ELF Blog
Parent / Caregiver
Childproofing & Preventing Home Accidents
KidsHealth is a publication of the Nemours Foundation, dedicated to providing doctor-approved health information for children from birth to adolescence. A recent article featured tips for increasing safety in the home. General suggestions are provided to avoid a few potential dangers, with links to more indepth information on specific topics. You can access the articles at www.kidshealth.org and click on first aid and safety. Wondertime is a parenting site that has safety tips based on the developmental age of the child and the types of activity in which they engage. This information is available at www.wondertime.go.com/learning/child-development/health-safety.html .
Another article on childproofing your home is available on the Civitas website at www.civitas.org/bits/UCsafety.pdf.
Creating a Good Fit Between Parenting Style & a Child's Temperament
As parents, we can adjust our parenting style to the temperament of our child. It's not always easy to do, however there are ways to respond to a child's behavior that influence their reaction and improve the parent - child fit. Here are a couple parent resources that address ways to create smoother interactions through understanding temperament. Parenting Your Unique Child, a parent news bulletin from the University of Wisconsin Extension is available at www.civitas.org/bits/temperament_3.pdf . Also helpful is S. K. I. P. Strategies for Kids/ Information for Parents: Temperament that can be downloaded for distribution to parents and caregivers at www.civitas.org/bits/temperament.pdf .
You can receive these resources directly from Born Learning by subscribing to their newsletter at www.bornlearning.org and click on the newsletter tab.
Effective Parent Training Programs
What makes parenting training programs effective? A recent study reviewed 77 published evaluations of parent training programs and identified the common characterisitics. With effectiveness defined as the greatest impact on parent and child (birth - 7) behaviors, four areas emerged: 1) helping parents create positive interactions with their children; 2) providing an opportunity for parents to practice the new skill; 3) training for parents in emotional communication; and 4) including timeout and providing opprotunities for consistent response to children's behavior.
An abstract of the study can be found at http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/articles.cfm?article_id=1529 . The full report was published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, May, 2008.
Fatherhood.
A father's involvement in his child's life serves a unique and critical role in supporting his child's healthy development and behavior. The Minnesota Father's & Family Network explains just how this works in their InfoSheet on Positive Father Involvement. It can be downloaded at http://bits.civitas.org/content/dads_PositiveFather.pdf.
Focus on Fathering Curriculum
The Parents as Teachers National Center has developed a new resource for use in creating programming for fathers called Focus on Fathering. This free curriculum was funded through the Missouri Office of Head Start. It's available at http://www.parentsasteachers.org/site/pp.aspx?c=ekIRLcMZJxE&b=4134049&tr=y&auid=3788730 . Some of the topics addressed are child development, reading with your child, connecting with your child, parenting when you are apart, discipline and more. Each unit provides parent materials, guideines for the faciltator, activities and information on the topic.
Is It a Masterpiece or a Scribble?
Share this interesting article from Zero to Three with your families, A Scribble or a Masterpiece? How Your Child's Writing and Art Change Over Time at http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_language_writingart In a very concise manner, this article presents the stages of drawing and writing that most children experience and the purpose of each stage. In addition, it describes the development that occurs, as well as the importance of creativity and the role each parent can play in allowing their child the freedom to explore, have fun and learn without instructions.
Key to Literacy - Parents Talking with their Kids
A key focus of our mission is to support pre-literacy development through ELF. We continue to emphasize the importance of reading aloud with infants, toddlers and preschoolers, however now we also need to model and encourage what might be a more powerful message to parents...talk to your children. Laura Pappano reports in the Harvard Education Letter that research is mounting that links language-rich home environments with reading success and school achievement. In fact, exploratory investigative discussions between parents and children are central to higher-level lieracy, while the social-emotional bond parents have with children can amplify learning. Parents remain uniquely able to tailor explanations that click with their child and provide more extensive opportunities for rich discussion. Read more at http://www.edletter.org/insights/familyconversation.shtml
LA Conference on "The Fatherhood Solution" June 12, 2008
First 5 LA is sponsoring "In Harms Way 2008: The Fatherhood Solution" a confererence to explore research on fatherhood and the impact of current social and economic factors. Topics that will be addressed include the impact of war, family violence, children and divorce, incarceration, bringing fatherhood programs to communities, policy, and more. The one-day conference will be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2008. For more information and registration check http://www.childrensinstitute.org/inharmsway/
Oh, How Do Readers Grow!
"Cultivando el habito de la lectura" or "Cultivating Readers" with interactive, fun activities is a new resource designed for parents by the National Center for Family Literacy. This booklet available in both English and Spanish, is intended to support the development of pre-literacy and literacy skills from infancy through grade three. Colorful and engaging, this 12-page booklet can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.famlit.org/atf/cf/%7B3D0C0CE7-6FDA-40BA-88F3-AA78546501E7%7D/Cultivating%20Readers_NCFL_2008.pdf
Parent Self Care.
An often overlooked but important consideration for effective parenting and childcare is the well being of the caregivers. Reducing stress and exhaustion may be easier said then done when caring for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Here is a news brief for parents available through the University of Wisconsin-Extension, that explains the cause and impact of stress, as well as tips for de-stressing. One of these ideas may provide that needed break for parents as they lead their busy lives. You can access this information at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/parenting/pdf/selfcare.pdf
There are a few more "self care" tips that would be helpful to parents from Rush University Medical Center at http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-1102020590816.html