How wonderful would it be to express out loud your deepest darkest secrets, and know that there is absolutely no judgement, nor will these secrets be shared with another? Animals can help children develop sensitivity to others. They can offer comfort, and lend an ear for secrets and feelings. And they can encourage a child’s curiosity.
Knowing that stress has an effect on children in their learning environments means that we, as parents and providers, must be aware of and attempt to understand the powerful effects of stress on children of all ages. How we respond to children who show signs of stress will make the difference in whether they develop the skills to cope or whether stress will interrupt their learning.
On November 22, YWCA Rockford, Muslim Association of Greater Rockford (MAGR), as well as many additional members of the local faith community joined together to honor the victims and families of the November Paris and Beirut terrorist attacks, and to support for the area’s Muslim population. Arshad Shaikh, MAGR President, shared with us the thoughts he carried with him as his spoke to the 100-plus supporters who gathered at the mosque.
Sensory play is a great option for both independent and group activities and has great benefits for both sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidant children as a self-regulation or self-soothing tool. And if those aren’t encouraging enough reasons, sensory play is fun!
Parents, child care providers, and well-meaning friends and relatives are all making the same fatal mistakes by putting or leaving infants and toddlers in car seats, swings, strollers and bouncers thinking that the children are safe in this equipment without being supervised; this is a dangerous assumption. Leaving a child in anything other than a crib with a firm sleeping surface and without bedding or toys, is a perilous decision.
Encouraging very intentional and purposeful exchanges between a teacher and a child, which creates a powerful interaction and helps a child become a more engaged and effective learner.
Do you know how many Pete the Cat books you can get for $25? Not nearly enough! Kids need to have a variety of books available to them… but how do we, as parents, provide enough books when it’s sometimes hard to stretch paychecks to cover expenses? Here are five low-cost/no-cost resources that are easy to access and designed specifically to encourage early readers as well as a lifetime love of reading.
Scientific studies have well documented the effect of a lower income environment on children’s cognitive abilities; the effects of a stressful life related to hunger, decreased access to health care, and the feeling of being different from their peers can delay, interrupt and sometimes prevent the healthy development of a child’s brain.
A guest post from YWCA Board Chair Dawna Menke
As we reach out to the community and ask for membership support, members of the YWCA Board of Directors have been sharing our own stories of why we are members. When I ask myself the same question, I consider my part of the breadth and reach of the YWCA: I know that I am a part of a legacy of service, regional, national, and global impact – and overall, a mission that empowers all women.
Dramatic play is a fancy way of referring to pretend or imaginative play. You can establish and lead dramatic play easily with a few simple elements that will expand with a child’s endless imagination.