IT RAINED ON OUR PARADE: How to help children cope with disappointment



We were all looking forward to the Hendersonville Apple Festival Parade a couple of weekends ago, but it rained, and it rained and it rained!

Here are some suggestions for helping your child cope with disappointment:

1) First, prepare your child in advance of the event or situation by letting him or her know that sometimes things happen that are outside of everybody’s control.

2) Be a good role model by showing your child how you cope with disappointment.

3) Acknowledge the child’s feelings of disappointment.

4) Use the experience to assist your child with learning how to self-regulate and manage their emotions. Your child will, unfortunately, have other disappointments to cope with in the future, and each experience can help your child become better prepared for future disappointments.

5) Remind your child how he or she was able to handle a disappointing situation in the past.

6) Don’t over react to your child’s disappointment.

7) Have a backup plan.

We ended up having a great day, despite the rain!

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Cha Ching!

Invest in your future with a few easy steps

A little goes a long way…A little adds up quickly…A little buys a lot!

Here are a few tips to stash some extra cash:

                            Start by setting up a simple budget and stick to it.  Make sure you give yourself a few dollars a week for your spending pleasure.

Set up an automatic draft to your savings account for a few dollars each payday…you’ll never miss it.

 

Empty your pockets or coin purse each day into a pretty jar.

Round up each debit card purchase to the next dollar and stash that extra cash.

 

Set up savings container or jars for that special purchase.

Clean out your closets and clutter around the house and have a yard sale or sell on ebay, craigs list, or at your local consignment shop.  Stash that extra cash.

 

Skip the vending machines…drink water instead…stash the extra cash.

At the end of each month, count your stash….it could look like this

 

Colleen Carman, Finance/HR Director

Fun at the Fair

Today the NCPre-K children visited the fair. They loved the little pigs, there were three of them!!! So naturally they assumed it was THE three little pigs.

 

Touching a cow was new to almost all of the children, while hesitant at first they really enjoyed it!!

Keith wasn't real sure about the goat but decided to go for it!!!

It was sooo cool to see the sheep get a hair cut. The fair was a learning experience for all the children.

Even I learned something. A pig can run faster than me!!!!!

I hope I never get chased by a pig!!!! 

Deborah K. Howell, Assistant Director

TIME MANAGEMENT: GETTING IT ALL DONE IN LESS TIME

Sometimes I lay awake on Sunday nights, contemplating everything I need to accomplish during the upcoming week. Like you, I wear many hats: professional worker, teacher, student, wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, volunteer etc. There is always too much to do and not enough time. For strategies that address these challenges, I offer the follow suggestions:

• Do not postpone important matters that are unpleasant. Jobs rarely get more pleasant by being postponed. Do it now!

• Do difficult jobs first, when you are at your best. Look after minor jobs when you are tired.\

• If you have several phone calls to make, do them all in a burst.

• When you start a piece of work, try to finish it without interruptions. If you have to finish it later, you will lose time picking up where you left off.

• Ensure that you have given yourself sufficient time to complete individual tasks, taking into account your daily interruptions.

• Learn to say ‘No’.

• Monitor how you use your time, and make conscious changes in your behavior.

• Stress and fatigue are rarely caused by the things you have done, but by the thought of what you haven’t done!

http://www.tsuccess.dircon.co.us/timemanagementskills.htm


Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Early Intervention Works!

Sensory experiences include touch, movement, body awareness, sight, sound, smell, taste, and the pull of gravity. Distinguishing between these is the process of sensory integration (SI). While the process of sensory integration occurs automatically and without effort for most, for some the process is inefficient.  The little fellow below doesn't like the feel of the grass on his feet or hands.

 

Extensive effort and attention are required in these individuals for sensory integration to occur, without a guarantee of it being accomplished.   Below is two videos of a little fellow that I work with.  Look at how far he has come in just a couple of weeks!  We started by playing in rice and moved back to the grass.

Blessed to be a part of his early intervention team!  Norma Honeycutt

 

Mom's out of town...What is Dad to do...

When mom goes out of town for business what is dad to do? Where are the kids clothes? What do they need to eat? Where is this, where is that?

Today is day 2 of my business trip. I sent Cedric a text message asking if he sent diapers to school with our 17 month old, his response was, "I've got this under control." It made me smile. Dads may not do everything the way moms do it, but...why does it matter? Who says that things has to be done a certain way?

Ask yourself; is it going to matter 5 years from now, before you get upset over something as small as non-matching clothes on your 17 month old. Or when talking to Madison, 5 years old, who says, "Mommy, CJ fell." As if she is telling on daddy because it happened when "mommy" wasn't home.

