Putting Child Safety at the Top of Your To-Do List This Summer

The summer months bring sunshine and more time together as a family. But they also bring a new set of parenting concerns as children have a new set of activities and, likely, more free time. The following resources on the PTA national website can help your family have a safer summer:

• School vacations mean a shift in your family's routines and child care, and for older children they might also lead to more time home alone. Visit pta.org/take25 for a list of 25 things you can do to help keep your children safer.
  
  
  
• No school and no homework may mean more time spent in front of screens of all types. Visit pta.org/mediasafety for tips on age-appropriate use of video games, television, movies, music, the Internet, and cell phones.
  
  
  
• Take some time this summer to consider how you might work with your PTA to make your child's school a safer place. Visit pta.org/schoolsafety for ideas on what you can do over the next year.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Summer Safety in the Summer Sun

Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe Outdoors
Summer break is right around the corner. Although water activities, bike rides, and summer sports entertain kids, unique toys have a role in summer fun, too. You should consider both fun and safety when looking at outdoor toys to occupy kids, says Elizabeth Werner, Chief Toy Officer for iVillage.com's parenting message board. Here are some ways to maintain fun while keeping your kids safe with summer toys and activities.
Parents can take all the necessary precautions, but if other children playing nearby are not employing the same safety practices, accidents may still occur. "I advise parents to be—and encourage their children to be—fully aware of their surroundings," Werner says. "If others in the play area, whether adults or children, are not following safe play habits, then it is best to change activities and return when the environment is safe."
Werner advises checking the age group recommendations on unfamiliar toys. Many recommendations stem from skill requirements but many more are based on safety reasons, she says.

Basic Safety Tips Buy toys with umbrellas or canopies to prevent sun exposure. Can't be said enough: Don't forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats. Buy brands that you know and trust because quality toys come from better testing practices. Always read warning labels. It can be tough to do with kids eager to play, but it might prevent injury.

"Parents should be sure if they have children playing together that are in different age groups to put away or separate toys that may be dangerous for the younger children," she says.
One of the best things that parents can do for their kids is to give them a safe environment in which to engage in creative, unstructured, and natural play. Some of the best activities are back-to-basics types: tag, hopscotch, hide and seek, kick the can, and Simon says. Lots of balls, jump ropes and hula hoops are good to have on hand as well.
Can parents be overly cautious? Sure, but it is a parent's job to protect children, Werner says. Each child is unique and parents must take into account their own child's skill, age, needs, and personality when deciding what summer activities and toys are appropriate. The guiding principle should be better safe than sorry.
"I know I am guilty of being a nervous mom now and again but we have to trust our instinct as parents," she adds.




Proud Mama To

Bullying: What You Can Do to Keep Your Kids Safe

Bullying An estimated 1.6 million U.S. students in grades six through 10 report being the target of a bully at least once a week. (National School Boards Association)

PTA Resources on Bullying "Understanding Bullying," an Our Children article and list of resources.

Everyone recognizes physical forms of bullying, but relational bullying (spreading rumors, social exclusion, cyber bullying, etc.) can be even more destructive because it is more subtle and harder to identify, said Sandra McLeod Humphrey. Humphrey, author of Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure Popularity, and Put-Downs, said this type of bullying is difficult to cope with because it can be devastating to the victim's self-esteem. She provides some action items for parents and kids to prevent or manage bullying incidents.
Parent Tips: What you can do as a parent to prevent bullying.

• Listen: Encourage your children to talk about school, friends, activities, etc.
  
  
  
• Take your children's complaints of bullying seriously: Remember that children are often afraid or ashamed to tell parents that they have been bullied and a simple bullying incident may turn out to be quite significant.
  
  
  
• Watch for symptoms of victimization: Social withdrawal, drop in grades, personality changes, etc.
  
  
  
• Use children's books to initiate a discussion about bullying: Judy Blume's Blubber is a classic novel about classroom dynamics, shifting alliances, and the bullying that can go on unseen by adults. Trudy Ludwig's Just Kidding emphasizes the distinction between "tattling" (trying to get someone in trouble) and "reporting" (trying to help someone in trouble). Hot Issues, Cool Choices offers specific bullying scenarios which encourage readers to talk about the choices they would make. And for adults, Barbara Coloroso's The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander provides a wealth of valuable information and suggestions.

Student Tips: Pass these tips along to your children.
Remember, bullying is all about power and control, so try not to give the bully that power or control):

• Ignore the bully when possible: The bully is waiting for you to react, so stay calm and don't react.
  
  
  
• There's strength in numbers: Bullies generally don't pick on groups, so hang with your friends.
  
  
  
• Don't retaliate in kind: This usually will just escalate the situation. Violence generally leads to more violence.
  
  
  
• Tell an adult you trust: If the bullying continues, tell a parent, teacher, or some other adult you trust.
  
  
  
• Don't underestimate your role as bystander: Bystanders can unintentionally facilitate a bullying situation through their inaction—or they can choose to help stop it.
  

Remember, no one deserves to be bullied, so don't suffer in silence. Do something or tell someone.




