Welcome to Smallpond Childcare's website!

Welcome to Smallpond Childcare's website!
We are a small childcare home that is fully licensed by the State of Alaska. We strive to provide a warm and gentle environment for small children to explore and play. We believe that the best kind of learning happens when children are involved in the rhythms of the day and are given plenty of opportunities for ownership of their activities. We look forward to days filled with laughter, singing, bread baking, dancing, outside exploration, painting, play-dough, dress up, and books...lots and lots of books!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

First Friday!




Smallpond is hosting a "First Friday" Art opening from 5:30-6:30 to celebrate this summer's wonderful explosion of art at the Pond. Please join us!


Friday, September 2nd 5:30-6:30













Monday, August 15, 2011

Fall at the pond


Change is afoot at the pond. We're sad to see our big kids head back to school, but excited for our new friends joining us. We'll have a great batch of twos and threes and will be able to tailor our program a little bit more. Still a ton of art, and lots of outdoor play, baking and dress up!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Why so much art at the Pond?


Benefits of Arts Education

Source: Americans for the Arts, 2002

  • Stimulates and develops the imagination and critical thinking, and refines cognitive and creative skills.
  • Has a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the "learning field" across socio-economic boundaries.
  • Strengthens problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success.
  • Develops a sense of craftsmanship, quality task performance, and goal-setting—skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
  • Teaches children life skills such as developing an informed perception; articulating a vision; learning to solve problems and make decisions; building self-confidence and self-discipline; developing the ability to imagine what might be; and accepting responsibility to complete tasks from start to finish.
  • Nurtures important values, including team-building skills; respecting alternative viewpoints; and appreciating and being aware of different cultures and traditions.
  • Plays a central role in cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional development.
  • Motivates and engages children in learning, stimulates memory, facilitates understanding, enhances symbolic communication, promotes relationships, and provides an avenue for building competence.
  • Provides a natural source of learning. Child development specialists note that play is the business of young children; play is the way children promote and enhance their development. The arts are a most natural vehicle for play.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Welcome Rosana!


I am so happy to welcome Rosana to the Pond! She brings such a joyful energy and enthusiasm with her each morning and has begun to work her magic with wonderful art projects and a new garden plot ready to plant! (Thank you to Rosana's husband for coming to till up that unruly little corner of nettles and pushki) We look forward to an exciting summer with the pondlings!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Alder basket is complete!


The alder basket/play house/fort is finally complete in all its wonky glory! The kids have enjoyed pretending it's a jail, a fairy house, a giant spider, a campsite and who knows what else over the past week. I even overheard some older neighbor kids talking about how cool it was....


I'm totally inspired by this cool website Check it out!




The pond has been a lovely sunny space lately, here's a recent picture (without kids of course, notice how all the toys are on the shelves!) We've been busy baking, painting (fingerpainting is a new favorite), and growing our pea plants.

We're still looking to fill two full time spots for the summer, so if you hear of a need, pass them my way!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Meow!



Hooray for Hallie being back from Hawaii! Now I get to spend all my free time making lunches into kitties!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Outdoor playspace inspiration

I finally took the time to drive around back of Kachemak Kids to see their playspace and am now much inspired! I love the giant upside down alder basket and spent much of my Sunday chopping alder branches to start weaving my own. I'm also looking forward to building a sand/nature table for the yard and a small platform with slide (I'm completely ripping KK's playspace off, btw! Imitation is the best form of flattery, right?)

If you have any ideas or raw materials let me know....we'll be fencing the space once the ground thaws a bit more and I'm always on the lookout for small shovels, pails and balls!

Monday, March 28, 2011

A few updates, ideas, reminders and such

I was all ready to talk about the need to bring rubber boots and it up and snows! Go figure.
I do need to remind folks to bring good outdoor gear appropriate for whatever weather we are experiencing, we like to muck about outside each day! It's also important to send your children in clothes that can be improved with a little mud, paint or playdough (ie: play-clothes!)

I wanted to also give a big Hooray for Hallie Hudson, who's joining the Pond as our afternoon helper. She's an original Smallpondling from 15 years ago and is expecting her first baby in June. Marvelously and musically talented, your kids will fall in love with her just like mine have! She'll be coming regularly at 2:00 and staying until clean-up with the goal over the coming weeks of giving me a few hours at the end of each day to keep up with paperwork and planning and, oh, I don't know...go home and make dinner? While Hallie and I will have lot's of overlap, I'm still working on how to best keep communication with parents working with two caregivers. Let me know if you have any ideas. I've found that it's often difficult at the end of a long day with kids and parents going in and out to really give a thorough debriefing of how the day went. There's definitely room for improvement.

