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Parenting

 

 

Research-Based Child Development Data for Parents

Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that studies children at all stages of development. They compile evaluations and research about child development in many areas including: child poverty and welfare, parenting, school readiness, education, health and youth development. Vist their Web site at: http://www.childtrends.org/

Parenting Newsletters Via E-mail

 Want to learn about parenting at your convenience? All of the UW-Extension Age-paced parenting newsletters have become available in a no-cost electronic format in the last year, including the Spanish language editions.

The link to sign up for free e-delivery is at http://parenting.uwex.edu/.  You will find information for parenting babies to teens, parenting future readers, teaching self-care skills and more.

The national Extension Just-In-Time Parenting Newsletters are available to parents through email delivery at: www.parentinginfo.org/ 

Psss…..All newsletters are great for grandparents, too. Pass it along!

   

Learning Math Every Day

Numbers, math concepts and math discussions are a part of our every day activities for people of all ages. Including counting and math words in your child’s early years will set the stage for later interest and skills in math and science. Click for more

2010 Parenting Classes

Parent Resource Place  – 920 University Ave, Beaver Dam

Keep your children activewhile learning to read! There are many ways for children to learn pre-reading skills. Participate and see how easy it is!  Call 920.887.7503 to register. No fees, child care available upon request.

Block Party

For one hour you can forget about the laundry, cleaning and dinner. Come for an opportunity to play with your children and 5 different type of blocks. Simple to complex ideas for creating building with blocks. Call Kathy Hetzel for more information at 920.386.3789. It’s Free! It’s fun! Registration required!

Raising a Thinking Child

“Raising a Thinking Child” is an evidence-based program for parents of 4-7 year olds and is designed to help parents teach their children how to problem solve.

Offered in fall 2010 on Wednesday evenings at Dodgeland Elementary School in Juneau and on Monday evenings at the Parent Resource Place in Beaver Dam.

Classes start in October. Register by September 27. For exact dates and additional details

 *Dodgeland Brochure

*Parent Resource Place Brochure

 Questions? Contact Kathy Hetzel, Family Living Educator at 386-3790.

Quality Child Care

The Department of Children and Families, Bureau of Regulation and Licensing (BRL) or Bureau of Early Care Regulation has launched a new website, Licensed Child Care Search http://www.dcf.wisconsin.gov/childcare/licensed/search.htm.

This website provides consumers with information on the location of licensed child care centers in their area as well as the results of monitoring visits and investigations conducted by the department.  Consumers can search by type of center, county, city, ZIP code and center name.  The website will include information on the almost 6,000 licensed child care centers in Wisconsin.

Being a parent is not an easy job.  Normal children can be a challenge, but if your child is more energetic, intense, persistent or sensitive, the parent-child relationship can become overwhelming.  Children with these “more” traits may be referred to as “Spirited” children.

Learning the clues to children’s behavior is an important first step. While other kids may whimper when they’re hungry or hurt, spirited children are likely to scream. Parents need to know that intense children react with more energy or excitement or pain than other children. They are not doing this on purpose or to embarrass you. Their bodies physiologically react more than those of other children. Parents need to “teach” their children what they are experiencing and better ways to deal with it. 

Parents are advised to avoid damaging labels and relabel the behavior in a positive manner. Realize that intense children do not hide their emotions—they are sensitive, expressive and dramatic.  Throw out labels like loud, impatient, picky, argumentative or demanding.  Parents need to learn the subtle, nonverbal cues that tell you the child’s level of intensity is rising. Then parents can take preventive actions before the child becomes overwhelmed and has a full-blown meltdown.

Here are some strategies that work with intense kids:

  1. Intervene early—you can’t teach kids something new when they are losing control.  Wait until they have calmed down. Then point out what you saw and how they might handle it differently.  Try calming activities like baths, quiet time or reading stories.
  2. Regular exercise is effective in managing intensity in parents and kids, allowing them to “blow off steam.”
  3. Repetitive motion, especially of the jaw, can be helpful. For young children, this might include sucking a bottle or pacifier, swinging, rocking, riding a rocking horse or in a baby carrier. For older children, try drinking from a straw, chewing gum, swinging, rocking, jumping rope or going for a walk.
  4. Deep breathing helps calm children who tend to hyperventilate or hold their breath when intensity rises. You can teach them to use deep breathing by blowing bubbles, pretending to blow out candles on a birthday cake or counting to ten.
  5. Use humor, but avoid sarcasm or ridicule. Try doing the unexpected—give a silly response, use a different voice or use a funny mask or puppet.  Have a family “I had a bad day” party with pizza and ice cream and let kids discuss their day.
  6. Change the scene in order to disconnect from the source of intensity.  Encourage sensory activities. Use play-doh or silly putty; give back scratches or massage; dim lights in the room; use a sensory bucket filled with water, sand or oatmeal. Other ideas include reading, playing dress up, or water play in the bath or sink.
  7. Provide a time and space for cooling off. Teach kids ways to calm down. Choose a quiet, comfortable spot.  Teach them that time-out is an opportunity to pull out of the action in order to rest, relax and regain control. Help them feel comfortable taking a break.