Apr 14, 20234 min read

Ivy Learning Resource & Referral Newsletter | June 2023

Updated: Jun 7, 2023

June 29th is International Mud Day but you can play and learn with mud all year long!

Here are 3 fun ways to celebrate:

Mud play: Offer shovels, buckets, plastic animals and figures and water. Ask: what would happen if you did a deep hole and fill it with water? A shallow hole? Let your child explore and see what they discover. (See Five Essentials to Meaningful Play)
Mud paint: Fill a cup with dirt and water and mix to create mud paint. Use sticks or paintbrushes to paint on paper or the sidewalk. Construct mud objects: Shape mud pies or sculptures. Children can decorate with pebbles, or other found objects if they like. Ask: what would happen if you add more water? More dirt? Leave it to dry in the sun?
Mud books: Read books about mud! Try: Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud by: Lynn Plourde; Mud Pies and Other Recipes by: Marjorie Winslow; Stuck in the Mud by: Shana Corey; Harry the Dirty Dog by: Gene Zion

Northeast Region Corner

20 Educational Outdoor Learning Activities

Children need time outdoors to run, jump, and play to release some of their energy. Outdoor activities can also be meaningful educational opportunities. When educators can tie outdoor play to preschool learning objectives, children can learn in an engaging way while spending time connecting with nature.According to a survey by Outdoor Classroom Day, 88% of teachers reported that children were more engaged in learning when taking lessons outdoors. There are also numerous physical, social-emotional, intellectual, and mental health benefits for children that are linked to outdoor activities.

The health and educational rewards that come with outdoor learning are compelling reasons to prioritize outdoor activities for preschoolers. In this article, we will share creative ideas for preschool outdoor activities to try with your children and corresponding learning objectives for each.

Click on the link below to discover the Outdoor Learning Activities https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/engaging-outdoor-activities-for-preschoolers

Museums and Libraries for Summer Fun and Learning

Libraries and museums are trusted family-friendly attractions located all across the country. More than ever, they are becoming an integral part of many communities’ plans to ensure that important early learning experiences are available to all children and their families. Parents and caregivers play an important role in assisting with their children’s early learning and finding low-cost or no-cost places to play and learn of all kinds :

Children’s museums
Art, Science and History museums
Zoos, Botanical Gardens, Nature Centers and Aquariums

…. are all welcoming places where you can borrow books, learning backpacks, and other materials to use at home. You can also go to explore the lives of animals, build a robot, help plant a garden, listen to or create your own digital stories, or just get your hands on new and unusual artifacts and materials – and see what you can discover and create! Growing Young Minds: How Museums and Libraries Create Lifelong Learners, a recent report from the Institute for Museum and Library Services and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, shows the many ways museums and libraries suppport early learning and summer learning. icts and early-learning organizations. Click this link to read the full article.

North Central Region Corner

Article

Disaster Preparedness

Emergencies and disasters can be scary, but there are ways to help you stay safe before, during, and even after a disaster. Here, you can play games to become a Disaster Master and learn how to build an emergency kit. You will meet our friend Pedro the Penguin, who will teach you all about staying safe. You will even be able to make your own emergency plan with your family. Click here to learn more

Be a Ready kid!

Tips for Suummer Sun Safety

Sun facts

We all need some sunlight to stay healthy. Sun exposure helps our skin produce vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for healthy bones. The amount of time in sunlight needed to produce enough Vitamin D is only 10 to 15 minutes per day a few times a week, depending on skin tone. Children of all skin tones need protection from dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much sun exposure can cause sunburn and possibly lead to skin cancer. Give children a positive message about the sun. “We need the sun to build strong bones, to help our gardens grow, and to make delicious sun tea.” Remind them why we use sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses every day.Be a sun safety role model. Wear a hat and sunglasse, and apply sunscreen when heading outside.

Click Me

The Book Corner

See all of our book recommendations here.

Infant/Toddler: The Very Hungry Caterpillar's FIRST SUMMER Celebrate summer with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends in this exploration of the season. Young readers can learn all about seasonal sensory experiences, like listening to noisy bugs, feeling the warm sunshine, smelling the yummy scents of a cookout, and so much more! Buy here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Caterpillars-First-Summer-World-ebook/dp/B09F5TL4NX
Summer Vacation, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg, illustrated by John Joven Packed with playful poems highlighting the joys of summer, this bright and colorful book is a ton of fun. From tasting that first bite of ice cream to building sand castles and splashing in the pool, this compilation skillfully captures the essence of summer. http://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780593387214/siteID/8001/retailerid/7/trackingcode/randohouseinc27162-20
School Age : Briography of The Ice Cream Man, Augustus Jackson, Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, illustrated by Keith Mallett Nothing screams summer more than ice cream, and this phenomenal biography about the man who perfected the famous frozen treat is utterly fascinating. Augustus Jackson achieved his dream of cooking for the President of the United States and developed new ice cream flavors that we still enjoy today! http://links.penguinrandomhouse.com/type/affiliate/isbn/9780593563229/siteID/301/retailerid/7/trackingcode/randohouseinc7904-20

Events and Trainings

Ivy Learning Events

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

The Staffed Family Network Meetings will be taking place July 29th in the North Central and North East regions. These meetings provide a fantastic opportunity to receive trainings, network with collegues and have fun! If you or a Family Child Care Home provider you know would like more information about location and times please contact:

Tracy Hinton, thinton@delawarechild.org, for the North Central Network or

Jan Boomer, jboomer@delawarechild.org, for the North East Network.

Other Events

Ivy Learning is here to serve you!

Ivy Learning Resource & Referral serves the North Central and Northeast Regions of Oklahoma, which includes 19 counties. For more information and to contact your regional representative, expand the section below.

North Central Region: Kay, Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Nowata, Osage, Pawnee, Payne & Washington Counties

Northeast Region: Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Ottawa & Sequoyah Counties

Request Technical Assistance from our Resource and Referral Specialists

Ivy Learning Resource and Referral can provide technical assistance to child care providers. Technical Assistance services help providers improve or enhance the quality of child care through structured and intentional services which supports the development of specific skills and practices. As a result, providers will be able to implement knowledge about quality in their individual care giving situations.

Request Technical Assistance