Building Strong Children:

Building Strong Children: One Block at a Time consists of fourteen chapters, an introduction and a resource website that can be used by child care educators, parents and teachers. Each lesson was designed to support research of the five developmental domains.

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This free book provides guidelines for establishing a quality childcare business. The book has information in writing a business plan, obtaining a business license, resources and contact information for establishing a licensed childcare business.

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Young children ages 3, 4, and 5 are developing a sense of self-awareness that shapes their self-concept. Their self-concept or self-identity is the mental picture they have of themselves in relationship to the world around them. As preschoolers become self-aware, they will discover the awareness of their bodies and recognize similar and different characteristics between themselves and others.

Children are experiencing more diversity in the world in which they live - family structure, religious beliefs and friends who may look different in size, skin color and physical abilities. Their exposure to cultural diversity is ever present in today's world.

Stories are a child's first introduction to reading and literature. A positive experience can create a love of reading that will last a lifetime. Select age appropriate books with a positive message and bright, colorful pictures. Have books readily available for a child to enjoy and teach them to respect and care for them.

Puppets have long provided entertainment for young and old alike. Puppetry is now probably more familiar through television than live performance, but it still flourishes throughout the world. Children who have difficulty with expression and feeling find security in projecting themselves into another character. Creativity and interest develop as children are allowed to express themselves through dramatization with puppet characters.

There are many different types of puppets. They can range in complexity from the very simple finger puppet to a detailed marionette puppet. When used correctly, all can be used effectively in storytelling.

Finger plays are valuable activities that help children acquire skills essential to their development and learning. Finger plays help improve and advance memory and language skills, while also aiding in the development of hand-eye coordination and enhancing gross and fine motor skills.

Music is the universal language that promotes reading, creativity, and comprehension skills in children. Music and rhythms are found in every culture throughout the world. Music can come in many forms. Listening to music will help children understand rhythm and use physical activities to learn motor skills. Children notice patterns of words and use this knowledge to master language. It has been shown that children develop faster socially, mentally, and even physically when exposed to music in their early childhood.

Children love to move! However, they need encouragement, instructions, and practice to develop motor skills. Children develop motor skills by learning different movement skills. Being outdoors is great, but there are times when outdoor play is not possible. Children need indoor activities that will help build their gross and fine motor skills.

Outdoor activities expand the world for children and give them space for movement experiences. Preschoolers can use the outdoors to practice a variety of movements; they can coordinate body movements with visual information, and roll, throw, catch, strike, or kick a ball. Preschoolers can also dance, bike, jump rope, swim, run, or walk briskly. Being outside allows them to explore the world in which they live.

Children have a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. Children are highly engaged when they have the opportunity to explore. They create strong and enduring mental representations of what they have experienced in investigating the everyday world. They acquire the vocabulary to describe and share these mental representations and the concepts that evolve from them. Children then rely on the mental representations as the basis for further learning. A child's focus is on finding out how things work. Science in the classroom is not a complicated process; it is an activity that occurs normally in the classroom as students explore blocks, art, dramatic play, or search the outdoors.

During the first five years of life, the way in which children are fed - or not fed - not only affects their physical health but also has profound consequences for their emotional and social development. The goals of the feeding relationship between adult and child are to promote the health of the child while at the same time establish feelings of safety, security, and attachment.

Children are curious and believe the world to be their playground. They often do not understand the dangers and rules you may set. There is no guarantee that a play area is truly "safe." It is your job to keep it safe by being observant and never leaving children unattended. Children's behavior is often unpredictable and young children are not ready to make safe decisions without your help.

The amount of supervision depends on the age of the child or children. Children ages two to six need constant supervision during play. They are slowly developing muscle and balance while also learning about spatial relationships and how to solve problems. Keep careful watch as they explore their environment.

Allowing a child to participate in art is a fun way to let them explore the development of their creativity. "Art" can encompass a variety of different things. Whether the project be an outdoor mud pie, or a writing utensil on a blank sheet of paper, a child is able to create a unique masterpiece - something of which they can be proud. Let children get involved and be creative whenever the opportunities arise.

Giving a child an outlet for all types of play is an important piece to their development. Allowing a child to be outside and explore nature is one way to encourage positive growing experiences. Offering quiet books, busy bags and other small toys can help a child explore their world in a different way than is offered by outdoor play. Both types of play are of equal importance.