Proud Mama To

Signing with children with special needs

Children with Special Needs
Using Sign Language

Who Benefits?

Sign language is typically only thought of in the context of the deaf community and children with hearing impairments. However, there are multiple populations and contexts in which sign language is beneficial. Some of these include children with special needs such as:

• Apraxia
  
• 
  
  
  
  Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
  
• Communication Impairments
  
• 
  
  
  
  Downs Syndrome
• 
  
  
  
  Deafness/Hearing Impairment
• LLD—Language Learning Disability
  
• Various Learning Delays
  
• Medical non-verbal needs, i.e. tracheotomy
  
• Varying degrees of mental impairment

My child has special needs. What are the benefits
of using sign language?

Research indicates multiple advantages for development in children with special needs. The development of speech, language, social, emotional and academic skills is enhanced through the use of sign language.

Learning Signs - Speech and Language Benefits

Sign language accelerates the acquisition of speech by stimulating areas of the brain that are associated with speech and language.
Babies develop the gross motor skills needed for signing before they develop the fine motor skills associated with verbal speech. Signing provides language stimulation and conceptual information that enhances vocabulary development in children.

Many children with special needs experience difficulty with expressive language and verbal ability. Sign language gives these children access to communication while strengthening the ability to produce expressive speech.

• Special Needs - Social Benefits of Sign Language
  
  Children with special needs often experience frustration when communication becomes difficult. This frustration manifests itself in the form of temper tantrums, aggression, depression and other socially unacceptable behaviors. Sign language reduces frustration by providing a way to expressively communicate in situations where verbal communication may not be successful. Sign language breaks down communication barriers for children with various disabilities and needs.
  
• Emotional Benefits - Sign Language
  
  By expanding vocabulary and social opportunities, sign language naturally enhances self esteem. Children who face communication barriers benefit greatly when they are provided with various accesses to language and learning. These children develop better communication skills through sign language and are consequently happier and more independent.
  
• Academic Benefits - Children with Special Needs
  
  Children begin to develop language from the time that they are born. The brain begins to make connections through auditory and visual input. Children with special needs often have one or more impairments that affect normal development in the brain.
  
  Sign language essentially jump-starts the areas of the brain that are linked to speech and language development. Language is a primary building block for learning and academic development. Sign language stimulates intellectual development and helps children to retain information longer because it is a supplements speech input. Using many modes of input strengthens connections in the brain and therefore benefits academic development.
  

My child requires special needs - When should I/we start using Sign Language?

As soon as possible! Babies develop language and knowledge from stimuli in their environment beginning from birth. Research has shown that babies develop the fine motor skills needed to form speech at approximately one year old.
The gross motor skills needed for sign language develop months earlier. The frustration for most parents of children with special needs is that identification often does not occur this early. Signing with your baby regardless of special needs is a most wonderful idea; and, it is never too late. As soon as a child is identified with a special need, sign language can immediately be used to provide numerous developmental benefits.

Who else utilizes sign language for its magnificent benefits?

Sign language is becoming more widespread in the United States. It is commonly being used in homes across the country with hearing, hearing impaired and special needs family members. It is commonly thought that sign language is only for the Deaf community, but this is not true!
The benefits of sign language are applicable to everyone. For this reason, sign language is also being implemented in various educational settings. It is used not only in deaf education classrooms, but also in special education classrooms and preschool classrooms. It is also used in unconventional settings such as hospitals.

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Many hospitals find sign language to be useful with both adult and pediatric patients that have a communication barrier, such as a tracheotomy. The benefits of sign language are so great that it is increasing in popularity in a variety of contexts!

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Should I Sign With My Special Needs Child?

Ultimately the decision to sign with a special needs child is up to the parent alone. The most important thing a parent should keep in mind is that these children often need input from multiple modalities.
These modalities can be visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Sign language is a wonderful and beneficial tool for providing visual benefit in addition to verbal/auditory input.

When there is a deficiency in one area, such as language learning disorder, one modality can provide a foundation for the development of another. Sign language can scaffold the acquisition of speech-language development as well as social and academic development.

Helpful Links - Children with Special Needs Utilizing Sign Language....

Babies and Children with Autism

Down Syndrome and Sign Language - Boost Development Skills!

Parent-Pals Special Education Resources

http://www.handspeak.com

http://www.sign2me.com/research.php

Childhood Apraxia and the Benefits of Sign Language

Childhood apraxia of speech is a motor disorder which causes children to have difficulty voluntarily making the movements needed for speech. Children with apraxia of speech do have the capability to say speech sounds, but they have a problem with motor planning.

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say, but when you open your mouth, only a garbled fraction of the word comes out - or even worse, something that doesn't resemble what you're trying to say at all! You can't seem to put more than two or three words together and form a sentence. Your parents and friends don't understand what you're saying, and you have no idea why. This can become incredibly frustrating for children, and sometimes even discourages them from wanting to talk.

