If you’re going to be home over Winter Break (or most of it), you might be concerned about what to do with the kids. And if you work, or just want to have a little sanity time, you need to find safe, fun, parent-and-kid approved ways to keep the kids occupied. With many regular activities shuttered or with limited hours, it can be difficult to find things to do. So, what did we do? We made a list!

Everything below is subject to availability … call ahead to sign up or register.

Your kids don't have to be bored this winter break. Credit: jawcey on flickr

Champaign County YMCA: School’s Out Days, for Grades K-5, includes supervised free play, interactive group games, crafts and indoor/outdoor physical exercise. Advance registration is required. Cost is $28 per day. Two locations: Family Fitness Center, 707 N. Country Fair Dr., Champaign as well as St. Joseph Church of Christ. Days available: December 21-23; 26-30; and Jan. 2-3.

The Little Gym: One of few opportunities for younger children, the Savoy facility offers morning (9 a.m. to noon) and afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) sessions of its winter camp for children ages 3-8 from Dec. 19-22. Children must be bathroom independent. Themes vary by the session. Each camp includes three hours filled with gymnastics, games, craft, snack, & imagination. Fees per each camp (morning/afternoon sessions are priced separately – $30 for members, $35 non-members; all day option is $75 member, $85 non-member with lunch provided). No registration deadline, but camps fill up quickly.

Champaign Park District: Kids from kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome to the CPD’s Winter Fast Break Camp featuring lots of indoor sports and aquatics adventures. Available from Dec. 21-23 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost is $90 for residents, $135 non-residents (for all three days; single days not available). Registration deadline is Dec. 7.

Savoy Recreation Center: If you’re in need or would prefer an all-day program for your school-age children (ages 5 to 12), sign up for the Savoy Recreation Center’s Schools Out Kidz Club. Available on December 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, January 3, 4. Kids can stay from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Children will enjoy sports, crafts, games and more! $26 per day for residents;  $34 non-residents. Registration Deadlines: December 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28.

Urbana Park District: The UPD Holiday Camp is for kids ages 5 to 12 and goes from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on December 16 and 19-23. Take trips to the movie theatre, bowling alley, ice rink and more. Campers will also join in fun games and make cool holiday crafts. Camp meets at Lake House in Crystal Lake Park. Register early (starting Dec. 2) and get a rate of $32/day resident, $64 non-resident; after Dec. 9, cost is $40 per day for residents; $80/day non-residents. Get the super early bird rate for all days – contact the UPD.

Holiday Tennis Camp: This program is available for children 6 to 18 and is a holiday tradition at the Champaign Park District Tennis Center; call 217-352-6044. Camps run for five consecutive days (Monday, Dec. 26 to Friday, Dec. 30). Children are broken into three age groups; sessions last between 1 – 1.5 hours, depending on age and experience. Sign up for the week or by the day.

If you know of any other opportunities, please feel free to post below!

Related posts:

1. Winter Break Survival Guide 2011
2. Let’s Keep Champaign-Urbana Kids Warm This Winter
3. Santa Makes Calls to Champaign-Urbana Area Kids

By Sara Benson

The idea came to us during a routine play date. We realized that none of us could routinely afford a nighttime babysitter (one due to a husband in school and the others due to the expenses associated with child care). We realized that a babysitting cooperative was a win-win situation.

This babysitting co-op is a win-win for parents and kids. Photo by CB and GK on flickr

We could ask one more family to join and then two times a month two sets of parents could go out while the other two sets watched the kids.  Now, we all have rather small families, so it is easy for even one set of parents to watch all four of the children — who range in age from 1 to 4.

We originally offered to chip in for pizza for the parents watching the children, but so far each set of parents have offered to make a homemade meal for the kiddos. Even better! So, I can happily go out with my husband for a date from about 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. once a month — and not have to worry about finding a sitter.

The other night we usually have a family play date with another set of parents and the children. It is fun! I enjoy both nights, and I get to spend more time alone with my spouse. Plus, we don’t have to pay a babysitter so we can afford an extra-nice dinner (Bacaro anyone?)

I highly recommend this arrangement. There are a few downsides, of course.  You can’t stay out very late because the children need to go home and get ready for bed. But, a few extra hours once or twice a month is plenty, especially if you can afford to hire a sitter at least once a month like we do.

This extra time away is great for my entire family. My daughter gets to play with her friends, and I get to put on some make-up and have an adult conversation with my husband.

Let the babysitting play dates begin!

