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The Imagine Institute Helps Provider Realize Her Dream

Helping with early childhood learning is a passion for many people across Washington State, but it can sometimes be difficult to learn all the tools or even get the correct licenses to run a business. Marycruz Contreras says Imagine helped her get through these roadblocks to realize her dream of running her own child care business. MEET MARYCRUZ Marycruz has been working in child care and early childhood learning for nearly three decades. In 2010, she started her journey to become a

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Fall Activities 2024

Finding Fall Activities For Kids And Families

There’s a chill in the air, and that means the season is changing from summer to fall. With the cooler weather, it’s time to think about some fun activities to do both indoors and outdoors. We have put together a list of ideas you can choose from to get kids excited about the fall season. Fall Stained Glass Window – This unique activity will get kids involved and leave a lasting reminder of the fall season. First, have kids gather a bunch

Read More

Imagine U at Local Events September 2024

The Imagine Institute’s vision of affordable, high-quality care for every child in Washington State is rooted in community. We aim to build an accessible, strong, and diverse development system that elevates and improves the lives of child care providers and professionals and a huge part of that involves going out into our region and meeting potential providers face-to-face. This September, Imagine U, the Imagine Institute’s relationship-based mentorship program, is attending a couple of events out in the community. Imagine U identifies potential

Read More

Summer Learning: Seasons Around the World

We finally find ourselves in that time of year that kids everywhere dread – the return of the school year. Throughout this Summer Learning series, we’ve aimed to incorporate continued education into your child care. Learning is such a vital part of early development, and we hope you’ve found these topics interesting and fun to teach children about! To round out the series, we’re covering seasons around the world to explore the geography and cultural significance of seasons on our diverse planet.

Read More

Increasing Child Care Access in Whatcom County

The Imagine Institute and Whatcom County Health and Community Services are working together to support working families by increasing access to licensed child care, right in your community. Know someone in Whatcom County who would like to join Imagine U this year and start their own family home child care business? This program takes only 10 months and provides compensation for hands-on learning! About Imagine U Imagine U is a relationship-based mentorship program designed to increase the number of licensed family child

Read More

Back-to-School Activities for Kids

It’s that time of year again when Summer break ends, and kids are heading back to school. Even if you are provider, you can get into the school spirit. We have a few activities you can share with your kids to make starting school more fun, and to get them excited to learn. School Scavenger Hunt – There are many ways to get kids excited about starting school, including a scavenger hunt. Place school supplies around the room and have kids go

Read More

Summer Learning: History of Summer Snacks

The beautiful, warm summer months are in full swing. Swimming, popsicles, camping, and more marks a great summer. This year, we also want to make learning a staple of the summer! In June, we started our Summer Learning series on the Imagine Institute’s blog. This month, we’re continuing our series of fun topics you can incorporate into your child care in an educational capacity.   For July, we’re covering the history and invention of favorite summer snacks. Take a look! The Popsicle WHO

Read More
A graphic with the words "Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books" over the top of a colorful scoop of ice cream

Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books

National Ice Cream Month Is a great opportunity to share a sweet treat with the kids in your life. These ice cream-themed picture books will help you share a few sweet life lessons, too. For easy recipes to enjoy while you read, check out our ice cream activities blog. Saffron Ice Cream, by Rashin Kheiriyeh On her first trip to an American beach, a little girl remembers her former home in Iran and wonders what her new home will be like. She

Read More

Summer Learning: Nature in the Pacific Northwest

Summer is officially upon us, and school is out of session for the next few months. But the learning doesn’t need to stop there! Here at the Imagine Institute we wanted to put together a small series of blogs to share some ideas of topics you can cover in your child care to keep the learning going this summer. In this Summer Learning series, we’ll share fun topics of education you can incorporate into your child care this summer and beyond. This

Read More

Celebrate Pride Month with Fun Activities for Kids

June is Pride Month, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate inclusion and equality with your kids. There are several activities to help kids understand what Pride is about and to promote the spirit of inclusion and representation. We have gathered a few ideas we think you’ll enjoy. Create a Rainbow Collage – Start by grabbing a big piece of paper and using crayons to draw a rainbow right in the center. Then find scraps of colored paper, stickers, glitter, thin wood