Appreciate your husband and don't take him or what he does for granted!

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator
Appreciating my husband!

Teach Your Children Well



As we love and nuture our children, care for their hurts, provide for their basic needs, are we teaching and modeling for them a healthy future?   "By teaching your children healthy habits , you can keep them at a healthy weight.  Also, the eating habits your children pick up when they are young will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle when they are adults."


You are their first role model and they will follow your lead.  The following tips from WebMD will help you encourage your child to live a healthy and fit life:

·        "Guide your family's choices rather than dictate foods. Make a wide variety of healthful foods available in the house. This practice will help your children learn how to make healthy food choices.

·        Encourage your children to eat slowly. A child can detect hunger and fullness better when eating slowly.

·     Eat meals together as a family as often as possible. Try to make mealtimes pleasant with conversation and sharing, not a time for scolding or arguing. If mealtimes are unpleasant, children may try to eat faster to leave the table as soon as possible. They then may learn to associate eating with stress.

·           Involve your children in food shopping and preparing meals. These activities will give you hints about your children's food preferences, an opportunity to teach your children about nutrition, and provide your kids with a feeling of accomplishment. In addition, children may be more willing to eat or try foods that they help prepare.

·        Plan for snacks. Continuous snacking may lead to overeating, but snacks that are planned at specific times during the day can be part of a nutritious diet, without spoiling a child's appetite at meal times. You should make snacks as nutritious as possible, without depriving your children of occasional chips or cookies, especially at parties or other social events.

·        Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV. Try to eat only in designated areas of your home, such as the dining room or kitchen. Eating in front of the TV may make it difficult to pay attention to feelings of fullness, and may lead to overeating.

·        Encourage your children to choose water as their beverage. Over consumption of sweetened drinks and sodas has been linked to increased rates of obesity in children.

·        Try not to use food to punish or reward your children. Withholding food as a punishment may lead children to worry that they will not get enough food. For example, sending children to bed without any dinner may cause them to worry that they will go hungry. As a result, children may try to eat whenever they get a chance. Similarly, when foods, such as sweets, are used as a reward, children may assume that these foods are better or more valuable than other foods. For example, telling children that they will get dessert if they eat all of their vegetables sends the wrong message about vegetables.

·        Make sure your children's meals outside the home are balanced. Find out more about their school lunch program, or pack their lunch to include a variety of foods. Also, select healthier items when dining at restaurants."

Website:  http://children.webmd.com/guide/kids-healthy-eating-habits

Colleen Carman, Finance/HR Director

Even Toddlers Can Cooperate!!!!

Oh yes, let it be known that even toddlers can cooperate with one another as they formed this little circle to dance all by themselves!!

"Oh, but wait for me" says one friend, "I want to join the circle of dancing too!!!!"

 "Well come on then I will help you up."

"Let's be dance partners!"

These children are all between the ages of 15 months and 2 years. WOW what a wonderful community of little friends.

Deborah K. Howell, Assistant Director

STAY THE COURSE AND ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS

Shortly after my fiftieth birthday, I made the decision to return to school. It was an expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive decision, but I have always had a great passion for the study of human development, especially those critical early years. Along the journey, I was blessed to hear the opinions of many people. Most comments were very encouraging, though there were a few people who consistently voiced negative remarks. These negative individuals always reminded me of squawking crows in a telephone wire. “Squawk,” “Why are you doing all this work?” “Squawk,” “Why would you want to put yourself through this at your age?”

It can be difficult to believe in yourself when there are those around you who don’t believe and don’t dream. The important thing to do, though, is to stay focused on your goals and not become distracted by the noise and negativism around you. As far as I know, we only get one shot at life. This is it, folks. We might as well go for it.

(Note: I started a Master’s program in Special Education this semester, and I’m celebrating my sixtieth birthday next week, so any of you squawking crows out there,-------- bring it on!)

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Tomorrow is not Promised...

Tomorrow is not promised. Spend as much quality time with your family and friends as you can and don't take it for granted. We all have busy schedules but we have to make time for each other and tell teach how much we appreciate and love one another. It could be as simple as a phone call, a text message, or going to visit them.

Family is,
heaven sent from our father above,
bonded by the power of love.
No matter what family has each others back,
when push comes to shove.


Family is,
understanding, never demanding,
all for one and one for all,
I will never leave you alone standing.


By: Antony-Tyrone Smith

Dedicated to Rae Jones one of our Partners In Learning family members.

You will be missed. We are praying for your family.

