Coordinator Corner

I was going to write about the value of slowing down and taking time this holiday season to just spend time with our children. Mary Dodd, our Chief Knowledge Officer, wrote a beautiful article on that very topic for the Cortez Journal, so we will include that here and I will share a holiday acrostic poem instead.
 
Songs like Jingle Bells are on every one’s lips
Eyes twinkle with wonder at the lovely sights
As children await Christmas day filled with glee
Silly behaviors will surely happen as they get into the spirit
Only how many days? Oh…. So many - The countdown is on.
Nostalgia overcomes many as they remember Christmases past
So take time to connect with loved ones- both near and far.
 
Girls and boys all wait and wonder “what they’ll get”
Remember reading and spending time are most treasured gifts
Eating meals together and holiday baking are times to connect
Elves are on shelves helping out ol’ St. Nick.
Traditions are important for all of our children
Invent some new ones together – it’s fun to create!
New friends and old – MECC appreciates you all!
Good tidings to you all this holiday season
So many things to be grateful for-thanks for being part of our work!
 
Happy Holidays from Vangi and all the MECC staff

 
 

 

Meet a MECC Member:
Missy Valdez

I have been in Early Childhood for 13 years. I began teaching at Teddy Bear Preschool, and took the Site Director position at High Desert Early Head Start in July 2013. I enjoy being director, because I love being able to help support not only the infants and toddlers and their families but also supporting my teachers and staff. Transitioning from preschool to Early Head Start has been a big learning curve but it is so awesome seeing how quick the infants and toddlers develop…sometimes it seems overnight. We are currently the only center in our area that is offering the Continuity of Care model at our center. Our mixed age classroom has children who range in age from 6 weeks to 3 years old. This model provides them with safe, loving and consistent caregivers before transitioning to preschool. One of the greatest feelings I have had of working in Early Childhood is this past spring; my son graduating from high school and his classmates are the children/young adults I started with at Teddy Bear Preschool.

I have lived in Montezuma County my entire life. Starting my education at Por Dia Preschool and graduating from MCHS. I am married and have three children, Keesha, Deano and Nickolas. I also have one grandson Taylor who is 3 years old. Some of my favorite things are watching my boys wrestle, camping, fishing, reading, photography and walking my dog Willie.

Meet a Provider:
Brianna Dunn


I am 29 I have two young boys, a niece that visits us on school breaks and a wonderful husband. I have lived in Cortez my entire life and enjoy our little community.
     
I got into EC because it fit in with our family's life, schedule, and goals at the time. I found that I really fit in this exciting, new, and busy world of preschool. I began to take classes out at PCC and plan on going until I receive my associates degree.
       
I love this job because the students at this age are so willing and excited to learn new things. This shows especially on our Mad Science Mondays; where they get to explore many new things and even share their hypotheses with the class (and yes they do know what that word means and use it correctly in our classroom) To see their eyes light up when you drop the vinegar in the baking soda or the wonder on their faces when you make "snow" out of baking soda and shaving cream! I get a thrill out of watching the wheels turn in their heads as they try to problem solve and seeing the "light bulb" go on when they figure it out! Somewhere along the line they lose that curiosity and excitement for learning. I want to be the person that inspires them to look further and maybe that will stay with them through their education.
       
My favorite books are The Old Lady Who Swallowed a....series. Right now the staple in our classroom is The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell.
 

Give The Gift That Lasts A Lifetime
By Mary Dodd

Trying to find the perfect gifts for your children? Thinking ahead about your New Year’s resolutions? Local early childhood professionals know exactly what your kids want for the holidays – no presents but your presence! (Well, to be fair, they probably want a couple of presents, too.) And we know what they’d like you to promise to do in the New Year – give them your undivided attention for some time every day.
 
In our fast-paced, increasingly-digital daily lives, the basic needs of young children can get easily overlooked. You may promise yourself, “Tomorrow I’ll sit down and play/read/be with Johnny.” But tomorrow never comes and each day lost will have a lasting impact on every aspect of your child’s life, from relationships, development, school and life success, to happiness. So slow down, cancel the shopping trip to the toy store, and most importantly, turn off your digital devices when sharing time with your kids. What to do instead? Make memories, deepen your relationship, have fun, cherish the moments that add up to a lifetime. You probably have plenty of ideas about how to go about this, but we’ll share a few.
 
“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” Everyone’s favorite doctor, (Dr. Seuss) said it best, and we know from research that reading daily to babies beginning in infancy has lifelong impacts on their development in all areas. More importantly, it builds and deepens their relationship with you, and benefits your health, too, by causing your brain to make more of the feel-good hormones and less of the stress hormones. Your child’s healthcare provider probably prescribes books as part of Reach Out and Read; your local children’s librarian can make book recommendations, as can a local early childhood professional.
 
“Just play!” Let your inner goofy child out and play with your kids every day. You don’t need expensive toys to have fun playing – as a matter of fact, finding every day items to use as props helps your kids be creative and imaginative. The most important things to remember about play are to let your child be the leader, that play is not testing for knowledge (“Show me the square,”), and that play should be fun. Don’t forget to be silly.
 
Sing, dance, make music and art with your kids. Keep in mind that, although these activities will help kids develop skills in many areas like math, problem-solving, language, creativity, and movement, the primary goal is enjoyment for all.  Don’t worry about the mess – kids will be more helpful with clean up if they had fun first.
 
Go on a nature walk to find bugs, rocks, sticks, and other interesting natural objects. Make angels in the snow (if we get any this winter), splash in mud puddles, bundle up and go outside to admire our dark night skies.
 
Share family conversation during at least one meal a day (no TV) and talk about all the great things you’re doing together every day. This will cement the activities into their memories to last a lifetime, strengthen your family ties, build values, and help your kids grow into successful, happy, thoughtful, productive people.
 
For more ideas and suggestions, visit the Montelores Early Childhood Council’s website at www.monteloresecc.org; attend a MECC Family Night (click the Events button on the Home page); sign up for our e-newsletter; ask your child’s health care provider, early childhood teacher, and children’s librarian; and be creative. Our best wishes for a loving holiday season and a fun New Year!

For Parents and Providers