Touching base on the Regulations, and EEC's Sample Progress Report...

Early education and out of school time providers are experienced observers of children, and can offer valuable information to parents about their children's development. Early education and care and out of school time programs provide children with different opportunities than home or school to demonstrate new skills, either individually or in groups. Sharing your observations with parents may give them new insights into their child.

The new regulations expand the current Group Child Care requirement for progress reports to include Family Child Care and School Age Child Care.

Progress reports must be prepared:

•every 3 months for infants and children with special needs;
•every 6 months for toddlers and preschoolers; and
•at least annually at the midpoint of the child's program year for school age children.
Progress reports for children younger than school age must address all developmental domains, including cognitive, social/emotional, language, fine and gross motor, and life skills. Progress reports for school age children can be limited to the child's growth and development within the context of the program's statement of purpose

Are parent signatures required on the new progress reports? How do I know parents will even read them? What if they disagree with what I've written?
You must offer parents an opportunity to meet with you to discuss their child's progress, and let them know you value their perspective on their child's development but you do not need a parent signature. You must maintain a copy of the child's progress report in the child's file. Most parents are very interested in how their children are progressing and in seeing their "work", and will look forward to your reports.

The technical assistance materials located at http://www.eec.state.ma.us/licensingRegulations.aspx includes information about how to write reports in a factual, objective, positive way, and how to share information with parents.

BELOW IS A LINK TO EEC'S 1 PAGE PROGRESS REPORT SAMPLE, CLICK ON THE LINK TO ACCESS THE FORM...
http://www.mass.gov/Eeoe/docs/EEC/prof_development/train_newregs/prog_rpt_sample.pdf

EEC has made materials available from the MA Department of Public Health and the Department of Agricultural Resources that early education and care programs may find informative and are encouraged to share with parents and staff about Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Massachusetts is going to begin aerial spraying for mosquitoes this week (week of August 2, 2010), due to the increasing risk of EEE, which is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus which is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, in Southeastern MA.

Materials available include Fact Sheets (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) along with the list of affected towns, the Governor’s press release regarding this issue and written notifications for parents and providers. These materials can be found at:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoemodulechunk&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Resources+for+You&L2=Education+Agencies+in+Massachusetts&L3=Department+of+Early+Education+%26+Care&sid=Eeoe&b=terminalcontent&f=EEC_news_updates_20100802_eee_notice&csid=Eeoe

Protecting children from the sun Reviewed by Dr Stuart Crisp, consultant paediatrician (http://www.netdoctor.com/)

Protecting children from the sun reduces the risk of skin cancer developing later.
Why is it important to protect children from the sun?

Too much sun is particularly harmful to young children, who should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times.

Protecting children from the sun not only prevents painful sunburn, it also significantly reduces the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. 50 per cent of total lifetime sunlight exposure occurs in childhood. Breezes or water can cool the skin of children playing in the sun, so excessive exposure to sunlight is not noticed until they are burned. Some children are sensitive to sunlight and might develop a rash.

How to protect children in the sun
~Remember that infants must be kept out of the sun entirely, while children with light skin will burn easily.
~If the child is not exposed to direct sunlight, sunscreen is not usually necessary.
~Children should be encouraged to play in the shade, wearing good protective clothing.
~Sunscreen use does not allow an increase in the time spent in sunlight.
~Sunscreen must have sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Anything less is useless.
~Make sure you use enough sunscreen; half a handful (approximately 20ml) is usually enough for the child's entire body.
~Remember that some sunscreens come off through contact with water, sweating or rubbing with a towel.
~Re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours during a day in the sun, especially if they are in and out of water.
~Keep children out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun's rays are at their strongest.

Five things to remember
~Small children should always be kept in the shade.
~Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm.
~Stay in the shade as much as possible.
~Good protection is provided by light clothes and a hat.
~Children should be given sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 30).

What you should know about sunscreen

There are several different ways to specify a lotion's SPF, so remember to check which system is being used when you buy a sunscreen.

For example, American SPF numbers are usually twice as high as the SPF numbers on European products.

This means that an American SPF 8 sun cream is in fact equivalent to European SPF 4. Ask the pharmacist if you are in doubt.

~Re-apply suncreen several times during the day.
~Remember that even when it is cloudy, 30 to 50 percent of the ultraviolet rays can still reach us, depending on how overcast the weather is.

What to do if a child gets sunburn
~Always consult a doctor if a small child or baby has been sunburnt.
~Consult a doctor if blisters or a rash appear.
~Consult a doctor if the skin is very red and painful. Consider calamine lotion to cool sunburn.
~Cool the sunburnt area in tepid water (approximately 25ºC) for 30 minutes to an hour.
~Be careful the child does not get cold.
~A pharmacist will be able to provide advice about aftersun products, some of which may be useful for cooling and remoisturising the skin.