Kids Quarterly Press

A Newsletter of Choices Child Care Resource and Referral

October, November, & December 2015

From the Desk of the Director: Relationships in the Digital Age
Valuable relationships can be formed
through social media. We would like
to invite you all to visit and like our
new Facebook page. Our Facebook
page provides information that can
be useful to parents, child care providers and others in the field of early
childhood.
We post information
about important events and additional training opportunities within our
state and surrounding areas. If you
have an event or information that you would like to be shared on our Facebook
page, please email me at Kristy.A.Ritz@wv.gov. You can also find information
about our programs, along with current newsletters and training schedules on our
website. Visit us at http://www.wvdhhr.org/choices/ or scan the QR code below
with your smartphone.

Join the
Afterschool Alliance
and communities
nationwide in calling
attention to the
importance of
afterschool programs on
October 15, 2015.
Download a Complete
Event Planning Guide
www.afterschoolalliance.org

In this issue:
News Flash

Adventures in TRAILS Land

Professional Development Schedule

6-7

Infant Toddler Times

Behavior Consultant Corner

10

Health and Safety Check

11

Choices CCR&R

Choices CCR&R

4421 Emerson Ave,

315 North Ohio Ave.

Suite 102

Clarksburg, WV 26301

Parkersburg, WV 26104

(304) 622-6528

(304) 485-2668

(304) 622-6092 (fax)

(304) 485-7024 (fax)

News Flash
Paulas Payment Pointers
The beginning of the month can seem challenging for
most- getting paperwork in order to submit by the end of
the week and still giving great care to your children. Writing the day of the week along the side of the attendance
sheets can be a big help when parents are in a rush to get
the paperwork done before leaving for their activities.
Remind parents to enter the time in and out along with
their signature on a daily basis. Attendances without the
required information cannot be paid.
Keep in mind that a valid Child Care Certificate is your
only guarantee of payment. It is your clients responsibility to give you their certificate. Pending clients have (13)
thirteen days to submit any missing documents needed for
services. You are not guaranteed payment on a pending
case.
Request for Payment forms are due by the end of the first
week of the following month. Payments are not considered
late until after the 20th of the month. When you bring in
your request for payment forms, please pick up new forms
for the next month.
Provider payments are now only deposited via direct deposit. Remember if you change banks or from checking
to savings, request a new direct deposit form to change
the routing of your payments.

WV Family Child Care Association Update

The WV Family Child Care Association would like
to help you build your business. Join today and we
can show you valuable ways to increase your profits,
be more professional, and be that positive influence
the children in your area need. We offer online classes to our members for an additional $20.00. These
classes will give you 15 hours of STARS credit, and
you can take as many as you would like to meet your
state requirements. Due to budget realignment we no
longer receive state funding, so your membership is
more vital now that it ever has been. Let your voice
be heard and let your state officials know that you
are a family child care provider and youd appreciate
their support. We welcome everyone to join us. State
employees can join as advocates if they would like or
you can make a one time donation. Everything is tax
deductible. We value your support!
For more information call Lorna at 304-730-4710 or
Tammy at 304-634-4806. You can also email us at
wvfamilychildcare@yahoo.com or find us on
Facebook!
Let us help you build a better and stronger child care
business today!

Feel free to call our office at 1-866-966-2668 for assistance, or email me at Paula.A.Taylor@wv.gov

Coming Soon -- Using Technology to Engage

The next stage of collaboration is coming. A new collaborative project, tentatively titled Engage, is under development with collaborative funding from Home Visitation, DHHR Division of Early Care and Education, OMCFH, and the Office of Head Start. Engage will utilize the Blackboard Platform and Blackboard technology to
bring online professional development to each early childhood professional across the state of West Virginia. The
goal for the project is for all early childhood professionals, regardless of setting or sector, to have access to comprehensive, high quality, and collaborative professional development opportunities.
Sponsored by West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources, Engage will allow early
childhood professionals to complete professional development in a variety of online formats from many content
experts. No longer will professionals be limited to training offered by location and by individual agencies, but
the options will be open to access professional development at any time from their personal or work computer on
various topics.
Look for more information about this exciting project in upcoming months. For additional information contact
Natalie Snider, Distance Learning Statewide Coordinator, at nsnider@rvcds.org.
Kids Quarterly Press

Training Tidbits
2015 NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo
November 18-21, 2015 Orlando, FL

Professional Development
Advisory Council

Visit www.naeyc.org for more information.

