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Books on BLack History Month for Young Children

2/5/2024

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Join us in celebrating Black History Month with books for young children!
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"Reading and discussing carefully selected picture books is one way to address matters of race(ism) and discrimination." -Dr. Brian L. Wright, author of The Brilliance of Black Boys: Cultivating School Success in the Early Grades, with contributions by Shelly L. Counsell

Our Book Recommendations​

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Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy
We recently discovered this picture book illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Ekua Holmes. In the author’s note, Joy explains the challenge of teaching black history after her preschooler commented, “But Mama, we’re not black, we’re brown.” She took that as a challenge to teach that “Black is not just a color, but a culture, too.” The book backmatter includes a playlist, poems and historical context of the book's references to significant people and events. ​

"I think it is a beautiful introduction of black history that can spark developmentally appropriate conversations."  - 
ECS team member Marjorie Wild
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​Little People, Big Dreams is a biography series for kids. It includes some board books and a website that offers “extras” like teachers’ guides, bookmarks and costume kits!

Learn about the lives of heroes in sports, arts, music, activism, past and present.

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​​Follow Your Dreams Little One and Dream Big Little One, both by Vashti Harrison, are part of the Little Leaders books.

Books as Teacher Resources

The Coretta Scott King Book Award winners are books that have been honored because they express the African American experience through literature and art.  Although these books are for older children, they may be great teacher resources. 
There's a listing of the award winners that you may find useful at harpercollins.com.

Additional Resources

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture website has an Early Childhood Education page.  It includes interactive activity books for young children.

​Dr. Brian L. Wright's article in the NAEYC journal Teaching Young Children has 2 more book recommendations as well as a helpful discussion for early childhood classroom teachers.

​The NAEYC website also has a blog post on Black history and early childhood education with eight resources to explore. 
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All of us at ECS are celebrating Black History Month!  We honor the contributions and the culture of African Americans, this month and always.  We are constantly seeking to gain a deeper understanding, by actively learning the history and seeking the viewpoints of Black people.

Comment if you would like to help enlighten us further!  

References & Resources

NAEYC. (2022, February 3). Black history and early childhood education: Eight resources to explore for Black history month. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/resources-explore-black-history​

Wright, B. L. (2020). Now read this! Books that promote race, identity, agency, and voice. Teaching Young Children 14(1). NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/oct2020/now-read-this
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Winter Play and Book Ideas for Young Children

1/8/2024

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There are so many opportunities for young children to learn and play in winter - whether you live in a snowy climate or not!

Help children enjoy the season with special activities, so they can explore the outdoor environment and do seasonal activities indoors as well.  Today we're sharing some ideas for indoor and outdoor winter play, inspired by Days With Grey.  See their website for "40 Fun Winter Activities for Kids" and several other articles on fun learning activities for winter.

Here are some activities to keep young children busy on cold winter days!
 
Indoor Play:
  • Snuggle up with a blanket and a book. Read to your child and also let them see you reading for pleasure!
  • Act out favorite stories, letting children choose props for retelling (“What could we use for a magic wand?” “How would the farmer in the story dress?” “What could we use to make a pretend castle?”
  • “Pretend” skate inside
  • Practice putting on sweaters or jackets and socks.
  • When doing laundry, have children help match socks or mittens, or compare sizes.
  • Play a “freeze” game like freeze tag or “freeze” when the music stops.
  • Make soup or hot chocolate together: measuring, mixing and tasting! - 
Speaking of cooking, my preschool classes used to enjoy reading Stone Soup by Marsha Brown and cooking their own.  This is a great cooperative activity that can involve all the children's families as they each contribute an ingredient to the soup.  You may want to invite them to join the children for the feast!

Outside Play:
  • Prepare by talking about cold weather safety, dressing for the weather, and walking on snow and ice.
  • Observe and describe nature’s changing seasons, weather and activities, like melting snow or ice, differences in shady areas compared to sunny places.
  • Place a shallow container of water outside when temperatures are expected to get below freezing. Add found objects before, make predictions, and talk about what happens.
  • Try winter sports and activities like sledding or hockey.
  • Make a birdfeeder: (as simple as a pinecone covered in peanut butter and rolled in birdseed)

Inside or Out:
  • Build a snowman, real or pretend (playdough, pillows, paper)! 
  • Toss snowballs, real or pretend (paper, yarn, wool).

Children interested in science and nature may look for flowers, seeds, plants, and/or insects or animals. Talk about roots underground, animals hibernating or migrating, and other signs of nature's changes in winter. Nothing in nature is active in every season, except young children! 

​​Letting children experience new things through play is priceless! Please comment with your children’s favorite play activities in winter!

Book Ideas

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Here are 6 more "oldie but goodie" winter books we love - and some fun follow-ups that they inspire:

1.  The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
What can The Snowy Day teach us about play?

Here’s what ECS team member Marjorie Wild has to say:
“One of my favorite Winter books to share with kids is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. I love the illustrations and the chance to do collage art with my young students. Living in Louisiana, we never experienced the deep snow seen in the story, so it depicted something curious and unknown to us through the eyes of a little boy. As I looked again at the book this week, I thought of something else. Peter, the boy in the story, experiences a snowy day through unstructured play. (I do not recommend sending a small child out in the snow to play alone!) For the purposes of the story, and perhaps reflecting a time when children were allowed more independent play, (it was first published in 1962), Peter puts on his snowsuit and safely navigates his neighborhood learning all kinds of things about snow! And so does the reader.” 

In the story, Peter:
-Describes the sound of walking through the snow
-Makes footprints then drags his feet, making tracks in the snow
-Finds out what happens when he hits a snow covered branch with a stick
-Makes a snowman and snow angels out of snow
-Slides down hills
-And he finds out what happens when he brings a snowball home in his pocket!

What do you think Peter has learned through play?  And what do your children learn on a snowy day?

2.  Snow by Roy McKie and P.D. Eastman
This is a Random House Beginner book with simple words and rhyming text.


Follow up suggestions to the above two books: 
-Give your children a chance to explore their own snowy day.  Or, if it doesn't snow in your area, either of these children’s books will introduce the concept.
-Then provide opportunities for play with ice and water 


3.  The Mitten (Ukrainian folktale) book by Jan Brett
Act out The Mitten using stuffed animals and a blanket or pillow case as a pretend mitten. Or as I did, sew a super size “mitten” out of stretchy fabric for kids to be the characters in the story themselves!

