Like the rest of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus community, the Children’s Learning and Care Center (CLCC) had to transition to online learning in late March after the coronavirus pandemic closed campus.
Luckily for the CLCC, it had already been interacting with the families with a childcare management application so the transition was easier than expected.
“We’ve used a childcare management application HiMama for almost two years at the center and it has allowed us easy access to connect with families,” said Susan Finkel-Hoffman, CLCC’s director.
Center staff, who provide year-round learning and care services for children of UW Oshkosh students, employees and the community who are six weeks to 5 years old, quickly and eagerly brainstormed how to connect with and support families with specific concerns during the stay-at-home order.
“Valuing the close connections with the families at the center, we knew it was important to continue supporting them through this time,” Finkel-Hoffman said.
Prior to COVID-19, HiMama allowed parents to download and receive daily information about their child’s day, daily care and development and served as a source to send messages. After the pandemic hit, HiMama also allowed teachers to share lesson plans and communicate with parents and vice versa.
For the teachers of CLCC—including Brittnie Maass—they started to realize HiMama just wasn’t enough.
“As the days passed, I wanted to do more, so I decided on other alternative teaching methods,” said Maass, who teaches children from 12 to 24 months. “I started a shared document using google photos to share read-a-louds, pictures and do-it-yourself videos and used Zoom to connect with children and their families.”
Since Maass started her alternative teaching methods, she has received a great response from the children in her class and their families.
“I have had families reach out asking questions, specifically questions on potty training,” Maass said. “I have also gotten responses on how their little ones are enjoying the videos and some children who have language have been able to request ‘Brittnie videos’.”
Dani Kvam’s son Haakon—who will celebrate his second birthday in May—is in the toddler room with Maass. While the transition was hard at first for Haakon, it was eased with the extra effort by Maass.
“The transition from going to daycare every day to being home every day was challenging for Haakon,” said Kvam, a UWO assistant professor of communication studies. “He missed his friends and teachers and the routine they had established. The videos that Brittnie has been sending of her reading stories and singing songs have been really helpful in his school routine at home.”
Haakon now uses many of the songs that Maass sings in her videos in their everyday life.
“He really likes it when we start singing songs at home from his Brittnie videos like the ‘Clean-Up’ song or other songs about working together,” Kvam said. “These videos have helped us bridge what Brittnie does at daycare with what we do at home.”
Kvam is thankful for all that CLCC has done for her son and all the children during these uncertain times.
“I really appreciate all the work that Brittnie and Susan have been doing to keep our family connected with the CLCC,” Kvam said. “All the videos and activities they have been sending show me how much they care about Haakon and his development. I feel really fortunate that Haakon is able to attend the CLCC and build relationships with his teachers, his classmates, and their families.”
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