Choices CCR&R would like to invite

all child care providers to attend the
next Professional Development Advisory Council meeting. By participating
in this group you help to ensure that the
training needs of all providers in our
region are being met. Your input helps
us know what types of training to offer,
along with the best times and locations
for providers. The next Professional
Development Advisory Council meeting
will be:

October 22, 2015

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Choices CCR&R
Parkersburg Office

67th Annual SECA Conference

The Whole Child in Harmony
February 11-13, 2016
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Visit www.southernearlychildhood.org for more information.

Please contact Theresa Wascom at 304485-2668 for more information or to

register to attend. Two hours of WV
STARS training credit will be provided.

Whos New At Choices?

Hi! I am Christi Calvert, the Early Childhood Specialist in the Choices Parkersburg
office. I have over ten years of experience working as a teacher in child care centers
and have a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education. I am married and have a
grown son who is currently studying in Ireland. As an Early Childhood Specialist I
will be working mainly with Wood, Gilmer, Calhoun and Wirt Counties. I am eager to
utilize my experience, education, and interest in children and the people around them
to enhance the lives of children. I look forward to meeting others who have a passion
for children and experiencing the environments you provide for the children in our
communities.
Hi, Im Brittany Shutts and I am the new Early Childhood Specialist on the TRAILS
Van. I graduated from WVU-Parkersburg this past May with my Regents Bachelors
of Arts with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Before I came to Choices,
I worked as the Infant Lead teacher at North Christian Early Learning Center and as
the Director/Manager at Lillies Childcare and Learning Center here in Parkersburg.
I currently live in Little Hocking, OH with my husband (David) and our 2 year old
daughter, Gracelyn. I am excited to begin getting to know everyone and helping to
improve education for young children through the TRAILS Van program!

Kids Quarterly Press

Adventures in TRAILS Land

Promoting Positive Relationships Between Children
There are many ways you can
promote positive relationships
between children. This can be
done by using yourself as a model
and teacher, creating an environment that promotes positive relationships and allows for children
to practice communicating and
problem solving, and by monitoring the childrens interactions.
You can also help the children
recognize, acknowledge, and express feelings appropriately.
The TRAILS Van has many materials to aid in creating an environment that provides opportunities
to learn positive communication
techniques and enhance relationships between children.
Infants
The majority of infant relationships are dependent on the caregiver actions. Caregivers can
model positive relationships to
infants during routine caregiving
(feeding, diapering, rest times).
The TRAILS Van has resource
books for teachers to look through
with activities and suggestions on
communicating and forming positive bonds with infants available
for checkout.

Toddlers
Toddlers learn communication
and relationship skills by watching their caregivers and recreating
what they see. Dolls, doll clothing, feeding/diapering doll care
items, blankets and a play crib
are all wonderful items to have
in a toddler classroom to allow
the children to recreate and act
out relationship scenes they have
witnessed. By watching, modeling and playing with them, the
caregiver can provide appropriate
examples of healthy relationships
for the toddlers.

Preschool
Preschool-age children begin to
interact and want to play and interact more with each other rather
than alongside each other. The
TRAILS Van carries magnetic
fishing sets that contain 4 fishing

poles and 18 magnetic fish in each

set. These are great sets to use in
a preschool classroom because
it allows for multiple children to
play with each other, practice taking turns, verbalize their wants
and feelings, and celebrating each
others accomplishments together.
School Age
School age children are more
likely to be able to verbalize their
thoughts and feelings, and may
just need help honing their communication and relationship skills.
Games that provide opportunities
to work together, problem solve,
and help each other are fantastic
for giving children the opportunity to practice communication
skills, therefore strengthening
their relationships.
If you would like to check out
items from the TRAILS Van,
please contact Brittany Shutts,
TRAILS Early Childhood Specialist in the Choices Parkersburg office at 1-866-966-2668, or
by emailing Brittany.N.Shutts@
wv.gov.