4.  Snowballs by Lois Ehlert 
Talk about the found objects in the pictures and then use found objects to make your own real snow family or indoor collage art. Take a picture of your snowperson to share like those in the back of the book and learn “What makes snow?” in the book’s backmatter.

5.  Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
This book has rhyming verse, descriptive language, predictable text, animal vocabulary, onomatopoeia, and a story of friendship! Act out bear waking up and let children make predictions throughout the story. Then make popcorn and tea for your own party!

6.  Snow is Falling by Franklyn Branley
This is a non-fiction book with kid-friendly illustrations and explanations of the effects of snow on people, animals and plants. On a snowy day, take a walk outside, look at a snowflake with a magnifying glass, and recall concepts from the story.


Notes About Winter Books:
Check your local library or favorite bookseller for these and other books about winter. You can also check online for read-aloud video versions of these books.  Check online on YouTube and our website store for our eepworm books, too. Although they are not about winter, they are perfect for your kids to spend some cozy winter snuggling time with you and a cherished comfort object! 

Remember to include non-fiction books in your classroom collection.  They can help answer  many of the “why” questions that young children may have.  They can also help them - and us - understand the science and nature that surrounds us.

Sharing reading with your children helps build personal connections and develop important literacy skills. Positive experiences with books lead to lifelong learning!

​What are some of your favorite books about winter?

References

Branley, F. M. & Stone, H. (1963). Snow is falling (Let's Read-And-Find-Out Science, Book) Ty Crowell Co.
Brett, J. (1989). The mitten: a Ukrainian folktale. New York: Putnam
Brown, M. (1947). Stone soup: an old tale. Charles Scribner's Sons.
Ehlert, L. (1995). Snowballs. Carion Books
Keats, E. J. (1962). The snowy day. New York: Viking Press.
McKie, R. & Eastman, P. D. (1962) Beginner Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Rosenbleeth, B. M. (December 9, 2022). 40 fun winter activities for kids. Days with Grey. https://dayswithgrey.com/fun-winter-activities-for-kids/
Wilson, K., & Chapman, J. (2005). Bear snores on. New York: Scholastic/Weston Woods Studios, Inc

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Helping Young Children Learn About Winter Holidays

12/4/2023

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Holidays give us opportunities to make connections with family and friends and to share traditions of other families, cultures and religions. Whether we are sharing customs with our own families or providing holiday activities in a school or childcare setting, we can help children learn about and appreciate other holiday traditions - as well as the people who celebrate them!

​We at ECS are by no means authorities on winter holidays that we ourselves do not observe (we celebrate Christmas).  But we are passionate about accurately and respectfully helping young children learn about holidays and traditions from other cultures, faiths, and families!

Below are a few things we have learned about the holidays of Hanukkah (Chanukah) and Kwanzaa.  From our perspective of cultural humility, we are open to correction or clarification if we have misunderstood any basic facts.  We also welcome your comments about how your families celebrate these holidays!
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Hanukkah Traditions:
The Jewish observance of Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 7th this year. For eight nights, families gather  to celebrate with these traditions:
  • A time for giving and sharing with others 
  • Lighting of menorah candles, one more each night of eight nights
  • Traditional songs shared 
  • The story of the Hanukkah miracle, when the Maccabees had oil to light the temple lamp for only one day, but the oil lasted for eight days. 
  • Children begin to learn and help say traditional prayers with family at home  
  • Playing the dreidel game and winning wrapped “gold” coins of chocolate
  • A gift each night 
  • Cooking latkes and enjoying special jelly-filled Hanukkah doughnuts called sufganiyot 

Hanukkah books we recommend:
We recommend the children’s book, My Family Celebrates Hanukkah by Lisa Bullard (Early Bird Stories). Simple illustrations tell the history of the Hanukkah miracle and how the family celebrates together today.  

Other books for young children include:
-Is it Hanukkah Yet? By Nancy Krulik (Step into Reading) - a book for early readers
-Hanukkah by Mari Schuh (Spot books) - including simple language, a pronunciation guide and photo illustrations 
-Hanukkah by Grace Jones (Festivals Around the World) - a book of questions and answers explaining Hanukkah traditions and features photo illustrations 
-The Colors of My Jewish Year by Marji Gold-Vukson - a board book of all Jewish holidays
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​5 Facts about Kwanzaa:
  • When:  Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and lasts for seven days
  • Why:  Dr. Maulana Karenga started the celebration in 1966 to honor African culture and heritage
  • What:  Kwanzaa is organized around The Seven Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith
  • How:  Each night, one of the seven candles in the kinara is lit. The center candle is black for African heritage, three red candles represent past struggles, and three green are for hope
  • How:  For seven nights, families “celebrate with feasts (karamu), music, dance, poetry, narratives…” (Official Kwanzaa Website)
Here are some Kwanzaa books for young children we recommend:
-My Family Celebrates Kwanzaa was written by Lisa Bullard
-Kwanzaa, by Mari Schuh (Spot holidays series), contains simple words, photo illustrations, and explanations of Kwanzaa traditions 
-Kwanzaa, by Rachel Grack (Celebrating Holidays series), features photo illustrations, concepts, vocabulary, and how to make a Kwanzaa flag
Whatever your culture or faith tradition, we at ECS a wishing you a very happy holiday season!

References

​Chanukah Guide. (n.d.). Chabadad.org Kids. https://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/358959/jewish/Chanukah-Guide.htm
Hanukkah Activities Theme for Preschool. 
(n.d.). Preschool Plan-it. https://www.preschool-plan-it.com/hanukkah-activities.html​
Kwanzaa: A celebration of family, faith and culture. (n.d.). Official Kwanzaa Website. www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/
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Holiday Gifting Ideas for Young Children

11/1/2023

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You may be preparing already not only for Thanksgiving but also for the Winter holidays your family celebrates. Whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another special day next month, we thought you might be interested in some suggestions for holiday giving.  We're sharing some of our own ideas along with recommendations from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  We hope these two lists, one for infants and toddlers and one for preschoolers, spark your creative gift-giving ideas.  Comment if you'd like to share some of your own!
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Gift Suggestions for Infants and Toddlers

​Typically, babies will be more interested in the box a gift came in, the shiny ribbons they can grasp and wave, the paper they can tear or a piece of sticky tape! 

