A is for Apple

A new law has prohibited infant walkers from being "used or be present in a child care program." This regulation went into effect last month.

Read more about the OCFS announcement here: https://voicecsea.org/2026/04/02/new-law-prohibits-infant-walkers-in-child-care-programs/

Rural Families Still Without Child Care Assistance 7 Months Later, Despite Hochul’s Child Care Push

This is the fifth installment of Health on the Margins, Radio Catskill’s limited series on the region’s fragile health care systems.

After leaving an abusive relationship, Monticello resident Deborah Ocasio built a new life with the help of Sullivan County’s child care assistance program. But when that program paused last summer, everything changed.

She’s now rationing gas to get to work, putting off groceries, and questioning whether she can afford to stay in the area.

Ocasio is one of many. While New York expanded child care eligibility in 2023, funding didn’t keep pace with demand. By the end of 2025, 34 counties — including Sullivan — had frozen new applications.

Daycares are also under pressure. One local center has a waitlist of up to 40 children. Infant care can cost over $21,000 a year in New York. And in many parts of the state, there aren’t enough daycare slots to meet demand.

Governor Hochul’s latest budget proposal aims to fix that. But some parents say change isn’t coming fast enough to help their kids now.

Read and listen:
https://wjffradio.org/rural-families-still-without-child-care-assistance-7-months-later-despite-hochuls-child-care-push/

Arts and Crafts Aftercare School age aftercare program with an arts and craft focus. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Summer Art Camp Summer Art Camp will be multi media FUN! Ages 6-16 welcome. Openings are 9:00am - 3:00pm, Monday/Wednesday/Friday ($160/wk) or Tuesday/Thursday ($110/wk) or sign up for all week ($250/wk). 10% discount for second sibling. 15% discount for third+ sibling.

Do you need an after/no school program for your Cairo-Durham School District child? Do you want something that will allow them to be creative? I am offering aftercare that will allow children to freely create works of art or crafts as they like and I supply the materials and a snack, in a safe environment and supportive environment.

$10/hour (3 hour max/day) or $90/week (maximum of 12 hours)

PM me if you have any questions.

(Available for full days/weeks for closures, breaks and summer as well. $40/day. Must arrange in advance, privately, as spots are very limited.)

Sign up for my available slots at…

Arts and Crafts Aftercare School age aftercare program with an arts and craft focus. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Looking for aftercare with a creative twist? Look no further! Our after-school art program is the perfect solution for parents who want their child to have a fun and enriching experience after the school day ends.

Our instructor will provide a variety of artistic activities for your child to explore, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and more. Your child will learn new skills and techniques while expressing their unique creativity and vision.

Our aftercare program runs until 5:30pm and includes a school bus stop for your convenience. Plus, our fun and supportive environment is the perfect place for your child to make new friends and build their social skills.

Enroll your child in our after-school art program and give them the opportunity to explore their creativity while enjoying a safe and supervised aftercare experience. Sign up today!

Arts and Crafts Aftercare School age aftercare program with an arts and craft focus. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Currently we do not have any full time or part time openings for infants/toddlers.

At this time, we are offering a school age program for children that would like to practice making art (including painting, drawing, digital and more) and crafts.

To sign up for any aftercare slot this month, please go to

Arts and Crafts Aftercare School age aftercare program with an arts and craft focus. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Holiday event calendar for Greene County

CALENDAR

“I am 2. I am not terrible…I am frustrated. I am nervous, stressed out, overwhelmed, and confused. I need a hug.”

From the diary of a 2-year-old:

Today I woke up and wanted to get dressed by myself but was told “No, we don’t have time, let me do it.”

This made me sad.

I wanted to feed myself for breakfast but was told,
“No, you’re too messy, let me do it for you.”

This made me feel frustrated.

I wanted to walk to the car and get in on my own but was told, “No, we need to get going, we don’t have time. Let me do it.”

This made me cry.

I wanted to get out of the car on my own but was told “No, we don’t have time, let me do it.”

This made me want to run away.

Later I wanted to play with blocks but was told “no, not like that, like this…”

I decided I didn’t want to play with blocks anymore. I wanted to play with a doll that someone else had, so I took it. I was told “No, don’t do that! You have to share.”

I’m not sure what I did, but it made me sad. So I cried. I wanted a hug but was told “No, you’re fine, go play”.

I’m being told it’s time to pick up. I know this because someone keeps saying, “Go pick up your toys.”

I am not sure what to do, I am waiting for someone to show me.

“What are you doing? Why are you just standing there? Pick up your toys, now!”

I was not allowed to dress myself or move my own body to get to where I needed to go, but now I am being asked to pick things up.

I’m not sure what to do. Is someone supposed to show me how to do this? Where do I start? Where do these things go? I am hearing a lot of words but I do not understand what is being asked of me. I am scared and do not move.

I lay down on the floor and cry.

When it was time to eat I wanted to get my own food but was told “no, you’re too little. Let me do it.”

This made me feel small. I tried to eat the food in front of me but I did not put it there and someone keeps saying “Here, try this, eat this…” and putting things in my face.

I didn’t want to eat anymore. This made me want to throw things and cry.

I can’t get down from the table because no one will let me…because I’m too small and I can’t. They keep saying I have to take a bite. This makes me cry more. I’m hungry and frustrated and sad. I’m tired and I need someone to hold me. I do not feel safe or in control. This makes me scared. I cry even more.

I am 2. No one will let me dress myself, no one will let me move my own body where it needs to go, no one will let me attend to my own needs.

However, I am expected to know how to share, “listen”, or “wait a minute”. I am expected to know what to say and how to act or handle my emotions. I am expected to sit still or know that if I throw something it might break….But, I do NOT know these things.

I am not allowed to practice my skills of walking, pushing, pulling, zipping, buttoning, pouring, serving, climbing, running, throwing or doing things that I know I can do. Things that interest me and make me curious, these are the things I am NOT allowed to do.

I am 2. I am not terrible…I am frustrated. I am nervous, stressed out, overwhelmed, and confused. I need a hug.

*edited to add: I have finally identified the author! Thank you, Dejah Roman for your POWERFUL words*

AAP updates breastfeeding guidelines for first time in a decade The AAP says breastmilk provides significant health benefits to babies.