Hello!  We want to take a moment to thank you for allowing each of us to visit with you and your family in your home this year. We know that this year did not end as we thought it would, but we still valued our time together, even if it was by way of a video call. Thank you for taking a chance with online virtual visits and adjusting with us during this time. Thank you for your patience as we attempted to provide the same quality of service that you have received in the past. We hope that it was a valuable experience for you.  It has been a true honor and a privilege to continue visiting you.

We look forward to connecting with you again in August, when school returns to see each of your and your families again and to see how everyone is doing. Have a great summer!

We wish you well!

Grandview C4 Parents as Teachers

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it only takes one blistering sunburn during childhood to adolescence to nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – later in life.  

Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Make sure your baby doesn’t get overheated and drinks plenty of fluids. The sun rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. During those times, take the follow action steps to protect your children and yourself.  

1. Seek shade - under a tree, umbrella, or a pop-up tent
2. Cover up – long-sleeved shirts, long pants made from tightly woven fabric (dry clothing of darker colors may add more protection)
3.  Wear a hat – floppy hats that can shade face, scalp, ears, and neck
4.  Wear sunglasses –that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays
5.  Apply a sunscreen – SPF 30 and UVA and UVB (broad spectrum)

​When choosing a sunscreen, it's best to select one  that does not contain the ingredient oxybenzone, since it is chemical that may have hormonal properties.
 
Apply generously 30 minutes before going outdoors
----- apply to ears, nose, back of neck, carefully around eyes, hands, tops of feet, and     back of knees (apply sparingly to face and back of hands of infants under 6 months), reapply at least every two hours if child is dry
----- apply a water-resistant sunscreen if child is in water and reapply more often (at least every hour)
----- you may want to apply lip balm that contains SPF

 How Can I Protect My Children from the Sun? 
 Sun Safety and Protection Tips 
Sunscreen for Dark Skin a Must

Autism - A diagnosis I had heard of a few times before but never really paid much attention to, after all, I didn’t have a child with autism, or so I thought. Looking back on Eli’s first year of life, I could see some of the signs. He was an incredibly laid-back baby, and he preferred to be alone. He wasn’t really smiling a whole lot or babbling much.
He was somewhat oblivious when someone would walk into the room, even if it was my husband or I. Looking back at pictures, I notice now how Eli’s eyes were always looking in the other direction.
 
By his 15 months well visit, the pediatrician had us fill out an MCHAT- a screening for autism. His score was somewhat high, but we opted for a wait-and-see approach. Around his 2nd birthday, we truly knew something was amiss. The few words he had acquired, he lost. Certain skills that he had acquired, even physical skills, he lost.

The decision was made to take him to the Munroe Meyer Institute in Omaha, NE where a team of professionals evaluated him for several hours. At the end of the visit, we were given the news that Eli had been diagnosed with severe, nonverbal autism. My heart didn’t want to believe that my perfect miracle of a baby boy had autism. The team highly recommended multiple therapies, including PT, OT, and applied behavior analysis or ABA therapy. I felt so bad seeing my son, two years old, go through all the different therapies. His schedule was insanely busy, and many times I questioned if we were doing the right thing.     

Today, he is 8 years old. While still classified as severe and nonverbal, he has made great strides. The grief is still there, some days it’s worse than others, especially when it comes to school and seeing just how different he is from other children his age.
My only regret is not taking him to be evaluated sooner. Looking back, it was my own fear causing me to be so hesitant. I see others in my situation with their children, and every time I encourage early intervention, and I share my story of Eli. The best thing we ever did for him was having him evaluated to get the ball rolling. He still has an incredibly busy schedule of therapies, but I know without a doubt, he would not be where he is today without them.

Darcie

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Do you ever wonder why you should complete the Census?  Watch this quick video to find out!  

Messy Night
High Grove Early Childhood Center
March 10, 2020
5:30-6:30 P.M.
Join us for a night of hands on fun. We will have lots of messy activities where children will be learning as they play.  The best part is you won’t have to clean up when they are finished.
RSVP: 816.316.5515 or
Email: melanie.johannes@Grandviewc4.net
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The activity will be cancelled if school is closed due to inclement weather. 

Be sure to stop by the library during your visit to High Grove Early Childhood Center to browse through our collection of books especially selected for the children we serve.  There will be books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  We also intend to have a diverse selection of books for all of our families.  

Mutual Regulation Strategies

1. Play mindfulness games (check out these activity cards)
2. Model calm behavior
3. Model the self-regulation strategies you want to teach
4. Set up opportunities for success
5. Use more positive reinforcement
6. Have a consistent daily routine
7. Have a bedtime routine

 To see the entire list click HERE.

Self Regulation Strategies

1. Take deep breaths
2. Think of something that makes you laugh
3. Go for a walk
4. Slowly count backward from 10
5. Squeeze a stress ball as hard as you can
6. Swing on the swings
7. Draw a picture of something that makes you happy

​For the complete list click HERE and scroll down.

We, the parents, always want our children to be good in public. I wanted to enable parents to make outings at restaurants or with extended family a pleasurable experience. According to Jessica Samuel who writes for KCParents magazine, it may be as easy as following the tips and tricks below.  Be sure to click the link at the bottom to read the full article.  

1. Practice what you preach.

• If you use kind words like please and thank you at the table and in small social settings, you can be sure your children will too.

2. Use good manners at the table.

• Say please and thank you when giving or receiving something.
• Keep your elbows off the table.
• Help your children use dinnerware correctly (show them how to cut with a knife if you need to).
• Don't chew with your mouth open, don't talk with your mouth full, and be sure to take small bites.
• Absolutely no devices at the table! Instead, talk about work, school, events and games.
• ​

3. Be present, be poised, be patient.

• Be present when teaching manners, especially to little ones. Always make eye contact and explain to your child that undivided attention is key in conversations."​


• For the full article: Click here 

You've probably heard from doctors and educators that babies under 2 should not have screen time and that children 2-5 should have their time limited, but did you heed their advice?  There has been a long time suspected correlation between screen time and developmental delays, but now, there are actual brain scans that show that the increased media use of today is changing our babies' brains, and not in a good way.  For more in depth information, check out THIS ARTICLE.