We suggest toys that encourage open-ended play and meet the needs of children at their ages and levels of development. Please share these suggestions with anyone buying or making holiday donations to young children:
  • Birth through 6 months: rattles, squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, vinyl and board books, books with nursery rhymes and poems, unbreakable mirrors
  • Older infants 7-12 months: large beads, balls, and nesting toys, large soft blocks and wooden cubes, low, soft things to crawl over; baby dolls, plastic and wood vehicles with wheels.
  • One-year-olds: board books, toy phones, dolls (doll beds and strollers), dress-up props, puppets, stuffed toys, plastic animals, plastic and wood vehicles, blocks, puzzles, large pegboards, toys with parts that do things (dials, switches, knobs, lids), large and small balls
  • Two-year-olds: wood puzzles (with 4 to 12 pieces), objects to sort (by size, shape, color), blocks, sturdy transportation toys, construction sets, child-sized furniture (kitchen sets, chairs, play food), dress-up clothes, sand and water play toys, washable crayons and markers, large paintbrushes, fingerpaint, large paper for drawing and painting, colored construction paper, chalkboard, large chalk, rhythm instruments, picture books, large and small balls for kicking and throwing, ride-on equipment (but probably not tricycles until children are 3)

Important Note: Always keep in mind the safety of toys, especially for children under age 3.  Toys that may pose a choking hazard may not be labeled as such, so do your own testing before giving toys to infants and toddlers:  Pull on all the parts of the toy to see that they are securely fastened together.  Then check every piece for size.  If you don't have a small parts test fixture that "measures 1 inch to 2.25 inches in height, slanted on a diagonal plane, and 1.25 inches in diameter"(NIH.gov), a toilet paper roll may be a good substitute.  Keep any toys that fit completely into the tube away from children under 3.  Recent research shows that occasionally choking can happen even for larger toys, so use your best judgment and always supervise children's play vigilantly. (NIH.gov)

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Gift Suggestions for Preschoolers

Give gifts of love and learning for preschoolers!!

“Playful learning doesn’t require the latest and greatest toys and technologies. Some of the most valuable learning materials are open-ended items that you probably have at home or can find at little to no cost. Blocks, paint, sand, water, playdough, and natural materials… lend themselves to playful learning and exploration.”  
“Open-ended items are developmentally appropriate for young children of various ages and can be used for sensory, creative, or dramatic play. They are particularly engaging when children and families use them together.”
“A stack of blocks can become the Empire State Building while a flourish of paint across a page can be a thunderstorm.” (Valesek)
​Here are some suggestions for gifts that encourage open-ended play for young children (approximately 3-5 years old):
Blocks and Manipulatives
  • various blocks for building
  • transportation toys
  • construction sets
  • puzzles (12 to 20+ pieces)
Props for Pretending
  • child-sized furniture
  • play food
  • dress-up clothes
  • dolls with accessories
  • puppets and simple puppet theaters​
​Art Supplies
  • crayons and markers
  • paintbrushes
  • fingerpaint
  • paper for drawing and painting
  • colored construction paper
  • preschooler-sized scissors
  • chalkboard and chalk
Musical Instruments & Supplies
  • rhythm instruments
  • keyboards
  • maracas
  • tambourines
  • drums
  • scarves and ribbons for dancing
  • recorded children's music
Outdoor Activities
  • balls for kicking/ throwing/catching
  • ride-on equipment including tricycles
  • taller climbers with soft material underneath
  • wagons and wheelbarrows
  • plastic bats, balls, or bowling pins
  • targets and things to throw at them
  • a workbench with age appropriate tools
Other
  • books (children's fiction and non-fiction)
  • comfort toys (stuffed animals, "lovies")
For more toy suggestions for young children listed by ages and stages, visit: naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys

You don't have to spend a bundle to give gifts of love and learning for preschoolers!  Providing open-ended activities with household objects and creative materials (such as wrapping paper scraps, boxes, and ribbons) can also keep your child engaged and learning throughout the holidays.

If you are planning to do some online shopping, please visit our website store to purchase our own EEPWORM® picture books and comfort toys.  They were designed to help children deal with big feelings, so they can help with self-regulation!

References & Resources

​NAEYC. (n.d.). Good toys for young children by age and stage naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys
Neofotistos A, Cowles N, Sharma R. (2017). Choking hazards: Are current product testing methods for small parts adequate? International  Journal of Pediatrics. doi: 10.1155/2017/4705618.  Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5467345/
Valesek, J. (2022). Harnessing the joy of open-ended materials with your child.  NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/summer2022/message-backpack-open-ended-materials
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October - It's about much more than Halloween!

10/1/2023

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As you plan your classroom activities for October, you may want to explore topics other than Halloween.  Understandably, your children are focused on (and getting more excited each day about) wearing costumes and trick-or-treating! But you may be able to reign in some of their excitement by providing opportunities to explore other themes. Or at least you can try!
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Did you know that there are many awareness campaigns during October?  It has been designated as:
  • ADHD Awareness Month​
  • Bullying Prevention Month
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month

And within October are other awareness campaigns, including: 
  • Fire Prevention Week |October 8-14, 2023 | Theme: “Cooking safety starts with YOU” 
  • Red Ribbon Week (fostering safe, healthy, and drug-free communities)  |October 23-31 each year |2023 Theme: "Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.™
  • World Mental Health Day | October 10 every year | 2023 Theme: "Mental health is a universal human right”
  • World Teachers’ Day |October 5 annually | "The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage."​
There's a lot going on this month, isn't there?! These seven themes can give us lots of ideas for developmentally-appropriate activities and/or teaching strategies we can use in our early childhood programs during October.  You may want to add one or more of these themes to your October plans for your classroom.

