Press Room

FREE Supportive Internet Resources
by Elaine Lowe

Want to start your day with a thoughtful short article? Want to read tips from other child care practitioners? Want to join a discussion group with other home-based providers?

I have become aware of these resources through my work contacts as publications manager. I cannot endorse any of them as a subscriber, but I have reviewed examples of their resources. Although some sites have some commercial links, their main purpose is to support people working in the child care field.

Exchange Every Day
Exchange Every Day is a great way to start your day. It offers a short email bulletin on a specific topic. It is easy to subscribe to this initiative of the Child Care Information Exchange. Just follow the link from www.childcareexchange.com. View archives of Exchange Every Day too.

Provider Press
Provider Press offers a free monthly email newsletter, The Childcare Sentinal, which is dedicated to family-based child care providers and hosted by experienced child care practitioners. It offers articles, facts, tips, contests and polls, along with a supporting website at www.Childcare-Sentinal.com. It is easy to subscribe straight from the site’s home page.

Email Discussion Groups
There are many email discussion groups for child care providers available through the Internet. Each group will have a particular focus or goal, and will have established some netiquette rules. Unless someone recommends a particular group, choosing among them will not be easy. Before searching, identify your own goals for belonging to a Listserv group. Ask yourself:
. Am I looking to ways to get connected to others in my field?
. Am I working to expand my professional knowledge? In a specific area?
. Am I looking for a safe and supportive place to talk about my experiences?
. Am I looking for information about how I can support children’s best interests?
. How much time do I want to give such a group?

Try searching major discussion group sites at www.groups.yahoo.com or www.topica.com. Keywords such as child care or day care (one word or two) will narrow your search. Read the descriptions. If you like what you read, subscribe to the group. Start with several and unsubscribe from the ones you find do not meet your needs or expectations.

Child Care Magazine
This weekly online magazine for parents and care providers offers feature useful articles and columns. Examples include prime time parenting, preparing for a parent interview, music & art in child care, child care start-ups, child care issues and gifted children. Be prepared to sort out the useful contents from the advertising. Visit www.dataworkz.com/childcaremagazine and check it out.