Parent Fact Sheets

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

Displaying 21 - 40 of 117

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. 

 

DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE CHILD MUST MEET TO BE SUCCESSFUL

 • 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

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. Babies use thumb-sucking as a way to calm themselves when they are tired, bored or upset. This is normal and usually a baby will slowly stop sucking their thumb as they grow older.

TEMPER TANTRUMS

WHAT IS A TEMPER TANTRUM?

We have all seen or experienced a child having a temper tantrum. They often are kicking, screaming, laying on the floor, and even holding their breath.

WHY DO CHILDREN HAVE TEMPER TANTRUMS?

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 and enhance skills in your child child's important lerning domains. 

 

LEARNING DOMAINS

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. For Example: “Daddy took me fishing and I caught a fish bigger than this room!”

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. For example: making time for a child’ repeated tries at zippering a jacket is not always feasible.

TEACHING CHILDREN RESPECT

Today we see many children expressing a bad attitude when they talk to peers or adults. Children can be seen arguing with adults, often using bad language. Unfortunately, movies, TV programs, and video games promote this kind of disrespectful behavior.

Why should we teach our child respect?

What can you as a parent do to teach our children respect for others?

Is it too late to start if your child is rude, argumentative, and disrespectful already?

SUN SAFETY

Summertime is a time for enjoying being outdoors. Children love to play in the back yard, at the park, and at the beach. As a parent, you no doubt want to make outdoor play with your child part of your schedule. It can also be a time for painful and dangerous sunburns. As a parent, it is important that you put a plan in place to protect your child so they can safely play outdoors.

SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD

 SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD

Quality time with your child can be defined as a time period when you give your child your full attention.  Most parents and families are very busy.  Parents may work more than one job, children have school and afterschool activities, homework, shopping, laundry, cooking, and caring for the needs of each child can be overwhelming.

WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD?

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. (See 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

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 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.

SECONDHAND SMOKE

SECONDHAND SMOKE

WHAT IS SECONDHAND SMOKE?

When a person is smoking a cigarette cigar, or pipe, the smoke comes from two sources: the burning cigarette itself, and the smoke that the person exhales into the air. You can usually identify the odor from cigarettes when you enter a room where someone has been smoking. That is because the chemicals from that smoke stays on a person’s clothes, hair, furnishings, and curtains.

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