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A Newsletter for Parents of Toddlers, Preschoolers and Beyond!
Click on a topic to go directly to it.TODDLER TOPICS PLUS… a learn-at-home parent newsletter created by Penn State Cooperative Extension welcomes you. This newsletter is designed to assist parents, grandparents, caregivers and all adults who care about and for children in all their interactions with children. We will continue to make these issues available on-line as well as in hard copy format.
We hope you will find helpful tips and techniques to improve your family's time together while providing you with information that will enrich your children's learning process. Contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in your county for information on other educational programs of interest to you and your family.
Ellen Meanix Helfrick, Editor
Shake, Rattle and Sing
Cynthia Pollich, MEd
Lancaster County
Research shows that music and movement have a positive impact on development for young children. The right hemisphere of the brain (sensing and feeling side) functions through activities such as music, art and creativity. The left hemisphere organizes sequential and logical skills like language and speech. Both sides of the brain must be developed during the critical learning periods in early childhood.
Singing songs to children and with them will teach them about beat, tones, and lyrics; vital in developing auditory discrimination. The use of instruments will promote fine motor development and encourage creative development. Creative movement (singing and dancing) helps children learn balance, coordination, and rhythm plus develops self-esteem and body awareness. Music helps children learn to count, the alphabet, days of the week, their address and phone number.
Creative movement is a joyful way for children to explore movement through music, develop physical skills, channel energy, stimulate imagination and promote creativity. Creative movement uses body actions to: communicate an image (the wind), communicate an idea (a journey) or communicate a feeling (strength). Creative movement provides all children, regard-less of age, gender, or developmental stage, with noncompetitive, success-oriented and creative experiences.
Music and movement not only touches our souls, it also shapes growing minds. When children sing or play music they become better readers, thinkers and learners.
Sing-Along Songs (Midis and Lyrics)
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/music.htm
Preschool Home Activities for Parents and Young Children
Fun activities that parents and young children can easily do. Sing a few familiar songs together with your child as you march. www.preschoolrainbow.org
Sharon MacDonald on Using Songs in the Classroom
Even "just for fun" songs can be educational! Songs help young children learn information quickly and accurately. http://www.songsforteaching.com
Sensory Play
Rendy L. Knepper, Better Kid Care Coordinator, Dauphin County
Playing 'alphabet hide and go seek' will reinforce letter recognition and build vocabulary. Print each letter in both upper and lower case on its own piece of colored paper. Decorate a shoe box. Choose one letter per week to go in the box. Along with the letter, place an item that starts with that letter in the box. Change the item each day until the last day when all six items appear in the box. Have your child check the box each morning, then recite the letter and learn the name of the item. For older children, try touching the item and guessing what it is before looking.
Dealing with Public Misbehavior (part 2)
Karen Bracey, Extension Educator
Wyoming County
In Issue One, we addressed how to prevent your child from having tantrums in public. However, even if you've done everything you can to prevent tantrums, they still happen. Your first priority is to deal with your child. Don't let other people or these situations fluster you; simply deal with your child's behavior calmly and effectively.
If you see your child starting to lose control….Stay calm! Do not overreact or yell. Keep your voice soft and calm as you try to determine what your child views as the problem. Calm parents have a greater chance of preventing a tantrum. If your child looses control, remember these rules.
Rule #1: Never, ever give in to a child's tantrum. We all know this, but sometimes, in public, we just want the scene to end. If you give in, you are setting yourself up for more tantrums in the future, which will be harder and harder to break. A tantrum endangering your child's safety would be the only reason to break this rule.
Rule #2: Reward, don't bribe. This can be confusing for parents, but there is a big difference between the two. A reward is a positive reinforcement for a positive behavior. "You were so good on this shopping trip that I'm going to let you have a quarter for the machine." A bribe is a positive reinforcement for a negative behavior. "If you stop screaming, I'll give you a quarter for the machine."
A reward will increase the likelihood of a behavior happening again, so you want to reward good behavior. Remember the saying: "If you feed it; it will grow".
Be careful of what behaviors you "feed".
Rule # 3: Remove your child from the situation calmly and quickly. If nothing else is working, take your child to a more private area. This may mean that you leave a cart of groceries in the store or your dinner on the table. When in a private area, tell your child that you will talk to him when he is quiet. Make sure he is not hurting anyone or anything and then do your best to ignore him. When the tantrum is finished, take a deep breath, get down to his level, and ask him if he is OK and ready to go back. Once your child gains control, praise him for his good behavior and for regaining composure.