​Here are just a few suggestions to get you started and some resources where you can find more information:

​ADHD Awareness Month​

You are likely to have encountered children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in your early childhood program. Over 11% of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, including 2.4% of preschoolers ages 3-5 (CHADD).  While these children may be more inattentive, impulsive, and/or hyperactive than other children, you can help them be successful. Just keep in mind: They need what all young children need, they just need a little more help sometimes. 
 To support young children with ADHD in the classroom, provide what you give all the children:
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  • positive guidance
  • precise language
  • encouragement
  • simple rules with frequent reminders
  • clearly defined physical spaces
  • lots of large-motor activities

Then give children with ADHD extra help by providing:
  • fewer words
  • visual cues
  • help with organization
Check out this resource for more information:  https://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/
We can be another resource. Contact us if you’d like to book our teacher training, "Supporting Children with ADHD in the Classroom".

Bullying Prevention Month

Tomorrow, October 2 is "World Day of Bullying Prevention®." The goal of the sponsoring organization, STOMP Out Bullying®, is to encourage everyone to work together to end bullying. 

At ECS, we support those who strive to prevent bullying at any age! In early childhood, we can help.  After all, it's developmentally appropriate for educators to help children learn to be kind and to make friends. When we work to create a caring community of learners in our classrooms, we are preventing bullying.  
Here are 5 bullying prevention tips:
  • Help children make new friends -  Guide social interactions: “What could you say if Jaden was building with blocks and you wanted to help?”
  • Encourage empathy - Help children understand and respond to the feelings of others
  • Talk about feelings and fairness - Help children understand equity (people have different needs)
  • Help children assert their needs - Encourage communication among children: “Tell her, ‘Stop! I don’t like that!’”
  • Model kindness - Model inclusion and respect for diversity through your actions and explain them to children
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Check out this resource for more information:   https://www.stompoutbullying.org/world-day-bullying-prevention

​Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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This is a theme you probably won't be talking with your young children about, unless one of your families is experiencing breast cancer.  If so, here are two gentle suggestions:
  • Talk with the family to find out how they want to be supported.
  • Ask how they would like you to answer children’s questions.

For those of you who are affected in some way by breast cancer, here are two resources that may help:
  • Breast Cancer Now offers a free ebook written for children age 7 and under
  • The National Breast Cancer Foundation offers an ebook about talking to cancer patients
A personal note:  This month I am celebrating one year of being cancer-free!  To those of you who are fighting breast cancer as you read this:  Don’t lose heart!  Please reach out to me, I’d like to add you to my prayer list.  Also let me know if I can support you in any other way.  We at ECS are here for you!

​Fire Prevention Week

​Educators:  Does your school take a trip to a fire station?  Or do you schedule a visit to the school by firefighters?  If you do, prepare children for the experience to lessen their fear of a fully-equipped firefighter and a noisy fire truck.
If not, you can set up your own "fire station" in the dramatic play center.  In our classrooms, we've supplied firefighter gear (much of which we made ourselves), and simply used a few chairs lined up for a fire truck.  Our children enjoyed helping to make their own props (like a steering wheel). 

If you create a classroom fire station, be ready with a waiting list - it's sure to be quite a popular place to pretend and play!

​Remember to allow children to be actively involved in exploring the theme of fire safety - without real fires, of course! If you'd like some resources, the National Fire Protection Association offers kid-friendly videos and other resources featuring “Sparky® the Fire Dog”. 
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Here's just one tip for fire safety at school.
 If you do show any videos to children, always preview them for developmental appropriateness, and be prepared to answer questions after viewing. With your help, young children can begin to understand the dangers of fire.​
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Families:  Fire Prevention Week is a great time to check your home and to prepare everyone for what to do in the event of a fire - and how to prevent one, too! 

Here are some things you can do:
-Test smoke alarms, replacing batteries or smoke detectors if necessary
-Choose a safe outside meeting place
-Practice your home fire drill twice a year
-Place out of the reach of children any items that can start a fire (matches, lighters, candles…)
-Teach your children to tell a grown-up if someone else is playing with matches, a lighter or fire.
-Practice everyday fire and burn safety at home around cooking, heating and other hot appliances.

Let everyone in the home hear the sound of the smoke alarm (using the test button) and practice what to do if they hear it! For young children, “Don’t hide, get outside!” is a simple reminder you can tell them.

Let us know how we can help you keep children safe. I am a Child Care Health Consultant, and while I specialize in early childhood mental health, I have the training to help with other health and safety issues as well. 

Red Ribbon Week

Although this awareness campaign is designed for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade, younger children may become aware of it, especially if their program is on a campus with older children.  Here are a few age-appropriate messages you can share with young children about drug safety:
  • Drugs are things that "change the way our bodies [and our brains] work. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe them." (Nemours Teen Health). 
  • Take only medicines that your doctors, nurses, parents, guardians, and teachers give you. (Of course, teachers must have written parental consent)
  • Never take anyone else's medicine - taking medicine when you are not sick can hurt your body
  • If you find something that looks like candy, ask a grown-up to be sure -  Sometimes medicines look just like candy but they can be very dangerous
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Use teachable moments to talk about drugs with young children and keep their level of understanding top of mind.  It's best to follow the child's lead, answering their questions calmly and as simply as you can.

World Mental Health Day

"Good mental health is an integral part of our overall health and wellbeing.
Good mental health allows us to cope with challenges, connect with others and thrive throughout our lives. It’s vital and deserves to be recognised and respected." (WHO)
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Good mental health isn't just for grown-ups!  In early childhood, we often call it healthy social and emotional development.  Whatever term is used, (infant mental health, early childhood mental health) we can certainly nurture it in our children.

Here are a few teaching strategies that support young children's mental health:
  • Check in with individual children each day to ask, “How are you feeling right now?”
  • Help children identify the feelings of others:   Discuss how other children, adults, and characters in stories may be feeling
  • Help children recognize situations that trigger certain emotions. “When did you feel ---?” 
  • Help children develop strategies to handle strong feelings: “What could you do when you feel ---?”
Check out this resource for more information  https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2023
I can help you support your children as a Child Care Health Consultant.  I specialize in early childhood mental health!

