Everyay at Neighborhood House, at least one of our teachers does something extraordinary to help a child through a rough situation or to grasp a new connect and have one of these amazing “aha” moments. Helping a child in this way requires extra effort on the part of the teacher. It also requires the sensitivity to know just the right way to respond in such a circumstance.

Sometimes a child needs some extra TLC and attention on a rough morning, when he or she does not want to say goodbye to mom or dad, but sometimes, a child simply needs a little quiet time on his or her own.

Sometimes, a child is frustrated with a concept, such as a letter of the alphabet that he or she remembered yesterday, but cannot today.

Sometimes a child has a bathroom accident and does not want to wear the unappealing spare outfit that we pull out of the cupboard when there is not one from home in his or her cubbie.

In all these circumstances, our teachers deal with the child in a sensitive and respectful fashion, even when that takes more work than an alternative. Knowing when to be firm and when to be flexible is an art that our teachers develop with training and experience.

Teachers go the extra mile when they go to the work of having a class pet.

Helping to care for the pet is a good learning experience for the children, but any teacher who thinks that the children can assume the entire responsibility for a hamster, gerbil or even a fish is kidding herself. We must remember to buy supplies and food and clean the cage or bowl.

Last year, we made a real effort to involve the children in a gardening project. Keeping up with the weeding takes more work than when the entire lawn area is mowed, but has benefits both to the children who help and in how our building looks.

Teachers go the extra mile when they take the time to carefully plan lessons and activities that relate to a weekly theme. Children learn best when activities are hands-on and related to each other. It takes more work to plan and carry out an apple lesson that uses real apples than a paper and crayon project, but which activity would be more beneficial to the child?

Teachers go the extra mile when they encourage children to do lots and lots of easel paintings on large pieces of paper. Coloring at a table with crayons makes much less mess, but is much less beneficial for the kids.

Teachers in our infant room go the extra mile when they make a special effort to give each infant cuddle time separate from feeding or changing time. While feeding and changing can be precious opportunities for one on one attention, infants need more snuggling and cuddling than this, and our teachers work hard to meet each infant's need for special, individual time.

Teachers go the extra mile when they plan interesting activities for the children all-day long, instead of relying on some “down time” when the kids watch TV.

Nearly a year ago, we decided to completely eliminate television and videos at Neighborhood House. Even educational TV and videos can easily be overused in a child care setting, and most children watch more than enough at home. Even through the long winter months, we did not use any videos or television at Neighborhood House.

Teachers go the extra mile when they give up their own time to attend a college class, training session or professional conference. The knowledge gained through these opportunities is very useful, but it can be difficult to make time for these training activities in the face of a full work week and home responsibilities.

Five of our teachers will finish a second college class this week, and I am so very proud of Myriam Torres, Elaine White, Donna Treat, Jill Rafferty and Megan LoPiccolo.

Our teachers go the extra mile when they give up a night off to join our 4-year-old when they have the chance to be “baseball buddies” at the Doubledays game. This is a great opportunity, and the children thoroughly enjoy the experience.

Our entire staff and board will go the extra mile when we host our sixthannual Children's Carnival from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 14, here at the center. The fundraising event will feature children's games (with prizes) and activities, a hot dog roast and other treats to eat, a child-oriented garage sale and a wonderful performance by the Merry-Go-Round Children's theater.

Everyone is welcome to come and join the fun! Funds raised will purchase learning equipment for our classrooms and playground.

Susan Jones is executive director for the Neighborhood House in Auburn