Enriching the lives of children by working with the adults who
affect their lives - parents, caregivers, and educators.
Training session hand-outs online Swine Influenza A Information for Child Care Providers classes in grey are full |
Spearfish Expo
|
For information about Early Childhood Connections' Child Passenger Safety program, click here |
Congratulations to the latest group of students to complete the SDCDA coursework! Their next step: apply to The Council for Professional Recognition for Assessment to receive their CDA credential! Good Luck!
From left to right:
Amanda Brown, Jennie Day, Hillary Janssen, Charla Henk, Dani Ulrickson, Nicolette Kennedy, Candice Meis, Denea Hinzman, Jennifer Lechtenberg, Crystelle Miranda. Not pictured is Susan Kraemer.
Early Childhood Connections recognizes Stand For Children Day on Monday, June 1st. Stand For Children-Grassroots Solutions-Lasting Change “envisions a society where all children receive the education and community supports that will enable them to live successful, fulfilling lives, and where parents and other concerned citizens are engaged and vigilant in ensuring that elected officials make decisions in the best interest of children and families.” The first Stand For Children Day took place in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 1996. A group of 300,000 citizens participated in the largest rally for children in U.S. history. Mrs. Rosa Parks, civil rights movement icon, through a statement of support challenged the nation to commit themselves to improving the lives of children, saying, “If I can sit down for justice, you can stand up for children.” To learn more about Stand For Children and how you can participate, visit www.stand.org
Nature and Young Children…Let us know what you think!South Dakota State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln invite you to share your thoughts on nature in the context of early childhood education. Click on the link below to learn more about the project and to take the survey. Information gathered through the survey will help guide future professional development opportunities available to early childhood professionals and students.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wIP4Wf3aKh7A9dHLADehyg_3d_3d
"Only as a child's awareness and reverence for the wholeness of life are developed can his humanity to his own kind reach its full development." Rachel Carson, Edge of the Sea
Make a Commitment to take action to strengthen children’s connection to nature- making developmentally appropriate nature education a sustaining and enriching, fully integrated part of the daily lives and education of the world’s children.
We do know that reconnecting babies, toddlers and young children to the natural world:
- Is crucial for their optimal intellectual and physical development;
- Provides a sense of refuge and healing in a somewhat violent and frightening world;
- Helps them grow into adults who care about environmental stewardship; and
- Nurtures a sense of shared community among the world’s peoples. (Nature Action Collaborative for Children, 2007)
Re-connecting children to nature can be as simple an experience in the natural world as helping to plant a roof top garden, listening to the sounds of nature all around us, or playing outside in freshly fallen snow. Unfortunately, even in the beautiful environment we live in here in the Black Hills that connection with nature is slipping away from many of us – and especially our children. Join a call to action that beckons educators, families and leaders world wide to take action: www.worldforumfoundation.org/nature
More Nature Resources:
Eco-Healthy Child Care Checklist (pdf document): http://www.sehn.org/pdf/EHCC_ChecklistFINAL.pdf
http://www.childrennatureandyou.org/index.html
http://www.dimensionsfoundation.org/index.cfm
