Avoid Morning Tears

Have you ever had issues getting a squirmy toddler dressed in the morning? Try these tips:

1. Start when they are sleepy
     Dress your child as soon as he/she wake up. "A fueled-up toddler has more energy to resist getting dressed."
2. Give lots of hugs
    This allows your kid to greet the day more gradually. Choose a space that's comfy and cozy.
3. Be silly
    Pretend to put his/her shirt over your head or on the teddy bear, then let them correct you.



Giggles may override grumpiness.



Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

Crossroads

 

Are you ever standing at a crossroad when hunger strikes...so many choices...so little time...so hungry?  What motivates you to make a healthy choice to satisfy your hunger?  Do you have a bad habit that is hard to break when stress and the throes of hunger are gnawing at you?   Before you decide, stop and take 3 deep breaths, look down both roads, calmly ask yourself if what you are about to eat will be the best path to healthy living or will you take yourself down the road of bad habits that have so many pitfalls and bumps??

 
Thoughtless eating will quickly derail your weight loss results and have you grabbing for the bag of chips. So take the time to rationalize your food choice before you consume it. You will be more likely to make a healthier choice, if you give yourself time to think before you eat. Your choices will truly determine your journey.

Happy Trails! 

http://www.sharecare.com/question/what-kinds-motivation-are-there?sp_rid=MTExNTYzNDE5MQS2&sp_mid=1029327

Don't Spend-REUSE! Cheap Toy Ideas

As a parent we often times spend lots of unnecessary money on toys for our children only to find that they enjoy playing with the box that the toy came in more! When my daughter was young she preferred a water bottle with popcorn kernels in it to shake than the expensive rattles she had. In this picture the child has an empty creamer carton. What could she possibly learn from this? When she opens and closes the lid and screws it on and off she is using her fine motor skills and gaining an understanding about cause and effect. Additionally she may have seen her parent pouring from a bottle and may imitate what she sees. 

 

This child is enjoying the visual stimulation from a clear juice bottle that is just her size that has shiny colorful items in it. Before you throw that empty bottle away or lid from the laundry detergent think of how much fun a young child could have with what you see as trash. Save yourself some money! After all one man's junk is another baby's treasure!

Deborah K. Howell, Assistant Director

The Importance of Family Traditions



I grew up in a coastal community in Northern California. Growing up, I enjoyed many wonderful family traditions. Though my parents were fiscally conservative throughout the year, Christmas was always opulent in our home, as documented in my father’s home movies. My Aunt Sam was in charge of Easter celebrations. She enthusiastically organized lavish feasts and annual Easter egg hunts, a tradition I have assumed with my own family. Though I continue to maintain many of my childhood family traditions, over the years we have added new ones. During the Christmas of 1989, my husband and three children found ourselves living three- thousand miles from our childhood homes. It was just the five of us that year; no extended family. In an issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, I found recipes for a Charles Dickens Christmas dinner that included rib roast, Yorkshire pudding and carrot soufflé, and this became a new tradition, one that started on a snowy island in Alaska, that our family still maintains today here in North Carolina.

Family traditions might include Sunday dinners, pizza and movie night, annual vacations and camping trips, nightly devotions and nightly story time. These traditions help promote a sense of security and closeness within families. In our turbulent world today, feeling secure and valued within a family can make all the difference in a child’s life.

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about family traditions. She told me that on the second Saturday in December, she and her family decorate their Christmas tree. After the tree is decorated, the family spreads a blanket on the floor next to it where they sit and enjoy a dinner of fondue. Last Christmas her son, now in the Marines, drove three hours in stormy weather to join his family in this simple, yet long held family tradition.

Family traditions help to form the core of our social, emotional and psychological foundation. They create many of our fondest lifelong memories. Do you have some unique family traditions? Please share them with us.

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Specialist



Lady Gaga apologized for using the retarded word!

Some may think it's silly that Lady Gaga apologized for the retard word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BCtjg2Zn0A

However, I think it is a step in the right direction of bringing attention to this important matter.  Using the "R" word is as degrading to people that are intellectually challenged as it is to use the "N" word for other minorities!  However, it has been loosely used for years and is very popular with teenagers.  I know I have had to correct mine personally on many occasions.  Help us get the word out to stop using this word!

Actor John C. McGinley of "Scrubs" shares a message about why you should pledge to stop using the word "retard(ed)" and begin helping Special Olympics and Best Buddies International create a world of respect for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  http://www.youtube.com/epartnersinlearning

Norma W. Honeycutt, Executive Director

TLC Parenting

Can you remember the last time you had a date? Whether it is with your spouse, girl or guy friend it is essential for a strong relationship to have TIME to reconnect. Having children can sometimes put a strain on the relationship therefore courtship is a must! Parents need a chance to talk, eat, and have fun without the kids!

Newsflash... you do not have to leave the house to have date night. Set aside at least 2 hours of uninterrupted time from the kids. Enjoy a candle light take out dinner while the kids eat pizza and watch a movie.