World Teachers Day

This theme may not be something to explore with your children, but it may be something to share with your families and your co-workers.  You may want to brainstorm ways you can work together to contribute to UNESCO's goals of advocacy and appreciation for all teachers.
​“World Teachers’ Day…is a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way ahead for the profession globally." (UNESCO)

 “…the world faces an unprecedented global teacher shortage exacerbated by a decline in their working conditions and status."  This year’s celebrations “...will aim to put the importance of stopping the decline in the number of teachers and then starting to increase that number at the top of the global agenda.” (UNESCO)
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At ECS we’re on a mission to  support all early childhood educators. One small way we do that is by volunteering our time and expertise at ECE events, such as the upcoming Texas AEYC conference in November. We also offer free phone consultations to answer your questions about child development and early childhood education.  We applaud all teachers for all that you do!
Happy October to all, no matter which awareness campaigns you are able to support.  Just getting your young children through the month as the excitement builds toward Halloween is quite an accomplishment!
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Contact us if we can help in any way.  We have trainings on ADHD, infant mental health (social-emotional development), and much, much more!

References & Resources

ADHD Awareness October 2023. (n.d.).  https://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/​
Breast Cancer Now. 
(n.d.). Mummy's lump.  https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/publication/mummys-lump-bcc164
CHADD. 
(n.d.). General Prevalence of ADHD. chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence/
Head Start ECLKC. (2018, Jul 16).  Children with disabilities: Classroom visuals and supports. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/children-disabilities/article/classroom-visuals-supports
National Breast Cancer Foundation. 
(n.d.) What to Say to a Cancer Patient eBook. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/what-to-say-to-a-cancer-patient/
National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week
Nemours Teen Health. 
(May 2023). Drugs: What to know. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/know-about-drugs.html​
​NFPA Sparky's School House. https://sparkyschoolhouse.org/
Red Ribbon Week. (n.d.). Red Ribbon inspires our kids to be happy/be brave/be drug free.  https://www.redribbon.org/
Stomp Out Bullying. (n.d.). https://www.stompoutbullying.org/world-day-bullying-prevention
​Wonderlick, M. N. (2021, June 21). Starting with preschool, strive for kids who thrive.  ADDitude: Inside the ADHD mind. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-children-preschool-parent-teacher-help

World Health Organization. 
(n.d.). World Mental Health Day.   https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2023
UNESCO. (n.d.). World Teachers’ Day. https://www.unesco.org/en/days/teachers​
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Helping Young Children Succeed at the Start of School

9/4/2023

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Tips for Teachers and Families

For many of you, September signals the start of a new academic calendar year.  The kids are back in school, and you are settling into your school-year routines. Even if you teach through the summer, or your children are in year-round childcare, they are probably transitioning as well, as they move to a new classroom with new teachers.  We have several tips for both early childhood educators and parents or guardians to help you have a successful start.

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Teachers:

Provide what counts most. Keep in mind, as you begin the school year, what really counts for children's optimal development and learning: 
  • a feeling of safety that comes from loving adult-child relationships
  • a predictable schedule
  • compassionate guidance
  • plenty of opportunities to learn through play and developmentally appropriate experiences  

In this blog post, we'd like to remind you of the rationale for allowing children to learn in developmentally appropriate ways.  The most effective way that children learn is through play, so we encourage you to prioritize play - and the other things, like your relationships with your children - that count!

Sooner is NOT better.  Research shows that “sooner is better” early childhood education results in negative outcomes for children who are not ready for concepts (Elkind, 2006).  Young learners need to experience lots of multi-sensory exploration first, so they can develop higher levels of thought as they grow and develop.

As early childhood educators, it is our job to provide experiences that allow young children to learn through exploration of their physical and social environments.  When we push preschoolers into the world of symbols by, for example, requiring them to complete worksheets or drilling them with flashcards, we may be rushing them past their capabilities.  Time spent in these activities takes time away from the way young children learn best: through child-chosen, child-initiated, child-structured, free play.
 “It is during the early years, ages four to seven, when children’s basic attitudes toward themselves as students and toward learning and school are established. Children who come through this period feeling good about themselves, who enjoy learning and who like school, will have a lasting appetite for the acquisition of skills and knowledge.” 

 “If we want all of our children to be the best that they can be, we must recognize that education is about them, not us. If we do what is best for children, we will give them and their parents the developmentally appropriate, high-quality, affordable, and accessible early-childhood education they both need and deserve.” - David Elkind 
If you're interested in more in-depth information from Dr. Elkind, check out his books in the references below. 

Families:  

The back-to-school changes can be anxiety-provoking for young children, so we have many tips for families to help your little ones feel a little less nervous.  First, here are two self-help tips and two tips that help with separation anxiety:
Next, here are 10 more tips for families to help your young children have a successful start:
  1. Visit the school, class, or child care center with your children.
  2. Include children in picking out appropriate “school supplies” (backpacks, napping mats, clothing, snacks, etc.)
  3. Together, label items with your child’s name.
  4. Bring supplies ahead of the first day if required.
  5. Provide detailed and accurate contact information of parents and all adults who may pick up your children.
  6. Talk to young children about who will pick them up and when.
  7. Talk with your children about what to expect, where they will eat lunch, and whether they will take a nap.
  8. Read stories about things they may do during the school day. ​
  9. Adjust bedtime and wake-up time to fit any new routines well before the first day.
  10. Read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and talk about feelings of missing someone.
“Remember that separation is a process. Expect that your child (or yourself) will need time to feel comfortable with the new situation.” -Diane Tunis, Rhonda Kleiner, and Fredda Band Loewenstein
We hope you find these suggestions helpful.  We are wishing all teachers, children and families a playful - and less stressful - start to a new school or classroom! ​

References & Resources

Elkind, D. (2006). Much too early.  Education Next1(2).  Retrieved September 1, 2023, from https://www.educationnext.org/much-too-early/ 
Elkind, D. (1988). The hurried child: Growing up too fast too soon. Rev. ed. Addison-Wesley.
Elkind, D. (1987). Miseducation: Preschoolers at risk.  Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Penn, A. (1993). The Kissing Hand. Tanglewood Press.

​Tunis, D., Kleiner, R. and Loewenstein, F.B. 13 tips for starting preschool. NAEYC.  https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/13-tips-starting-preschool​
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Become an Advocate for Early Childhood Education!

8/14/2023

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“All grown-ups were once children…but only few of them remember it.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Early childhood education needs YOU!

