High-quality childcare is not "babysitting"

There is an unfortunate misconception that childcare is "glorified babysitting." This is absolutely not the case. Early childhood education is critical in helping to shape a strong foundation for future development and growth in children. This is why we partner with organizations like On My Way Pre-K and Paths to QUALITY to increase the amount of high-quality childcare facilities in Muncie and Delaware County and to provide affordable access to such care.

What is Paths to QUALITY?

Paths to QUALITY is Indiana's childcare rating system, setting standards of excellence and making sure that childcare providers meet those standards. Through this system, early childhood education centers can obtain a ranking of Level 1 through Level 4, with Level 4 being the highest. With this system, you can be confident about the quality of care and education provided to your child.

What are the requirements for childcare providers?

At a Level 3 or Level 4 facility, at least 50% of the staff must have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or equivalent certificate, an early childhood degree or equivalent degree, or 60 clock hours of educational training leading to an early childhood/child development degree or CDA credential. These facilities must also have a robust curriculum that supports a child's physical, cognitive, language, literacy, math, and creative development.

Where can I learn more about Paths to QUALITY?

You can review all Paths to QUALITY requirements for each Level here. To learn more about BY5's work with On My Way Pre-K to increase access to high-quality childcare—and to view a list of Level 3 and Level 4 providers in our region—visit muncieby5.org/on-my-way-prek. 

Be Part of the Solution

Early childhood care and education is important work, not just for the children but also for our community's future economic success. There are many job openings within the early childhood sector in Delaware County, and these positions critically need to be filled. If you or someone you know is qualified and would like to make a difference in our community, please consider becoming part of the solution. For updates on job openings, follow us on Facebook.

What is "Serve & Return"?

Did you see 7-year-old Molly Wright's TED Talk on how every child can thrive by five? Molly perfectly articulates everything BY5 is striving to do locally and even demonstrates how a parent's engagement—or lack thereof—with their child can affect the child's stimulation.

In the video, Molly talks about a concept called "Serve & Return." What exactly does this mean?

Serve & Return is essentially recognizing cues from your child and responding with a shared interest or with information. Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child outlines how to Serve & Return in five simple steps:

1. Recognize the serve: Notice if your child is pointing or picking something up.

2. Return the serve: Support and encourage their interest.

3. Give it a name: Identify and name what your child is focused on.

4. Take turns: Keep the interaction going by patiently waiting for your child to respond to your returned serve.

5. Practice beginnings and endings: Let your child indicate when they are no longer interested, allowing them to lead the interaction.

Lesser known skills children need to be successful in kindergarten

When people talk about kindergarten readiness, they often talk about children being able to write their own name, count, identify primary colors, and cut paper with scissors. But there are many other basic skills children need to be successful in their first year of school. 

Before attending kindergarten, your child should be able to:

• Go to the bathroom by themselves

• Eat their lunch by themselves (we recommend practicing eating within a timed schedule and eating out of a lunch box)

• Remember their bus number

• Provide basic emergency contact information, including their address and their parents' names and phone numbers

• Listen to a story without interrupting

• Follow multi-step directions

• Ask a non-relative adult for help

Does your child need to attend preschool?

Some parents believe preschool consists of just nursery rhymes, storytime, and playtime, and they wonder if it's really necessary for their child to attend. 

Should your child attend preschool? Yes! Preschool helps prepare children for kindergarten and is a vital element to a child's development and future success.

Studies have shown that those who attend preschool—and who are ready for kindergarten by age 5—are more likely to graduate high school, commit fewer crimes, are more likely to hold a job, and tend to earn higher wages.

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Preschool improves brain development

Those who believe preschool mainly consists of nursery rhymes, storytime, and playtime are not wrong! Preschool does involve a lot of fun, and that's a great thing! These activities all help with crucial brain development.

Learning and singing nursery rhymes improves memory, vocabulary, language skills, and more. Listening to stories also improves vocabulary and language skills, and playtime stimulates imaginations and helps children problem-solve.

Preschool improves motor skills

Preschool often incorporates several arts and crafts activities, which are used to help children with their fine motor skills. Threading beads, using scissors, and holding crayons or markers all help to improve a child's coordination.

