Parent Fact Sheets

These Fact Sheets are designed to be used by Parents to improve the welfare of their children.

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TEACHING YOUR CHILD THROUGH EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES

TEACHING YOUR CHILD THROUGH EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES

Often working parents are concerned with the quality of time they spend with their child. Spending “quality time” with your child does not have to be a formal learning experience. Most of the everyday activities you do with your child can be an important learning experience.

To identify some of the learning activities you are doing with your child, let’s look at a few of the learning domains.

TEACHING PRESCHOOLERS COMMUNICATION

TEACHING PRESCHOOLERS COMMUNICATION

By preschool age, (3 to 6 years), most children have learned to talk in full sentences. They love to talk about things they have done.

For example: “Remember yesterday when we saw that butterfly, it was so pretty.”

Very young preschoolers may struggle with stories and putting happenings in the correct order. By age six they are usually able to tell a story in the proper sequence.

Preschoolers may tell fantastic stories. They love to recount imaginary stories.

TEACHING MY CHILD TO BE INDEPENDENT

TEACHING MY CHILD TO BE INDEPENDENT

Independence is an important skill for young children to develop. Often the first time a parent needs to deal with independent issues is when the child first goes to childcare. Teaching children independence is a natural part of a child’s separation process and is needed for autonomy.

Before your child enters childcare, the child may have expected you to do most things for him. Often you are in a hurry and find it hard to facilitate your child’s independence.

TEACHING MY CHILD HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS

HELPING CHILDREN TO MAKE FRIENDS

Every parent wants to see their child happy playing with their friends. No parent wants to hear, “I don’t have any friends. No one likes me.” However, that does not always come easily to children. Children develop at different rates, however all children need to develop the skills necessary to make friends and to be a friend. When in social situations observe your child and see how other children react to them.

TEACHING CHILDREN RESPECT

WHY SHOULD WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN RESPECT?

Learning to respect peers, authority, parents, and themselves is a necessary skill for children to learn in order to be successful. When a child learns to respect their parents, they listen and follow direction because they know you are looking out for their best interest.

We need to teach children respect so they can learn:

     • responsibility to respect and take care of objects that belong to others.

SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS - INFANTS 0-12 MONTHS

As a parent, you are in the position to know your baby best. You are with your baby everyday and are one of the most important person your child interacts with. Many new parents have the tendency to compare your baby’s development with other babies.

It is very important to understand that each child develops at their own pace. However, there are certain milestones that babies should reach during their first year. (Parent Fact Sheet –“Infant Developmental Milestones”.

SHOULD MY SCHOOL AGE CHILD STILL GO TO FAMILY CHILDCARE?

There are many children who come home to empty houses after school. They are being called ‘latch key’ children. Parents often experience the difficult dilemma of trying to find an afterschool program for their child. As more parents work outside of their homes there is a need for a safe and appropriate place for school age children. Quality family childcare can supplement and continue what the child’s school offers by providing different types of life and learning experiences.

Family childcare can be especially helpful in supplementing the following school limitations:

SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Babies cry, they cry loudly, and often. Fussy babies can cry for extended periods of time. On occasion, a parent or caregiver can become very frustrated or even angry when the baby will not stop crying. When a person severely shakes the baby or toddler it can cause Shaken Baby Syndrome. (SBS)

SETTING AGE APPROPRIATE LIMITS

AGE APPROPRIATE LIMITS

Age Appropriate limits are the limits we set for our children based on the child’s developmental age as opposed to their chronological age. Your child’s developmental age is the age at which they can understand and act on certain behaviors.


For example, you would not expect an 18 month old child to share and gladly hand over their toy to another child because you told them it was the right thing to do.

SELECTING A CHILD CARE PROVIDER – POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Selecting a family childcare provider for your child, can be a very intimidating process. Of course, you want the best fit for your child and meeting the provider, examining the environment and looking at the curriculum are essential. There is another important aspect that should be taken into consideration. You should expect to be given a written comprehensive policy and procedure document.

SELECTING A CHILD CARE PROVIDER – ENVIRONMENT FOR INFANT AND TODDLERS

It can be very difficult to entrust your precious infant or toddler to childcare for the first time.
To help you with the process, here are some things you should look for and questions to consider when choosing a program:

DOES THE PROGRAM HAVE WELL PLANNED SPACES TO SUPPORT YOUR INFANT'S DEVELOPMENT?

• Are there areas where my child can explore freely?

• Does it meet the state licensing requirements for enrollment of infants and toddlers in care at the same time?

• Does the space promote and support relationship building?

SELECTING A CHILD CARE PROVIDER -CONTRACT

SELECTING A CHILD CARE PROVIDER -CONTRACT

When you have selected a family childcare provider for your child, before your child starts care you should expect to be given a comprehensive written list of the provider’s policies and procedures and a contract. It is important that you carefully go over the contract and the policies before your child starts Go over each page with your provider and make sure you understand what is expected of you and what you expect from them. Ask questions and make sure you get a satisfactory answer for any questions you may have.

SAFE DIAPERING

One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to make sure your diapering procedure and area is sanitary. Diseases can be spread by you or the child’s hands due to improper sanitary procedures during diapering. Some diseases, viruses and parasites that can be spread are:

• Salmonella

• Shigella

• Campylobacter

• Giardia

• Crypto sporidia

• Rotavirus

• Norwalk virus

• Hepatitis A

Here are some important points to remember:

• Change diapers on a changing table or designated diapering area

RAISING A BILINGUAL CHILD

As a parent you may decide to raise your child bilingual. There are a couple of reasons why parents may consider raising their child to be bilingual.   
  • 1.  Infancy and early childhood are a time when the brain is developing pathways to learn language.  By age 2 most toddlers have learned about 50 words.  Between two and three years old toddlers learn to put the words together into sentences.  Toddlers are not only learning the names of objects, but are learning to recognize emotions and feelings.   

 

PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM TEASING

Unfortunately teasing happens to children. It can happen in childcare despite the efforts of providers and parents. Children become very upset when teased or called a name. When a child is teased repeatedly in daycare they often do not want to attend. As a parent, you cannot always protect children from these harmful situations. However, you can teach your child strategies to help them cope with teasing. Young children who learn coping skills at an early age may be better prepared for more significant social challenges and conflicts in their preteen years.

PRESCHOOL SOCIALIZATION

As a parent, you want your child to be happy and have many friends. Many parents worry about how to help their child develop heathy socialization skills. Parents are eager to assist their child in their social development. Therefore, what you should expect at each age and how you can facilitate good socialization are two questions that we will discuss in this fact sheet.

THREE -YEAR -OLD CHILDREN

PREPARING YOUR CHILD TO READ

Your Child does not have to have mastered his ABC’s to begin getting him ready to read. You can help your child start developing the skills they need to be ready to read long before they reach kindergarten. Here are some tips which you can use to help your child progress.

• Sign up for a story time at your public library or local bookstore. Many of these places offer skilled storytellers who bring books to life using puppets, songs, and crafts. (You can also pick up a few tips for your read aloud sessions with your child).

PLAY IS "QUALITY TIME”

Playing is an important part of a child’s development. When children are at play, they are free to explore and practice new roles. They are able to learn about a variety of materials, acquire social abilities, and learn to cope. Play helps children actively demonstrate what they feel and think about in all the different parts of their lives. Children take their play very seriously and the opportunities for varied types of play are necessary in any quality family childcare program.

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