Sara Benson is a lecturer in Law at the University of Illinois College of Law and the mother of Avery, her precious 2-year-old daughter.

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by Rachael McMillan

Few things flummox me the way dealing with babysitters does. I hate, hate, hate being any sort of boss. If you could glance at my resume, you’d see for yourself–it’s all there in black and white, the way I avoid jobs that require me to supervise others.

Great babysitters are hard to find - here's some tips on how to keep them. Photo by surlygirl on Flickr

In relating to sitters, I want to be the cool big sister who lays down as few rules as possible. On the other hand, I want high quality childcare. Don’t get me wrong; usually our sitters are prompt, professional, and very pleasant to deal with. A handful of times, though, there’ve been issues.

Nothing major, really. For example, tardiness has been a problem. I understand running late–REALLY, I do. But I’ve had sitters show up 10 or 15 minutes behind schedule without any real attempt at an explanation or apology.

How can they not know how unacceptable that is? And will they ever learn if I don’t take the lead and teach them?

Also, there’s been a time or two when my child has been allowed to play computer games the entire time I’ve been away. And no, it’s not like I’ve never let a kid stay plugged in for too long. But a mother’s day involves far more than childcare; sitters, on the other hand, are paid to do that and that alone. And, usually just for a few hours.

Again, I feel like I’m ultimately letting all of us down if I don’t take the opportunity to point it out when a sitter’s done something wrong. But it’s so much easier to simply say “thank you” and fork over the cash.

What’s a mom to do? How does someone like me learn to put on her big girl pants?

In preparation for the advice portion of this article, I rummaged around on the internet for tips for passive folks like myself. I found some recurring themes:

It’s important to set the right tone from the beginning.

This I know from teaching: in a boss/employee relationship it’s easier to start out with a hard-nosed attitude and loosen up over time than it is to begin with a “let’s be buddies” disposition and expect to be taken seriously (a.k.a. the don’t-smile-until-Thanksgiving principle). While jerkiness is certainly not required, polite firmness is.

Bottom line: I’m not the cool big sister. I’m not the friend. I’m the nice but professional lady who’s paying money for a service.

Set the stage for success.

If having the sitter arrive on time is especially important—and it usually is—I need to stress timeliness from the get-go. When calling or emailing to arrange childcare, I should inform the sitter that I need to be at XYZ at 12:30, which means she’ll need to be at my house at 12:00. Simply telling her to arrive at noon leaves room for her to interpret 12:00 as 12:15.

Also, if I would not like to come home to find my children glued to the T.V./computer/media device I am forgetting, I should state that as well, being explicit about what is and isn’t allowed. For example, it’s better to say “They can watch Dino Dan, which is on from 4:00-4:30” than “They can watch some T.V.”

These are simple fixes, but they can be hard to implement. I want to believe that any babysitter over the age of, say, 18 will be professional enough to “get” a lot of this stuff without being told. But when I think back, I realize that the professionalism fairy didn’t thwack me with her wand the same day I turned old enough to vote. I learned it over time–indeed, I’m still learning. It’s the same with today’s generations of young folks.

Bottom line: Being clear about what is expected prevents disappointments.

If need be, speak up.

Let’s say I’ve been crystal -clear about what time the sitter needs to arrive, and she still shows up ten minutes late. Simply letting that go does a big disservice to both of us; the sitter needs to learn professional behavior, and I need dependable childcare.

Even if I’m already ten minutes late for my commitment, it would be worthwhile to take a few seconds to talk about the infraction. It could go something like this: Give her a chance to explain what happened, and then suggest what she can do differently next time. State what the consequence could be for me for showing up late (“Being late for work puts my job in jeopardy”). Make a mental note to remind her about being on time when I need her again.

If breaking the clearly-set media usage rules is the issue, again, I shouldn’t let it go. It may be necessary to get the conversational ball rolling by directly asking, “Did Susie watch some extra T.V.?” Once the sitter states her case, I can propose a solution for the next time (i.e. “It’s always OK to look around the house to find games, craft materials, etc. Or, call me if you run out of play ideas”). Following up with my reasons for restricting T.V. viewing reinforces my expectations.

Bottom line: It’s for everyone’s good. And, I can do this.

If I can manage to follow through with all of this I may lose some cool points, but it will be worth it.

At least I’ve still got my open-door snack policy.

We want to hear from you: what challenges do you face when it comes to babysitters?

