Welcome to this year’s A to Z Challenge! This year I’m talking Child Care. I’ll be blogging topics related to my many years in the family home daycare profession. I hope you can find a tidbit of information that is useful in caring for children whether you’re a parent, grand or another important person in a child’s life. And to end each post, I’ll share a bit of my creative side/relaxation time. Taking time for yourself is good for your health–both yours and your family’s 😉
As a regular practice in early childhood, teaching self-help skills is a very important part of kindergarten readiness. I’ll give you an example. The use of a regular drinking cup (not sippy cups) is a big boost to a child’s self-esteem as well as great way to master some eye-hand coordination. Warning: if they haven’t stopped throwing that sippy cup, you might want to hold off a bit. There’s no sense in stressing out you or anyone else in harm’s way. Trust me when I say the liquid can reach unknown destinations! Also, Do Not Turn Your Back. They are watching you. You better believe it!
A couple extra points to ponder in your cup usage is to have plenty available and have a decent dishwasher that can sanitize those viruses away. Simply handwashing is ok if you do it correctly, with the correct bleach formula and if you have room for them to air dry. These are licensing rules you’ll need to read up on in your own state’s manual. Local health may also dictate that you only dry on a rack and not on a cloth towel or drying mat. (happened to me)
If you are having one of those days, coffee can be your go to for that mental flash of escape. The caffeine can do the body good. I know your doctor may not recommend too much for health reasons, but there’s always decaf or hot teas with health benefits. Have your own mug just for a ‘moment’ to stop and regroup after the 10th time in 30 seconds that you hear the word “MINE”.
Party cups can bring a little fun to the atmosphere. Paper 3 oz cups make great ‘win-it-in-a-minute stackers and the large fast food plastic cups can be saved, sanitized and used for bowling games. Hide the ping pong ball under 3 cups for a great attention-getter or when you are needing to transistion to new activities. And play cups are not only good for tea parties, but learning to balance on saucers in relay games. Also fill and dump activities using those larger cups we all have way too many of are great with pom poms or cotton balls. Really, just use what you have and even salsas and dips in cups give a little extra treat atmosphere, especially when you want to reward children for an exceptional good day.
Yesterday I decided to jump on the wagon and make some masks. Yesterday’s count was 9. Today I’ll be making some more. The following were sent off to Wichita, Kansas to some good friends. They have April birthdays, so what better way to send a birthday wish during this pandemic?! Thanks to Lacartera for sharing this pattern on Instagram! I’m sure many others are going to want do their part with this contribution so check out her video on Instagram.
You’ll need fabric, 1/4 inch elastic, tape measure, thread and your machine. 
In case you’ve forgotten,…..
The Chiefs Are SuperBowl Champs!!
Hope you’ll take time to check out other A to Z blogs in the month on April. Click here to find the list. Click here for the Official A to Z blog. Have a great Friday and stay safe!!
Katy Trail Creations 
Making masks is a great way to help with what we have on hand. But as you said, these are not medical devices, only for the ones who stay away from ill people.
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In our opinion people around here need a visual reminder to keep the 6 feet distance. These can be that clue for those who don’t take this serious. We, sadly, have a significant amount of people who don’t.
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The Chiefs, I get. The Detroit Tigers, not so sure. Maybe the fabric was on sale? I agree that the masks are a good visual reminder of what is going on. I don’t get out that much but have noticed more masks in public this week.
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lol I appreciate the curiosity 😉 The recipient is a Detroit native and her fiance is the Chiefs fan. Actually both are Chiefs fans, along with this household I might add. Let us hope the visual reminder does the trick. Thanks for dropping in!
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My strongest memory of sippy cups is when they would roll under the seats in the car without us realizing it and we’d find them days later when the spoiled milk smell began to overwhelm. I don’t miss those moments. Your masks came out great. I’m sure your friends will appreciate the gift. Weekends In Maine
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Ug! Spoiled milk is the worst. And I hate cleaning a sippy from another child’s household that has never removed the silicone insert like Ever! You would really be surprised at how many I’ve seen like this. Somehow they think a dishwasher gets in the crevices. Not! Thanks for the mask compliment 🙂
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That would drive my husband crazy. He’s extremely good at taking everything apart before putting it into the dishwasher including those silicone inserts. While we don’t have sippy cups anymore, we have them infor our reusable glass storage containers and things like that.
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Long before the fancy filtered masks there were cloth masks that were boiled, sanitized, autoclaved.
I think they are practical and even if they cut the germs by half that could still save a life.
I wish I could sew I would love to make some for friends.
Coffee – what would we do without it when we need a wakeup call?
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How quickly these things are forgotten. Thanks! Fun fact is my coffee maker broke during this pandemic and I had to retrieve the 4cup brewer from the camper. Gotta love ingenuity 😉
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I New York State, everyone is now being asked to wear a cloth mask when outside as it helps prevent spread of C19, particularly by asymptomatic individuals. A nurse friend of mine suggested this weeks ago, so I also sewed some up for emergency grocery store visits. I did the pocket pattern and stuffed it with acrylic batting. All are washable in hot water.
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I guess there’s a shortage of 1/4 inch elastic now with so many masks being needed. I had luckily ordered a big spool last year for a particular craft project that didn’t pan out as I’d hoped. Who knew it was going to be such a popular commodity?! I have acquired a list of those needing them here now too with the CDC’s recent update on wearing them outside. Not sure how long that spool will last?
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There is always creating bias tape with the same fabric, but it’s more of a challenge.
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Definitely know how to make bias tape. Quilting has taught me that 👍🏻
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At the child care center where I work, everything goes through the commercial dishwasher to be sanitized. Only my little nugs get sippy cups, though. Once they graduate to the 2-3 year old class, they get regular cups! We keep water cups filled for all kids in all classes that have their names taped on them (and each child also has a symbol that goes with them through the different classes to help them recognize their own cup), so they can have water any time they need a drink.
When I made masks, I didn’t want to pay extra for licensed images, so ours are pretty plain, but CHIEFS KINGDOM! (I call Patrick Mahomes my future son-in-law.)
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We have a good dishwasher but some things melt. lol We used to use labeled water bottles but I’m rethinking that since this pandemic. I am wondering about if someone drinks from the wrong one, passes on germs, etc. Also not sure what the state rules will say on the subject. I bet things will be addressed so guess I’ll wait and see what happens.
I have this tshirt that is from Kansas that says, Oh Give Me a Home with a buffalo above it. I get so many double takes as I think they read Mahomes into it. lol And we do love our Chiefs round here!! I am happy to say I’m not a bandwagon fan. Loyal Royal fan too. 🙂
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