To play is to enjoy an activitiy of personal choice. The heart and soul of any worthwhile early childhood program is play. Where do the adults in these programs fit into the children's play? Are they facilitators, leaders, teachers, observers, evaluators, role models or invisible guides?

The goal of any adult during children's play should not be to control, nor should they opt to be invisible. The goal is to be supportive and nurturing for each child during their play. This includes teaching during that special moment, observing to catch the clues from each child about their needs, evaluating the environment and materials in order to stimulate learning, modeling behavior for social interaction and facilitating the entire program's needs while remaining playful oneself!

A tall order? Yes, for sure. But as adults involved in children's play we must cherish each individual child and celebrate their accomplishments. We must allow them to be active and enourage them to be social yet diverse in their interests. We must free them to be themselves and give them the chance to pursue their play so they may achieve empowerment in their world.

-Anne Clements

Anne Clements has owned and directed Annie's Ark, Inc. since 1982. Her childcare center was started as an act of faith to give children a loving warm place where they receive individual nurturing and are given the best possible memories of their days away from home. She holds an AAS degree in Recreation Leadership and has maintained her CDA, Infant and Toddlers since 1992.

Anne received her Bachelors Degree in Child Development Perspectives from Empire State College in 2005. She acts as a consultant for several local centers in addition to directing Annie's Ark.

Over the past 15 years Anne has been conducting workshops for CEP (Child Health Education Programs), Cornell Cooperative Extension, State and Local AEYC conferences, YMCA Conferences, the Child Care Council and private childcare centers. Keynote speeches have included the 1996 NYCCA Conference in Ithaca, 2001 and 2002 Conferences for the Family Resource Center of Ontario County, the 2003 Adirondack Conference in Saratoga Springs area, New York, and the ABC Early Headstart Conference in 2007 in Rochester, New York.

Anne offers her extensive knowledge and experience in a series of workshops for the child care provider. The workshop range from her favorite Infant/Toddler subjects to Risk Taking on the Playground and Stress Relief for caregivers because "Life is too Short!"

Anne has been a member of the Rochester Association for the Education of Young Children since 1982, serving as Secretary, conference co-chair person and manager of the resource book table. In 1994, she received the "Friend of the Young Child Award" for her dedication in providing quality programs for children. She also has served on the Cornell Cooperative Committee of Regional Human Development and for the last three years, and has been involved with the local Cornell Cooperative Workshop Caregivers Day. She has served two terms on the Child Care Council of Rochester's board of directors in the last 15 years. Membership in these child related organizations has always been a focus for Anne in her promotion of childcare as a worthy and important profession.

Workshops and custom classes for private centers are available upon request.

Call 585 346-2035 or e-mail today for more information.
See her center at www.anniesarkchildcare.com.

Offering hands-on experiences for children and adults. Anne is pictured below sharing her love of animals with the children of Annie's Ark, Inc.