Solano Family and Children's Services

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Breathe, Balance, and Bend: The 3 B’s of Calm Bodies

Our bodies need exercise, but they need downtime, too. Breathing, balancing, and bending give children (and adults!) a chance to rest their bodies and relax their minds.

Breathe

Breathing deeply and slowly is a calming strategy for anytime, anywhere.

Ask children to place their hands over their mouths and feel their breath. Together, breathe quickly, then slowly, and ask children to compare how each breath feels in their hands.

Then ask children to pretend their bellies are balloons. Encourage them to take long and deep breaths to fill the balloons with air, then breathe out through their mouths to let the air out.

Balance

Balancing helps kids focus and relax while building strength and coordination.

Lay down a piece of string or tape on the ground for a “balance beam”! You can make the beam wide for an easier version of the game and narrower for a challenge.

Use your imagination. For instance, you might pretend that the beam is high up in the air or over a rocky river—be careful not to fall!

Bend

Bending and stretching helps children become more flexible…and it feels great!

Ask kids to bend and stretch their whole bodies—from their head to their toes.

Give clear directions, starting with the head. (Nod it “yes” and shake it “no.” Next, roll the shoulders, twist the stomach, bend at the hips, and so on.) Get creative, and do more of the things that feel good!

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Get Moving Anywhere, Anytime!

Kids don’t need a big outdoor space to move their bodies!

On the Go

Instead of walking to the car, encourage kids to jump like frogs or hop like bunnies. Even when buckled into a car seat, kids can stretch: reach up high, twist from side to side to look out both windows, and reach down low to tickle their toes!

In Front of the Television

Turn commercial breaks into quick dance parties—get up and dance until the commercial is over!

In the Bedroom

Sometimes kids need to “shake out some energy” before getting into bed. Ask children to hop to your directions—hop on their left foot and then their right, from one side of the room to another or in place, in a circle or a line, and so on.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Sneezing & Coughing Safely

Watch the video together with children. Remind them that when they feel a tickle in their noses or throats, they should remember the right way to sneeze and cough! Sneezing or coughing into your upper sleeve or elbow helps keep germs off your hands and away from other people. It’s easy as 1, 2, 3.

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Resources : What Every Elected Official Should Know About Hunger

FRAC has created a one-stop-shop for elected officials to get the facts on the extent of hunger in America and the solutions that exist to solve it.

Facts Every Elected Official Should Know About Hunger in the U.S.

During COVID-19 the rate of food insecurity has reached crisis levels: 25 percent of adults and nearly 30 percent of those with children are struggling to put enough food on the table
Even before COVID-19, rates of hunger and poverty were far too high. In 2019, more than 35 million people lived in households that struggled against hunger and 34 million people, including more than 10 million children, lived in poverty.
Rural households and Black, Latinx, and Native American households experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity.
Hunger hurts us all. Eliminating hunger would save the nation billions of dollars in doctor and hospital bills, special education costs, and lost economic productivity.
The Child Nutrition Programs are profoundly important programs with well-documented benefits to the health and well-being of children and families.
Close to 80 percent of people who participate in SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) are either working or cannot work because they are children, older adults (60+), or have disabilities.
SNAP boosts local economies. Estimates issued by Moody’s Analytics and others of the economic growth impact of SNAP during a recession range from $1.73 to $1.79 per $1 of SNAP benefits.
Hunger is an economic condition. Policies that promote a full employment economy with adequate wages and incomes can take the country a long way toward ending hunger.
Ending hunger is a goal that the American people fully support. Polls have consistently found that voters do not think the government is doing enough to solve hunger.
The private sector – business, labor and charitable – efforts can bolster government’s leadership in alleviating hunger, but cannot take the place of government’s steadfast commitment, strong policies and adequate investments to end it.

Monday, February 20, 2023

Resources : EveryChild California

For over 75 years, we have been inspiring and educating leaders of early learning and care programs for children from birth to 12. Our name, EveryChild California, an Association of Leaders Advancing Early Learning, represents our comprehensive approach to early childhood education and learning. We advocate for programs across the state, by supporting the development of the child's social, emotional and intellectual well being, all while in a safe and high quality learning environment.

History

Since its founding in 1943, formerly known as the California Child Development Administrators Association, EveryChild California has grown to serve all leaders in subsidized early care and education programs in California.

The original directors started the association to advocate against plans by the Roosevelt administration to close all Children's Centers, which the federal government sponsored under the Lanham Act so that mothers could work in the war industries. After World War II federal funding was withdrawn and EveryChild California successfully lobbied for State funds to continue the children's centers in California.

In the 1970s, we supported legislation to add new delivery models and more funds to including infant centers, Alternative Payment programs, Resource and Referral, Family Child Care Home Networks, nonprofit centers and campus centers. In recent past, EveryChild California has impacted changes on the funding terms and conditions, assisted in significantly increasing funding for the Pre-Kindergarten Family Literacy Program, successfully fought for an increase in the Standard Reimbursement Rate and supported the elimination of part-day Family Fees, amongst countless other contributions in support of the growing and powerful voice of California's ECE community.

Today, EveryChild California, an Association of Leaders Advancing Early Learning, continues to provide leadership and technical assistance to the early education field while working hard to be a steadfast and strong voice for all of California's children and families.

Find out more, here.

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website