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

Source: The Power Of Family, Poem about Family http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/the-power-of-family#ixzz1XbILgQnW

Picky Eaters?

When it comes to eating many parents are faced with the dilemma of a child that is a picky eater.  Many parents are concerned that their children are not receiving the proper nutrition for physical and mental development.  Sometimes it is so frustrating that we find ourselves letting our children be in control when it comes to choosing food.  Dr. Leann Birch, Professor and Head of the Human Development and Family Studies Department at Penn State University, states that “Children should be allowed to decide what and how much they eat, but it’s the parents’ responsibility to make healthy foods available to their children to choose from and eat.”

Try using some of these tips to help your child choose:

·       Expose your child to healthy fruits and vegetable at an early age

·       Continue to offer new foods and try to be patient

·       Be a role model by showing your excitement and enjoyment trying new foods

·       Keep healthy snacks available

·       Prepare you foods in healthy ways and engage your children in the preparation

·       Have some fun: do taste tests with vegetables dipped in a few different flavors; play a blindfold guessing game having your child describe the texture, flavor, etc; play “what can we make with this”; ask where do foods come from and how do they grow; plant container gardens and let the children pick a favorite seed pack, plant seeds, nurture plants and watch them grow…then EAT the result

·       When grocery shopping, pick 3 similar foods and allow the child to pick their favorite to try

Remember, it is normal for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years to resist eating new foods, and they may have about four to five favorite foods that they readily accept. Learning that this is a natural part of children’s development can help you relax a bit about what your child chooses to eat or reject. 

For more information visit this website:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/food-and-fitness/eat-smart/win-over-picky-eaters/

Colleen Carman

Finance/HR Director

A GRANDMOTHER’S PERSPECTIVE

Bella.  She's on the move!

I used to get so excited when each of my three children mastered a new milestone or achieved a new skill. As soon as one would learn to ride a tricycle, I’d think “I can’t wait until she can ride a bike.” Or when one would take up a musical instrument I’d ponder “I can’t wait until he can play a solo at a recital”. I just couldn’t wait for each of them to get to that next stage. I did, however, worry about the inevitable day when each of them would leave home to make their own lives, but a very wise friend told me, “Ohhh, don’t worry. By the time they’re ready to leave, you’ll be ready too!”

My attitude has completely changed, though, with my grandchildren. I want them to stay exactly the way they are now-----forever. Ceci started kindergarten last week, Peter started preschool this morning and Bella is about to take her first steps. I don’t want to give up these days when my little people walk alongside me, holding my hand or having my house decorated with handcrafted hearts taped to every door. I know they are going to be fine, accomplished and kind young adults someday, but I can wait. Really-----I can wait.

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion  Director

Computer Time at Home

Computer programs that are offered on home systems are focused on both entertaining children and teaching them, which offers a process for teaching children without the child even realizing they are learning. Children can start learning how to use the computer as early as 3 years old. Be sure that the computer program is developmentally appropriate for your child’s age.

Follow three easy steps in teaching your child how to use the computer:

1. Make sure the mouse is comfortable and easy to use.

2. Speak slowly and instructively, explaining every step you take.

3. Allow them time alone to get to know the computer.



Madison is 5 and she is learning Early Reading (for ages 4-6 years old): word recognition, sentence structure, initial consonants, word families, blending and creativity.

 

 

 

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

It's All About More: What is the world's worst breakfast?

What are you eating for breakfast?   What?  You are not eating breakfast?  That is the world’s worst breakfast!

From an article in Women’s Health magazine:  “When you wake up, your body is fuel deprived.  If you don’t eat, you lower your metabolism, starve your muscles, and wind up taking in most of your calories late in the day.”  This increases your risk for obesity by 450%. 

One study found that children who ate a healthy breakfast had higher energy levels and better learning ability than similar students who did not eat breakfast.  Another study conducted by Harvard researchers found that students who ate breakfast were "…significantly more attentive in the classroom, earned higher grades in math, and had significantly fewer behavioral and emotional problems."

A few of us have started slowly by drinking a smoothie, eating some yogurt or a piece of fruit.  Try to eat about a third of your calories for the day as early as possible.  Be sure to include whole grains, fruit or veggies, and some healthy fat.  Surprisingly, after eating breakfast early, you will have a great start to a wonderful day, and, your body will love you for it!

Read More, click on the links below:

http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologyexperiments/a/breakfast-exper.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/365206-rich-sources-of-protein-for-a-4-year-old/#ixzz1Ufz9kZDU
 

 Colleen Carman, Finance/HR Director