My Children. My Opinions. My Tales.
Last weekend I spent much of my Sunday painting this mural with some very talented and artistic friends. The mural is on my daughter's (and my friends) day care playground. The kids are extremely thrilled and it isn't even done yet!
My friend Azirah, who is the very talented artist who is responsible for this amazing creation...hand drew the entire safari and the pictures just don't do it justice.
My other friend Nicole, who organized and planned this cool idea, has been spending much of her free time on this as Azirah.
And then there is clumsy me...see that huge wet spot on the ground...yes, I knocked over a very full bucket of green paint. Thankfully, with scrub brushes and soap...it washed up.
After my spill I decided it would be best for everyone if I kept low to the ground. So you can see my handy work on the grass...
And Azirah thought it would be nice to add 3 butterflies in memorandum for the those angel babies who have been lost...
It was fun...and we got a lot accomplished, but there is still more work to do...I will try and re-post new pictures when the mural is complete.
In the past couple of days I have had a few inquires on how to find a quality day care or preschool...so I thought I would share my knowledge with all of you...
When we our little Jelly Bean entered our world, we knew we would need a double income to support our lifestyle and that meant we would need a day care. But because I was formerly employed with Pennsylvania's Department of Public Welfare and worked closely with Children and Youth Services, I can be a bit overly cautious when choosing a day care for my mini-me.
Obviously, no one will ever be able to take care of my child quite like me. As many of you may have figured out, I can be a little OCD at times...But I knew with a lot of research I would find something that would fit my criteria. In today's paper, someone stated "finding a day care is like buying a car." And truly it is. So, this weekends steals and deals is going to wrapped around finding a good day care or preschool for your child...
First, you want to locate the agency in your state who license the centers. The National Child Care Information Center is a good place to start. States may vary with their regulations but the important thing is to know what they are and how they enforce them.
Second, background checks. I can't emphasize background checks enough. At least with a background check you can be assured that the center isn't hiring criminals or even worse, sexual predators.
Third, look for accreditation's from organizations like the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
Fourth, interview the provider. What are their policies on visiting, can you come and go whenever you please? Is the center clean? Do the children appear happy? How do the teachers interact with the children? But most importantly, what does your gut tell you?
Don't be afraid to ask to see proof of license or accreditation. Ask them if they have received any complaints or citations in the past, what they were and if they were properly corrected.
With your research and questions, you should be able to find a quality day care or preschool for your child.
Good Luck and Happy Weekend!
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