Tuesday, April 23, 2013

New Light at Birth: Infant Visual Development

 Recently, a Help Me Grow mom expressed a concern about how her young infant daughter cries every time she go outside, because of the bright sunlight!  Today, I want to highlight a few things on visual development, as well as share an activity from Welcome Baby that helps stimulate an infant's visual capacity! 

An infant’s vision at birth is very limited. In the womb, they are exposed to very little light, and after birth, their visual ability to capture light is only about 2%.  The visual part of their brain at birth is about 20/400 and approximately 20/25 by 6 months of age.  As infants are still adjusting to this bright world, they may express discomfort until they have gained enough exposure.  
Photo Credit

Click here for a few tips from healthychildren.orgOther ideas include:

Newborn:
 To help stimulate your infant's vision, decorate their room with bright, cheerful colors. Include artwork and furnishings with contrasting colors and shapes. Also hang a brightly colored mobile above or near their crib. Make sure it has a variety of colors and shapes. 
*See Visual Board for Baby below.

Month 2 and 3:
While infants should be placed on their backs for sleep to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), put them on their stomachs when they are awake and you can supervise them. This provides important visual and motor experiences

Month 6:
Six months of age is an important milestone because this is when your child should have his first children's eye exam.

Month 7-12:
To stimulate the development of your child's eye-hand-body coordination, get down on the floor with him and encourage him to crawl to objects. Place a favorite toy on the floor just out of his reach and encourage him to get it. Also provide plenty of objects and toys that he can take apart and put together.

Website Source 


Vision Board for Baby

 What you will need:
-1 white poster board
- enough red paper to be able to cut out 8 squares that are each about 4 1/4 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches tall
-scissors
-glue
-black and white images

   
1. Cut a piece of white poster board into horizontal strips. Each strip will create one vision board and should be about 7 inches wide.

2. Divide your strip of poster board into four equal sections, folding the board on each division accordion style (fold towards the back, then towards the front, then towards the back again). If your strip is about 22 inches long, your divisions should be around 5 1/2 inches apart from one another.

3. Cut 8 squares out of red paper for each board. The squares should measure to be about 4 1/4 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches tall. Glue the squares on the front and back of the board in each of the sections that you created in step #2.

4. Cut out some black and white pictures to glue on the red squares. Babies especially love pictures of faces. 

5. Laminate the board, if you can.


What's your baby's reaction to your visual board?

Visual Board Source: Welcome Baby

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Brain Development: Critical for a Bright Future!

Photo from public domain

It is widely accepted that the most critical time in a person’s life are the first few years.  During the first year a child doubles in size both height and weight, but most importantly, the child grows immensely in brain power.  It is that power that will decide their entire future. 

Infants are constantly seeking for interaction, constantly looking for areas in which they can develop, not necessarily willingly, but they are driven to see new things, to hear new things and they begin to make connections that cause their brain to grow and develop. The more interaction in a safe environment, the more the child grows and learns.  These very critical years are the starting point for many new thoughts, creativity and awareness.

Photo from public domain
Help Me Grow’s seeks to assist parents and extended families to recognize the need to continually stimulate their children- reading to them, playing with them, pretending with them, and just plain running around with them develops their capabilities.  

Encouraging children to learn should be the most important task of all grown-ups in the world, and we should be earnestly engaged in bringing up the best children.  The more they learn in the first three years will make a big difference in their life fifteen, twenty, and even ninety years into the future.  

Our world is changing every day; any new exposure to stimulus helps children make thousands, perhaps millions of brain connections; exposure to another language used to be considered to cause confusion to a child, but now we know that exposure to a second language in early childhood will actually physically structure a child’s brain, enabling the child to make connections they would not otherwise have made.

Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, has a three video series that demonstrates and illustrates how the young brains are affected by interaction, what they refer to “Serve and Return” Interaction. This series is very informative; check it out here!

Photo from public domain
Simple activities like:
  • playing the telephone game, where you pretend to call your child and you have a conversation, 
  • pointing out the difference in size between a watermelon and a grape,
  • pointing out patterns of size, color or shape
can induce the stimulation your child’s brain needs in order to make new connections. Exercises like these provide so much benefit when seen in the context of an entire lifetime.

Here at Help Me Grow we endeavor to provide you not only with the “clinical“ assistance you need to take care of your child, but also with a support system that can give the little extra oomph to help you help your child reach the next level.

In the end, it is up to you and your family to provide much of the stimulation required for your child’s brain development, language development and a sense of security. We want to be your partner in developing your child to be the best possible, equipped with the creativity and resources to face and overcome life’s challenges for the rest of your little one's life.

What activities are you doing to enhance your child's brain development?

Monday, April 15, 2013

Help Me Grow National Forum: Day Two and Three



Thursday, we started early with a networking breakfast.  It was so fun to get to know each other a little better, by dividing up into interest groups.  

For this activity, we played a little game of jenga, stacking blocks and answering the questions that were on them, that went with the group you sat with.  I decided to sit in on Family and Community Outreach, because I feel like that is what I am most involved with.  Other options were, physician outreach, collecting and using data,  or marketing and social media.