Read More

The Imagine Institute Helps Provider Realize Her Dream

Helping with early childhood learning is a passion for many people across Washington State, but it can sometimes be difficult to learn all the tools or even get the correct licenses to run a business. Marycruz Contreras says Imagine helped her get through these roadblocks to realize her dream of running her own child care business. MEET MARYCRUZ Marycruz has been working in child care and early childhood learning for nearly three decades. In 2010, she started her journey to become a

Read More
Fall Activities 2024

Finding Fall Activities For Kids And Families

There’s a chill in the air, and that means the season is changing from summer to fall. With the cooler weather, it’s time to think about some fun activities to do both indoors and outdoors. We have put together a list of ideas you can choose from to get kids excited about the fall season. Fall Stained Glass Window – This unique activity will get kids involved and leave a lasting reminder of the fall season. First, have kids gather a bunch

Read More

Imagine U at Local Events September 2024

The Imagine Institute’s vision of affordable, high-quality care for every child in Washington State is rooted in community. We aim to build an accessible, strong, and diverse development system that elevates and improves the lives of child care providers and professionals and a huge part of that involves going out into our region and meeting potential providers face-to-face. This September, Imagine U, the Imagine Institute’s relationship-based mentorship program, is attending a couple of events out in the community. Imagine U identifies potential

Read More

Summer Learning: Seasons Around the World

We finally find ourselves in that time of year that kids everywhere dread – the return of the school year. Throughout this Summer Learning series, we’ve aimed to incorporate continued education into your child care. Learning is such a vital part of early development, and we hope you’ve found these topics interesting and fun to teach children about! To round out the series, we’re covering seasons around the world to explore the geography and cultural significance of seasons on our diverse planet.

Read More

Increasing Child Care Access in Whatcom County

The Imagine Institute and Whatcom County Health and Community Services are working together to support working families by increasing access to licensed child care, right in your community. Know someone in Whatcom County who would like to join Imagine U this year and start their own family home child care business? This program takes only 10 months and provides compensation for hands-on learning! About Imagine U Imagine U is a relationship-based mentorship program designed to increase the number of licensed family child

Read More

Back-to-School Activities for Kids

It’s that time of year again when Summer break ends, and kids are heading back to school. Even if you are provider, you can get into the school spirit. We have a few activities you can share with your kids to make starting school more fun, and to get them excited to learn. School Scavenger Hunt – There are many ways to get kids excited about starting school, including a scavenger hunt. Place school supplies around the room and have kids go

Read More

Summer Learning: History of Summer Snacks

The beautiful, warm summer months are in full swing. Swimming, popsicles, camping, and more marks a great summer. This year, we also want to make learning a staple of the summer! In June, we started our Summer Learning series on the Imagine Institute’s blog. This month, we’re continuing our series of fun topics you can incorporate into your child care in an educational capacity.   For July, we’re covering the history and invention of favorite summer snacks. Take a look! The Popsicle WHO

Read More
A graphic with the words "Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books" over the top of a colorful scoop of ice cream

Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books

National Ice Cream Month Is a great opportunity to share a sweet treat with the kids in your life. These ice cream-themed picture books will help you share a few sweet life lessons, too. For easy recipes to enjoy while you read, check out our ice cream activities blog. Saffron Ice Cream, by Rashin Kheiriyeh On her first trip to an American beach, a little girl remembers her former home in Iran and wonders what her new home will be like. She

Read More

Summer Learning: Nature in the Pacific Northwest

Summer is officially upon us, and school is out of session for the next few months. But the learning doesn’t need to stop there! Here at the Imagine Institute we wanted to put together a small series of blogs to share some ideas of topics you can cover in your child care to keep the learning going this summer. In this Summer Learning series, we’ll share fun topics of education you can incorporate into your child care this summer and beyond. This

Read More

Celebrate Pride Month with Fun Activities for Kids

June is Pride Month, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate inclusion and equality with your kids. There are several activities to help kids understand what Pride is about and to promote the spirit of inclusion and representation. We have gathered a few ideas we think you’ll enjoy. Create a Rainbow Collage – Start by grabbing a big piece of paper and using crayons to draw a rainbow right in the center. Then find scraps of colored paper, stickers, glitter, thin wood

Read More