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

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Find things for your children to do this summer at the Summer Resource Extravagaza on April 14. (Photo by Tony Crider on flickr)

Summer is around the corner, and many parents are scrambling to find summer camps, daycare, and other ways to keep active children busy, happy and safe this summer. (Of course you have looked at our camp list, no?)

If that describes your family, then you might want to head out to Thursday night’s Summer Enrichment Extravaganza. This free, community-wide resource fair will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Urbana Middle School Cafetorium. All are welcome.

This is the third year for the event, and it has grown in size and scope each time. Representatives from more than 30 programs will be on hand to meet families and discuss the merits of their various summer options. From preschoolers to teenagers, there will be something for everyone.

The Fair is sponsored by I-Parents, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the University of Illinois and includes local schools, parent-teacher organizations and community groups. I-Parents “seeks to improve the lives  of area children through collaboration of time and resources in the support and education of parents and families.”

Although organized by a University group, the fair is not limited to University-affiliated organizations and spans the gamut of available activities in Champaign-Urbana and beyond.

Lila Moore, Coordinator of the UI Center for Education in Small Urban Communities and a member of the iParents Advisory Group, said parents requested that the event return. Watching children leave last year’s event excited about upcoming summer activities was especially gratifying to its organizers, she said.

“It fits a need in the community because a lot of parents and caregivers are looking for ways to keep kids engaged and active over the summer,” said Moore.

The following is a list of campus and community organizations that will be represented at the resource fair:

4-H Illini Summer Academies, UI Extension
4-H Youth Development Programs, UI Extension, Champaign County
Amara Yoga & Arts
Art Lab
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Champaign County
Boy Scouts of America, Prairieland Council
Champaign County YMCA
Champaign Park District
Champaign Public Library
Child Care Resource Service
Class Act
College for Kids, Parkland College
Community Center for the Arts (C4A)
Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club
E.nopi Learning Center
Fighting Illini Camps and Clinics
Girl Scouts of Central Illinois
The I.D.E.A. Store
Illinois Summer Youth Music
Indian Acres Swim Club
Kinesiology Sports Fitness Program
Japan House
La Petite Academy
Language & Literacy Development, UI Dept. of Speech & Hearing
Orpheum Chidren’s Science Museum
The Reading Group
Savoy Recreation Center
Spanish Summer Camps, University Language Academy for Children
The Spurlock Museum
Summer Arts Camp for Youth, UI Art Education Program
Summer Writing Camps, U of I Writing Project
TAP in Leadership Academy
Upward Bound College Prep Academy
Urbana Free Library
Urbana Park District
World Percussion Classes/Drums Lessons

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Editor’s Note: Please welcome a new partner to chambanamoms.com, Mother’s Morning Out. We will be debuting our first annual guide to preschools in Champaign-Urbana (and surrounding areas) next week, so stay tuned!

For more than 40 years, Champaign-Urbana area parents have chosen Mother’s Morning Out for their childcare needs.  Last year the school adopted the Creative Curriculum® at all levels, from the nursery to Preschool, and became an independent, non-profit organization.  Over the summer staff members and numerous volunteers undertook the task of cleaning, sorting, renovating and moving 42 years worth of stuff into its new facility at Temple Baptist Church in Champaign.

Learn more about Mother's Morning Out at its open houses Feb. 7-8 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Photo provided

On Feb. 7-8, MMO, NFP will be opening its doors to the community during two Open Houses.  “We want people to know that we’ve moved, and we’ve adopted a fantastic new curriculum.  But most importantly that we provide affordable care for children from 6 weeks until they attend kindergarten.  As a nonsectarian school we welcome children of all religions, races, and backgrounds,” says Mimi LaPointe, MMO Director. “The goal of our program is to provide a safe, secure and fun atmosphere where children feel confident to explore, work independently, develop friendships and become enthusiastic life-long learners.”

MMO is unique in that it offers both a drop-in program and a preschool.  The drop-in program is one of a kind in this community. Once enrolled in the drop-in program, children of all ages may attend between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday; for as much or a little time as needed. Families pay for only the hours used per month instead of on a weekly or monthly basis.

“Initially, I was drawn to MMO because they offered a preschool program for my 4-year-old and a very flexible drop-in program for my toddler under the same roof,” says Jen Davis, an MMO parent.  “The drop-in program is much more convenient and affordable than a babysitter.”

Each drop-in classroom functions as a “Preschool for a Day”, providing the same learning environment on a daily basis, as the MMO preschool children are getting on their scheduled days.