What matters is that you are modeling for your children the importance of making time for each other and the value you place on your relationship.

After your date night you will be revamped to be mommy and daddy again...

 

Challenge: Pick at least one day during the week to enjoy date night.

 

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

(Now... back to my date weekend)

Start At The Top - Physical Fitness for Your Mind

In order to consciously choose the attitudes and beliefs which are most empowering, we must learn to quiet our mind and quiet our body. The quiet mind opens up our perceptions and frees us to make the most positive choices regarding our lives.

 In this sense, the mind is likened to a pond of water. Restless thoughts are like pebbles thrown into the water. They send out a ripple of activity, disturbing the tranquil surface and we cannot see clearly to the bottom of the pond, which represents our inner wisdom. When we stop the restless thoughts, we calm the waters, enabling us to see clearly to the bottom—where our wisest, most enlightened self resides.

When we exercise, we metabolize excessive stress hormones—restoring our body and mind to a calmer, more relaxed state. Any form of activity where we "work up a sweat" for five minutes will effectively metabolize off—and prevent the excessive buildup of—stress hormones.

Quote: "...if you don't take care of your body, where else are you going to live?"

http://www.thebodysoulconnection.com/EducationCenter/fight.html

Toddler Time!!!

These children have just enjoyed listening to a story about bugs. Now they are getting to look and play with artificial butterflies, dragonflies and other insects. They enjoy learning new words and seeing new things.

Next the children participate in a group art activity, they enjoy mixing paint with their brushes and hands. This is working not only their small muscles in their fingers but their larger muscles in their arms. As well as teaching them to share their space with others.

As this child realizes there is paint on the table he exclaims "OH NO" while pointing at the mess.

After the paintings are complete the children have even more fun cleaning up all the messes that were made. The teacher gave them all a wet wash rag and they worked very hard to get all the paint off the table, floor, chairs and each other. Toddler time is sooooooo much fun.

Deborah K. Howell, Assistant Director

Co-sleeping – The Debate Continues

I can never participate in a discussion about co-sleeping without parents taking a firm stand on one side or the other. Co-sleeping, the practice of babies sleeping in the same bed with parents clearly remains a controversial topic in our culture. Opponents of co-sleeping, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, believe that co-sleeping is unsafe. The greatest concern is that the adult might inadvertently roll over onto the baby while sleeping and suffocate the child. Babies can also become suffocated in the bedding, or they can become trapped between the mattress and the headboard.

Parents who support co-sleeping articulate the convenience for nursing mothers to have the baby next to them at night. They state that babies fall asleep more easily, get more sleep at night, and Moms get better quality sleep as well. One online article I found, authored by The Natural Child Project, presented a good argument for co-sleeping, reminding us that babies sleeping independently from parents, historically, is a relatively new concept, perhaps no more than two hundred years old. Until the late 1700’s, all societies believed that the best place for babies was next to their parents at night. The article also talks about bonding and its relationship to co-sleeping and offers research showing that children who co-sleep potentially form stronger early attachments with parents.

If you choose to co-sleep with your baby, it is recommended that you:

• do not use pillows on the bed

• always have your baby sleep on her/his back

• make sure there are no openings between the mattress on the head and foot boards where the baby can fall between.

• use a minimal amount of bed covers

• do not sleep next to the baby if you have taken any drugs or alcohol

http://kidshealth.org/parent/question/infants/qa_cosleeping.html


http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/tami_breazeale.html


Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Specialist

Special Needs Mini Conference - Saturday, May 7th

Location: Catawba College Ketner Building
(Free child care at Partners in Learning,
provided by the Arc of Rowan)
 

8:00am – 8:30am: Registration
8:45am – 11:15am: Two Breakout sessions to choose from:
Is it Behavior or Sensory Dysfunction
“Kids are What They Eat, and I’m Scared:
Diet’s Role in Behavior, Learning, and Attention Disorders”
Life Behind the 8 Ball - Living with Adult Autism
Becoming Your Child’s Best and Most Effective Advocate
Living with Down syndrome
Music as a Healing Influence
Voices of Autism
Management of Tantrum Problems in all children!

11:15am – 11:30am: Special Needs Fair/Refreshments -
Local agencies will provide booths with information about services that are available for families and communities.

11:30am – 12:00pm: Keynote - Linking and Accessing Services
for Parents of Children with Disabilities Wendy Baskins was hesitant to have her child labeled after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent chemo and radiation at age three. She was encouraged by her child care provider. Her child is
now 14 and she will share her pitfalls and how to overcome them, as well as, her successes. She considers the guiding of educators as her beginning of advocating for her son. Wendy has also worked with families in her job at the Rowan County Department of Social Services and has assisted clients and others in the community in effectively advocating for their
children’s needs. She will share it all with you!

Door prizes, family support,
and networking opportunities

Space is limited so call and sign up today
at 704-638-9020

Why Do Children Sometimes Refuse to Cooperate?

