In this issue:

Suggestions for Holiday Gift Giving
Getting the Kids in the Kitchen
OCC Members Area Update
Advertising Dates Approaching
December Book to Read
Christmas Projects
Health – Do you care for sick children?
Using Puzzles for Early Learning - Skill Building
ChildCare Share Resource & Support Group in Omaha

Suggestions for Holiday Gift Giving

Gift baskets are not just good ideas for Christmas but also for any other occasion as well.

Make sure you don't get bogged down with having to use a "basket". Look around--- buckets, large watering cans, large pottery bowls, plastic storage containers, washtubs, etc.

A cute suggestion for a teacher, paint the bottom black like a chalkboard and the rim bright red and paint on apples, etc. and make the writing white to look like chalk. You can also stencil them or use rub off decals. So keep your eye out for containers. Almost any good size container can make a nice gift "basket". Use lots of tissue paper in the bottom so everything doesn't sink. Use ribbon or raffia to tie around individuals pieces in the basket. You can wrap them up with cellophane and tie with ribbon or raffia if you'd like.

• Music Find music stationary, blank music composition paper, cd's, tapes, music books. You might even find some tissue paper with music notes on it. If for Christmas you can probably find music ornaments such as violins and trumpets.
• Bath Rolled up towels, bath salts, bath oils, bath goodies, such as brushes, sponges, etc. This one's good for someone who needs a little pampering!
• Candles and Scents Find candles of all shapes, sizes, scents. Put in a few different type candle holders or the candle plates for the large candles. Some dried potpourri and a bottle potpourri gel or liquid. A small potpourri burner might even be nice to add.
• Homemade Goodies Homemade goodies such as breads, pound cakes, cookies, trail mixes, etc. Wrap each up individually in cellophane wrap. Use small tins for trail mixes or small loose items.
• Gifts in Jar Mixes Two or three gifts in a jar all tied up with ribbons. You could put in a few kitchen things to go along with it such as dishtowels, etc. If you were giving a hot chocolate or spiced tea mix you could put in coffee mugs.
• Popcorn & Movie Use several kinds of popcorn. Put in a few specialty flavors. Put in one or two videos of great movies. A great "basket" is a large popcorn bowl. You could even include a recipe for popcorn balls done up on a nice recipe card.

Getting the Kids in the Kitchen

Rudolph Sandwiches

Take a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, cut it crossways for a triangle! Then decorate it for a reindeer! With two raisins for the eyes, five or six raisins for the mouth, broken pretzel bits for the horns, and a bright half a cherry for the nose!! Voilla, you have Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, ready to eat.

Cinnamon Snails

4 slices soft texture whole wheat or white bread. Trim crusts from the bread slices, 1/4 cup soft cream cheese, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 cup melted butter.

Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on each slice of bread. Roll up bread slices with cream cheese on the inside. Cut each roll into thirds. Stir together sugar and cinnamon until well mixed. Dip each cut roll into melted butter, then into the sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Do not dip the ends of the rolls. Place rolls, seam side down, on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes, or until light brown and crisp. Serve warm or cool. Makes 12

Jelly Relish

You need-a bowl of jelly, a cup of ice cream, small fruit pieces, cherries, a loaf pan and knife. Put the jelly in the loaf pan and turn it into a plate so you get a shape. Cut it into small rectangles (not very small). Top each rectangle with a cherry and small pieces of fruit (if you wish). Freeze lightly and serve.

Jingle Bell Bug

Large strawberries, thin pretzel sticks, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon of butter, miniature chocolate chips Wash strawberries and remove stems, cut strawberries in half from stem to tip, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and butter in skillet. Place four pretzels on serving plate side by side, just touching. Dip cut side of strawberries in chocolate, put on top of pretzels. Dip mini choc chips in melted chocolate, stick on strawberry for eyes.

OCC Members Area Update
The Omaha-Childcare Directory has been updated to include our December Printables.  Loaded with ideas and suggestions to use in your classroom or family childcare program.

Advertising Dates Approaching
Omaha-Childcare.com is running an advertisement in the Omaha World Herald for a 30 day run. Help me to ensure our website is UP-TO-Date. Check your Tier I page and send me your updates. If you have openings, let me know so I can post them on your page. Let’s help parents easily find you using our Looking4Childcare form in your zip code area. Our ad is scheduled to run last week of December. Contact Robyn with your changes.