Have You Checked Out TRAILS?

The Choices TRAILS van offers developmentally appropriate toys,
games and books for the use of children in family childcare homes,
centers, and facilities. A wide variety of resource books and assistive
technology items for children with special needs are also available. To
schedule an appointment to see all of the items TRAILS has to offer
call Brittany Shutts at 1-866-966-2668 today.

Kids Quarterly Press

Christi s Corner
Ethics in Work Relationships

Relationships at work are imporadmire. Be positive! It is eastant and can determine our job
ier to get along with positive
satisfaction. What can we do to
thinkers.
have work relationships that sup- Take your concerns about a
port us and our work? The Napersons behavior to that pertional Association for the Educason first. Talk respectfully, and
tion of Young Children (NAEYC)
attempt to resolve the matter
has a Code of Ethical Conduct
confidentially.
that gives us guidance. Listed in Be sure and listen when your
the Code in Section III, Ethical reco-workers talk to you. You
sponsibilities to colleagues, Ideal
earn respect by giving people
relationships include:
your full attention.
Trust
Exercise care in express Respect
ing your views about oth Confidentiality
ers. Think before you speak!
Collaboration
Make sure you have firsthand
Cooperation
knowledge of what you speak
Support
and are not just repeating what
Recognition
someone else said.
We can look to the principles in
the Code for guidance in building
these qualities of ideal relationships.
Do:
Recognize the contributions
of those you work with. Talk
to them, even saying a simple
Good morning! Smile and Dont:
point out something they are Dont be a part of activities
doing that you appreciate or
or talk that lessen a persons

reputation or make the person

less effective. Reflect on your
own feelings of self-worth.
We sometimes put others
down when we ourselves feel
threatened or inadequate.
Dont be a part of activities or
talk that discriminates against
a co-worker. Respect peoples
differences and use the awareness of those differences to
help yourself grow.
The Code of Ethical Conduct is a
good place to start for establishing positive work relations. For
more information on co-worker
relationships, or any other topic
related to caring for young children, contact Christi Calvert, Early Childhood Specialist, at 1-866966-2668 or by email at
Christi.Calvert@wv.gov.
References:
Aurora Health Care. (2008). Principles of Positive
Co-Worker Relationships. Retrieved from www.
arura.org/eap.
NAEYC. (2005). Code of Ethical Conduct & Statement of Commitment.. Washington, D.C. NAEYC
Publishing.

Child Care Provider Associations

Provider Associations offer:
A support system for child care providers
Advocacy for child care issues
Networking opportunities

www.nafcc.org

www.wvayc.com

Family Child Care Provider Association:

Choices encourages all facility and family
child care providers to join the local provider
association. Contact your local Choices office
for more information.

www.westvirginiafamilychildcare.com

www.naeyc.org

www.wvccu.com
Kids Quarterly Press

Title and Description

Date and Time

Core
Competency

Location

PM

Choices

Various

Choices

Choices

Choices

HSN

Choices

HSN

Choices

Various

Choices

PIR

Choices

Choices

Gilmer
County
Library

Wood County

October 6, 2015
6:30-8:00 PM
October 13, 2015
5:00-8:30 PM
October 15, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM
November 5, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM
November 11, 2015
9:00 AM-1:00 PM
November 11, 2015
1:00-3:00 PM
December 2, 2015

5:30-8:30 PM

December 3, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM
December 10, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM

Mind in the Making Overview

This session will provide an overview of Mind in the Making, a series
of learning modules about the science of early learning.
Mind in the Making
11-part series that uses research on how children learn to encourage engaged
learning. Sessions will meet each Tuesday for 6 weeks. Limited seats
available. Registration deadline is September 11, 2015.
Daily Schedules to Support Social/Emotional Development
Routine with less emotional drama. This session will explore how to create a
daily schedule that supports your childrens social/emotional development.
Lesson Planning & the WV ELSFs
This training will focus on lesson planning, considering the West Virginia
Early Learning Standards Framework (WV ELSF), the childrens interests and
abilities, and curriculum.
Medication Administration
This session will discuss proper administration of medication in child care
settings.
Making a Difference: Preventing and Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
This training is a comprehensive training session for mandated reporters of
child abuse and neglect.
Early Childhood Positive Behavior Support
This training is a three part series that will explore the Positive Behavior
Support pyramid and provide participants with tools and strategies for
preventing and managing challenging behaviors. Participants must attend
all sessions to receive credit. The second and third sessions will be
December 9, 5:30-8:30 PM and December 16, 5:30-7:30 PM.
Supervision and Interaction of Infants and Toddlers
This training will cover the basic principles of supervising and interacting
with infants and toddlers.
Planning Activities for Multiple Age Groups
This class is especially designed for those of you with school age children or
groups with mixed abilities to maximize the fun and learning for all.

Calhoun/Gilmer/Wirt Counties
November 19, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM

Planning Activities for Multiple Age Groups

This class is especially designed for those of you with school age children
or groups with mixed abilities to maximize the fun and learning for all. Call
1-866-966-2668 to register.

STARS Core Knowledge Key:

CGD: Child Growth and Development; HSN: Health,
Safety and Nutrition; PIR: Positive Interactions and
Relationships; C: Curriculum; COA: Child Observation and Assessment; FC: Family and Community;
PM: Program Management; PRO: Professionalism.

Kids Quarterly Press

Important Reminders:
Call to register at least 24 hours in advance
Children are NOT permitted to attend training sessions
Anyone arriving more then 15 minutes late will not be permitted to
sign in or receive a certificate
Trainings may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment or inclement weather
6

Date and Time

Title and Description

Core
Competency

Location

PM

Choices

Various

Choices

PM

Choices

Various

Choices

Choices

Various

Choices

COA

Choices

COA

Choices

COA

Choices

Choices

PIR

Choices

HSN

Choices

HSN

Choices

Choices

Doddridge
County
Library

Harrison County
October 2, 2015
10:00AM-4:00 PM
October 6, 2015
5:00-8:30 PM
October 9, 2015
10:00AM-4:00 PM
October 21, 2015
10:00 AM-3:30 PM
October 21, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM
October 24, 2015
8:30AM-3:00 PM
November 5, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM
November 12, 2015
5:00-8:00 PM
November 19, 2015
5:00-8:00 PM
November 21, 2015
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
December 5, 2015
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
December 9, 2015
9:00 AM-1:00 PM
December 9, 2015
1:00-3:00 PM
December 17, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM

WVIT II Administrators Course

An overview of the WVIT II Relationship Based Care Course for center directors
or administrators.
WVIT II Relationship Based Care
This course will cover the importance of relationships and primary Care.
Participants must be STARS registered and have completed WVIT.
WVIT Administrators Course
An overview of the West Virginia Infant Toddler Professional Development
Program for center directors of administrators.
West Virginia Infant Toddler Professional Development Program (WVIT)
This course provides information about working directly with infants and toddlers.
This is a ten session course. Participants must be STARS registered.
Planning Activities for Mixed Age Groups
The training will provide a framework for planning activities for mixed age groups
in child care centers, facilities and family child care.
Super Saturday
Amazing Art (E. Cool); Desirable Drama (C. Calvert); Magical Music (A.
Hundley)
The Keys to Observation and Assessment Overview
This training is an overview of observation and assessment: why we observe,
when, where and how to observe and the purpose of assessment.
The Keys to Observation and Assessment Module 2
This training will take an in depth look at Observation, and how it should be carried
out. We will have many opportunities to practice our observation skills.
The Keys to Observation and Assessment Module 3
This training will take an in depth look at assessment and how it should be carried
out.
Supporting Artistic Expression in Children
This training will focus on the benefits of providing opportunities for artistic
expression in the classroom.
Building Positive Relationships through Communication
This training will discuss ways to communicate with preschool children that fosters
positive relationships.
Medication Administration
This training is a comprehensive training session for mandated reporters of child
abuse and neglect.
Making a Difference: Preventing and Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
This training is a comprehensive training session for mandated reporters of child
abuse and neglect.
Lets Be Friends
This training will discuss the importance of friendships skills and strategies for
encouraging them in young children.

