Dear Friends,

Do you teach young children? If you are a parent, childcare provider, grandparent, doctor, guardian, uncle, aunt, or anyone else who is around young children, the answer is 'yes'. The old saying that little children are like sponges is based on a true picture of the developing child. They drink in everything and everyone around them. Who you are, what you think, how you speak and act are all part of a child's daily curriculum.

Along with the impression people make on children is the impact of the environment in which the child lives and plays. Currently, we have an epidemic of institutional settings for the care of the young child. Most childcare centers look more like schools or entertainment centers than homes. Where are the cozy couch, the dining room table, the chests of drawers, and lamps? Children's days are filled with "activities" that leave little time for self-actualization. Grouped with same-aged children with caregivers that are frequently changing does not come close to imitating a natural, home environment or life experience.

Even "stay-at-home" children are often on the go, leaving only rare opportunities for pushing through the "boredom" of "nothing to do" to that marvelous place of self-discovery - that place that sows the seeds of creative thinking and healthy intellectual and emotional growth.

The LifeWays approach to the care of young children is reflected in this little story:

William, 18-months old, was rubbing his eyes when his mommy carried him into the living room bundled in his jacket with a blanket wrapped around him. The family had had a wonderful weekend, and now the new week was beginning. Tired and a little fussy, suddenly his eyes lit up when Jodi came into his view. Reaching his arms out to her, he snuggled into her neck and rested his head on her shoulder, a contented smile on his face. His mommy and Jodi talked about the weekend, then with a kiss good-bye mommy went to work and William began his day with his beloved caregiver and the other children in her care. He played by himself and with others, ate his snacks and meals family-style with his childcare "siblings", brushed his teeth and brushed his hair, helped with the household chores, sang songs, spent a lot of time outside exploring, had a nice footbath, slept in his cozy bed, studied the wondrous skills of the older children, laughed a lot and cried a little, and grew a little more. At the end of the day, his face lit up again and his body trembled with delight when his mommy and daddy appeared to pick him up and take him home.

Is it always that serene? What do you think? Life is not always a lullaby. Sometimes it plays the blues. And knowing that that is the case, we want to provide children with the security, consistency and nurturing that supports both the up days and the down days.

Whether your child is in childcare or at home, we want to support your decision to provide a healthy, nurturing environment. We provide courses and trainings in parenting and childcare and are establishing childcare homes and centers and parenting programs in North America. Please drop us a note and tell us about your work and life with young children. Let's work together to protect our children's childhood.

Warm regards,

Cynthia Aldinger