Children who are turning 2 by March 31 of 2011 until they attend kindergarten are eligible for the MMO preschool program. MMO offers a variety of different preschool options with 2-, 3-, and 5-day programs available depending a child’s age.

Both the MMO drop-in program and preschool use the Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, Twos and Preschoolers®. Photo provided

.  “As a Creative Curriculum® school, we take a child-centered approach and believe that play is the basis for children’s learning,” Mimi says.  “We encourage children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts.”

Mimi adds that at MMO teachers focus on the interests, development and needs of each individual child and spend time observing each child.  School-wide themes and daily activities are built around those observations.

“The activities we plan for children, the way we organize the environment, select toys and materials, plan the daily schedule, and talk with children, are all designed to meet children at their individual developmental levels,” says Amy Kilgus Chamley, an MMO teacher, whose daughters attended both drop-in and preschool at MMO.  “The primary goals of our curriculum are to help children feel comfortable at school and to provide a great foundation for learning. Since kids can start as early as 6 weeks and attend until they go to kindergarten, they really get to know their teachers and make lifelong friends.”

Sarah Wilds, a speech pathologist and mother of three boys, says she is pleased with the welcoming atmosphere, as well as the curriculum. “With one graduate and two current students, I continue to be impressed with the quality of the teachers and the MMO curriculum. MMO’s focus on problem-solving skills, creativity, and experiential learning has prepared my kids well for kindergarten, and helped nurture a love of learning.  In today’s academic-heavy environment, I’m glad there are preschools like MMO that recognize and capitalize on how and why kids learn at early ages.” Jen Davis agrees, “My children have really gained independence, social growth and increased self-esteem as a result of their time at MMO.  And I’ve gained a little independence to run errands, and do volunteer work. ”

Mother’s Morning Out will be holding an Open House and registration for the 2011-2012 school year on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1100 Broadmoor, Champaign (behind Temple Baptist Church). For further information or to schedule a visit please email mmoinformation@gmail.com, visit www.mmo-cu.org, or call 356-7377.

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When my husband and I went to deliver our first born, I remember that we drove past the Crisis Nursery, located directly behind Provena Covenant Hospital in Urbana. I decided to make a little joke at our expense—the two of us, new parents who were soon to be in over our heads.

“We’ll be going there next–HA!” was my wisecrack.

The interior of the Crisis Nursery in Urbana. (Photo provided)

After our second child was delivered, I looked out of our hospital room window and again glimpsed the back of the Crisis Nursery. “Get their number, honey; we’ll be calling them soon—haHA!” I quipped.

Ugh. If only I knew.

Truth is, “Crisis Nursery” is a bit of a misnomer. While it does offer free, high-quality childcare for families in crisis, the nursery really is an excellent childcare resource for EVERYONE in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas.

Consider this: They offer playgroups for families with children up to five years of age (kids “age out” on their sixth birthday). For every session a parent/caregiver and child attend, the family earns four hours of free childcare to be used any time, day or night–no crisis necessary. When a family completes a group, the hours are doubled.

Here are three more things that you may not know about the Crisis Nursery, but should:

1. The facility is beautiful.

“Once people see it, it changes their whole perception of what it is,” says licensed clinical social worker Jennifer Sampson, one of the family specialists employed by the nursery.

The heart of the center is the cheery divided play area; infants to the right, “walkers” to the left. There is a family-style dining area (meals are provided by Covenant Hospital) and quiet time/sleeping rooms.

Patio doors in the older kids’ play area lead to a playground and gardens; the latter are maintained by the U of I Extension’s Master Gardeners. Sensory, shape, and vegetable gardens bloom in the warm months.

The bright, open floor plan, excellent resources, and homey décor—along with a maximum three-to-one worker to child ratio—make The Crisis Nursery seem more like a pricey private daycare than a completely free community resource. Truly, it is designed so that any parent would feel instantly comfortable leaving her child there for a time.

2. They want to reach ALL parents.

The Crisis Nursery’s groups aim to offer a little something to all parents of young children. Playgroups for kids aged 0-3 take place at the Developmental Services Center in Champaign (Jennifer reports that they have an awesome indoor playground) on Mondays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and at the Tolono Public Library on Fridays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. There is no need to pre-register; you can take care of that when you attend.