Rule # 4: Remember:
Managing Food Allergies
Janice M. Ronan, Extension Educator
Erie County
Food Allergies are on the rise - learn the difference between food intolerance and a true food allergy. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system and is usually less severe, more short-lived and more localized. Common food intolerances are lactose intolerance (when the body lacks enough of a particular enzyme needed to digest milk sugars) and sensitivity to strawberries. Food intolerance reactions, such as gas and bloating, can be similar to symptoms of a food allergy. A food allergy involves the immune system. Food allergy symptoms can worsen after each exposure yet they may be outgrown. Eight foods cause 90% of food allergy reactions. The Big 8 are cow's milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish (bass, flounder, and cod) and crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, and crab). Allergic reactions can range from minor (skin reactions, runny nose, gastrointestinal problems) to severe (asthma, anaphylactic shock, even death).
Off to School with Allergies
Plan ahead to prevent food allergy reactions when children are "on their own" at day care and school. You should:
Reading Labels
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) has improved labeling for both domestic and imported food products labeled on or after January 1, 2006. Food processors have two options to identify major allergens.
Option 1 is to name the food source in plain English following the usual name in the list of ingredients.
Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, folic acid), sugar, whey (milk). . . . .Option 2 uses the word "Contains" followed by the food source from which the allergen is derived. This must appear immediately after or adjacent to the ingredient list, in a type size that is not smaller.
Contains wheat, milk, eggs, and soy.
An excellent source of information for food allergies is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). They can be reached at 800-929-4040 or at www.foodallergy.org.
Book Review
Ellen Meanix Helfrick, Youth Services
York County Library System
Most public Libraries have a Parent/Teacher section. Toddler Topics Plus… 2007 issues feature a book review designed to send you in search of a great resource that will help make learning fun for the whole family.
The Secret Lives of Toddlers
A Parent's Guide to the Wonderful, Terrible, Fascinating Behavior of Children Ages 1 to 3 by Jana Murphy, 2004, A Perigee Book
I think this book will be of great value because each of its 5 parts: The Way We Play, Mealtime Mayhem, So Little Sleep, This Little Body of Mine and In The Mood are set up in chapters that answer the questions that every parent wonders about.
Murphy, with insight from about thirty 'experts' makes you feel like you are sitting down with a wise old 'been there - learned it all' parent. The secrets are passed along by a parent in a relaxed manner without any judgments. After each chapter answers a question, Murphy shares practical tips in the "Now that you know" section.
Check out this book to find out the answers to these questions and more:
o Why do toddlers love to dress up?
o Why do toddlers spit out food?
o Why do toddlers bang their heads?
o Why do toddlers bite?
o Why do toddlers say "No, no, no"?
Young children can and do learn to use the toilet when they are ready. As a parent or caregiver, you can help by being patient and understanding. If you have a positive outlook and do not push the child before he is ready, you will be more successful. Remember, that no two children are the same, even if they are from the same family. Children are ready to start toilet training at varying ages. Watch for these readiness indicators:
Once you decide the child is ready, decide what type of training potty to use. A potty chair on the floor will encourage independence. You might want to let the child practice sitting on the potty with clothes on to get used to it. As the child gets comfortable with the potty, he can practice without the diaper.
A seat that fits on the top of the regular toilet seat is convenient since you don't have to clean up after each use. Your child may require your help, at least for a time, when using this type of potty seat. This seat may be more comfortable than the adult seat.
Do not insist that the child sit on the toilet until a bowel movement or urination is done. A practical time length ranges from one to five minutes. Positive, fun 'potty songs' can make the toilet training experience more like other aspects of the normal day while they help measure the amount of time sitting. Make up a tune with your child - singing and silliness eliminates pressure to perform.
A child toilet trained in a relaxed manner will seldom backslide. Still, accidents will happen. Patience and encouragement are two important aspects of parenting, especially during toilet training.
Raising a Reader
Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Pennsylvania Department of Education.
In this issue, we will finish the list of tips from the bookmark publication: Easy Things You Can Do At Home to Raise Readers…
Visit your local library on a regular basis and borrow a wide range of books and audio materials. Take part in activities the library provides for young children.
Use words to describe aloud what you are doing or what you see around your house and community.
Learning depends on repetition. It is good when children ask for favorites to be read again and again.
Encourage your child to "read" picture books to you.
Be a good role model by reading for enjoyment and information yourself.
When reading aloud, use lots of expression, different voices and sound effects when appropriate.
Read books that play with language such as poetry, tongue twisters, rhymes and riddles
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