The Parent Educators with Grandview Parents as Teachers are excited to welcome you back to a brand new school year! We have a lot of fun things planned this year and can't wait to enjoy them with you and your family. Things might look a little different this year, but we are still here to encourage, educate and partner with you as you raise your children. We are currently offering visits according to your comfort level. If you'd like, some of our parent educators are doing in person visits outdoors. This provides an opportunity to see each other in person, but in a manner that allows for social distancing. If you would prefer a virtual visit, we are still delivering those via ZOOM or by telephone. If you do not have a parent educator, and would like one, please fill out the contact form. You can expect to hear from an educator as soon as possible. If you do have a parent educator and have not heard from her by mid-September, you can find her number on that same contact page. Feel free to give her a call. She'd love to hear from you!
We look forward to partnering with you this year!! We hope that it is OUT OF THIS WORLD! 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 Sun Safety TipsAccording 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.
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 Important Sunscreen TipsFor More Sun Safety ResourcesApril is Autism Awareness Month. According to Autism Speaks, "Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States today. We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently. Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues." Indicators of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism." There is no one type of Autism, and everyone's Autism story is different. Thank you to Darcie for sharing her experience with us, in her own words. Darcie And Eli's Autism StoryAutism - 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 Do you ever wonder why you should complete the Census? Watch this quick video to find out! COME FOR...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: [email protected] The activity will be cancelled if school is closed due to inclement weather. STAY FOR...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.
A 10 year study found that the amount of conversational turns experienced among children especially between 18-24 months was related to IQ, verbal comprehension and language skills 10 years later. It's not about adults talking more to a child but actually having interactions with their child. Studies show that this happens more when reading books! Check out these videos related to Conversational Turns. We're hearing a lot about the importance of self regulation, not only for adults, but for children as well. You've probably heard some about it, too. Maybe you're wondering what it is, what it means and why it is important. Maybe you're further wondering how you can help your child develop it within themselves. When children are not well regulated, they may “act out”, and you may start to see some unwanted behaviors. This happens because they don’t have the skills to manage or express their emotions on their own, yet. There are 2 types of Emotional Regulation, Mutual Regulation, where the adult helps the child calm down and Self-Regulation, where the child is able to calm himself down. All children start off needing mutual regulation or co-regulation to help them calm down. Initially, as parents, we learn to read their cues and go to them to help them regulate. As they develop, they learn to seek us out to help them regulate those hard emotions. As we model appropriate self-calming strategies, they begin to imitate and learn them. Over time, their emotional regulation matures and they are able to self regulate and calm themselves down using strategies that work for them. Mutual Regulation Strategies
Self Regulation Strategies
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.
|
AuthorThe parent educators with Grandview Parents As Teachers have over 100 years of cummulative early childhood and home visiting experience. Archives
September 2023
Categories |