Parent Fact Sheets

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

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YOUR BABY – BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

YOUR BABY – BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

One of the first experiences you have with your new baby is the bonding that takes place between the parent and their infant. The bonding process is very important in healthy infant development. Nature facilitates this process by making it an enjoyable experience for both you and your infant. Bonding which includes hugging, snugging, making eye contact and providing a sense of continuity and security not only benefits the infant, but you as a parent as well.

UNDERSTANDING AND HELPING CHILDREN WITH THEIR FEELINGS

UNDERSTANDING AND HELPING CHILDREN WITH THEIR FEELINGS

Social and emotional development are a vital part of your child’s development. Learning about their feelings, how to handle them, how to relate to others are all important skills for your child as they develop friendships and relationships with others. When children can identify their feelings it helps them to have empathy for others. It also helps them to control their feelings and build self-esteem.

IDENTIFYING DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

Feelings and emotions at each stage of development:

TV VIDEO VIEWING

TV VIDEO VIEWING

Most children begin watching TV at a very early age. There are some very informative and early learning programs geared towards infants right up through school age children. However, the question is how much and what kinds of TV viewing is acceptable for my child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.

TOILET TRAINING

TOILET TRAINING

There are many theories on how to potty train a child. However, there are some developmental stages that the child must have met for him to be successful. The child must be able to:

• Walk by himself to the toilet or potty chair

• Be able to sit by himself

• Dress himself or be able to pull down his pants and pull them back up again

• Stay dry for up to two hours.

• Tell you when they need to go

• Follow basic directions

• Be interested in going in the toilet or in wearing underwear.

THUMB-SUCKING FACTS

THUMB-SUCKING FACTS

Babies are born with the natural desire to suck. In fact, many babies suck their thumbs while in the womb. This sucking reflex allows the baby to take in food, in the form of breast milk or baby formula. That’s why a baby when they are not hungry will become calm when sucking on a pacifier.

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.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

As a parent, your responsibilities can be overwhelming. Often you may be going through life on autopilot. You wake-up, shower, get the children ready for school or childcare, drop them off, get coffee, and head to work. At work you go through similar duties, after work picking up the children, getting dinner, baths and bedtime routines for the children, and you fall into bed to get up and start all over again tomorrow. What about you? Would you like to change?

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.

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