1984). Art: Another language for learning. New York; Schoken Books

       

Loose parts  are materials that are both natural and synthetic. They empower children to play creatively without limitations. A stick can become a bridge and rocks can become animals. The possibilities are endless. By exposing children to loose parts play we are allowing them the opportunity to use abstract thought while simultaneously allowing for  concrete exploration. 
I enjoy using loose parts in both sensory play and on their own. Loose parts also provide opportunities for parallel play and cooperative play.  
examples of loose parts: 
Natural play area
water • sand • dirt • sticks • branches • logs • driftwood • grasses • moss • leaves • flowers • pinecones • pine needles • seeds • shells • bark • feathers • boulders • rocks • pebbles • stones

Playground
balls • hoops • jump ropes • tires • sand • water • dirt • straw • boulders • rocks • stones • pebbles • buckets • cups • containers • digging tools • chalk • scarves • ribbons • fabric

Indoor Environment
blocks • building materials • manipulatives • measuring • pouring devices (cups, spoons, buckets, funnels) • dramatic play props • play cars, animals, and people • blankets • materials • floor samples • water • sand • sensory materials • recycled materials (paper tubes, papers, ribbons, caps, lids, wood scraps, wire, foam, cardboard) • plastic gutters • small plungers • tools • art materials (buttons, spools, natural and colored popsicle sticks, beads, straws, paints, brushes)
CAUTION!  loose parts that are small can be choking hazards, please do not use anything smaller than 1.25 inches for children under three. Always provide supervision while playing with loose parts. 

I would love to see how you are playing with loose parts! comment bellow to share your ideas. 

​references: 
http://extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcare/early-care/our-resources/tip-pages/tips/loose-parts-what-does-this-mean

http://www.readingplay.co.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADUAMgB8AHwARgBhAGwAcwBlAHwAfAA4AHwA0

http://www.childcarequarterly.com/pdf/winter14_parts.pdf

http://www.homegrownkids.co.nz/Resources/Learning++Development+Resources/Loose+parts+play+for+children.html

​images sourced from : google free images