More could use free training

Day-care providers in Jefferson and Lewis counties could have free in-home training on topics such as nutrition and physical activity, but not many providers are taking the Community Action Planning Council up on the offer.

Claudia F. Whitmire, the council's Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project director, said with an average of only two programs being conducted each month, providers should be reminded of the free service.

"A lot of the training is developed because of what the provider expressed they need help in," she said.

Jennifer J. Docteur, who runs A Little TLC Day Care, Chaumont, will get the help she needs not only for the two children she watches, but also for two of her own.

Mrs. Docteur, who has been a day-care provider for about two years, said she is looking forward to the child-care project workers coming to her day care next month to lead the program "Let's Get Twisted."

Let's Get Twisted is an hourlong in-home training that takes the provider and children through the process of making pretzels. While the treats bake, the children play a fruit version of the popular children's game "Twister" as a way to introduce them to or remind them about fruits such as grapes and bananas.

She said the fun program not only will teach the four children she watches about nutrition; it also will help her own children find interesting ways to look at food.

"My two are very picky," she said of Abigal L., 5, and Carter L., 3. "That's why I thought the pretzel training would be perfect. With pretzels, it's almost like Play-Doh; they can roll it and have fun."

Mrs. Docteur said the training will not only keep the children busy for an hour, but also help her by letting her receive training while staying in the home.

"I have kids late at night, so I'd normally have to have a sub come in when I go to training at night," she said. "Now, I don't have to find someone to come in and watch the kids. It's a great idea."

The best part about the in-home training, she said, is that children get to participate in the fun. Other training, with topics including child abuse and shaken-baby syndrome, among others, are offered when children are not around, Mrs. Docteur said.

She said she plans to use the in-home training once a year.

That's pretty average for day-care providers, according to Jamie L. Phalen, the Community Action Planning Council's coordinator of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. Most of the training focuses on nutrition and physical activity, she said.

"We'll sometimes introduce new fruits and vegetables that the provider may not have had," she said. "We'll do anything, though, that meets the needs of the providers."

Ms. Whitmire said many children pick up the meanings behind the training because they see results when something is being modeled.

Another free training that's offered through the Watertown agency is for the Army Child Care in Your Neighborhood Program that allows providers to get national credentials in child development. Mary E. Danser, the program's outreach specialist at CAPC, said the 120-hour training may be done over a two-year period.

Other in-house training include the $40-an-hour "Unique Nurturing Individualized Training for Early Childhood Day Cares," or the United Program. Using a rating scale, a provider conducts a self assessment, and people who conduct the training also assess the provider in categories such as guidance, discipline, safety and security, nutrition, record management, program development, and statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse.

"We ask the person going through the training where they'd like their program to go," said Lori J. Booking, provider service specialist with the Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project.

Ratings are based on a scale of one to seven.

"If they have a one out of seven, we address that immediately. We provide the training to help them reach their short- and long-term goals," Mrs. Booking said.

For more information about any of the training opportunities, call Mrs. Booking at 782-8475.