Preschool improves social skills

Preschool is an excellent opportunity for children to socialize not just with other kids, but also with adults who are not family. In preschool, children learn how to play with others and how to cope without their parent or guardian. Children who don't attend preschool may have a harder time acclimating to a day away from home in kindergarten. 

To learn more and to register for preschool, be sure to stop by Preschool Palooza at the Muncie Children's Museum from 4–6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2021!

BY5 receives $100k Stronger Together grant to support local childcare providers

MUNCIE, INDIANA — Muncie & Delaware County BY5 Early Childhood Initiative, Inc. has been awarded $100,000 from Early Learning Indiana to create a regional shared service hub that will help local childcare providers balance operational demands with providing affordable, quality care.  

“We are honored to receive a Stronger Together grant from Early Learning Indiana and Lilly Endowment to continue improving the childcare services in Delaware County,” said Missy Modesitt, executive director of BY5. “Through the creation of this regional pool of shared services, local childcare providers will be able to streamline their operations, save money and focus their time on providing quality early care and education.” 

BY5 is one of seven grant recipients from across Indiana. With the grant funds, BY5 will create shared services for childcare management systems, childcare provider training, and behavioral health strategies, as well as support childcare programs in Delaware County. 

“Early care and education providers operate with razor-thin margins as they juggle the actual cost of providing care and the ability of families to afford it,” said Maureen Weber, president and CEO of Early Learning Indiana. “The organizations we’ve awarded Stronger Together grants will directly impact the sustainability of local providers, influence the affordability of care for families, and enable providers to focus their scarce time and resources on the business of learning.” 

In addition to awarding grant funding, Early Learning Indiana has partnered with Opportunities Exchange (OppEx) to offer technical assistance to all grantees. OppEX is a national nonprofit consulting group working to transform the business of early care and education to improve child outcomes and ensure practitioners are well-compensated and work in supportive environments.  

Learn more about the Stronger Together grant at earlylearningin.org/stronger-together.  

BY5 distributes 600 ‘kindergarten readiness’ backpacks to students throughout Delaware County

MUNCIE, INDIANA — Six hundred new kindergarteners in Delaware County are off to a “strong start” thanks to Muncie & Delaware County BY5 Early Childhood Initiative, Inc. and the Early Learning Indiana Strong Start Program. The young students received kindergarten readiness backpacks filled with reading, math and language arts materials to use throughout the remainder of the summer.

The backpacks—made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Strong Start Program—were distributed by BY5 at kindergarten registration events at several schools across Delaware County. Each backpack contained a book, a counting puzzle activity and a rhyming game. They also included a kindergarten transition guide for parents.

“Kindergarten readiness is one of the main indicators for later-in-life success, so we are grateful to offer this opportunity for families to work on important concepts that prepare a child for kindergarten,” said Missy Modesitt, executive director of BY5.

According to BY5’s website, children who are ready for kindergarten by the age of 5 are 17 percent more likely to graduate from high school and four times more likely to graduate from college. Being ready for kindergarten also makes someone 46 percent more likely to have a full-time job and 20 percent more likely to earn a strong salary by the age of 40.

These numbers aren’t just beneficial to the individual—they are also indicators of greater economic vitality for an entire community. BY5 aims to transform the community by connecting kindergarten readiness to economic success.

To learn more about BY5 and the importance of kindergarten readiness, visit muncieby5.org.

8 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month with Your Children

February is Black History Month—a time to acknowledge, celebrate, and pay tribute to the many great achievements of Black men and women in our country. It's important for all children—no matter their race—to learn about the ways Black people have positively impacted and shaped our communities so that they have a deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity and racial equity.

We've put together a list of various ways you can celebrate Black History Month with your young children.

Read

Carter Reads the Newspaper

Carter Reads the Newspaper is the first picture book biography of Carter G. Woodson, the "father of Black History Month. Every day, Carter, the son of two former sons, read the newspaper to his dad, who couldn't read. This act sparked his journey into learning more about his ancestors' past and sharing their history with others around the world. Available on Amazon.

The Snowy Day

This classic children's book illustrates a young boy named Peter exploring his town after a big snowfall. The Snowy Day was the first picture book with an African-American protagonist to receive a major literary award. Available at Muncie Public Library.