 The preschool years are a time when children are learning how to express themselves and interact with others. Their refusal to cooperate is not always a deliberate refusal to follow your directions, but may be due to other reasons.
Children May:

• Need a warning that you expect them to stop the activity to comply with your request.
• Might be thinking about something else and not hear the request.
• May not clearly understand your request.
• Might be more used to receiving negative attention (e.g., yelling, scolding) and may refuse the request to get attention.

By thinking about why your child may not be responding to you, allows you to determine what your next step should be.

Give a warning before making a request. If your child has a disability provide a concrete cue that shows your child what you want him/her to do.

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

Pick and Choose Your Battles

As a parent you have probably heard the advice that you should "pick and choose your battles". Kids resist you; that is part of their growing up and becoming individuals, so how do you decide which resistances are okay and which are not?


First you have to understand the difference between picking your battle versus surrendering when it becomes a battle. If you set a rule, stick to it! The problem arises when you have a rule, and when your child resists it you give in. This is not picking your battle, this is surrendering, and the difference is huge. Once you set a rule, the decision is made. By allowing your child to break the rule, you are undermining your own authority.

An easier way to stay strong and stick to your rule is to give choices. Your children might complain of the choices they are given, but you are not backing yourself into a corner, or breaking your own rule by giving in. When picking your battles as a parent, choose wisely, and choose things that will impact them in the long run.



Cutting teeth and whining....I'm CHOOSING not to battle!

                                                                            

Success is So Much Fun!

This is Cooper, Cooper is learning to crawl, say new words and understand new concepts. A month ago Cooper wasn't doing any of the things he now does, like crawl over an obstacle, or say "bubble" with such clarity! He is so proud of his successes as he squeals with delight when he does something new.

Deborah Howell, Assistant Director

Lessons Learned from a Story Book

Favorite childhood stories leave an impression that can last a lifetime. My all-time favorite story was The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese. The story is about a duck that learned a valuable life lesson while living with his family on the Yangtze River in China. Forty plus years later, I had an opportunity to walk along the shore of the Yangtze River. It was a monumental moment for me, fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit China; sparked by this story.

My children have their own favorites. My son, Philip, adored stories rich in imagination. Virginia loved stories with rhyme and humor, and my youngest, Victoria, was drawn to children’s books that were beautifully illustrated. (Interestingly, Victoria grew into an artistic adult with a keen sense of esthetic.)

Early childhood literature can help create imagination and wonder. It can be the foundation for a lifelong love of reading. There are lessons to be learned from these stories too. Some of my favorites today offer lessons about behavior such as:  llama llama misses mama by Anna Dewdney, The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn and The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Peister

Since she was a toddler, my granddaughter, five-year-old Cecilia, has loved stories about space, the sky and the moon. One of her favorites is Winkum, Blinkum and Nod by American writer and poet, Eugene Field. She loves to observe the sky at night and is eager to learn about stars and planets----A future astronaut, perhaps?

What is your favorite childhood story?

Voice of Advocacy!

 The General Assembly is working hard on our behalf to pass a budget as soon as possible.   They have some really difficult decisions to make considering the current deficit in our state.   I understand that they will have to make cuts somewhere, but early care, education, and intervention are not the place!

Representative Harry Warren will be here in Salisbury on April 29^th at 130 W. Innes Street, at 6:30 to discuss what is going on in Raleigh.  One of our Autism Support Group families will called him last week with regard to the Autism Medical Reform and Early Education Cuts.  He called her back today and they spoke for  about 30 minutes.

• Items of importance to the autism and developmental disability community that are under consideration include cuts to special education and other education services, cuts to Medicaid, and cuts to the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS).
• Smart Start  - Watch and Share this great video

Vegetables

Eating vegetables helps to reduce your risk of

• cancer
• heart disease
• stroke
• diabetes, and other diseases

Vegetables may also help you control your hunger and weight.

Vegetables are low in calories and have very little fat. Choose fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables with "No Added Salt".

Try to eat from a rainbow of colors of vegetables.

Each color provides different nutrients.

Reference: www.move.va.gov

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

Calming Down Strong Feelings

Calming-down strategies can help children manage strong feelings when angry.  When coaching children to use these strategies, make sure that they are able to think clearly and are not overwhelmed by emotion. 

You can teach children a three step process to calm down:

Belly breathing: Put your hand on your tummy and take 3 deep breathes.
Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.  Feel your tummy move in and out. 
Belly breathing helps lower blood pressure and heart rate which calms the body

Say "Calm Down" using  a slow-down snail voice 5 times

Slowly count out loud to five: 1...2...3...4...5...

                                                                    




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Grouptime Fun

These two and three year old children are participating in a group activity. They each have a piece of a puzzle that has pictures on it, the facilitator is naming items that the children are to match with their piece.

 

The children have to look at their card, identify their picture and then fit the puzzle together.

 

This activity provides group interaction, waiting which teaches patience, listening and following directions, matching and fine motor skills by putting the pieces together. Overall this activity is a great way to teach children numerous concepts while having fun.

Deborah K. Howell, Assistant Director