It's been shown that through extensive therapy with a speech-language pathologist, some children with apraxia can in fact resolve some of their problems with talking, though the disorder itself is thought to probably last forever. One thing the therapy tends to focus on is helping the child control how fast s/he talks (slowing it down gives your child more time to process his or her words). Another is the ability to control how his voice rises and falls as he talks (rhythm and melody can often help him learn to speak). Also, controlling the rhythm of his words can help (making sentences easier to put together).

There are many methods used by speech-language pathologists, often times involving visual cues. Some have children use communication boards or pictures, as well as some basic finger signs to prompt or guide the child along. This is where sign language comes into the picture, and can be extremely beneficial. It's not very hard to see why. Even though the general school of thought is that sign language is only for deaf people, that is simply not true. By giving children with apraxia of speech (who can hear perfectly fine) the opportunity to use sign, we open up a whole new way to communicate. This can in turn also help them more effectively develop their ability to talk.

Children with apraxia need multi-sensory input. The visual cues of sign can build a bridge for children to progress to normal-sounding speech. When both using a sign and voicing a word, it helps the child remember the motor process for that word.

For example, let's think about the word "food." A therapist might use the sign for "food" while also saying the word aloud, and the child does the same. With this doubling-up of cues, the child remembers the process easier. He's seeing the sign, hearing the word, and then physically making the sign himself while saying the word aloud. This process is far more likely to stick than simply imitating the word he is being given. Seeing the sign can give him a visual "clue" to what word or idea he is trying to express. It also slows down the rate of speech, giving him more time to process what he's trying to say.

Sign language is beneficial to children with apraxia on several different levels.

• Emotionally:
  
  It is far less frustrating to be able to, at the very least, sign what it is he needs. This makes it much easier to communicate on the most basic of levels. Instead of straining and stringing incorrect words together to form a broken sentence, a child could make the sign to show that he is thirsty. Of course, coupling this with voicing what words he can say will help him remember - and positive re-enforcement from family repeating a correct sentence back to him helps as well. It shows the child that he is being understood, and can make him more positive about communication in general.
  
• Socially:
  
  Having the option of sign language in addition to vocal speech will help children form better relationships with their peers, as well as adults. Imagine how difficult it would be for a child who has such trouble talking to make friends. He would have a hard time communicating, and would probably often times be excluded from group activity. Also, he might be afraid to try to talk to other kids. If a child feels like other kids don't understand him, it can cause him to shy away from people and not want to even try to make friends. Children with apraxia have also been known to act out when they are frustrated, and that can lead to even more social problems. Sign language gives these kids another option.
  
• Academically:
  
  If a child is trying to learn, but is distracted so much by the pressure of trying to produce speech, he's not going to be focused on the material in front of him. By having the option to sign as well, he will be more attentive and involved with what he is learning. Children with apraxia are often at risk of falling behind in expressive language - the ability to properly use the rules of language to put sentences together. Sign can help kids keep expanding their expressive language by giving them another way to communicate an entire idea, instead of improperly constructing sentences and not knowing how to correct them. This would make it easier for them to talk with their teacher, ask appropriate questions, and make the entire learning process easier.
  

Children with apraxia can use sign to assist their verbal speech - it should be thought of as a 'bridge' or an 'anchor' to communication. Once they find that they are being more easily understood, they tend to be more willing to learn and try to use more words. Using sign language for children with apraxia is not meant to replace their talking. It is meant to help them more effectively be able to speak.

Sign Language and Autism

One of the most frustrating aspects of autism is the breakdown in communication. Children with autism struggle with the complexity of spoken language. Sign language creates an avenue of communication that strengthens speech and language development.

Sign language provides numerous social, emotional, cognitive and communicative benefits for children with autism, such as:

• Stimulation of speech and language development
  
  The visual stimulation provided by sign language activates the same centers in the brain that are activated by speech. Many signs are iconic, meaning they are gestures that are visually associated to the object they refer to. These visual associations are easier for children with autism. Sign language acts as a bridge to speech and language by “turning on” areas of the brain that are inactive due to the breakdown in spoken language.
  
  
• Reduction of negative social behaviors
  
  Children with autism typically display negative social behaviors such as tantrums, anxiety, self-injury, and aggression. These behaviors are intensified when the child cannot communicate basic needs and wants. Sign language offers access to communication and eases the frustration that a child with autism feels when they are unable to express themselves!
  
  
• Increase in social interaction
  
  Sign language provides a way for children with autism to express themselves. It also makes it easier for your child to receptively associate gestures with meaning. Expressive and receptive language skills are the building blocks for social interactions. Children that are able to express themselves are more likely to seek out social interactions!
  
  
• Development of cognitive structures
  
  Sign language supports development of cognitive structures that are important for speech and language. Communication through sign helps to establish connections in the brain that are necessary for encoding language. Encoding language early is the key to learning, and learning is the key to success.
  
  

Sign language is a wonderful tool for parents, educators and families of children with autism. The benefits are immense! So then why is sign language not used for all children with autism? While there are many advantages for using sign language, there are also a few disadvantages:

• Sign language is a visual mode of communication and requires the ability to focus. In many cases, children with autism have attention deficits. In severe cases, attention deficits may prevent sign language from being advantageous to children with autism.
  
