Doodle Bugs! Children's Centers Blog

Doodle Bugs! Friday Five

May 25, 2012

Take a peek at what our Doodle Bugs! were up to this week and enjoy the Holiday weekend!

Playing soccer at Cheektowaga

Enjoying a tea party at Penfield

Taking a plane ride at West Amherst

The “Cinderella Ball” at Lancaster

Sharing a good book at Henrietta

Doodle Bugs! Team Tuesday: Issue #111

May 22, 2012

In today’s edition of Team Tuesday, we’re proud to feature our Clarence center!

Over the weekend, faculty members from the Clarence center participated in the ‘Great Strides: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis’ walk at Island Walk Park in Williamsville.

This is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraising event, and gives everyone in Western New York a chance to support a foundation that is making a huge difference in increasing awareness, raising money for research & education, and extending the quality of life for those with CF.

“We had such an amazing time this weekend at the walk,” says Clarence Center Director’s Assistant, Stephanie Davis. “We love getting out in the community and supporting such a good cause. It makes us closer as a team, too, which is really important.”

Thank you, Team Clarence, for sharing your time and enthusiasm with our community – it is truly a better place because you CARE!

Doodle Bugs! Standard of the Week: 05/21/12

May 21, 2012

This week’s SOTW reminds teachers that their body language sends a strong message.

Use your cameras to see what parents see on WMG (Watch Me Grow). Do you see teachers at children’s level or towering over them? Smiling or frowning? Arms crossed or open? Happy or hostile?

To support this SOTW, we also sent Centers and teacher’s a great Exchange article that focuses on how children see us. Please read and share with your team!

The SOTW will be posted for parents to see, in the faculty lounge, and placed in each classroom’s mailslot. As always, we appreciate your ongoing attention to the doodle details.

View the current SOTW as a .pdf here: 052112_Body Language

Exchange article: ARTICLE- Seeing How Children See Us

Doodle Bugs! Friday Five

May 18, 2012

Passing out beverages to teachers at Cheektowaga

This week we celebrated our incredible teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, enjoyed the great outdoors and continued our TKD & Doodle Dance Recitals!

Enjoying some kickball outside at East Amherst

TKD Recitals at West Amherst

TKD at the Penfield Center

Painting outside at Webster

Doodle Bugs! Team Tuesday: Issue #110

May 15, 2012

Jennifer Jordan, Two Years

Lead Toddler Teacher, Penfield Center

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers … with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.” – Carl Jung

Families who have had the pleasure of participating in Jen’s classroom express their tremendous gratitude for Jen’s warmth. Her kindness touches their hearts and eases their minds, evidence of her natural talent for working with young children.

Jen welcomes each day with a positive, proactive attitude, embracing the Doodle Bugs! mission and with a commitment to continuous improvement. Everyone appreciates that Jen always has a smile on her face and the children’s best interests at heart.

Thank you, Jen, for sharing your experience and enthusiasm with our team. The doodle community is a better place because you CARE!

Doodle Bugs! Standard of the Week: 05/14/12

May 14, 2012

This week’s SOTW remind teachers to actively supervise outdoor play.

Specifically:

‘Arm’s reach supervision’ helps to prevent injuries. This means that teachers place themselves strategically, so that children are literally within arm’s reach — a teacher standing near a slide or other piece of equipment naturally encourages childrent to use the equipment safely.
‘Zone supervision’ is required. Teachers must separate to supervise every area of the playground being used.
Unless engaged in an activity, teachers should stand to supervise. This insures the quickest reaction times in the event of an accident or injury.
Children must use age-appropriate equipment. Do your teachers know which pieces are safe for each age group?

Adult’s attention and proximity to the children is essential for safe play. Where are the adults? Are they visiting each other or are they interacting with the children? Are they standing by the building or moving from child to child and group to group as children play? Can the adults reach the children quickly, or are they sitting down?

To keep your children safe, all of these questions must be addressed.

The SOTW will be posted for parents to see, in the faculty lounge, and placed in each classroom’s mailslot. As always, thank you for your attention to these important doodle details!

View the current SOTW as a .pdf here: PlaygroundSupervision

Doodle Bugs! Friday Five

May 11, 2012

This week at Doodle Bugs! we’ve enjoyed the beautiful weather outdoors, learned all about flowers & plants in our “Great Garden Theme” and celebrated an early Mother’s Day!

Celebrating Mother’s Day at Cheektowaga

Celebrating Mother’s Day at Orchard Park

Story time fun at Webster

Outdoor laughs at West Amherst

“Great Gardens Theme” at Lancaster

05/9/12 – Doodle Bugs! Victor Construction Update

May 9, 2012

Doodle Bugs! – 7383 State Route 96, Victor NY (May 9, 2012)

The crews are working on framing “DoodleVille,” our unique two-story play village … how exciting!

Doodle Bugs! Standard of the Week: 05/07/12

May 7, 2012

This week’s SOTW reminds team members that fresh drinking water must be available to children all day, every day, both indoors and outdoors.

‘Caring for our Children’ (considered the authority on best practices in child care) notes the following as rationale for why water must be always available:

RATIONALE: Encouraging children to learn to drink water in place of fruit drinks, soda, fruit nectars, or other sweetened drinks builds a beneficial habit. Drinking water during the day can reduce the extra caloric intake which is associated with overweight and obesity. Drinking water is good for a child’s hydration and reduces acid in the mouth that contributes to early childhood caries (cavities). Water needs to increase during times in which dehydration is a risk (e.g., hot summer days, during exercise and in dry days in winter).

It is also important to note that children who do not drink enough fluids may suffer problems with health, behavior and learning ability.

The SOTW will be posted for parents to see, in the faculty lounge, and placed in each classroom’s mailslot. As always, thank you for your attention to these important doodle details!

View the current SOTW as a .pdf here: Water