Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

I must say this topic is one that was very difficult for me to think on. I believe it was six or seven years ago as I worked as a licensing specialist, there was a new project under development that offered programs in the summer an opportunity to operate outside of their licensed capacity for school age children only.  While to me the specific program was not new but it was something new to incorporate within child care programs.  As a Licensing Specialist I saw many problems this could present when it can to supervision, health and safety of children in care.  

This new project was to have programs formatted to serve more school age children in a structured environment.  So across the Maryland region 20 programs were selected and monitored from the effectiveness of this program.  As a result of the study, the project was adopted for all early child care programs to enroll in that served school age children.  What this change meant was that capacity restrictions were removed just in school age rooms only, staff qualification were also not looked at they only needed to have current and proper first aid/cpr for the children they were in charge of, and they had to register to have their program approved and pay for a summer camp certificate which had to be renewed every year. 

Of course with any program there are pros and cons.  The con with this project was that it did not ensure the staff working with the children had the proper skills and knowledge to engage the children in their care that is fun but at the same time educational, challenging, and developmental appropriate.  Let alone there be enough room for all the children they will have in the program in an effort to prevent injuries and overcrowding.  The real pro I see in this project is the fact that they will serve more school age children.  This gives the children an opportunity to be involved in activities with children their own age that will be stimulating.  Especially with families having to work children will not be left home alone getting into trouble or playing video games all day.

I can say that to this day many early child care programs are utilizing the project while some think the cost of the certificate is too expensive and opt out of the program.  But I have tried to explain to programs that the certificate will pay for itself and then some because of the number of additional children they will enroll for the summer.