  
• Unfortunately, sign language - depending on where it's used (i.e. geographical location) - is not always a well-known accepted form of communication. Although sign language may be beneficial to the child with autism, it may isolate that child from interaction with people who do not know or learn sign language.

While autism can be challenging in many ways, there are many advantageous approaches to communication development. Sign language offers multiple proven benefits for children with various degrees of autism. Autism affects each child in a unique way and as a result the benefits are also unique to each child. In severe cases, sign language may not provide additional communication benefit to children with autism.

However, the fact that it may provide benefit offers hope and blessings to countless families. Sign language has never proven to be detrimental to children with autism, so what is there to lose?

If you have ever known a child with autism, then you know the hope that communication development provides. Sign language stimulates and strengthens communication development and offers hope for families and children that are affected by autism.

Down Syndrome and Sign Language Benefits!

Sign Language actually helps babies, toddlers, and children with Down Syndrome by improving their communication skills.

Using sign language in Down Syndrome can make life a lot easier for everyone concerned. Many children with Down Syndrome have some degree of speech delay. This makes it difficult for the child, as well as the parents, to communicate. A child (of any age) needs to be able to communicate to her parents and caregivers what she wants/needs. When babies reach a certain age, they start to form "opinions" about what they should eat, when they should eat, where they should eat and more. When your baby can't communicate this need/want to you (the caregiver) she will become frustrated. If you can't guess what it is she needs (i.e. a drink, a cracker, a diaper change) you will both become agitated very quickly. She will fuss and cry, and you will…hmmm…well, maybe you'll cry too!
Sign Language
Sign language is an excellent means for you and your baby to communicate. Many babies can pick up signs long before they speak their first words. Even more so with babies who have Down Syndrome. Since their speech is often delayed, it is highly beneficial to learn some alternate method of communication. There are many programs on the market for learning sign language. Your early intervention program may also be able to help you and your baby learn signs.
Other Means of Communication

Of course, there are other means of communication such as smiles, gestures, and other vocalizations (like crying and screaming). Picture boards can also be used when your baby is a bit older. The most effective means, in my opinion, is still signing.

How to teach your baby signs

Start simple
Begin with simple signs like "eat", "drink", "sleep", "milk", "more", etc. My son's favorite is "eat" of course! It was also his first.
Use the sign often
Introduce one sign at a time, and use it every time you do anything related to it. For example, if you want to introduce the sign for "eat" you would make the sign and help your child make the sign every time she eats. It is also important to actually say the spoken word as you sign it. This way she will hear it and learn to associate it with the sign.
*Tip* When helping your baby learn a sign, come from behind her and help her hands form the shape and make the movements. The feel is just more natural that way. You will be guiding your baby's hands as if she was making the sign herself.

Above all, make it fun! Be enthusiastic (over enthusiastic even) when your baby even attempts to make a sign. Never mind if it's not perfect. As long as you know what she is "saying". With age and experience the signs will become better. I can't stress enough, in everything your baby does, praise her, make a big deal, show your excitement. It will motivate her to try that much harder.

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Here is more information about babies and children with Down Syndrome and the positive effects of learning sign language with significant results.

"How Manual Sign Acquisition Relates to the Development
of Spoken Language: A Case Study"

Kouri, Theresa - School of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242
The relationship between signed and spoken word was observed in a young girl with Down Syndrome during a treatment regimen using simultaneous input.
All of her words were recorded over an 8-month period and classified according to the manner of speech and communication production (i.e., spontaneous/imitated; signed and/or spoken).
It was revealed that most of the words that the girl initially signed were later spontaneously spoken and that most of her signs evolved into spontaneous speech.
Several ideas and themes were demonstrated with specific words (ex: signs to speech), and sign/spoken developments during the first versus the final four months of the research study. It was concluded that use of simultaneous signs supports the formation of spoken language.

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And for more research/information on Down Syndrome and American Sign Language, please see:

• http://www.loveandlearning.com/lauralee.shtml
  
  
• http://www.papyrusnews.com/2005/09/signing.html#comment-63487292
  
  
• http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/Products/Perspectives/jan-feb99/dennison.html
  
  
• http://www.signingtimefoundation.org/signingstars
  
  
• http://www.csdsa.org/artsigns.asp
  
  
• http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/tcab.html#gibbs
  
  
• http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/watson.html
  
  
• http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/signintervention.html
  
  
• http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/useofsigns.html

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The Benefits of Sign Language for Deaf Babies and Children

"Your baby has a hearing loss."

For nine long months you have waited for the arrival of this precious baby. Ten fingers and ten toes are reassurance that you have a beautiful, healthy child! In those first moments as a new parent you are filled with love, relief, fear, and visions of your child's future. Then a routine hearing screening changes that vision with only a few words…"Your baby has a hearing loss.."

A diagnosis of hearing loss can be frightening for any new family.

Suddenly, there are a whole different set of decisions to be made and the clock is already ticking. One of the most important and difficult decisions to be made is the method of communication your family will use with your hearing-impaired child. This decision must be made early as the first few years of life are significantly crucial to a child's language development.