Human Computer

Written by Mary Jackson, the first African-American female engineer to work at NASA, Human Computer explores challenges of segregation and sexism that Jackson faced in her career. Her story is also featured in the movie Hidden Figures (rated PG), available on Disney+. Read along with Muncie Public Library's virtual story time:

For more books celebrating Black History Month, check out Muncie Public Library's virtual preschool room. 

Watch

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices (Netflix)

In this series, watch live-action portrayals of children's books. The book are read by Black celebrities, written by Black authors, and celebrate Black culture. Watch now on Netflix, or visit netflixbookmarks.com for additional book recommendations (categorized into age groups 0-4, 4-8, and 8-12) and resources.

Ruby Bridges (Disney+)

This biographical drama (rated TV-PG) tells the story of Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old girl who was chosen to be the first student to integrate her school in New Orleans. Ruby's story—her struggles, her bravery, and her love and support from her parents—is an incredible lesson for us all. Watch now on Disney+.

A Wrinkle in Time (Disney+)

Based on the children's chapter book of the same name, this 2018 movie (rated PG) is a fantastical adventure tale of a science-loving girl on a quest through dimensions of space to find her missing father. The movie's lead role is played by a young Black female, which director Ava DuVernay said "fills in an absence that has been in these films for so long: girls at the center, girls of color at the center." Watch now on Disney+, or check it out from Muncie Public Library.

Do

Diversity with Eggs

One simple way to teach your young child about diversity is with eggs. Show your child a pair of eggs: one with a white shell and one with a brown shell. Discuss the eggs with your child to ensure they understand the eggs appear to be two different colors. Then, crack open each egg and discuss what you see now—both eggs appear the same on the inside. Use this opportunity to explain that humans, like eggs, all have different "shells." We might all look different on the outside, but on the inside, we are the same.

You can take this lesson a step further and use the eggs to create an African dish, like shakshuka. Use this as an opportunity to teach your child to celebrate different cultures.

"I Have a Dream" Lesson and Craft

Learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, then encourage your child to dream big too! First, watch Muncie Public Library's virtual story time of Martin's Big Words (below) with your child. Then, cut out paper in the shape of clouds and have your child write (or dictate to you) their own dreams for the world. How can they positively impact society? Where can they make a difference? Glue cotton balls to the edges of the clouds for a fluffy effect, then display the dream clouds somewhere your child will see them often, like on the bathroom mirror or on the ceiling above their bed.

New Year's Resolutions for You & Your Child

It's resolution season, and we want to know what goals you and your child have to ensure they reach their full potential! Proactively dedicating time and activities to your child's development not only helps build their brain, but it also allows for more quality family time.

As the leading organization for early childhood awareness in Muncie and Delaware County, we've put together a list of a few easy New Year's resolutions for you and your child.

How many can you accomplish?

Read to/with your child for 15 minutes a day

Reading aloud to young children builds their speaking skills, vocabulary, and literacy skills. If your child is old enough, let them read to you to practice their reading skills! 

Need a few book recommendations? Our website has several top books in a variety of genres, including books to get your baby talking, counting books, books that teach children how to play, and more!

Sing a song together every day

Develop stronger language skills in your child by teaching them simple songs! Singing is a great way for children to practice speaking, to learn new words, to recognize patterns, and, of course, to enhance their music and rhythm skills.

Running out of songs to sing? We've compiled nursery rhymes for every day of the week, as well as a few of the best sing-along books (accomplish two resolutions at once!) at Muncie Public Library. 

Download the Vroom app and engage with it regularly

Vroom offers more than 1,000 free, science-based tips and tools to make mealtime, bathtime, bedtime, or anytime more educational. The app is completely free and can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play, or the Vroom website.

Play outside once a week

Playtime and exploration stimulate your child’s creativity and imagination and help to build their courage. Public parks and nature preserves are abundant, and fresh air is great year-round!

If you're wanting to explore someplace new, check out or list of free places in Delaware County worth exploring. If the weather is bad, there are still plenty of easy and safe ways to encourage exploration at home!