I'd also like to put out there that I'm looking for fencing ideas. Have you installed a fence recently or know of someone who does the work at reasonable cost? Let me know.

Every day is a little easier and more predictable than the last at the Pond. As we settle into the rhythm of our days, kids become a little more familiar with new friends and a new space. I'd like to remind parents that it's important to call ahead if you plan to be late or need to cancel...our days are often a fragile ecosystem of activity. I work hard to anticipate the needs of a bunch of little people who don't always need the same things at the same time (napping, outdoor rambunctious time, quiet stories, meals, bathroom breaks etc.) In order to help maintain consistency for all the kids I need to be able to predict interruptions (such as arrivals and pick-ups) and plan for it. Thanks in advance!

See you at the Pond!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Moving In!


What a fun week of unpacking and visiting with friends! Everyone is working hard at getting the fire marshal requirements checked off the list...it's a loooong list though. I'll be busy building cubbies this weekend and making some fun wall art. If you haven't stopped by yet, please do (and bring your paperwork!) Give a call to make sure I'm around and not in the middle of putting a baby to sleep and then come play!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Best. Day. Ever.

I'm finally moving into the little house. It is so darned cute and sunny I can't stand it! I forgot my camera today but will bring it tomorrow so I can post pictures of the progress. Bea and Fox helped "unpack" all day and friends came over to break in the new space with some rowdy kid energy (who would have thought a giant stuffed alligator could entertain four kids for an hour?)

For those of you who will be participating in the day care assistance program (fantastic program, btw...ask me about it if you're not in the know), I'm still in the process of getting fire marshal approval of the house. Gunner Person is sheetrocking the utility room which now has a new heavy duty steel fire rated door, the emergency lighting will be going up, the front porch is re-built and I'm just crossing my fingers that they will like what they see and sign off on me. The rest of my licensing for the state is cleared and the fire marshal is the last piece of the puzzle.

For those of you who will be paying out of pocket and who do not necessarily need to wait for my licensing to be complete, I am still planning to begin accepting kids March 14th. Keep those enrollment forms coming in! I can't schedule everyone without them. You can now come by the house to visit, just give a call ahead of time to make sure I'm there and not out doing errands.

Hooray!

Friday, February 18, 2011

quick update

Ugh!
I'm wrapping up the trip to New Mexico to visit my parents and am still waiting to hear about a move in date for the house! The current tenants are waiting to close on their first home and were supposed to sign documents in January...
This will, unfortunately, push things back a week or two for me, so if there is anyone counting on a March 1st start date that I haven't spoken to yet, please email me so that we can work something out. I've been loath to admit that I won't be ready by March 1st since each day I hear "tomorrow's the day!", but after a few weeks of this I need to reevaluate my goal of the first of the month and maybe plan on the 15th. It will happen people!
So sorry for the hassle. Email if you have any questions.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

A gentle transition


I've been tossing around the idea of having an open house at the end of February and inviting all prospective parents and friends to a "Grand Opening" of sort. However, as much as I love a party, I think it's wiser to ease future small pondlings into things a bit more gently. That is why I'd like to invite families to come by and visit us all through-out the last week of February. I will be spending that time setting things up and getting my own kids used to the rhythm of the day and will be available for visits. If this is the first time your child has been in a daycare setting or you think they might need some extra time to adjust to the idea, I would encourage you to come by three or four times. I'd ask that you call or email me to arrange appointments and that you keep your visits short (a half hour visit should do the trick). The idea is to let them experience the space and my company without the pressure of your leaving and to (hopefully) leave them wanting more!
Transitions are often hard for small children and even with as much preparing possible, there will be days when your child simply does not want you to leave. Know that we will be supportive of both you and your child in finding the gentlest and least traumatic path.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The dreaded daycare crud




The truth is, even I am a little afraid.


Public schools and daycares have a bad reputation as germy little havens for illness. I think of how often Bea was sick after first starting Kindergarden and PHEW! I was ready to bath the kids in hand sanitizer and run away to the desert, eshew all human contact and become a family of hermits.
So now I'm preparing to embark on this next little adventure, and surely it will involve its share of illness, infection and mucus. However, I will not give in! My goal (for your children's sakes as well as my own) is to try to mitigate as much of the daycare crud as possible. Here are my strategies:

* Eating right. Every body responds better to illness when it's given a fair fighting chance with proper nutrition. We'll be eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, avoiding processed foods and sugar and drinking lots of water. There is nothing better than a little healthy peer pressure when it comes to eating healthy foods. I have fond memories of a group of two year olds sitting at the table chanting "more broccoli, more broccoli, more broccoli" with a kind of ferver only toddlers possess.