Doddridge/Pleasants/Ritchie Counties
November 19, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM

Supporting Artistic Expression in Children

This training will focus on the benefits of providing opportunities for artistic
expression in the classroom. Call 1-866-622-6528 to register.

Kids Quarterly Press

Cools Tools
Partnering with Parents
Family-teacher relationships are essential for learning about the children from an additional and valuable
source, promoting childrens emotional health, and helping children
deal with difficult problems that may
have lifelong consequences. Families and teachers each have a unique
knowledge about a child. How will
teachers and families see the whole
child if they never hear the unique
perspective that only the other can
provide?
The following lists some common
barriers between a positive FamilyTeacher Partnership:
Differences in backgrounds
Stress
Differing values
Differences in viewing roles
Types of experiences
Notions of openness
Differences in experiences
Communication abilities
Need to feel valued
Differences in viewing childs
needs
Teachers should be aware of these issues to help them readily recognize
potential blocks to productive and
positive family-teacher partnerships.
Once the teacher identifies the issue,
the following communication techniques can help.

Two-way communication and oneway communication are the two categories of communication between
teachers and families. Two-way
communication is when interactions
between teachers and families go
both ways. One-way communication occurs when the child care center informs the family of something.
The most valuable form of communication is two-way communication
because the teachers learn from the
parents and the parents learn from
the teachers.

Not all parents can come to the center

at a prescribed time for a conference.
Parents care about their children, and
usually want to participate in their
education; they may just need the
center to accommodate in different
ways. The following are the types of
two-way communications that have
been found to be helpful in commu-

To learn about
WV Birth to Three services
in your area, please call:
1-866-321-4RAU
or visit www.wvdhhr.org/birth23

Kids Quarterly Press

nicating effectively with parents:

Email
Phone Conversations
Leaving recorded messages
Personal visits
Group visits
Opportunities for family members to be part of the classroom
Social events
Parent-teacher conferences
One-way communication can also
play a role in building positive relationships with parents. The following
are some examples of one-way communication:
Newsletters
Handbooks
Family Bulletin Board
Notes
Family-teacher relationships are vital
for the optimal care of children. For
more information or ideas on how to
partner with parents, please contact
Erika Cool, Early Chidhood Specialist, at 1-866-622-6528 or by email at
Erika.J.Cool@wv.gov.

Reference:
Klein, Amy Sussna, Ed.D, and Marian Miller,
M.Ed. "In Support of Family-Teacher Partnerships." Earlychildhood News. N.p., n.d. Web.

Choices CCR&R offers

free vision screenings for
children ages 3yrs-4yrs.
To find out how you can take advantage
of this free service, please call your local
Choices office.

Infant and Toddler Times

Building Secure Attachments

Attachment is the process of forming

a relationship between the infant and
parent, guardian or caregiver. It is
developed through warm responsive
care and positive interaction, and is
revealed by strong emotions of love
and caring from the infant.

Healthy development requires strong

attachments between caregivers and
babies. These attachments develop
through the daily care routines. Taking time to gaze at each other, share
smiles, talk, sing and otherwise interact while changing diapers, bathing, dressing, and feeding supports
the process of attachment.
When babies have strong attachments they are more open to others.
Without these strong attachments,
babies can be insecure and avoidant.
Babies can become attached to more
than one caregiver. They form a hierarchy of preference. If the time spent
together is predictable, sensitive, and
responsive, the person who is caring
for the baby while parents must be
away is part of that hierarchy.
Frequent changes in caregivers interfere with babies attachment. Development will emerge best from a

consistent caregiver every day for at

least a year.

