Pediatricians & Healthy Child Development

Charles Bruner, Ph.D., director of the Child and Family Policy Center and HMG National partner, has written a blog post for BUILDing Strong Foundations. In the post, he describes the critical role primary health care practitioners play in the development of young children. "Health Equity, the Triple Aim, and the First Two Years" also discusses the importance of connecting these professionals with other early childhood leaders. “The first two years of life ultimately are the most important ones to ensuring an individual’s health,” he writes. “During this time, the primary health care practitioner is the professional most likely to see and assess the child. She or he is best able also to identify and serve as first responder to conditions that jeopardize healthy development.” Read more here.

Power of Play

Play matters! This month our friends at the Alabama Partnership for Children remind us of the importance of play for young children. Lifelong fitness is something that everyone should aim for, and the best time to learn healthy habits is in early childhood.

Most parents put their children in sports to keep them active, but before doing this there are a few things to consider. Make sure that the activity is age appropriate. Toddlers and preschoolers are still mastering motor skills, so organized sports aren’t designed for them. Supervise and interact with young children while they play indoors or outdoors – it’s important to simply keep them active and safe. When children are old enough for sports (typically around age 6) make sure they enjoy the sport. If a child isn’t having fun with whatever activity she is doing, she probably won’t want to participate in it again.

Share your favorite activities for indoor or outdoor play in the comments! For more ideas for age appropriate play, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic.

Comprehensive Screening - "The Earlier the Better"

Age-appropriate developmental screening and surveillance is a gateway for at risk children to receive services. “The Earlier the Better” is a recent report from the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut which highlights the role of screening as part of a comprehensive approach to school readiness. In the report, we are reminded that identification of delay and subsequent intervention prior to kindergarten saves society between $30,000 and $100,000 per child in academic and social service costs. The report reasserts our understanding that parents are their child’s best caregivers, and that parents are effective and reliable when administering developmental assessments. The authors recommend that all children are screened within an integrated system, screening results are available across services, children are connected to services they need, and all involved providers are engaged in developmental promotion in partnership with families.

Visit http://www.chdi.org/devscreen-IMPACT for the full report and learn what strategies are being implemented in Connecticut.

More Than Baby Talk

Happy Thanksgiving! This week we are thankful for parents, relatives, and child care teachers who intentionally work to focus on quality interactions with young children. Nurturing an infant or toddler’s language and communication skills can have lasting effects on math, reading, and science later in life. Our Thanksgiving gift to you comes from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. The Institute has created “More Than Baby Talk: 10 Ways to Promote the Language and Communication Skills of Infants and Toddlers” (pdf). This brief guide outlines 10 research-based practices for nurturing language and communication skills among infants and toddlers.

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We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving – and share this resource (pdf) with someone you’re thankful to for impacting the life of a young child.

Friendships and Children with Disabilities

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For parents of children with disabilities, friendships for the child can sometimes be a source of worry and stress. PBS Parents offers some great ideas and helpful tips for parents to consider. Friendships are important for everyone – teaching children appropriate social skills and creating opportunities to practice them can make a big difference.

First Impressions- Saying hello to others, waving, smiling, and making eye contact are learned habits. For children who have difficulty with these, parents may need to help other children recognize their child's interest. Additionally, when a child's clothing and grooming fit in with his or her peers, this can reduce some of the initial barriers.

Identify Potential Friends- If a child is in child care or at school, the teacher can be a good resource for identifying other children who show an interest in the child. Parents of children with disabilities can reach out to the parents of other children who already indicate a willingness to interact.

Play Dates- Play dates should be intentional with careful thought towards the activities planned for the children. Parents should try to establish a space and use toys that their children are comfortable with and willing to share. Families can also meet at a public place like a museum, library, or park. Play dates can be relatively short; just one to two hours should keep things manageable.

Demonstration and Practice- Parents should purposefully model positive social skills and point them out to their child. Talking about what it means to be a good friend and praising good behavior can be powerful reinforcements. Parents should allow opportunities for children to use their skills with peers and to learn from others.

To read the whole article, get more ideas, and access resources, visit PBS Parents.

Tweet a Day for Learning & Play

The Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) is a member of the Help Me Grow National Network. The APC has recently launched its own Twitter account and Facebook page. The new social media campaign is entitled 'A Tweet a Day for Learning and Play', and will target parents, early childhood professionals, business leaders and partners in the state. APC will share early care and education tips and research, including information on initiatives and partners. Each month, the content will highlight a specific focus area related to young children and will coincide with the APC's FOCUS (Focus On Children Under Six) packet. For instance, in the month of November, APC Twitter and Facebook content is focusing on early literacy. Monthly topics include school readiness, quality early care and education, play, advocacy and more. Follow these links to check out the new Facebook and Twitter pages.

Plan for the Future to Have a Future

This 5-minute video depicts a theory of change from Frontiers of Innovation for achieving breakthrough outcomes for vulnerable children and families. It describes the need to focus on building the capabilities of caregivers and strengthening the communities that together form the environment of relationships essential to children's lifelong learning, health, and behavior.