During this critical period, the primary goal for your deaf child is communication. American Sign Language often meets this goal much earlier than speech and offers cognitive, social/emotional and speech/language benefits for deaf children.

Sign Language Cognitive Benefits for Deaf Babies and Children

• Sign language jumpstarts brain development
  
  Sign language enhances brain development by establishing connections between auditory and visual input. Signing acts as catalyst for communication by jumpstarting areas of the brain that are linked to speech and language development.
  
  
  
• Sign language increases memory
  
  The visual input provided by sign language stimulates intellectual development and increases a child's ability to retain information longer. This ability benefits a deaf child's academic development by increasing language and vocabulary skills.
  
  
  
• Utilizing sign language enhances reading, writing and math development
  
  The visual-spatial aspect of sign language supplements the spatial skills needed for various mathematical concepts. Similarly, thefingerspelling alphabet is another aspect of sign language that correlates directly to phonetic skills that are necessary for reading and writing. Both aspects of sign language provide skills that are vital to the academic success of a deaf child.
  

Sign Language for Deaf Babies - Social/Emotional Benefits

• Signing reduces frustration for the child
  
  A deaf child that can easily communicate a basic need such as wanting a favorite toy or needing a drink will be much happier.
  
  The oral communication barriers caused by a lack of auditory stimulation can produce a great deal of frustration for a deaf child and can lead to socially inacceptable behaviors like temper tantrums and aggression.
  
  Signing bridges that communication gap and creates an emotionally secure social environment for your hearing-impaired child.
  
  
  
• Signing reinforces vocabulary and broadens your child’s social circle
  
  Language and vocabulary development are key in social development. Think back to high school Spanish class: the more vocabulary you learned, the more you were able to connect with others and establish relationships. Increasing a Deaf child’s vocabulary through sign language essentially increases the circle of people with whom your child can connect and establish relationships!
  
  
  
• Signing boosts confidence because communication is easier and more natural
  
  Sign language gives Deaf children an easy and natural way to express themselves. When this expression is reinforced through social interaction, confidence begins to emerge.
  
  Confidence is the fire that strengthens and builds social development. Confidence develops as your child begins to express himself and understand the expressions of others.
  
  When children develop this communication skill, they will naturally begin to seek out social interactions and relationships.
  

Speech/Language Benefits Through ASL Signs

• Signing stimulates social connections by reinforcing verbal communication
  
  Sign language offers visual input that stimulates verbal communication by increasing language development. Studies have shown that sign language strengthens connections in the brain that are used for speech development.
  
  Speech and language are the building blocks of social development. These enable your deaf child to interact with the world and begin to make social connections.
  
  
  
• Sign language boosts speech development
  
  Sign language accelerates the acquisition of speech by stimulating areas of the brain that are associated with speech and language. Most babies (deaf or hearing) develop the gross motor skills needed for signing before they develop the fine motor skills associated with verbal speech.
  
  
  
• Signing with your deaf baby builds excellent expressive and receptive language skills
  
  Signing provides language stimulation and conceptual information that enhances vocabulary development in deaf children. Many children with hearing loss experience difficulty with expressive language and verbal ability.
  
  Learning sign language removes a lot of this frustration; while giving children with hearing impairments access to communication; while simultaneously strengthening the ability to produce expressive speech.
  

Sign language is a highly beneficial and easily accessible tool for parents of deaf infants and children. The earlier that you as parents expose your Deaf children to sign language, the earlier your child begins to connect with the world around them. Sign language strengthens the academic, social and linguistic potential of deaf children.


Sign language offers endless benefits that continue to facilitate successful outcomes for deaf children and their families around the entire world. *If you'd like to learn and understand more about utilizing american sign language for your deaf baby or child, this author personally recommends that you please take on as much research as you can, to see and grasp all sides of thoughts, opinions, and facts.

Honestly and realistically, the most important aspect is not so much if your Deaf baby can vocalize 10 words perfectly by age 24 months - but rather your Deaf baby can communicate clearly with you, using more than 200+ words via signing naturally.   

(Please remember, your blessed darling can still learn to vocalize words, after commanding the all important aspects of communication first.)








Proud Mama To

Four Recalls

This message consists of the following:

1. Master Toys & Novelties Inc. Recalls Little Rider Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

2. K2 Sports Recalls Snowboard Bindings Due to Fall Hazard

3. The Home Depot Recalls Candle Holders Due to Fire Hazard

4. Douglas Co. Recalls Children's Blankets Due to Strangulation Hazard

********************************************************

1. Master Toys & Novelties Inc. Recalls Little Rider Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2008
Release #08-272

Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 490-9002
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Master Toys & Novelties Inc. Recalls Little Rider Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cowboy on a Horse Little Rider Toys

Units: About 6,000

Importer: Master Toys & Novelties Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the shoe and pants of the rider toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall includes a battery operated cowboy riding a horse toy. The model number 8610B is located on the product packaging. The horse and rider together measure about 8.5 inches in height by 7.5 inches in length. The rider is wearing blue pants and a red shirt and the horse is brown. Only Little Rider Toys with UPC code 603678086101 printed on the product packaging are included in the recall.