The relationship a caregiver has with

a baby is the foundation upon which
development is based. Therefore, in
considering ways to guide babies in
understanding the world, it is important to focus on the relationship. Optimal development will emerge from
healthy, warm, responsive interactions. Beginning in the early weeks,
babies start a dance with adults.
They take turns looking, smiling,
and progress to cooing and babbling
with the adult. This is an important
part of attachment and the beginning
of language. Here are some other tips
based on the babys age that caregivers can do:

Newborn - 2 months
Smile, laugh, sing, cuddle, hold and
otherwise positively interact with the

baby whenever possible. You cannot

spoil a baby with too much attention. Respond to a babys crying immediately, helping the baby learn to
trust.
2 - 4 months
Babies like routines. They help the
baby feel more secure. Try to keep
feeding, diapering and nap time more
or less the same.
7-12 months
As the baby grows, it is important to
engage face to face, and follow his
lead when it comes to play. Try and
understand what she is telling you
whenever she cries, smiles or turns
away.
In time this close relationship that is
formed is not only beneficial to the
infant, but to the caregiver too!
For more information on building
attachments or other topics related
to infant toddler care, contact Alicia
Hundley, Infant Toddler Specialist,
at 1-866-622-6528 or by email at
Alica.M.Hundley@wv.gov.
Reference:
Honig, A. (2002). Secure relationships: Nurturing infant/toddler
attachment in early care settings. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Join the FUN, and earn a chance to WIN an iPad mini!

Have you participated in the EarlyCareShareWV.org exciting SCAVENGER
HUNT? Dont miss your chance to win an iPad mini with case and keyboard!
Remember, you cant win if you dont play! Open your e-mails from TheTeam@
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for free now at http://www.earlycaresharewv.org/new_member_request.aspx.
Have a question? E-mail Help@EarlyCareShareWV.org for help.

Kids Quarterly Press

Behavior Consultant Corner

Positive Relationships for Positive Behaviors

So where do we begin with forming

strong relationships? Think about
building relationships as filling a
piggy bank. We want to make deposits to fill the bank, and not do things
that would cause the bank (or relationship) to crumble. Here are a few
ideas to make deposits in your relationship piggy bank:

Send Home Notes

Whether it is saying thank you when
having their lunch delivered or handling a conflict without hitting, there
is something good in every day! Even
the most challenging child has appropriate behaviors and does things that
are worth recognizing. Take a few
minutes to write a note to the childs
parent about one positive thing that
happened that day. You could also
create certificates that allow for you
to fill in what happened for the child
to take home. Encourage the parent
to ask the child about it, reinforcing
the positive behaviors to continue.
This is also a great tool to form relationships with parents. When parents
hear a lot of positive things about their
child and form a relationship with the
caregiver, it is easy to discuss more
challenging topics if they arise.

Star of the Week

Have a star of the week who can bring
in special items from home and share
them with the class. This could be a
favorite toy, shirt, or picture. Allow
them to talk about the item and explain
why it is important to them. Having
this connection between home and
childcare helps create comfort for the
child as well as shows them that their
caregiver and peers are interested in
their life at home.

Super Friend
Super Friend is a tool from the Early
Childhood Positive Behavior Support
modules that recognizes childrens
friendship skills. Friendship skills
are essential for children forming relationships with one another and this
tool is designed to encourage those
behaviors to continue. This tool consists of a book, stickers, and a shirt or
hat. The book tells the story of what it
means to be a Super Friend and talks

In any training you have been to you

have heard about how important it
is to form positive, trusting relationships with the children in your care.
One of the reasons relationships are
so essential is that a positive relationship encourages appropriate behaviors. Every child needs to know that
they have at least one adult in their
life that truly believes in them and
supports them. You can be that person!

