Mother's Den

Parent's Be Aware!! Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) Throat & B***y Blisters...is going around. It's already CONFIRMED in other child care programs.

So, please be aware of when you go shopping, visiting play places, parks, and other places that children frequent...as they may encounter this disease unknowing.

HFMD is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!!!

The virus can spread to others through an infected person’s
> Nose and throat secretions, such as saliva, drool, or nasal mucus
> Fluid from blisters or scabs
> F***s (p**p)

Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease often include:
> Fever
> Reduced appetite
> Sore throat
> Feeling unwell
> Painful mouth sores that usually begin as flat red spots
> Rash of flat red spots that may blister on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the knees, elbows, buttocks, and/or ge***al area
> HFMD is most commonly an illness of the summer and fall seasons
> Initial symptoms of mild fever (101 F-102 F) and malaise are followed within one or two days by a characteristic skin rash
> Small (2 mm-3 mm) red spots that quickly develop into small blisters (vesicles) appear on the palms, soles, and oral cavity
> Symptoms usually appear 3 to 7 days after coming into contact with someone with the disease

What to Expect:
> Running Nose
> Cough
> Fever lasts 2 or 3 days
> Diarrhea (will shed in f***l matter for 10-15 days...wear gloves!)
> Mouth sores should go away by 7 days
> Rash on the hands and feet lasts 10 days with oozing open sores
> Sometimes children and adults experience their fingernails peeling off about a week after the virus passes.

HFMD is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!!! There is no specific treatment for HFMD. It's viral so no antibiotics will help it. You can only treat the fever. The symptoms are usually mild and children usually recover well as their own immune system fights off the virus in about a week or so. Encourage hydration.

Children will be excluded with a fever, rash, oozing sores, and as long as their unable to tolerate food due to sore throat. Once the fever has subsided for more than 24 hours and there are no oozing sores

Please NOTE: Mother's Den does not accept doctor's notes for returning to group care. Your doctor is not running this program, and I have to mitigate exposure to other children in group care.

If a positive case of HFMD is suspected and/or confirmed, Mother's Den will close for deep cleaning and sanitation. The child will be excluded from care. All returning children will go through health checks upon drop-off, any signs of HFMD symptoms will be excluded on the spot.



&TB

There is so much evidence-based research telling us about the impacts of screens’ on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Per regulations, 16.55.190
(C) Screen viewing time, including TV, computers, and hand-held devices is prohibited for children under the age of two years.
(D) For children two years and older, screen viewing time, including TV, computers, and hand-held devices, shall:
(D 1) Be limited to no more than one hour in a 24-hour period, except for special occasions; and
(D 2) Be for physical or educational use that is specifically designed for the interest and benefit of the child.
(E) Children shall not be required to participate in screen viewing activities. Alternative activities shall be offered as an option for children during such times.

Here the is a good article on the brain research evidence on screen use with young children. https://netpsychology.org/screen-time-and-child-development/.

Our next Professional Development training is through EarlyEdU with the University of Washington. I am registered to take "Guiding Child Behavior: Foundations and Context "is a course for those working with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers who want practical strategies, are open to reflection and feedback, and want to improve social-emotional development while reducing challenging behavior.

A practice‑based introduction to Positive Behavior Support grounded in the Teaching Pyramid. Explore core ideas and use strategies that support relationships, create positive settings, and strengthen SEL (Social-Emotional Learning).

This is a self-paced 45-hour course that I will focus on after my CDA Credential is complete but must be completed before September 30th.


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Parent often want to know phrases that I am saying so they can use them as well. Here is one of Mama Bear’s Words of Wisdom.

“It’s okay to be Mad. It’s NOT okay to be Mean.”

I remind children that it’s okay to have big feelings and to feel their feelings. But when those big feeling are so big that we hurt our friends then that is not okay. My job is to keep my friends safe. I will not let my friends hurt each other. And in our classroom, we are all friends…NOT bullies!

Friendship is a skill that children learn. It is up to every adult to model good relationships skills…after all…YOUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING AND LEARNING FROM YOU TOO!

for the week of Monday, May 25th thru Saturday, May 30th.

Mark Your Calendar for Friday, June 5th closure.

After months on work on my Professional Portfolio…a new version that had to be uploaded to the CDA Council, not just a binder, I am finally scheduled for my exam! I should have done this years ago…but with my education background, I never did. Now…I am going through the process and it’s was work! And a good experience that I will be able to use to support and mentor other early care educator going through the process later!

Next is the exam, verification visitor by an observer, and interview. It’s going to be a busy month of June!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Mother’s Den will be closed in honor of the Memorial Day Holiday at the close of business on Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25th. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26th.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend in remembrance of those we have lost. God Bless

School is out for the Summer! Summer Break starts for the Anchorage School District on Thursday May 21st. We have room for two new friends this summer. Will you join us?!

Learning doesn’t stop just because it’s summer in Alaska! On the contrary…we become explorers, bug catchers, dinosaur hunters, rock climber, sand castles builders, bike riding, caterpillars climbing, running around kicking balls and chasing each other and simply bring who we are meant to be…kids!

That’s what summer is all about!

Celebrating this little man’s 2nd birthday that he had over the weekend with friends at school with Birthday Pancakes topped Birthday Bunny sprinkles! Since he is just turning two (2), the candle was not lite for safety reasons as he would most likely reach for the flame. We don’t want that! But the candle is making an appearance because it is his birthday!

Happy SECOND birthday to the youngest in our group!