Two other playgroups focus on parent-child interaction (if you haven’t already, read Amy’s excellent op-ed about how hard it can sometimes be to want to play with the kiddos) and are for families with children between the ages of 3-5. They meet at the Crisis Nursery on Saturdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and at the Parent Wonders facility in Rantoul on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

One other group focuses on parent support; parents and their children up to five years of age can attend. It takes place at the nursery on Mondays from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Families who attend any of these free programs earn credits for childcare at the facility. Program times and dates change periodically; call the nursery at 337-2731 for the most current information.

Jennifer Sampson also fronts the nursery’s “Beyond Blue” support group for women who have, or are at risk for developing, perinatal depression. Women who are pregnant may attend, as can mothers of babies up to one year of age. Support groups, parent-child interaction groups, home visits, and respite and crisis care are available to the families who enroll in this program.

The nursery also offers home visits and developmental assessments for those seeking such help.

3. Your family gets to define “crisis.”

I regret not knowing more about the Crisis Nursery those six or so years ago when I made the crack about needing their services. But I also regret thinking that it would be shameful to use their help if my family really was in a tight spot.

Parents call on the nursery for help when a childcare worker is sick and job loss is imminent, when a parent needs medical attention—for any number of easily valid reasons. Looking back, there was probably a time or two when I could have used a respite from two toddlers whose main sport was trying to murder each other. Had I known what the Crisis Nursery was all about, I gladly would have taken advantage of an afternoon’s break while my children were in their excellent care.

And that’s really all you need to say when you call: I need a break. They get it. They’ve been there. They want to help.

Can we be strong enough to let them?

The Crisis Nursery is located at 1309 W. Hill St. in Urbana. They encourage families needing immediate childcare to call before coming in. They can be reached at (217) 337-2731.

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

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by Amy L. Hatch

Having an energetic toddler at home — one who is just a little bit too young for traditional preschool programs — can be a drag for both mom and child.

Some kids need more social interaction. Maybe they want to do crafts, and that’s not your bag. Or maybe you long for some grown-up interaction for yourself.

Not a fan of play-dough at home? You need the Good Beginnings Playgroup! Credit: guy schmidt, Flickr

You need the Good Beginnings Playgroup, one of Chambana’s best-kept secrets.

The playgroup is run by the Cooperative Nursery School in Urbana, of which my daughter is a proud alumna. We started her at the Good Beginnings Playgroup shortly before she turned 2 years old, which was the threshold age for entering a more formal nursery-school program at the school.

It was, in a word, a lifesaver.

My child got the social interaction she needed — she was an only child then — and so did I. That’s because unlike other programs, parents stay with their child for the sessions, and it was a win-win for us both.

The group meets one morning a week at the Cooperative Nursery School in Urbana, for a morning of play, music, arts and crafts, and circle time. This is a great way to introduce your kid to the structure of preschool without the pressure.

The program is open to kids ages 0-5, and a parent can, of course, have more than one child in each session. The fee for each session is fairly minimal (the 2010 Fall Session fee was $30), and it is also moderated by a teacher or an adult who is familiar with guiding preschool activities for kids.

The program is especially great if you’re new in town, because it gives you — and your child — a way to meet some new friends.

For more information, check out the Cooperative Nursery School website.

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by Amy L. Hatch

Finding a babysitter and actually scheduling him or her for that rare date night is an exercise akin to the invasion of Normandy. And then, as if that wasn’t hard enough, you have to decide how much to pay them.

Some of you tip, and some of you pay more for more mature babysitters. Photo by Amy L. Hatch

Rates for babysitters vary wildly from region to region: For instance, according to Sittercity.com‘s babysitter rates calculator, the going rate in New York City is $14 an hour for a babysitter between the ages of 18 and 21 who will watch two kids between the ages of 2 and 4.

While the Sittercity.com calculator is a pretty cool little widget, we went one step further and asked real Chambana moms what they fork over for a night out, in an informal Facebook poll.

While the rates varied from the low end ($5 an hour) to the high ($15 an hour), most of you told us that you pay your babysitters $10 an hour to take care of your kids, especially those sitters who were college-age or older. That doesn’t mean that all sitters merit that hefty sum, however.

“Honestly, it depends on which sitter we hire,” wrote reader Heather Ball. “We have one that we adore and we pay her $10 an hour (we have two children). And the others we pay $7 an hour, with a $5 tip.”

But $10 is Ball’s upper limit when it comes to paying for in-home, occasional childcare.

“I once had someone tell me she charged $15 an hour!” she added. “I asked her if she was Mary Poppins!”

