posted: 09/01/2017
Helping children develop healthy eating habits is an important goal in every quality childcare setting. In April 2016, the USDA released new guidelines for healthy meals and snacks for all ages effective starting October 1, 2017; as of this date these are the standards BrightStars assessors will use during an ERS observation when assessing adherence to USDA guidelines.
posted: 08/25/2017
Some general tips for cleaning surfaces in your classroom:
Use the appropriate EPA registered product for each job: cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, noting whether the surface must be pre-cleaned, how long the product must remain on the surface before wiping and whether the surface must be rinsed with water after use.
Avoid spraying any product when children are nearby.
Post manufacturer’s instructions clearly, preferably directly on the bottle.
Use a separate paper towel on each surface.
posted: 08/11/2017
Bright Start Academy in Smithfield recently renewed its BrightStars participation and maintained their quality rating of 4-Stars. The program also scored nearly identical overall ERS results, exceeding a score of 5.0 for the second participation cycle in a row. These consistent, high quality results are a testament to the program’s overall environment. “The program offers a safe, clean, and caring environment that actively engages children in acquiring new skills and knowledge,” says assistant director Jill Cabral-Boni, who joined Bright Start’s team in 2017. “Each classroom contains well-equipped learning centers that are arranged to promote independence, foster decision making, encourage involvement, and include all developmental domains.”
posted: 03/21/2017
BrightStars promotes the importance of providing safe environments to children and we see the incredible value of independent outdoor play without barriers. Outdoor play as an essential part of a child’s development. It provides opportunities for children to advance physically, emotionally and intellectually.
posted: 12/08/2016
Emmanuel Day School, located in Newport, began its BrightStars participation in 2015. The program “offers a nurturing, intimate, and exciting learning environment with enriching opportunities for preschool children to discover and explore,” says Carissa Perkowski, director and lead teacher. “By building on children’s natural passion for discovery, we encourage students to work together in a multiage environment to investigate new concepts. Our intimate setting gives each child an individualized learning experience that excites the imagination, inspires creativity, and instills lifelong curiosity.” Carissa and her staff’s vision comes to life in a spacious, multi-age classroom, which is located in a converted meeting hall in Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The open space is filled, wall-to-wall, with whimsical interest centers that foster play across all domains.
posted: 10/05/2016
As one of many items considered in each scale, The Environment Rating Scales (ECERS-R, ITERS-R, FCCERS-R, SACERS-U) each include at least one item that is used to assess how books, language materials and language activities are experienced by children. One of the criteria considered in certain items is whether the books and language materials are appropriate for the ages and abilities of the children enrolled in the group being observed.
posted: 08/02/2016
The Westerly Public Schools Early Childhood Preschool (WPSECP) classrooms are dedicated to teaching ALL children in high quality settings.
posted: 06/17/2016
Summer learning programs are important to a child’s year-round learning experience.
posted: 04/25/2016
The early years of your child’s life are very important for his or her development
posted: 03/17/2016
There are many things that you can do to support social-emotional development in your child.
posted: 02/01/2016 by Erin, Child Care Plus Learning Center
Child Care Plus shares a facility with a dance studio, The Rita Beaulieu Dance & Performing Arts Center. Once a month, our Preschool students takes a dance class with Miss Erin where they learn about movement, dance, stretching, and of course have tons of fun! However, you do not need to have a dance studio to incorporate dance and creative movement in your homes, all you need is an open space!
posted: 12/07/2015 by Jayme Hines
Fred Rogers is quoted as saying, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
posted: 10/29/2015 by Jayme Hines
As the weather begins to change, your child’s early care and education teacher will want to continue to ensure that all children have a chance to play outside. Sometimes parents worry about outdoor play in different weather. Early childhood professionals know that this is a concern, and they take the proper steps to ensure fun, learning, and safety.
posted: 10/01/2015 by Jayme Hines
Early Care and Education professionals participate in several different professional development opportunities each year. Your child’s teacher is on a continuous path to learning!
posted: 09/29/2015 by Jenny Pichardo
September is National Childhood Obesity Month. About 1 of every 5 children in the United States has obesity. Obesity is a major public health problem that is influenced by many factors such as too much time spent in activities such as television viewing, lack of physical activity, and lack of healthier food options.
posted: 09/03/2015
The Economic Progress Institute has a web-based tool that provides information about government assistance programs and community-based resources that help low- and modest- income Rhode Island families meet basic needs.
posted: 08/21/2015
A new parent portal at ZERO to THREE offers resources to help your family meet the individual needs of your child and have the most positive impact on your child’s development during the early years of life.
posted: 08/06/2015
We have a new commercial that began airing on WPRI Channel 12 and it’s affiliates this week! The commercial is aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of quality early care and education to families. To view the commercial on our YouTube page, click here.
posted: 07/24/2015 by Jo-Anne Petrie, Manager of Operations
As a mom of two grown children and a veteran Early Childhood Educator, I have never met a child that didn’t love time in the kitchen, whether it was to cook or to create something to “get down and dirty” with.
posted: 07/10/2015
You may have entered your program and seen an unfamiliar face in your child’s classroom, or a teacher may have mentioned that an assessor from BrightStars may be visiting your child’s classroom.
posted: 06/24/2015 by Jenny Pichardo
Biting is a very common behavior among infants, toddlers, and 2-year olds. The good news is that there are some ways for responding.
posted: 06/03/2015 by Kristen Caine
On May 7, 2015, five BrightStars staff members participated in the Genesis Center Garden Kick-Off to clean up the garden and start planting for the 2015 growing season.
posted: 05/20/2015 by Jo-Anne Petrie, Manager of Operations
Fine motor skills is the coordination of small muscle movements – usually involving small, precise thumb, finger, hand, and wrist movements. Fine motor activity in the early year’s help children refine their pincer grasp (grasping an object with their thumb and pointer finger using their preferred hand) and are a precursor to handwriting.
posted: 04/20/2015
Last week The Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children came together with early care and education programs in Rhode Island to celebrate the national Week of the Young Child™. Staff and early learning professionals were invited by programs to read the book Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann then donating the book to the program.
posted: 01/29/2015 by Jo-Anne DeGiacomo Petrie, M.Ed
I’m so glad you are here! My name is Jo-Anne DeGiacomo Petrie, Manager of Operations at RIAEYC/BrightStars. As a children’s author, mother of three grown children, and more than 30 years experience in the field of Early Childhood Education I am thrilled to be a part of the BrightStars team and introducing you to our blog.
