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The WCSS office is still closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and in compliance with NC's extended Phase 3 order. |
- Download the free SlowCOVIDNC exposure notification app
- Find tips for calming anxiety and stress for children and adults
- Get kid-friendly distractions through virtual art, storytimes, and active play activities
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It is election season, and you may be discussing elections, voting, or civic and community involvement in your classrooms. It's understandable with so many signs and commercials around!
As early childhood educators, how can we demonstrate positive leadership? How can we prepare our children and families for their own leadership roles?
Often, the most effective way we lead is by example. Administrators can lead by modeling "an organizational culture that welcomes family partnerships." When families are included in program decision-making, they are more engaged and know their voices are important.
In the classroom, teachers and assistants model leadership with their own management style. "Many parents want to be involved in their child’s education but may lack the confidence and knowledge to do so effectively." As a teachers, you can help introduce families to the lingo and milestones you use. A parent who is comfortable speaking with their child's teacher is a powerful ally for their child's future.
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Finally, how can we include our children in leadership engagement? Using the concept of gratitude, an excellent leadership trait, try teaching each of these four elements and asking families to participate in weekly discussions at home:
- What we NOTICE in our lives for which we can be grateful
- How we THINK about why we have been given those things
- How we FEEL about the things we have been given
- What we DO to express appreciation in return
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For the home - content provided by our partner: |
Family Engagement & Leadership |
Children often build leadership skills based on interactions that occur early in their lives. There are many ways to involve your children in activities that cultivate family engagement and leadership. These activities may naturally lead to your children taking on more leadership roles as well as other positive benefits.
An activity to encourage family engagement within the community could be as simple as creating a community storybook. Discuss who and where your community is. Explore your community and let your children draw important landmarks like your home, their friends' homes, or where their favorite tree is at the park. Display the storybook in a public area and let your child serve the role of "tour guide" of the community. They'll build leadership as they describe their drawings and photos of landmarks to visitors.
A way to demonstrate leadership in action is taking your children to visit a local church to see how a religious leader leads a congregation. Also introduce them to local town officials, firefighters, or police and comparing their different roles in the community. This can cement critical ideas about leadership and show how diverse the community is.
Activities that can seem simple on the surface can offer profound benefits. Having your child have the role of "supply manager" provides them responsibility of distributing supplies for dinner or a car trip. As the "line leader," let your child take on the responsibility of guiding others.
Within the context of today's election, it is vital that your children understand the importance of leaders. It takes little effort and the effects of involving a child in leadership roles at an early age are undeniable.
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Wake Connections is a one-stop coordinated intake system for families in Wake County. One click gets you connected to HIPPY and other Wake Connections programs. |
Change the Future for Your Child - Online! |
Wake Pre-K: the way to grow, learn, and play!
The Wake Pre-K Application Center is your link to free, safe, and fun Pre-K options for your child... and now you can apply ONLINE!
If your child turned 4 by August 31, 2020, you can apply for Pre-K now! One online application will connect you to Wake County's public Pre-K programs.
Pre-K: what your child learns here lasts a lifetime!
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Featured Book: What Can a Citizen Do?
Written by: Dave Eggers
Illustrated by: Shawn Harris
Highlights: This is a book about what citizenship - good citizenship - means to you and to us all. Across the course of several seemingly unrelated but ultimately connected actions by different children, we watch how kids turn a lonely island into a community - and watch a journey from what the world should be to what the world could be.
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Wake County Public Library Programming: Check out the WCPL Storytime Anytime! coloring pages and share your art! Tag your local library on social media with the hashtag #storytimeanytime!
Literacy Tip: Make a favorite family meal list and vote for your favorite to have on a special day.
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Want FREE books for your child under 5? Join the Imagination Library today! |
Each month we celebrate the child care facilities that have recently obtained or retained a five star rating!
Congratulations to:
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It's fall, and that means it's gourd season! You can find pumpkins and squashes of all kinds now, and they are good for more than just decoration.
Bring the season to your table with butternut squash fries!
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Visit CCSA's training calendar for all upcoming events.
Note: ITS-SIDS is now available virtually until 1/30/2021.
A.S.K. Conference
February 20 - 25, 2021
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach: 12 Principles of Effective Teaching
November 10, 6:30 - 8pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Be Active Kids: Digging into the Components
November 12, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Grief & Loss in Young Children
November 19, 3:30 - 5:30pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Enhancing Outdoor Play
November 19, 6 - 7:30pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Measuring Early Childhood Leadership & Management
November 20, 1 - 2pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach: 12 Principles of Effective Teaching
December 1, 6:30 - 8pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Emergency Preparedness & Response in Child Care
December 3, 6 - 8:30pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
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As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, give yourself time for patience and self-care.
For adults:
Non-Prescription Ways to Fight Anxiety
- Meditate
- Clench your muscles
- Find something that grounds you
- Move your body
For families:
Make Expressing Gratitude a Ritual
- Take turns at dinner sharing one awesome thing from your day.
- At bedtime, say three things you appreciate about each other.
- In the car play a game where you say all the things you love (color, food, movie, hobby, school class, sport, song, etc.).
- Every Sunday share one nice thing you will do for someone this week.
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Did you know WCSS is a nonprofit and relies on support from members of our community like you? Visit our website today to see how you can make a difference for each child, in every community in Wake County. |
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Questions? Contact us today 919-851-9550 |
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