If you are interested in using the Super Friend tool the behavior consultant at Choices can provide you with
the story electronically or one in print,
and would be available to explain in
more detail how to use this tool.
For this or other ideas for forming
relationships with children please
contact Meagann Morris, Behavior Consultant, at 1-866-966-2668,
or by email at Meagann.E.Morris@
wv.gov.

CPR/FIRST AID TRAINING RESOURCES

Parkersburg & Surrounding Areas

American Red Cross

Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter:
Call 304-485-7311 for course schedules
RESA 5:
Call 304-485-6513 or for information
Marietta Memorial Hospital:
Call 740-568-1677 for information
Mid Ohio Valley Health Department:
Call 304-485-7374 for more information.
Kids Quarterly Press

about appropriate behaviors. Stickers can be used to recognize when a

child is being a Super Friend. A shirt
or hat that has a Super Friend logo
or design can be worn by the child
showing these attributes and acts as
reinforcement for these to continue.
Additionally, recognizing the childs
positive behaviors is another great
way to strengthen your relationship
with him/her.

Clarksburg & Surrounding Areas

American Red Cross:
Call 304-624-7689 to register.
City of Clarksburg Fire Department:
Call 304-624-1665 for information.
RESA 7:
For more information call 304-624-6554 Ext. 5,
or visit http://resa7.k12.wv.us
United Summit Center
Call 681-342-1000 for information

10

Health and Safety Check

Take Care of Yourself: How to Keep Your Work From Breaking Your Back
Working as a child care provider
means that you spend many hours
a day bending, lifting and moving
objects. These everyday activities can cause injury to your back
if you dont use care in how you
perform them. Here are some tips
from the American Physical Therapy Association on ways to work
safely and prevent injury.

the child with both arms and hold

them close to your body. Push
with your legs and return to the
standing position. Use this same
technique to place a child on the
floor. Avoid twisting your body
while lifting. Complete your lift
then move your feet in the direction you want to move.

Bending down is one of the most

frequent movements during the
day. Bending from the waist applies tremendous force to the discs
of the lower back. To prevent injury, bend at your hips and knees
while keeping you back straight.
Keep your feet shoulder-width
apart and move your body as a
unit.
Lifting children can be particularly hard on the lower back. The
APTA recommends the use of the
half-kneel lift. Stand close to the
child to be lifted. Keep your back
straight and put one foot slightly
in front of the other foot and lower yourself to one knee. Grasp

When pushing a wheeled object

stay as close to the object as possible, keeping your back straight
and your shoulders back. Use
your legs as the pushing force,
not your arms. Pushing is always
preferable to pulling.
Finally, dont be afraid to ask for
help. If you are moving a heavy
object ask someone to help you.
Have the children pick up their
toys and put them away. Practicing good body mechanics is
a good habit to develop and can
help keep you safe and strong.
For more information on health
and safety related topics, contact
your local Nurse Health Consultant!

When holding or carrying a child,

always hold them close and centered on your body. Holding in
one arm and balanced on your
hip increases the pressure on the
lower back and can contribute to
injury.

CChild Care Food Program

Wood County: 304-485-9238 ext 18

Harrison County: 304-203-3711

www.frac.org
Benefits to child care providers
include:
Reimbursement for food costs
Nutrition education & support
Meal and snack planning
Workshops & newsletters

11

West Virginia WIC provides nutrition &

health education as well as other services
free of charge to pregnant women, postpartum
women, infants, and children up to the age of five.
www.wvdhhr.org/ons

West Virginia Childrens

Health Insurance Program
www.wvchip.org

Health Care Coverage for children & expectant moms

Apply online www.wvinroads.org
Kids Quarterly Press

Choices Child Care Resource and Referral

C/O River Valley Child Development Services
611 7th Avenue, Suite 300
Huntington, WV 25701
304-485-2668 or 1-866-966-2668

Choices Child Care Resource and Referral

Child Care Providers Newsletter and Professional Development Information

Choices Child Care Resource and Referral is a program of River Valley Child Development Services. This program is being presented with financial assistance
as a grant from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Visit us on the Web: www.wvdhhr.org/choices.