However, when it comes to more than just the odd night out, some of our readers are willing to pay a little bit more. We had several moms tell us that they pay between $13 and $15 an hour, because, as Karen Hatch points out: “Why low-ball the cost of care for the most important people in your life? You get what you pay for.”

Hourly rates seem to be the norm for a-la-carte childcare or after-school care, but some of you will set a flat rate for a more regular schedule. Reader Dorothy Ann David tells us that she pays her “summer nanny” $250 per week, plus expenses. That makes a lot of sense if you’re trying to set a specific child-care budget.

Tipping was also a surprise — lots of you do it, especially those who pay under $10 an hour. We also found that some of you will pay less for a sitter who isn’t quite as mature. High school or junior high students in Chambana seem to be getting between $5 and $8, according to our informal poll.

That $10 is going a long way for a lot of you — your babysitters also tidy up, feed the kids and do some light housework. In fact, Dana G. Williams knows she’s getting a good deal, based on the quality of babysitter she’s been able to find.

“Our babysitters have vaired from a favorite pre-school teacher to a speech therapist to a fertility specialist to a special-education master’s degree student to an elementary school teacher,” Williams says. “Somehow, I always feel like I’m under-paying them.”

Looking for a sitter? Check out our guide to finding the right one.

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by Rachael McMillan

Whether you are a parent in need of excellent childcare or a person wishing to provide it, the University of Illinois Child Care Resource Service has the information you need. Its aims to match families with the best, most appropriate care settings as well as to raise the quality of area child care options.

CCRS Director of Operations Brenda Eastham breaks down the services it provides into these four areas:

• helping income-eligible families to receive assistance with their child care costs

• assisting families looking for child care – CCRS maintains a database of just under 1,000 providers covering six counties: Champaign, Douglas, Iroquois, Macon, Piatt, and Vermilion

• providing training and technical assistance to child care providers

• helping child care providers improve the quality of their programs through initiatives provided by a quality coordinator, an infant/toddler specialist, a nurse consultant, and a mental health consultant.
  

  Child Care Resource List is a great resource for Champaign-Urbana families looking for daycare. Photo by just jennifer on Flickr.

Parents who would like a list of child care providers can contact CCRS at 333-3252 or 1-800-325-5516 (fees depend upon income). A short phone intake session, which helps the service narrow down a list of providers to the most appropriate candidates (based on which type of setting the parents are looking for), is the first step in the process. The tailored lists CCRS mails to families include information about whether the providers are licensed, what certifications they hold, and—when applicable—their “star rating” based on additional criteria.

It should be stressed, however, that CCRS does NOT recommend caregivers. The lists it provides are more or less a “just the facts” kind of thing. Besides checking credentials, Eastham recommends that parents ask a potential care provider (the person or center) for personal references and recommendations, and follows these up with phone calls.

Child care providers, take note: according to Eastham, some of CCRS’s lesser-known services include financial assistance for training opportunities and awarding mini-grants to those looking to improve the quality of their programs.

Another unique CCRS service is the Quality Counts Van Program. This is a small mobile library which, in addition to lending books to child care centers, is driven by a specialist who leads reading activities with the children.

If none of the above applies to you, the CCRS can still be a good resource. Its website gives tips for determining whether or not your child is old/mature enough to be left alone safely and a host of general information about children’s health and safety, among other things.

Child Care Resource Service is located at 314 Bevier Hall, 905 S. Goodwin, Urbana. Its summer office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. During the school year, hours change to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. every weekday except Tuesday, when hours are 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Photo courtesy of Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana

If you’re looking for preschool or child care options in the Champaign-Urbana area, consider adding new chambanamoms.com sponsor Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana to your list of possibilities.

Founded in 1962 as an outgrowth of a parent study group, the school has its roots in the home of Dr. Ben Williams and his wife, and has been in its current location in Savoy since 1984. In 1994, the school added a 2,000-square-foot all-purpose room, and today it houses seven preschool classes, a kindergarten class, and an extended day Montessori program and wrap-around child care.

Just what is Montessori? It is an educational method developed Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, and it stresses the development of a child’s own initiative and natural abilities, especially through practical play.

Rather than a teacher, classes at Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana are overseen by a “directress,” who prepares the environment for learning and guides the children without dominating them. She also helps to foster independence in the students.Montessori classrooms and materials are designed to provide a wide variety of learning experiences for the developmental needs of each child.

Classes at Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana are offered for children ages 3-5. For more information, visit the school’s website.

Welcome to chambanamoms.com, Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana!

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