Where Daycare Professionals and Ideas Come Together

What is Ask An ECE?

I have been searching for years for a place where child care workers could come together to share ideas, ask questions and get straightforward, honest answers from people who had been there before and understand. Child care is an interesting world we work in and really isn’t like most other jobs. It’s not your standard 9-5. We take home our problems and our friends and neighbours ask our advice on child care matters on weekends and holidays. It’s a lifestyle. We are constantly “in daycare mode”. Our kids see us at the mall and are shocked we do not live at the daycare centre. Oh, and we call them “our” kids. People think I am crazy when I say I have 22 kids. I celebrate 22 birthdays, kiss 22 sets of booboo’s, tie 44 shoes many times a day, keep track of 22 hats/coats etc., celebrate hundreds of loose teeth, and potty train close to 20 kids a year. Let’s see the VP of finance do that!

We do it because we love it and the rewards may not be monetary (we certainly didn’t go into the field for the pay cheque!), but the hugs and love we get is more than enough. So, welcome to AskanECE, join now and be a part of our community. No one said our job was easy, but we’re here to help any way we can.

Recent Posts

Mommy Daddy & Me - A Programming Theme for Preschoolers

Here is a fun theme to fill in the winter blah's between Christmas and Valentine's Day, after you've finished up the Winter themes. Have the children bring in pictures of themselves, their parents and siblings. There's a number of activities you can do with them.

Remember! Not all families are just Mommy, Daddy & child - adjust this according to what's appropriate for your children.

Thanks to my daughter's daycare provider for this idea.

Interviewing for an ECE

I have recently gone through the process of hiring an ECE for my centre. Hiring new staff is never an easy process. In a small centre, hiring a new ECE is especially difficult. Not only do you need to find someone qualified, that is capable of dealing with the children, they have to fit in with a small group of other staff.

Winter Crafts

A winter/snowperson theme is perfect for dreary January with no major holidays to celebrate and lots of snow days to look forward to. We have had lots of success at my centre with some of these creative (and snow based) tactile activities with our preschoolers and toddlers.

Halloween Crafts - Part 2

As promised in Halloween Crafts Part 1, we now present the Gross Haunted House crafts. This is 5 simple crafts that really work well together, and are great fun for the kids. The theme here is "body parts", as you will see. You can use these to create an awesome haunted house afternoon, and is a nice candy-free Halloween day.

Toddler Thanksgiving Arts and Sensory Activities

Here is a few fun activities for your toddlers to celebrate Thanksgiving.