* Probiotics anyone? We'll be ingesting our share of yogurt, kefir, miso and maybe even a little sauerkraut.

* Scrub-a-dub. We'll be washing our hands a million times a day! Hand sanitizer has its place, but when hot water and soap are available it's the best way to keep the bugs at bay. How about a handwashing sticker chart? (who doesn't like a sticker chart?) Fun smelling soaps anyone? Or the silliest hand washing song ever (yet to be invented, but stay tuned...)

* Give the face some space. Ok. So this one isn't easy for me, I'm a sucker for sloppy baby kisses and screaming belly bamboozles. But after saying a million times "Bea, don't let your little brother suck on your nose!", I've realized I need to start preaching a policy of personal space (at least during cold and flu season!) So we will practice sharing toys, sharing time, sharing ideas, sharing songs...but keep our germs to ourselves.

* Essential oils! I have great faith in my essential oil diffuser and will be dousing the house with lavender, tea tree and thieves oil liberally. Even if it's just new age voodoo, the house will smell better!

* Sanitize it! Toys, napping mats, dress up clothes and household surfaces will be sanitized regularly. We'll make sure germs don't feel welcome hanging out at Smallpond.

* Acceptance. Illness happens, we'll deal and heal just like our bodies are meant to.

Did I miss anything? Let me know what strategies have worked for you.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A quick update

Three new friends for Smallpond! One still needs some hair and all need some clothes, but they were looking like such a nice little set of pals, I couldn't help post a picture.

I completed my child and infant CPR/First Aide course on Saturday. I've taken the course six times in the last 15 years...I learn something new every time (or maybe they keep changing things on me!)

My Fire Marshal paperwork was sent off last week and this Wednesday evening I'll be presenting my conditional use permit application for approval to the City planning commission. Wish me luck!

It seems I run into a new family excited for Smallpond daycare everyday! If you haven't contacted me yet to throw your name in the hat...don't put it off! I'm still optimistic for a March 1st start date...

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Smallpond Handbook

I've finally figured out how to upload my handbook into Google Docs. Click on the link to the right to view the current handbook.

What do YOU do while YOUR baby sleeps?


Thanks to Beria for this link...

Bea and I laughed until our sides hurt!

Sunday, January 9, 2011


The house on Hohe is as cute as can be! The hopeful move in date is February 1st and I can't wait! I was over there on Friday taking pictures for the Fire Marshal, and was able to walk around the yard a bit more that previously. Under the tree in this picture is a great big stump that just begs to be climbed and run around and set up for faerie tea parties. A tremendous stump! A stupendous stump! A stump for all seasons!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Tux paint....



Tux paint is an open source drawing program for kids. Bea has had a blast with it for years. It's a free download and the program is very well designed and easy to get the hang of . Enjoy!

http://www.tuxpaint.org/

Alfie Kohn article to make you think...


Five Reasons to Stop Saying "Good Job!" By Alfie Kohn

It's harder than it may seem to listen and engage rather than offering a blanket "Good Job!" I frequently catch myself tossing out a generic superlative when my brain is elsewhere.

Check out Kohn's book Unconditional Parenting for another thought provoking read.


Great article on tantrums...a new approach

Tantrums are an essential part of being a toddler and an important key to a child's development. Who knew?

A Fresh approach to Tantrums

This article helps provide tools for dealing with toddler tantrums in a gentle way while still maintaining a connection with your child and enforcing clear boundaries.
When Bea was going through a rough patch it helped immensely to read this article and understand that this was a developmental issue...not a good/bad parenting issue. That little bit of perspective helped to disengage my own juggernaut of mama ego and let her have her feelings.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Starting to gather...

I'm on the lookout for a few items from smoke-free homes. Do you have any of the below taking up space? I'm a bargain hunter, but will pay for quality.

wooden play kitchen
rocker/glider or rocking recliner (can be ugly, happy to cover...but must rock)
futon couch in good shape
cd player/boombox
bean bag chairs
low shelves for toys/books
quality children's books (not looking for disney movie books or other merchandised books. Scholastic book club books ok.)
medium and large sized baskets in good condition
craft supplies (a million popcicle sticks? bags of cotton balls? empty baby food jars? one sided paper?)
child size eisel
indoor or outdoor slide
hammock