Help us advocate for accessible, high quality early childhood education (ECE).
​Just follow these two steps:

STEP 1.  Get informed

Here are four elements of quality child care from ZERO TO THREE's website, in an infographic entitled “America’s Future Depends on Quality Child Care.”
The decision-makers affecting policies and funding need all our voices. Let's remind them about the value of childhood and about the resources needed to provide the education and care that nurtures it.

​Let's help policy-makers and funders see ECE as a wise investment - every dollar spent on quality ECE saves many more dollars in the future. And good ECE makes for happier childhoods that lead to more productive adult lives!

It's important for our voices to be heard. Legislation and administrative decisions about ECE have a profound impact on how children and families are served, how child care professionals and educators are trained, evaluated and compensated, and ultimately, how children remember their childhood.

These decisions affect not only children and our ECE workforce but also our communities and our country’s economy and workforce.

So we need to share with decision-makers what “quality early child care” is and what it isn’t. Administrators, legislators, school board representatives and the voting public need to know what caregivers, teachers and researchers have learned through our work with young children.

Remember:  Advocacy is just reaching out and telling people what we know, and we can all do our part. Join us in advocating for ECE with the decision-makers in your community.  Together we can support early childhood care and education!
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Here are more facts for you:

Child care is an essential service that requires support!
​

There are so many young children in care, but unfortunately most of them are in programs of low quality. Child care professionals' work is critical to children's development, but it receives extremely low compensation. For high quality, affordable care and wages that support child care professionals, we need public investment - and we need it now!

Again, please do your part to support early childhood education, childcare workers and families in the important work they do! Know the facts and share what you know with policy makers.

Here are some statistics from ZERO TO THREE, from their resource "Infant-Toddler Child Care Fact Sheet":
  • ”Of the 12 million infants and toddlers in the United States, more than half spend some or all of their day being cared for by someone other than their parents.”
  • ”75% of toddlers in center care and 93% in home-based care are in low or mediocre quality care settings that can be detrimental to their development. Only 10% of child care programs nationwide are rated as high-quality.”
  • ”In 30 states and Washington, D.C., center-based child care for infants and toddlers is more expensive than in-state tuition and fees at a public university.”
Together we can work to change facts to ones that reflect support for young children and those who care for them!


STEP 2.  Reach out

​Let’s share what we know as ECE professionals!  Research and experience tells us what children, families, and communities need to thrive, and policy makers need to know this information.
​Here are two organizations we recommend that share our concern for not only funding early childhood education, but also for how those dollars should be spent: 
  • The National Association For the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides lots of information on policy and advocacy affecting early childhood.  Their action center offers a “fill-in” letter to Congress regarding the issue of quality child care.
  • Defending the Early Years (DEY) encourages parents and educators to advocate for education in preschool through 3rd grade.  As a resource, DEY offers a downloadable “Mobilizing Kit” that includes helpful information about advocate meetings and fact sheets about school standards. ​
Don’t let your busy schedule prevent you from doing something to advocate for young children, families - and yourself! 
​If not us, then who?

At ECS, we're advocating for you!

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My statement on this image sums up the reason I am so passionate about supporting children, families and early childhood caregivers. Early childhood education affects us all - whether we are in the early childhood profession or not, whether we are parents or not.

When I wrote this statement, I was thinking primarily of the early childhood workforce. But it’s true of all parents - they need to feel supported in their work of raising children as well as in their paid employment.

That’s why we early childhood educators must advocate for our profession, in addition to our primary task of meeting the needs of the children we teach and care for. We need to be supported, so we and our children can thrive!

We wholeheartedly agree with Michelle McCready, the interim CEO of @Child Care Aware of America. Her opinion piece appeared in the publication The Hill on January 9, 2023, entitled “America 2023: When even members of Congress don’t have child care.”  She discussed the importance of affordable and high-quality child care for families and for our country.

Here is an excerpt:
“Child care is a crucial component of our country’s economy; it’s the work that makes all other work possible. The high cost of child care and lack of availability is bad news for families, but it’s also bad news for employers and communities who benefit from widespread access to affordable, high quality child care.”

Well said, Michelle!  You can read the rest of her opinion piece here.


References & Resources

Defending the Early Years (DEY).  (n.d.).  Mobilizing kit for parents and teachers concerned about what’s happening in our early childhood classrooms (Preschool through 3rd grade).  https://dey.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DEY-Mobilizing-Kit-FINAL-FINAL-2020-updated.pdf​

McCready, M. (2023, January 9). America 2023: When even members of Congress don’t have child care.  Child Care Aware of America.  https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/3805641-america-2023-when-even-members-of-congress-dont-have-child-care/
​ 
​National Association For the Education of Young Children.  (n.d.).  Public policy and advocacy. https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/public-policy-advocacy

National Association For the Education of Young Children.   (n.d.).  Tell Congress to #SolveChildCare! https://www.votervoice.net/NAEYC/Campaigns/101148/Respond

Zero to Three.  (2019, October 11).   America’s Future Depends on Quality Child Care.  https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/americas-future-depends-on-quality-child-care/


Zero to Three.  (2021, September 6).  Infant-Toddler child care fact sheet.  https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/infant-toddler-child-care-fact-sheet/
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Summer Safety Tips for Young Children

7/17/2023

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Safety is always the priority when caring for young children!

In this post we're sharing information and tips for keeping children safe this summer - around water, in the heat, and in the sun. 

​We want everyone to enjoy the summer safely!


Water Safety

“Every pool, every lake and every warm summer day holds the possibility of new, fun summer experiences. All you need to add is your undivided attention.”  - National Safety Council
Did you know?
  • Drowning is the number 1 cause of accidental death in children under 5 years old.  These drownings usually happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub.  Very young children can even drown in buckets of water.
  • It takes just 20 seconds for a young child to drown.  We must know the whereabouts of every child at every moment when there is water around!
  • Drowning is silent.   There won't be screams or flailing in the water to alert you.​​
Here are some tips from the National Safety Council for keeping children safe around water:
Even when we’re not supervising young children in or around water, there are things we can all do to prevent drownings. We can find a local drowning prevention charity and take advantage of the programs they offer to keep your children safe.  Or support their mission.  Or better yet, do both!
Here are two Texas charities I've found.  Sadly, both were formed after a young child drowned:
  • Colin's Hope - "teaches parents, caregivers and children about water safety to prevent drowning"​
  • Judah Brown Project  - offers survival swimming lessons to needy children and life-saving education to families
Check out their websites, or find another charity in your area.  We hope you can both get support from and provide support to these organizations.
​
Together, let’s save lives!

