PARENTS

Directory of Childcare Services
We're Interested in Hearing from You
Parent Representatives
Events for Parents
Tips for Parents
Activities for Pre-school Children

Directory of Childcare Services

Childcare facilities in the county are included in the Directory of Childcare Services. If you are looking for a childcare facility in your area our directory is the place to start. If you require a copy of our Directory call the office on 057 9135878.

We're Interested in Hearing from You

Offaly County Childcare Committee is interested in hearing from you. We organise a Parent's Forum where interested parents meet three times a year at various locations throughout the county and through us, organise such events as Art & Crafts Workshops, Cookery Demonstrations and Family Days. The Parent's Forum gives parents an opportunity to meet with the parent representatives and discuss issues that are relevant. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Parent's Forum please contact our office.

Parents Representatives

There are two parent's representatives on the committee one representing the views of parent's of pre-school aged children and the other representing the views of parent's of school aged children in the county.

The position of pre-school representative has recently been filled by Fiona Dunfors, who is a mum of two young children. Fiona hails from the south of the county and has a keen interest in early year's development.

Fiona can be contacted through the office on 057 9135878.

Nathalie P Watts continues to be the representative for parents of school aged children. Nathalie is committed to supporting other parents in their search for quality, affordable, inclusive and accessible childcare.

CONTACT DETAILS - Through the OCCC office on 057 91 35878 or by Email, marked for the attention of Nathalie or Fiona

Events for Parents

Family Fun Day Sunday 26th September, in the Tullamore Town Park.

Parent's Seminar - 'Raising Responsible, Well-Behaved and Happy Children' with Dr John Sharry, Saturday 16th October, Tullamore Court Hotel
Cost: €20 (to include lunch)

Tips for Parents

Reading with your Child

As a parent you can honour the amazing time of childhood to encourage your child’s affection and ability to read.
When “reading” with young children, one of the goals is looking not reading. Talk about the pictures. Name the objects and colours; count any repeated images.
Relax, don’t worry if the child turns the pages or chews the book! Choose board books that are easy to wipe clean.
Don’t be afraid to have kisses and cuddles during this time, what children want is time and attention from you. If children, even infants make the association that books equals time and attention they will make positive connections with books regardless of what is on the written page.

Raising Children Confident

1. Always be positive. Assume your child can and will rather than can't and won't.
2. Do not compare children. Realise they all have different strengths and weaknesses.
3. Spend time with your child. Let the child know that your time together is important.
4. Be careful not to force child to do anything he/she find unbearable.
5. Giving children jobs they can do makes them feel important.
6. Children need to be loved for who they are and not for their achievements.
7. Give your child hugs.
8. Show don't stow! Always show art work even if you don't know what it is!
9. Avoid using name calling"silly""stupid"about child.
10. Help your child develop i can do attitude, attitude is more important aptitude.

Encourage Play. Play is a child's text book. Play encourages interactions with others.Play helps children to find out who they are, discover what they can do and realise they can manage.Play encourages curiosity, ideas, concentration and sharing as well as physical health.All these allow self-confidence to develop and to be nurtured.

Activities for Pre-school Children

Clouds
As summer approaches and we all become more aware of the sky and the clouds. With this in mind here are some ideas on clouds for use with children.
All children enjoy “big” words so they will enjoy learning the names of the clouds.



High-Level Clouds Cloud types include: cirrus and cirrostratus.

Mid-Level Clouds Cloud types include: altocumulus, altostratus.

Low-Level Clouds Cloud types include: nimbostratus and stratocumulus.

Clouds with Vertical Development Cloud types include: fair weather cumulus and cumulonimbus.

Encourage children to discuss what might fly above the clouds and below the clouds.
If you have flash cards with pictures of birds, planes, stars, cars, people etc.. use them with the children.
You could also use the foam pieces with children on pictures that create with clouds.

Art Ideas
Rain clouds
Need: Shaving cream (foam not gel), glue, black paint, Paper plates, bowl.

• In the bowl mix the shaving cream and glue (use as much shaving cream as needed and add enough glue so that the mixture is kind of thick and holds its shape.
• Then add the black paint-just enough to make the mixture a grey colour.
• Give each child a paper plate and have them spread the mixture on it.
• When it is dry you should have fluffy grey rain clouds, just as long as the children do not spread it too thin. (Beware of small children eating the shaving cream!)

Airplane message
Need: Blue construction paper, cotton balls

• Draw an airplane at one end of the construction paper. Airplanes are easy to draw…....They are two ovals that cross.
• Depending on the age of the child, write a message as if coming from the plane. Large letters leaving space between the letters.
• Then have the child paint the letters with glue and stick cotton balls over the letters to create a puffy cloud message.

Paint Blot Clouds

• Fold a sheet of blue paper in half. Re-open and lay flat.
• Squeeze a few drops of white paint on one side of the fold. Encourage each child to close the paper on the fold and gently press.
• Open the page to see paint blot cloud.

Blue skies with clouds

• Give each child a piece of blue construction paper and cotton wool.
• Get the children to tease out the cotton wool.
• Then glue this cotton wool to the top of the page to create cirrus clouds.
• Then get each child to glue cotton balls in the middle of the paper to create cumulus clouds.

Cirrus: Thin wispy, curly-shaped cloud that usually form at above 18,000 feet.

Cumulus: Puffy clouds. Lumpy clouds that usually have flat bases. Most cumulus clouds form below 6,000 feet.

Science
Make a cloud
Need: hot water, not boiling, glass jar, thin piece of cloth, rubber band, crushed ice.

• Pour hot, (not boiling) water into a glass jar, when the bottle becomes hot, pour out all the water except for about one inch.
• Stretch a thin piece of cloth over the mouth of the bottle and fasten it with the rubber band.
• Place crushed ice on top of the cloth. Have the children observe the cloud as the warm air meets the cold.

Young children enjoy rhymes:
Rhyme: Airplane by Kimberley M. Hutmacher

Zigging,zagging
Way up high
Painting pictures
In the sky.


For more information on parents events contact Offaly County Childcare Committee