Sold at: Dollar and discount stores nationwide from April 2007 through January 2008 for between $5 and $7.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these recalled toys away from children and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Master Toys & Novelties Inc. at (800) 237-5020 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Website at www.mastertoys.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08272.html

********************************************************

2. K2 Sports Recalls Snowboard Bindings Due to Fall Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2008
Release #08-273

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 985-2191
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

K2 Sports Recalls Snowboard Bindings Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: K2 "Auto" Series Snowboard Bindings, Model Year 2007

Units: About 2,500 pairs

Distributor: K2 Sports, of Seattle, Wash.

Hazard: The cable that links the toe strap to the binding could break, posing a fall hazard to snowboarders.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description and Models: This recall involves the 2007 model year K2 "Auto" snowboard bindings. They were sold in black or white. "K2" and "Auto" are printed on the toe strap.

Sold by: Snowboard, ski, and sporting goods retailers nationwide from August 2007 through May 2008 for about $230.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled bindings immediately and take them to the retailer where purchased or contact K2 Sports directly to arrange for free shipment and repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact K2 Sports at (800) 985-2191 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email the company at autobindingupgrade@k2sports.com, or visit the company's Web site at www.k2snowboarding.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08273.html

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3. The Home Depot Recalls Candle Holders Due to Fire Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2008
Release #08-274

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 403-5504
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

The Home Depot Recalls Candle Holders Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Candle Holders

Units: About 14,000

Importer: The Home Depot, of Atlanta, Ga.

Hazard: Sunlight passing through the glass portion can cause nearby flammable materials to ignite, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a fire. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

Description: The sun-shaped candle holder is glass and metal, and was sold in four colors (red, green, blue, and yellow). "15.75" Candle Holder" is printed on the product's hang tag.

Sold at: The Home Depot stores in the southern and western regions of the U.S. from January 2008 through March 2008 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and return them to The Home Depot for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call toll-free (866) 403-5504 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, or visit the company's Web site at www.homedepot.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08274.html

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4. Douglas Co. Recalls Children's Blankets Due to Strangulation Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2008
Release #08-275

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 992-9002
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Douglas Co. Recalls Children's Blankets Due to Strangulation Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Lil' Snugglers(tm) Children's Blankets

Units: About 74,000

Manufacturer: Douglas Co., of Keene N.H.

Hazard: The blanket's satin edge can come loose, posing a strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has 18 reports of the satin separating from the blanket. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled children's blankets are 14 inches square with an animal head sewn in the middle. The satin border around the outside edge is about one inch wide. The blankets were sold in the following styles:

Style Number Description

(Only blankets with a P.O. number of 1330 or below are included in this recall)

1327 Cream Lamb
1328 Cream/Tan Horse
1329 Green Frog
1330 Pink Horse
1331 Blue Bear
1332 Yellow Giraffe
1333 Tan Pup
1339 Yellow Duck
1341 Brown Monkey
1351 Pink Bear

The style number, followed by the P.O. number, is identified on a white tab sewn into the blankets behind the Douglas red label.

Sold by: Specialty stores nationwide and on the Web from April 2005 through December 2007 for about $12.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the blankets away from children immediately and return it to Douglas for a free replacement blanket or credit toward another item of equal value.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Douglas Co. at (800) 992-9002 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.douglastoys.com, or email the firm at linda@douglastoys.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08275.html

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.




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Top Ten Reasons to Hold Family Meetings

1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a closer family.

In this very busy world, designating this time every week is one way to ensure that family members stay connected with one another. Relationships are living things, and must be nurtured. Family meetings are about nourishing our relationships with the most important people in our lives. Form the habit of connecting regularly.

2. Create family value statements and operating principles.

Family meetings give you a chance to discuss what’s important to you as a family and to create family value statements, which reflect your collective thoughts. Similarly, they give you a chance to talk about how you want to operate together as a family and treat one another, by developing family operating principles.

3. Share appreciations and give thanks for our many blessings.

This is a way to give children and adults permission to let one another know how much they are appreciated, and to share the many things they have to be thankful for. It is far too easy to take the blessings in our lives, and our loved ones, for granted if we do not form the habit of appreciating on a regular basis.

4. Improves family communication

More and more today, family members are going in different directions and at break-neck speed. Add to this the fact that each person is unique and perceives the world in his or her own way. Miscommunication can cause hard feelings. It is crucial to never assume that what you are saying is being understood the way you intended it, or that you are understanding what others are trying to tell you. Always take the time to check perceptions. The family meeting can be a “rest area” where time is set aside to make certain that communications are clear.

5. Provide leadership experience

Everyone gets a turn at leading the family meetings. This is a great way for children to get early leadership experience. Be certain that their contributions in this regard are honored and respected. You will be building a confident future leader, who will experience the joy of positive leadership.

6. Offers an opportunity to stay current regarding upcoming commitments, activities, and events.

Family meetings are wonderful opportunities to review the family calendar, clarify who needs to be where and when, as well as who will be taking responsibility for what. Once again, clear communication and joint planning can relieve the ongoing stress of busy lives.