December Book to Read

Arthur’s Christmas By Marc Brown

The Bears’ Christmas By Stan & Jan Berenstain

Hello Kitty’s Best Christmas Ever By Rebecca Gomez

Clifford’s First Christmas By Norman Bridwell

Rugrats Babies in Toyland By Sarah Wilson

Dragon’s Merry Christmas By Dave Pilkey

My Very First Winnie the Pooh’s Jingle Bells By Kathleen W. Zoehfeld

Another Christmas By Susan L. Roth

Ten Timid Ghosts on a Christmas Night By Jennifer O’Connell

If You Take A Mouse to the Movies By Laura Numeroff

The Family Christmas Tree Book By Tomie De Paola

Santa’s Christmas Ride By Louise Betts Egan

Is That You Santa? By Margaret A. Hartelius

Mooseltoe By Margie Palatini

Christmas Projects

Pretzel Wreath

Little Pretzels, Curling Ribbon, Glue

String the curling ribbon through the pretzels. Use an over-under /under- over pattern so that the pretzels will lay flat. Apply glue to secure each pretzel as you form a circle. Add another layer of pretzels onto the top. Glue on a Sprig of pine or holly and this makes a beautiful gift. Tip: Consider gluing the wreath onto a paper plate or a circle of cardboard for extra security.

Cinnamon Cut Outs

No-Bake recipe that smells festive! Mix 3/4-1 cup applesauce with one 4.12-oz. bottle ground cinnamon to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4- inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter. Make hole for ribbon. Carefully put on rack to dry. Let air dry several days, turning occasionally. Makes 12 sweet smelling ornaments

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Dry Pine Cones, Green Glitter, Glue, Sequins Paint the pine cone with glue. Before the glue dries, sprinkle with green glitter.

Top with a paper star. When it dries you can glue on sequins or tinsel. Stand on the base for a Mini- Christmas Tree or hang by adding a tie. Tip: If you cannot find open pine cones. Place some in a 200 degree oven on a cookie sheet. They will open as they dry.

Easy Glitter Stars

Glitter in assorted colors, Plastic food wrap. Large piece of cardboard, A bottle of White glue Yarn for hanging, optional

Secure the wrap onto a piece of cardboard or a tray, with tape pulling it smooth and taut. Make star shapes on the plastic wrap with the glue bottle. Fill in the center with glue as well. You can also make other shapes like a bell, or a pine tree. If you plan on hanging or tying these stars attach a loop of yarn to the top of by putting it into the glue. Sprinkle the glue with glitter. Make sure it is completely covered. Leave to dry for 48 hours. Gently peel the plastic wrap away from the back, working in from each point. These can also be used to decorate windows. They come right off.

Stained Glass Christmas Picture

Using a Christmas picture from a coloring book or from the internet place and glue on a heavy piece of cardboard. Cut or tear colored tissue paper into tiny pieces. Using a glue stick to paste the tiny pieces and colors randomly on the parts of the picture. The finished picture will look like a stained glass window.

Candy Cane Reindeer

6 inch wrapped Candy Cane, Ribbon, 2 wiggle eyes Red or Brown pom pom, 2 pipe cleaners, Craft glue

Leave the wrapping on the candy cane. Glue eyes on rounded face of the candy cane. Glue red pompom on the face for a nose. Tie ribbon into a bow on the straight part of the candy cane. Cut one of the pipe cleaners in half. Wrap the full pipe cleaner around the crook of the candy cane to begin the antlers. Use the cut pipe cleaner to manipulate into antlers.

Christmas Tree Ornament

Use last year's Holiday cards to make a new ornament. Frozen Juice can lid, Construction paper, Old Christmas cards. Ribbon, Glue

Cut a favorite picture from a card. Using the juice can lid, trace and cut a circle from the construction paper. Glue the picture onto the paper and the paper onto the lid.

Here's a job for Mom or dad…

Use a glue gun to attach a paper clip to the lid for a hanger. Tip: You can spray paint the lids in gold, green or red to add a bit more. If you have particularly creative Kids, they can glue objects onto their lids!

