In the news:

• Community Connections
• Drop, Cover and Hold On
• Board Business: Celebrate by Networking

Congratulations to the following centers for achieving NAEYC re-accreditation:

• Department of Energy CDC, Washington, DC
• Kathy Herward Child Care Center, Andover, MA
• Little Explorers (NOAA) CDC, Silver Spring, MD
• The Academy for Early Learning, Philadelphia, PA

Its almost that time again.  The Annual GSA Child Care Survey will be open for our GSA Centers mid January. Please be on the lookout for more information to come.

With holidays in full swing and decorations being hung throughout our centers, safety is something we must keep in mind.  The Consumer Product Safety Committee has a few decorating tips to keep in mind this holiday season.

• Check all lights for broken, frayed or cracked pieces.
• Turn lights off when not in room being used.
• Never use lighted candles near a tree.
• Avoid any decoration that is sharp or pointy or breakable.
• Use decorations with flame resistant materials.

If you would like more information, it can be found at here

Quote of the Month:

" Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community"

- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Find out more about GSA Child Care:

Tell us what you think?

Contributions and comments on Child Care Now are welcome and encouraged.

Consumer Products Information

Would you like to learn more about consumer product recalls? Sign up for alerts by clicking the Consumer Product Safety Commission logo.

Community Connections

Trick-or-Treating, potlucks, parades, gatherings...all signs the holidays are here.  Each year around this time, GSA Child Care Centers host celebrations and share experiences with parents, Federal agency partners, and the local community. Building strong community relationships helps children learn from, develop appreciation for, and connect with others.

Highlights of celebrations and connections during the past few months include: 

Kinderplatz, Bloomington, MN

Bloomington area Federal agencies welcomed Kinderplatz Child Care Center to their offices for trick or treating.  The children had a fun time trick or treating, visiting with Federal employees, and enjoying yummy treats and fun decorations.

Joyful Noise East, Portland, OR

Joyful Noise East Child Development Center, located in the Portland 911 Building, participated in a Code Adam drill. The drill, initiated by Federal Protective Service (FPS) and the teachers, was intended to evaluate emergency responsive of the child care program, building guards, FPS and building tenants. A stuffed bear played the role of the missing child and was hidden in the basement stairwell to activate the guards to the situation.  The drill lasted about 20 minutes, and the bear was found by a mailroom employee doing a sweep of the stairwell.  Parents of children attending the child care were recruited to participate in the drill and help test the procedures.

Social Security Administration Child Development Center, Woodland MD

The Social Security Administration Child Care Center in Woodlawn, MD celebrated a fall festival with bobbing for apples, face painting, and arts and crafts.  The event was attended by families of the center, as well as employees from local agencies.

GCCCC, Boston, MA

Pie Day is a favorite, annual celebration at the Government Center Child Care Centers in Boston. Each November the children and staff bake for two days making assorted pies, cookies, breads and other goodies. Families then join in on the fun for a special afternoon snack.

Department of Labor, Washington, DC

Department of Labor Child Development Center celebrated a fall festival.  The playground was transformed into a pumpkin patch.  The children picked pumpkins played with sensory pumpkins filled with colored macaroni, the children jumped in leaf pits, took hayrides, and the event ended with a dance party.  

Drop, Cover and Hold On

Green Tree Early Childhood Center located in Seattle, WA  joined millions of people worldwide to practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On during Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.  Staff and children found their safe places throughout the facility.  The center uses the Great ShakeOut to talk to children about emergency preparedness.

For more information on the Great Shakeout and what to do in the event of an earthquake visit: www.shakeout.org

Board Business: Celebrate by Networking

The season of celebrations can also be the busiest time of year for many. This is especially true for volunteer Board members in the world of GSA Child Care.  How can you find time to do it all? Many boards find networking to be an effective and efficient timesaver.  Networking comes in many forms, including:

• Participating in the GSA Child Care Quarterly Board Networking calls.  Invitations are sent by e-mail. Contact your GSA Regional Child Program Manager to receive an invitation.
• Participating in the GSA Child Care Facebook group.  If you would like to join, enter “Federal Child Care Center Boards” in the Facebook search field. Click on the link to request access. We will verify and add you to the group.
• E-mailing questions to GSA Child Care. With your permission, we will tap into our network and share information with all our Board contacts throughout the country.  Using this approach, we compiled a list of companies that offer Directors and Officers (D & O ) insurance, as well as shared Board recruitment materials.
• Requesting a “Buddy Board”.  Let us know if you are interested in matching up  with a Board similar to yours. Your two organizations can establish your own network and share information more informally.

When you have questions or need a resource, go ahead and tap into the GSA Child Care network. Know other organizations like yours exist and together you can brainstorm and learn from each other. So if you want to spend more time celebrating and less time re-inventing the wheel, make a New Year’s resolution for your Board to network, network, network!