7. Gives an avenue to celebrate each other’s successes.

This is most important. Family meetings should always contain a time to celebrate successes of each family member during the week. These need not be big, monumental events but can simply be every day successes. This not only creates pride and joy in daily life, but also forms the habit in each family member of looking for the positive in one another.

8. Provides time to plan family vacations, activities, and special events.

This gives everyone in the family a chance to give their input into a family trip or experience, rather than the adults always doing the planning. When the whole family is involved, everyone is much more likely to enjoy the event. Investment in family activities, for each member, is often directly proportional to his or her involvement in the planning. A richer shared experience is most often the result.

9. Establish a safe, respectful environment to problem solve.

By following the family’s operating principles, and with open and honest communication, children will learn that problems can be discussed openly and solved respectfully together. Creating win-win solutions takes practice, for adults as well as for children and youth.

10. Have fun together

These meetings provide a great opportunity for the family to participate in fun family activities. As family members get to know one another better, share stories, laugh, and problem solve together, deeper relationships develop. Try to weave fun into every family meeting.



Proud Mama To

positive parenting tip of the day

Studies show clearly that one of the main factors in raising children to be good students is a well-organized environment where parents are firmly (but kindly) in charge and where there are reasonable rules and realistic, clearly expressed expectations.

--Popkin, Youngs and Healy, Helping Your Child Succeed at School

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Did you know?

Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:

• 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement

• 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools

• 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair

• 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance

• 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem

Young artists, as compared with their peers, are likely to:

• Attend music, art, and dance classes nearly three times as frequently

• Participate in youth groups nearly four times as frequently

• Read for pleasure nearly twice as often

• Perform community service more than four times as often

(Living the Arts through Language + Learning: A Report on Community-based Youth Organizations, Shirley Brice Heath, Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation For the Advancement of Teaching, Americans for the Arts Monograph, November 1998)

Music education helps other disciplines of learning...

• According to Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect, tracing neurological development through childhood provides the answer. Prior to a major spurt of neural integration in the brain during the elementary school years, learning occurs through movement and quick emotional associations. For example by age two, the brain has begun to fuse with the body via marching, dancing, and developing a sense of physical rhythm. The more music children are exposed to before they enter school, the more deeply this stage of neural coding will assist them throughout their lives.

• Skills learned through music carries over into study skills, communications skills and cognitive skills useful to all parts of life. For example, research supports that music helps prepare the mind for specific disciplines of learning. One such study referenced in a 1997 article in Neurological Research indicated that music training is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children’s abstract reasoning skills, the skills necessary for learning math and science.

• Even our elected officials have realized the importance of music for our children. Recent federal law, No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, states, “Studying music encourages self discipline and diligence traits that carry over into mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history and geography.”

The facts are that arts education...

• makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the “learning field” across socio-economic boundaries.

• (Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School, James S. Catterall, The UCLA Imagination Project, Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA, Americans for the Arts Monograph, January 1998) has a measurable impact on youth at risk in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in after school and summer arts programs targeted toward delinquency prevention.

(YouthARTS Development Project, 1996, U.S. Department of Justice, National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts)


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Benefits of Kindermusik

What the Experts Are Saying

Current research on brain development confirms that early learning and stimulation such as activities performed in Kindermusik class greatly enhance a child's overall development.  With the creation of Kindermusik Village™, Kindermusik International's newest curriculum for newborns to 1 ½ years, Kindermusik Foundations of Learning™ were introduced. Kindermusik Foundations of Learning insights are based on the most current early childhood development research, communicated in class by the educator and printed on materials that go home to extend the learning process. These "foundations" provide information about how Baby learns, why certain activities are included in each lesson and how to extend these activities at home. Kindermusik Foundations of Learning insights have always been implied in Kindermusik curricula, but have never been as strongly integrated as they are now. Following are perspectives of early child development experts on the many benefits of Kindermusik.

Language Development

"Playing with objects such as the scarf play in Kindermusik Village encourages a baby to make sounds and words and helps her anticipate outcomes which are central to conversational development and language acquisition. Varying pitches between high and low in Kindermusik class stimulates these first foundations for a baby or young child's learning the variety of sounds of language."

Dan DeJoy, Ph.D., Speech-Language Pathologist

Attention and Inhibitory Control

"Kindermusik addresses a child's development in many various and powerful ways. Repeated exposure to musical activities develops important cognitive and behavioral skills. Some musical activities can help develop inhibitory control - the ability to control or stop one's movements. Also, changing volume, rate and pitch in songs and activities teaches a child discrimination, a crucial factor to listening and language processing."

Ed Dougherty, Ph.D., Neuropsychologist

Movement and Physical Development

"Children learn through movement and music is movement. Repetition of movements, demonstrated in the Kindermusik Movement Chart, is important for brain and motor development. Movement requiring both horizontal and vertical tracking of the eye facilitates language development for reading readiness."

Anne Green Gilbert, Movement Specialist, Author, Creative Dance for All Ages, and Director, Creative Dance Center

Special Needs Children

"Music as a curriculum in its own right is a valuable one. There are no winners or losers in Kindermusik class - the only competition is with one's self, which is a crucial part of educating children with special needs. Kindermusik incorporates not only the joy of music but also movement, touch, listening and socialization that are so important for children with varying abilities."

