Parent Fact Sheets

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

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IDENTIFYING LYME DISEASE

IDENTIFYING LYME DISEASE

What is Lyme disease in children?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are usually spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is a year-round problem, but it peaks during the spring and summer months. It can cause short-term symptoms, and may cause long-term problems.

WHAT CAUSES LYME DISEASE IN A CHILD?

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that are spread to people by tick bites. The ticks that carry the bacteria are:

HELPING CHILDREN 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.

HELPING CHILDREN 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. Ask yourself:

Does your child always want to be ‘first’?

Is your child shy?

Is your child bossy?

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN TO CRAWL

Parents are generally concerned with their child’s development. Is your child doing what other children his age are doing? It is comforting to know that all children progress at their own pace. Some children never crawl at all. In fact, they may go straight from sitting, to pulling up, to standing and then to walking. Often a baby’s temperament is playing a role, since placid infants are often content to stay in one place.

HELP YOUR CHILD FINISH WHAT HE STARTED

My child never finishes anything he starts! How can I help him learn persistence? When your child goes to school, he will be required to finish projects, games and assignments. Your child needs to learn how to follow through with an assignment even if he is frustrated or not interested in it. In school your child will be required to follow directions, to take risks, make mistakes, and work as part of a group. Therefore, it is important that you help your child develop the ability to follow through with projects.

HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP PATIENCE

As a busy parent, you have many responsibilities. Your job, other children in your family, your partner, routine house duties and many more demand your attention. You learned when your child was an infant that infants can be very demanding. Your baby needed to be fed in a timely manner and can often be very insistent when hungry. Their diapers need to be changed and your baby needs to be kept clean and comfortable. Having baby's needs met are an important part of your baby's development.

HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION FOR BOOKS

HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION FOR BOOKS

Reading is essential to a child’s learning. Instilling into your child a love and enjoyment of reading is a skill that will follow them into adulthood. The love of books and reading can begin as early as infancy as you begin to read to your baby.

TIPS ON INSTILLING APPRECIATION IN BOOKS

• Children particularly love the closeness they feel when they can cuddle up with you as you read them a story.

• Allow your child to be able to see and touch the book.

HELP MY CHILD IS GETTING BULLIED

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Bullying is the intentional tormenting in physical, verbal, or psychological ways. It can range from hitting, shoving, name calling, threats, and mocking to extorting money or possessions. Some children bully by shunning others or spreading rumors. Older child can use technology to harass other children. The effects of bullying can be serious and affect children’s self-worth and future relationships.

WHY DO CHILDREN BULLY?

HEAD LICE

Just mentioning head lice often makes us itch. Head lice can be a problem especially if your child goes to preschool or elementary school. Every parent dreads a call from school asking you to pick up your child because they have lice. Just mentioning head lice often makes us itch. The following are frequently asked questions discussing what head lice, treatment, and prevention:

WHAT ARE HEAD LICE?

GUIDING MY CHILD THROUGH SEPARATION AND DIVORCE

When you are going through a separation and/or divorce, your child is feeling the effects and dealing with many emotions. There are so many changes going on in their lives. They may be experiencing:

• One parent is now missing from the home

• They are witnessing fighting and arguing between two people they love

• You and the child may have to move

• You may be in the middle of a custody battle and the child feels the strain.

• Awkward and strained visitation or transitions from one parent’s home to the other.

GUIDELINES FOR RELEASING CHILDREN

GUIDELINES FOR RELEASING CHILDREN

As a childcare provider, you are contracted by parents and guardians to care for their children. They expect that your first obligation will be to keep their children safe. In order to do that, you must have open and honest communication with the parents or guardian who enrolls the child. This is especially true when it comes to releasing their child from childcare. Let’s look at the following scenario:

FOOD SAFETY RULES

FOOD SAFETY RULES

Food safety and sanitation are important to keeping your family healthy. Understanding the key principles of safe food preparation, handling and storage is vital keeping your family safe from contamination and germs. Many disease that cause diarrhea and even illness like hepatitis can get contracted by eating contaminated and/or spoiled food. Please read the following rules and put into place the tips listed here:

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES

Family activities bring the family together. It is a time when a parent can observe and learn about their child and what they are interested in. It is a time to strengthen the family ties and have fun doing it. Because most of us have very busy schedules it may be necessary to schedule family fun time on a regular basis and make it a priority.

Here are some tips to successful family time:

Be realistic about how much you can do, make it simple and fun.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and adventures.

ENJOY EXERCISE WITH YOUR CHILD

ENJOY EXERCISE WITH YOUR CHILDREN

Exercise is important for children to develop healthy bodies. Even infants need exercise. Why is it so important that children get a lot on exercise? Here are five good reasons for children to get exercise:

• Fighting obesity: It is estimated that nearly 25 million children in the United States are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. (CDC)

• Prevention of diabetes: A child born today has a one in three chance of contracting diabetes during his lifetime. (CDC)

ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO BE HONEST

ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO BE HONEST

Teaching children honesty is a very important part of their development. Learning how to be honest helps the child build trusting relationships as they grow. However, we all know that very young children often do not tell the truth.

For example: The four year old who has cookie crumbs all over their face says, “I didn’t eat it, Rover (the dog) ate it.”

EMERGENCY EVACTUATIONS

EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS

You never know when an emergency can happen in your home. For example: tornados, sever storms, fire or flooding can happen suddenly. It is important that you think about what types of emergencies can occur in you’re a have a plan for evacuation. There are things to tke int consideration when making a plan.

• The location of your home. Are you on a main street where you can get help quickly, or do you live out in the country?

• Are you in a designated flood prone area?

• Does your neighborhood often experience power outages?

EATING HEALTHY

EATING HEALTHY

As your child grows and develops there are many things you can do as a parent to prevent various health conditions. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people aged 2 years or older follow a healthy eating pattern that includes the following:

• A variety of fruits and vegetables.

• Whole grains.

• Fat-free and low-fat dairy products.

• A variety of protein foods.

• Oils.

BENEFITS

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