Sun Safety

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Here are 7 sun safety tips for you from the American Academy of Pediatrics, through the website healthychildren.org:
​
-Keep infants under 6 months old out of the sun
-Dress children in lightweight clothes with a tight weave that cover the body
-Have kids wear wide-brim hats
-Stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm
-Provide youth sunglasses with 99% UV protection
-Use sunscreen, reapplying every 2 hours
-Model sun safety for kids


Heat Safety

Here are some ways to keep children safe on hot days, also from healthychildren.org:
  1. Hydrate! Make sure water is available and encourage children to drink water often, especially during outside play. 
  2. Take frequent water, cooling and rest breaks.
  3. Play in the shade where temperatures are slightly cooler, and plan outdoor play during cooler hours.
  4. Dress in light colored (reflects sun and heat) and loose fitting clothing (provides a layer of protection and ventilation.)
  5. When the temperature is too high to safely play outside, try active indoor activities like a “dance party”
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Lastly, here’s one more important heat safety fact: “Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, about three kids die each week in hot cars,” according to the National Safety Council.  “Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn't help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle.”
See the page “Kids in Hot Cars: One Child is Too Many​” on their website for more info.  The NSC also has free resources you can share with your program’s families.

References & Resources

Healthychildren.org. (2023, July 26).  Extreme heat: Tips to keep kids safe when temperatures soar. American Academy of Pediatrics.  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-Extreme-Heat-Information-for-Parents.aspx​

Healthychildren.org. (2023, November 20).  Sun safety: Information for parents about sunburn & sunscreen. American Academy of Pediatrics.  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx

National Safety Council. (n.d.).  Drowning can happen in an instant.  https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/drowning

National Safety Council. (n.d.).  Kids in hot cars: One child is too many.  https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/summer-safety/heat
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Tips for Traveling with Young Children

6/19/2023

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​Family travel can be a great summer adventure!  Help your trips be enjoyable experiences by keeping these tips and benefits in mind.  Know that whatever your summer brings, we are wishing you well!​

Travel Tips

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Here are some tips on how to prepare:
  1. Plan destinations and activities that are fun and age appropriate for your children; schedule naps/rest times and meals to avoid "hangry" kids and adults
  2. Share pictures, books, or videos about the places you will visit. Talk about things to look for when you are there
  3. Practice in your hometown the safety strategies you will need on the trip, like holding hands to cross streets, and staying together in crowds
  4. When packing, even very young children can help by choosing a favorite shirt or other clothing item to bring.  It's essential to include a travel-appropriate comfort item to soothe them when they are tired or need reassurance in a different place.  By the way, our eepworm toys make the perfect "emotional support toys" for travel - they're small, cuddly, washable, and allowed where animals may not be!!
  5. Be sure your family can carry or transport your luggage. If your children are able, let them carry their own small backpack or wheeled bag (allowing for help when needed!)
  6. If you will be visiting family that you don’t often see, use pictures to remind children who they will see and to strengthen friend/family connections.  Role play expected greetings and empower children to greet relatives in their preferred ways.

While on the trip:
  • Let children know the plans for the day, walking them through what to expect; use "first...,then..." and "before...,after..." language rather than times for young children
  • Make adjustments as necessary (a needed nap, care for an injury, a missed train); model for children how to “roll with it” when things don’t go as planned.  Unexpected situations are great times for practicing deep breathing and other mindfulness strategies!
Family vacations can reinforce our connections and reassure children “I am here for you!” in unfamiliar places.  That's good for everyone's emotional well-being!

Are you traveling to a theme park this summer?  If so, here are some ideas that may make your trip rich with family memories – even the funny and unexpected ones!
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Tips for Trips to Theme Parks​:
  • Plan a family vacation considering the ages and abilities of the children in your family. If your child is at the stage where they are frightened by characters in costume, save the trip to a theme park for another time.
  • Plan for ride requirements for your children of different ages/height to avoid disappointment that they cannot ride specific rides.
  • If possible, divide and conquer, with one adult riding rides with bigger kids and another taking a slower pace with little ones. AND balance activities so that everyone enjoys some activities together, older kids sharing an experience with younger siblings.
  • Some family trips include grandparents, extended family or even a family babysitter to help with supervision and to share family time together!
  • Plan according to the needs of your family. You know whether your children need a long midday nap or whether they can nap in a stroller in a crowd. Plan accordingly.
The choice Marjorie’s family made was to first visit larger parks when her young children were no longer afraid of costumed characters but  young enough to enjoy the “magic” of meeting favorite characters! And there was still plenty of family fun when they were older kids!

Benefits of Family Travel

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Travel brings new perspectives.
Traveling with children can be a challenge, but providing them with these varied experiences is well worth our effort!  Travel boosts children’s development, especially their social and emotional learning.  It literally expands their world and exposes them to different ways of doing things - speaking, dressing, eating, sleeping, etc.  Children - and adults - may become more empathetic, appreciative of cultural and individual differences, and open to new experiences.

We hope summer travel brings you and your children a new way of seeing!

Travel cements connections and builds brains.
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​Traveling and taking adventures help us to grow!  We humans are natural explorers, and our brains are wired to desire new experiences - to be physically active, especially in nature, and to use our brains to make sense of it all.  We also have a primary need to be in relationships with others.  
So when we travel with our families, we’re tapping into these basic desires and needs.  Going on family adventures is good for our children, and it’s good for us adults, too!
Traveling supports strong brain development, but so does making any changes in our routines! 
Babies pay more attention to novel experiences, and so do we.  To stimulate our children’s brains (as well as our own), try taking an adventure soon, even if it’s finding a way to disrupt your routine, like having a “backwards day” or “opposite day.”​
If you want to travel but your budget doesn’t allow for flights or long road trips with hotel stays, try camping.  It was a favorite form of adventuring for my husband, my daughter and me when she was younger - and it was definitely budget-friendly.  Now that I’m older, I must admit I prefer the comfort of a real bedroom and adjacent bathroom at night, but I still very much enjoy our family hikes!  ​

We're wishing you a summer of fun family travel!