Stuart J. Schleien, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head, Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Literacy

"When introduced appropriately, music and literature play an amazing role in the development of infants and toddlers. I'm happy that Kindermusik has extended its programs to include this time of life when brain development is most vulnerable and parents are most in need of support and direction."

Claudia Quigg M.Ed., Founder and Executive Director of Baby TALK Baby TALK is an organization headquartered in Decatur, Illinois dedicated to helping parents become better parents to their children. The program is affiliated with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton's "Touchpoints" project. In existence since 1986, Baby TALK programs have been replicated in more than 150 communities across 20 states and Canada.

Development of the Whole Child

"Development is not a straight line, but rather a zigzag pattern. Kindermusik is developmentally appropriate and allows children to grow at their own pace. A child's development is a natural and enjoyable process, and Kindermusik's idea of "a good beginning never ends" suggests just this - it gives parents permission to be themselves and allows them to have fun with their children."

Dan DeJoy, Ph.D., Speech-Language Pathologist


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My first press release!

Local classes teach parents in North Carolina how to use American Sign Language with infants and young children in order to encourage early communication, increased IQ, and early reading!
Source: Learn and Grow Together May 14, 2008 00:44:16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – May 14, 2008 – Recently, parents, caregivers, and childcare professionals have started using sign language to communicate with preverbal infants. Signing with babies is gaining popularity because it empowers children with early communication skills and helps to significantly reduce frustration. 


Local classes teach adults in North Carolina how to use American Sign Language with infants and young children. Signing with pre-verbal hearing babies is one of the most fascinating and fastest growing parenting trends in North America. American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most commonly used language in the United States and its popularity is growing! 


Rebecca Marsch is the founder and owner of Learn and Grow Together, based out of Morrisvlille, North Cariolina, and certified Wee Hands baby, toddler, and preschool sign language instructor. Learn and Grow Together provides workshops, classes, and personal instruction in the NC Triangle and surrounding areas designed to introduce American Sign Language (ASL) to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as well as their parents, care givers and family members. 


Studies show that using American Sign Language with infants and toddlers can help to reduce frustration, strengthen the parent-child bond, enrich children's literacy and speech & language development, boost vocabulary, increase self-confidence, and stimulate intelligence. Children with special needs also benefit from the gift of ASL, allowing them to communicate in a meaningful way. 


Rebecca has her degree in Early Childhood Education and has 17 years experience with working with children from birth to preschool age. She also has 3 children of her own, ages 8, 5, and 1. From using signs, her 1 year old has a sign/spoken vocabulary of almost 100 words. 


A National Research Study has shown that using sign language with hearing babies and toddlers allows communication and spoken language to happen earlier and faster, while reducing frustration and tantrums. Most children have 2-3 words by 12 months, whereas, children who use sign typically have: 5 signs and 1 word by 8 months! and 25 signs and 16 words by 12 months! Most children start combining words into 2 word sentences by 20 months, whereas children who sign typically do this by 11-14 months and some as early as 6 months, sometimes earlier! The typical non-signing, hearing child has 20-400 words by age 2.

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Positive parenting idea of the day

Children, particularly young ones, need to be represented before various groups and institutions because they do not have the status or capabilities to do so themselves.  It is an important part of the job of parenting to connect children to these groups and individuals and to advocate on their behalf.

-- Kerby T. Alvy, The Positive Parent: Raising Healthy, Happy and Successful Children, Birth through Adolescence.

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Harvey Karp coming to Durham!

DURHAM, NC -- When Corinna Page of Durham was pregnant, a friend gave her a copy of a book, The Happiest Baby on the Block, by pediatrician Harvey Karp. Page laid the book aside and forgot about it — until her daughter Cadence was born.


Read more here




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Mom's gift to kids: 'No!'

(Oprah.com) -- Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, host of a show on Oprah and Friends Radio, says we can't just blame kids for acting bratty or spoiled. Kids today, he says, are exhibiting a lot of anger because they feel neglected by parents who may put careers ahead of family.

Read more here

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Published in NY!!

http://blog.syracuse.com/family/2008/05/guest_blogger_writes_about_pre.html#more Of course, I was hoping for the paper lol, but this is close enough. It's good to have connections! (Though it was SUPOSED to be in April  )

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

My baby is 15 months old!!!

WOW I can not believe that Wyatt is already 15 months old. It seems like he was just born. I swear I was just holding my newborn baby boy in my arms and nursing him for the first time!! Now he has been nursing for 15 months and going strong.

I am so amazed at his progress daily. He is learning more words and sentences, signs and how to do things. He figures out everything so quickly, that we have to constantly keep him entertained. He is always happy and LOVES his big brother and sister...they are his favorite play things. 

He is going to miss his big sister when she goes to school in 3 months!! I don't know if he will know what to do with himself without her to play with and chase around...especially with having Nick home all summer!!

Happy 15 month birthday lil man!! 

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here