Programs

Child Care Building Blocks

Child Care Building Blocks is based on the fundamental concept that young children learn best through play. When young children explore the world, they acquire the skills they will need for success in school. Child care providers, together with families, play a vital role in giving children the opportunities for creative, self-directed play to build strong language, cognitive, social, and emotional abilities. The Child Care Building Blocks program offers a variety of services, all with the long-term goal of helping children enter school ready to learn:

• Fun Visits for children: Connections For Children child development specialists bring enriching curriculum activities to family child care homes, promoting creativity, helping nurture early literacy and language development, and contributing to school readiness. Fun Visits encourage each child’s confidence, curiosity, and social skills.
• Training for caregivers: Our staff members coach providers to develop a balanced curriculum of stimulating daily activities that incorporate cognitive, social and emotional development in a context of play. Child Care Building Blocks combines training workshops and individual onsite coaching sessions, enabling caregivers to build their own skills and incorporate activities to foster children’s early learning into their daily routines.
• Technical Assistance Visits to caregivers' homes: Our Child Development Specialists offer individualized technical assistance consultation as needed to help child care providers.
• Monthly network meetings: Our staff brings child care teachers and providers together to talk about issues of concern and to build a structure for shared support.
• Professional development seminars: We offer periodic training programs focused on areas of special concern to providers. Each seminar presents an in-depth look at best practices and new directions in the field of child care.

Participation in this program is always open for Pre-School teachers, Family Child Care Providers & License-exempt care givers throughout the Westside and South Bay communities.

Funded by the Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation
Funded by the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network

Mobile Toy Loan

Our Toy Loan van regularly visits child care providers loaning toys, curriculum materials, and books on a rotating basis. The Mobile Toy Loan program helps caregivers continually present children with appropriate, challenging play activities. Many adaptive toys, specifically designed for children with special needs, are available on loan. All licensed Family Child Care homes listed in the Connections For Children database may call for a Toy Loan visit.