One wish for you is that summer travel brings you renewed appreciation of the people and the everyday routines in both your work life and your family life!
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​When we travel, sometimes we appreciate our work and home lives and the people in them even more.
Many years ago, I went on a week-long trip with a friend, leaving my school-age daughter behind with my husband for his first stint solo-parenting.  He was often away on work trips, and left all of the parenting up to me.  Before we left, I was thinking that my time away would help him to appreciate me more as the primary caregiver of our child.  What happened instead was that I appreciated him more for being a more compatible travel companion!
What renews your appreciation for the people and things in your life?

Another wish is that we all better appreciate what we have, even if we can’t get away and travel this summer.  Sometimes when we travel or even when our routines change, our appreciation can grow - not only of people but of things as well.  When we have been away from our own beds, our daily schedules, our preferred foods, our language, etc., we miss all the familiarity of our home or work spaces and routines.  But we may also become happier with what we have been used to - even the mundane or boring parts of our lives!  As the saying goes, “There’s no place like home!

Whether your summer plans include a family trip, a needed grown-up getaway, or just a staycation, may you enjoy it all - the going somewhere and the being back home again!

References & Resources

Online Psychology Degree Guide.  (n.d.).  10 things to know about the psychology of travel & adventure.  www.onlinepsychologydegree.info/psychology-of-travel-adventure/
Weiner, R. (2023, May 26). Surviving vacation with kids. 
learnplaygrowconsulting.com/blog/survivingvacationwithkids
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3 Tips for Promoting Infant Mental Health

5/8/2023

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I'd like to help you support the mental health of infants and young children!
​According to Zero to Three, infant and early childhood mental health is "the developing capacity of the child from birth to 5 years of age to form close and secure adult and peer relationships. This impacts a child’s abilities to experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions, and explore the environment and learn—all in the context of family, community, and culture.”
Mental health for children is the same thing as healthy social and emotional development.  When we help young children learn about themselves and about getting along with others, we are fostering their mental health as well.​
Today I'm sharing ways you can promote the mental health of infants and young toddlers.​
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1. Respond quickly to infants' needs

Babies require a lot of attention! They depend on the adults in their lives for all their needs, transitioning at an incredible rate into more independent little people. While parents and caregivers are busy meeting their physical needs, an infant’s social and emotional foundation is also being established.
Meeting an infant’s mental health needs not only comforts them in the moment, it also affects their future mental health, their ability to learn and process the world and information around them, and their ability to tolerate frustration, solve problems, and adapt to situations.  These are all lifelong skills, crucial to learning, jobs and relationships.
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2.  Attend to attachment

Speaking of attachment, it is one of the most important factors affecting infant mental health.  Having secure attachment relationships to their caregivers - including you - is absolutely crucial for babies.
Here is a quote from HiMama's blog (4) that shares tips for supporting attachment:
  • "Be sensitive and empathic: Children need your consistent responsiveness and warmth, especially during the early years. By responding and being sensitive to their signals (e.g. their cries) will help the child trust you to meet their needs."
  • "Respond calmly: Model good behavior and control your own emotions and behaviors. Children learn from us and how we interact with them."
  • "Be involved: It is important to interact, be present and positively engaged with your child. For example, sing to them, read to them, and smile at them."
  • "Be nurturing: Show positive behavior through body language (e.g. eye contact, touch, facial expressions and laugh) when you interact with your child. Show them that you are interested in them to help develop their sense of attachment and security."
Well said!  For my own words about attachment, listen to the podcast episode (5)!
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3.  Watch for warning signs

These behaviors may sometimes be seen in healthy developing children.  The time to be concerned is when something becomes a pattern.  After making efforts to ensure that the child is safe and feels a sense of security, family caregivers may want to consult their medical or mental health provider . He/she can refer the family to other resources if needed. 
Here are some signs that an infant may be experiencing a problem with mental health, quoted from an online article from a behavioral health provider (6):
  • Not wanting to be held
  • Not being able to be comforted when upset, or being upset for longer than seems right
  • Fussiness (e.g., screaming, whining, crying)
  • Eating and sleeping difficulties
  • Not making eye contact with the parent or caregiver, or avoiding eye contact with others
  • Not seeming to interact with others
  • Not making noises very often, like cooing or babbling sounds
  • Not using language as expected for their age
  • Losing skills they could once do
  • Tantrums
  • Aggression (e.g., hitting, biting, pinching)
  • Anger, frustration, head-banging
  • Separation anxiety or withdrawal from parent
  • Developmental concerns (e.g., autistic behaviors, language problems)​​
It can be difficult for families to hear that their child may be experiencing a problem.  But if we kindly, gently, and objectively share our concerns AND point them to sources of help, we provide a valuable service to them and their children.  I will always appreciate my daughter's toddler teachers for doing just that!

References & Resources

  1. Bailey, B. A. (2000).  I love you rituals.  HarperCollins.
  2. The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Vanderbilt University. Research synthesis: Infant mental health and early care and education providers.  csefel.vanderbilt.edu/documents/rs_infant_mental_health.pdf
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  (2023, June 6).  Help your child grow and thrive.  www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/
  4. Louis, A. (n.d.) Promoting healthy attachments with children.  HiMama Early Education Blog. www.himama.com/blog/promoting-healthy-attachments/
  5. McKittrick, A. (Host). (n.d.)  Attachment parenting explained with Diane Goyette and Gabrielle Holt (No. 43).  [Audio podcast episode]. In Parenting in the First Three Years.  Nurtured Noggins. nurturednoggins.com/43-attachment-parenting/
  6. Stapert, E. (n.d.). Infant mental health – What is it and why is it important? Manhattan Psychology Group.  manhattanpsychologygroup.com/infant-mental-health-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/
  7. Zero to Three. (2016, March 7). Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. www.zerotothree.org/resource/infant-and-early-childhood-mental-health/
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    I'm Diane Goyette, a Child Development Specialist, Trainer, Consultant and Keynote Speaker.  I'm excited to share my blog! 
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