C. Nuts and Bolts
1. Space - Tour the space ahead of time. These are some things to look for:
2. Media –
3. Supplies -
4. Food –
5. Programming and Activities:
6. Zones –
- Is it near where the parents and main activities will be? Is it accessible and safe?
- Is it visible or is it pushed away as far as possible, at the end of the longest hallway on the top floor or basement? You might need to discuss procuring a better space. Remember the radical childcare activist credo: We hold babies; we hold space!
- Previewing your space gives you the information to prepare. It lets you know what attributes to plan around. Ex. – lots of blank white walls, you need sticky stuff to put up posters with that won’t damage the paint. Cold floor, you need rugs.
- Also check out what is neighboring your space. Where are the bathrooms? Close to beautiful walled outdoor space, you may plan some outdoor workshops. Near a kitchen or another workshop, you need to know what will be child-safe and what you need to stay away from. It’s best to minimize what can’t be touched by selecting the most child-safe space you can. Previewing/asking about what is going on around the childcare space, including activities going on next to your space, lets you see any issues you need to discuss, plan, and coordinate with others of how everything will work out.
- Creative space: Besides setting up childcare/activities in a room at conferences we have created sofa forts, children’s tables, dinosaur nests, community games, scavenger hunts, picnic blanket activities, and other nooks and nests of liberation within one room or open air events.
- Also tour outside and surrounding space to check out any playgrounds, outdoor spaces, grassy areas, or sidewalks to use for kinetic, outdoor play, or field trips.
2. Media –
- Make fliers to get the word out.
- Make a flier/pamphlet for the childcare programming.
- Make a coloring book!
- “Childcare provided” - Make sure a description of your programming is on all conference/event related media.
- Banner, sign/s, or artwork to be put outside of the childcare space.
- Create visibility and spread the message/meaning of the childcare action.
3. Supplies -
- Art and media to decorate the room with
- Building Supplies – Blankets, pillows, clothesline, clothespins, tape, sticky stuff for wall, brown paper to paper a coffee table for drawing, cushions to sit on, empty boxes, ect.
- Toys -games, a soft ball, dress-up clothes, etc.
- Diaper wipes? Paper towels or other cleaning supplies? First Aid Kit?
- Car seats? Wagon to pull tired children in or snacks and water? Rocking chair for pregnant and nursing moms? What are the particular needs to support parents and children at your particular event?
4. Food –
- How is the event/conference handling food? Is food being provided? Will children eat there or eat in childcare?
- Will parents pick up children or children eat lunch in childcare, or have a choice?
- If children eat with group they need more time in transport; should be served first.
- What are the children’s food allergies and dietary restrictions? Is this on the registration form? On name stickers?
- Will snacks be provided? Is there a budget? Will you need to shop for the snacks?
- Drinks – water, cups, juice boxes
5. Programming and Activities:
- Programming – Keep finalizing the program.
- Schedule – Organize what classes will happen when, so you can share with others as well as organize with volunteers.
- Plan a range of children’s activities:
- Artistic – art supplies and projects
- Play/Learn/Work – toys, puppets
- Build –
- (autonomous) - boxes, forts
- (community) – games
- Calm – books, stuffed animals, nap
- Kinetic – outdoor time. Jump rope, ball, chalk, games, dance, yoga
- Exploration – visit areas around you, go on fieldtrips, scavenger hunts and walks
- Political – tie the issues together
6. Zones –
- You may want to organize your activities into “zones” or have their own special spot in the room. You can label these zones with signs.
- Also you can organize your supplies into boxes that can be pulled out sometimes but not everything always in view/available at all times.
on to --> D. Last Steps