Easy Gingerbread Kids

Cardboard, Glue, Raisins, Whole Cloves Cinnamon hearts, Narrow ribbon Optional Items: Glitter sequins, gold thread, rick-rack

Use a gingerbread cookie cutter to trace and cut the cardboard. Decorate your boys and girls by gluing raisins to the face for eyes. Use the head of the cloves for a nose and several clove stems to make a mouth. cinnamon hearts make great buttons! Use the ribbon or "rick-rack" to trim the edges, add bows or even clothes. If you want sparkle trim with glue and add glitter or sequins. Use your imagination!

Pin the Nose on Rudolph

Draw Rudolph's head on a big poster board, and cut red noses out of construction paper. You can click on Rudolph's head to print a larger picture to trace on your poster board. Don't forget to watch the movie "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" together.

Health – Do you care for sick children?

What do you do when one of the children in your care gets sick? Is there a risk to the other children? And what happens if a parent can't leave work to pick up the sick child? These are tough questions for child care providers. There are several things that can be done to make this situation as easy on everyone as possible. As the child care provider, you should provide a brief, written outline stating your objective criteria for determining when a child is sick and needs to go home.

Here is our example:

This daycare is a well child care facility. This means that if your child is not feeling well, for any reason, you will need to find alternate care. Please do not bring your child if he/she has a contagious illness or exhibits any of the following symptoms:

· fever of _________ degrees or above

· vomiting, in excess of typical infant spit-ups

· diarrhea

· conjunctivitis ("pink eye")

· consistent complaints of ear or stomach pain

· bleeding other than minor cuts and scrapes

· excessive greenish nasal discharge, indicating possible infection

· head lice

· other: ___________________________________________________________

In general, if your child is too sick to go outside and play, then your child is too sick to attend childcare. If your child becomes ill during daycare, you will be phoned at work and asked to pick your child up immediately.

If your child has a common cold (slight cough, sneezing, clear runny nose and/or a temperature below ______ degrees) your child may attend daycare. However, if your child reaches a point when he/she requires constant attention, will not play, cries continuously, whines and wants to be held constantly, then your child will need to stay home.

Any child requiring prescription medication will need to be kept at home for a period of at least 24 hours until no longer contagious, unless accompanied by a signed note fr om the child's medical practitioner.

Please dispense all medications at home whenever possible. For times when this is not possible, a Medicine Consent Form must be filled out in order for me to dispense any medications. All prescription and over -the-counter medications must be in their original container and prescriptions must display the pharmacist’s label with the doctor's name. If you have any questions, please feel free to discuss them with me at any time.

Using Puzzles for Early Learning - Skill Building

Puzzles help children build the skills they need to read, write, solve problems, and coordinate their thoughts and actions; all of which they will use in school and beyond.

* Find a puzzle with a picture that has particular interest for your child, and you may help her begin to recognize colors and letters, and come to realize that the sum of parts make up a whole; a concept that will help her with math later on. By inserting pieces into the puzzle, children also develop the muscle group used for writing, or the "pincer" grasp.

* Make sure puzzles are suited for each child's age and abilities.

* Three-year-olds still enjoy puzzles with single knobs on each piece, but they can also work on puzzles with five to eight pieces.

* Four-year-olds will enjoy knobless puzzles with familiar scenes and characters. They can handle 12 to 18-piece puzzles. Five-year-olds can handle large or small piece 18 to 35 pieces puzzles. They move from the pleasure of the activity to mastering the task.

* Puzzles should be well-made and appealing to the child. The younger the child, the more she will benefit from large, recognizable pieces to help her complete a picture. Good puzzles may show pictures of food, cars and trucks, animals, boys and girls, nursery rhymes and scenes from story books. Young children better understand figures made of simple shapes like circles, triangles and squares.

ChildCare Share Resource & Support Group in Omaha
Are you interested in promoting professionalism in childcare, in making a difference in our community and helping all our children experience success? The philosophy of Childcare Share is to develop friendships, lend emotional support, to meet the needs of the childcare professional by building strong partnerships in networking and supporting each other; in offering encouragement and inspiration through mutual respect.

Our objective is to assist each other in acquiring the skills, attitudes, and habits it takes to give the children entrusted to us and the families in our community the best we have to offer. If you do, then we share the same goals.

Membership is open to anyone who shares our Goals. We Welcome everyone!

Atonement Lutheran Church
4530 N. 85th
Omaha, NE 68134

On-line registration

2 Hours - In-Service Training Offered.
Come & enjoy the company of a group of like-minded professionals.

www.childcareshare.net

Feel Free to contact us with questions on how you can join.