I stumbled across a very timely blog post today from the Parent Hacks blog.  The Linton Freedom Festival Parade is only a few days away, so it might be a good idea to start thinking about how to juggle young children and the parade. Continue reading →

Attention all parents!  We all know that as soon as a small child grabs something — anything — it goes to one place: his or her mouth.  And the web has recently been abuzz about the dangers of these small electrical miracles, commonly known as “button batteries,” when digested by children. Continue reading →

So a friend of mine recently shared a family story with me; I immediately busted out laughing. I realize this may seem a little inappropriate; which in my opinion makes for a good story.

The story goes recently their family Continue reading →

As parents, many of us cringe at the thought of dragging out play-dough and all of the small tools and contraptions that go with it.  We think about the mess it will leave behind and we tell our kids “not today.”

But play-dough has a valuable place in our children’s lives.  When toddlers mash, squeeze, and roll play-dough they develop the muscles they need later to hold a pencil.  When preschoolers use a recipe to make their own play-dough at home they learn science, math, and cooking skills.  For all children (and adults) play-dough provides an opportunity for creativity and endless possibilities. Continue reading →

Choosing someone to care for your child while you are away can be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll make.  Here are a few things to consider throughout your search.

Do the routines of the child care facility match those that you use at home?

Be sure to ask about nap routines, meal times and television and video game policies.  Ask questions about the issues that matter most to you.

Adult-to- Child Ratio

Make sure there are enough adults to supervise the children.  Ask about the ages of the other children and keep in mind that infants and toddlers require a higher adult-to-child ratio.

Licensed Facilities

Any person keeping more than six children who are not their own, must have a state license, even if they are watching them in their home.  Make sure that the license is current.  It should be posted and available for you to see.

Paths to Quality

Paths to Quality is a voluntary program for licensed child care homes, centers and ministries.  Participants are held to a higher standard and must meet certain guidelines for quality child care.  Facilities are rated on a 1 – 4 scale.  Look for a facility with a 2 or higher rating and ask level 1 facilities when they expect to reach level 2, because many facilities sign up for Paths to Quality, but don’t meet the guidelines to advance.

CASY

CASY is the local child care licensing agency.  They can give you information about licensed facilities and Path to Quality participants in your area.  They can answer questions and provide recommendations.  You can reach them at 812-232-3952 or online at www.casyonline.org.

Make a Surprise Visit

Even if a child care facility answers all of your questions right on the phone, the best test is to just drop in on them.  This way you can get a feel for the true environment.  Keep in mind that the children might act up in front of a stranger and you might see some dirty dishes or highchairs, but the place should be generally clean and you should be able to see that all children are being cared for and loved.  Don’t hesitate to ask for names and numbers of parents as references.