Visit a museum or educational workshop once a month

Instill a love of learning from a young age! Make it a point to regularly visit new exhibits and attend various workshops.

A few great local options include Muncie Children's Museum, David Owsley Museum of Art, Minnetrista, Charles W. Brown Planetarium, and the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse. (Check with each location for up-to-date COVID-19 information and hours.)

Singing with Your Toddler: Best Christmas Songs to Teach Your Child

I can hardly believe we are already in December, and I’m working really hard to get into the Christmas spirit. (I don’t think I am alone in that.) I know when I feel the need for a boost in spirit, I turn on music; Christmas music is always playing on my computer starting the day after Thanksgiving. 

Most children love music and will sing along to just about any song, even if they don’t know the words.

Playing music and singing with your toddler are great ways to help build their brain during these critical years.

Singing helps build their language skills, rhythm and beat are pre-learning activities related to math, dancing while singing engages the whole brain and helps a child fine-tune movement and boost their mood. Who isn’t happy when they are singing and dancing?  

My granddaughter, Ruby, is learning to sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” She probably knows a quarter of the words but hums and inserts her own words for the remainder of the song. Each time we sing it, she knows more of the song. It’s okay if your toddler doesn’t get all of the words right as long as they are engaged and enjoying their time singing with you. 

When you are trying to determine good songs to sing with your toddler during the holiday season, choose songs that have a definitive beat/rhythm and that have lots of repetition.

Remember, your child doesn’t care how your voice sounds—just make a joyful noise. 

You can start by singing a song much more slowly than you normally would so that your child is able to understand the words and process them. With each repetition, you can speed up a bit and your child will most likely keep up with you. 

There are several opportunities during the day where you could engage your child with singing and dancing. For example, car rides are a great time to sing together; bath time is also a good time to sing. When you are going to or from the car, sing and encourage your child to dance their way to the car. Singing a slow and quiet song as part of your bedtime routine can help your child calm down and be ready for bed. 

Music is a huge part of how we celebrate Christmas. Here are some great Christmas songs that you can sing with your toddler (each is linked to a YouTube singalong video): 

1. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”
   
   

2. “Here Comes Santa Claus“
   
   

3. “Jingle Bells” 
   
   

4. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

Enjoy the holidays!

—Missy

Best Holiday Sing-Along Movies

As we learned from the movie Elf, “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” But singing has many other benefits, too! Singing is a great way for children to further develop their brains, improve their speaking skills, build their vocabulary, and boost their confidence.

So, settle into the festive season with some holiday sing-along movies—a great way to help your child reach their full developmental potential and get them in the holiday spirit! Here are some holiday sing-along movie recommendations to get you started:

The Disney Holiday Singalong

Disney’s holiday special—hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featuring several big-name singers, bands, and performers—aired on ABC earlier this week, but you can still catch it on Hulu until Dec. 8, 2020! For families with cable log-ins, you can also stream it for free on ABC’s website.

DreamWorks Ultimate Holiday Collection

Available at Muncie Public Library, this collection of 9 stories includes festive tales featuring your kid’s favorite characters, as well as sing-along music videos.

Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Sing Along Songs

Available at Muncie Public Library, classic Disney characters sing Christmas songs and carols, accompanied by animated holiday scenes.

Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer

After watching Rudolf and the Island of Misfit Toys, check out this DVD’s bonus features, including sing-along songs with Sam the Snowman! Available at Muncie Public Library.

Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Engines

Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends are gearing up to be Santa’s engine helpers! This DVD, available at Muncie Public Library, includes a bonus sing-along music video of “It’s Christmas Time.”

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

Inspired by the classic Disney tale, this special edition recounts a Christmas tale as old as time! The DVD, available at Muncie Public Library, features a sing-along mode and a special “sing me a story” from Belle.

The Wiggles: It’s Always Christmas with You!

Sing along to 14 classic hits with The Wiggles as they travel around the world to see how Christmas is celebrated in different cultures. Available at Muncie Public Library

National Geographic’s Animal Holiday

Has your kid ever wondered how reindeer or penguins live in cold climates? Santa is here to answer all their questions! The DVD, available at Muncie Public Library, features animals singing their own versions of classic Christmas songs.