In our group, Delaware shared some of their ideas for Family and Community outreach.  They have done an awesome job at creatively getting the word out about Help Me Grow.  Some of them are: Contacting librarians and asking them to display a poster with information, holding a summit for leaders in the community to learn more, and meeting with parent groups to share information.  Right from the start, they had great support from many leaders and physicians in the community.

Great work!



Our Key note speaker was Kerry Patterson, author of Influencer, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations and more!  

He was absolutely unbelievable!  I took pages of notes, although I don't think you want to hear it all here.  He is actually retired, but agreed to come and speak to us because he believes in what Help Me Grow is, and because is friends with Bill Hulterstrom, C.E.O. of United Way of Utah County.  

I want to personally thank Bill for being the kind of leader that works hard and excels at what he does, and his talent in strategically bringing in other people and trusting them to perform in the areas they focus on.  Because of this, United Way of Utah County, has been a shining example in the community of collaboration and accomplishment.  

Kerry Patterson was engaging, funny, full of facts, and informational.  He kept us on our toes with group questions to figure out at our own tables, and then jokingly let us know why we were wrong.  

He shared that 85% of corporate change efforts fail.
19 out of 20 diet attempts fail
and, 2 out of 3 criminals are rearrested within 3 years.

He stated, "These are overwhelming problems and we have to find a way to overwhelm them back."  He focused on his book Influencer, because we all need to understand how to evoke change within ourselves and others.  The bottom line is that we need to focus on feelings, and how to understand them well enough to encourage people to want to change.  It's not enough for us to "write them a strongly worded memo".  

I would encourage anyone to read this book.  It will help in family, business, community, and anywhere else we need to focus on change, which is everywhere!

*******************
Deborah Weiss spoke to us about the HMG Utah Data System, and walked us through each of the options we have decided to use, and why.  It is unbelievable the kind of work and talent that Bruce Brereton has given to us and the children of Utah, by developing the program.  We couldn't be more grateful for him. Thank you!




Some of the fun technology HMG Utah decided to use during this conference, was a text cloud.  Each morning, Deborah would ask a question to the group - and as responses came in on text they would show up on a screen in front of the room.  For example, the first questions he asked was, "Why are you involved with HMG?"  and we had answers and words text in such as, families, children, etc.  The next morning this word cloud became our centerpieces on our tables, such as the one pictured below.



For participating, they were given a cell phone  stand with the HMG logo on it.


We also participated in regional meetings, lunch - of course, and heard information on the efficacy study and policy implications.  Marcia Hughes, Kareena DuPlessis, and Paul Dworkin shared some wonderful updates.  There is so much work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure HMG has studies done, so we can see the actual affect it is having.  It's easy to say that it is making a difference, but it is important for law makers and supporters to be able to see the actual data.

Dr. Paul Dworkin, pictured below on the left, is a brilliant man.  He founded Help Me Grow in Connecticut, and has worked tirelessly to make it available to everyone.  He is also one of the most understanding, pleasant people I have ever met.  He appreciates all input, and works hard to find answers for all involved.  

Visit the Help Me Grow National website HERE to learn more about him, and his amazing work!


Thursday night, we had the Help Me Grow Utah reception.  We were honored to hear Dr. Dworkin and the first lady of Utah, Jeanette Herbert speak.  They were both wonderful!  You can read more about Jeanette HERE.  Jeanette has always worked with children, and served in the community.  We are so grateful to her for taking time out of her busy schedule, to speak to us.  







The picture above is when Barbara Leavitt, asked Jon and I to come to the front, and thanked my husband us for helping out where we could.  We have watched HMG -grow- for the last several years.  We have always believed in the program, and that Utah needed it.  We have been only a small part of many hours devoted to the program.  

Barbara Leavitt actually found HMG online, and did everything in her power to bring it to Utah, because she saw the potential.  (yes, I get the last word because I am writing the blog post) She has been devoted and tireless in bringing this to fruition, because she loves families and children.  Bill has supported her, and has also seen her vision and let her lead the way.  Thank you Bill, thank you Barbara, thank you Jon, and a HUGE thanks to EVERYONE that has had a part in HMG.  Robin Lindsay has stood by Barbara's side from the beginning as well, in being the pediatric outreach manager.  The staff at United Way of Utah County has given everything they have to supporting this cause, and Women in Philanthropy, led by Karen Hill, has devoted time and resources as well, to help fund it.  I am sure there are many more that I am not listing here.  Thank you.











In the end, Barbara thanked the HMG National team for all of their work and devotion to the cause.  Without them, none of us could bring their ideas into our own areas of the country.  I cannot imagine leading this work, and the hours it must take.  

Thank you Dr. Paul Dworking, Joanna Bogin, Elsa Jones and Sara Sibley!

As we mingled, we enjoyed the view from the Wells Fargo Tower in Provo, Utah.  We also enjoyed the tasty food donated and catered by Mary Crafts, a personal friend and mentor.  

Thank you to everyone who chipped in and helped!  I understand I will not be able to mention everyone, and I apologize.  If I forgot you, please comment below, letting us know what you did!





A big thank you to Deborah Weiss, pictured above  - for being so devoted and supportive.  Help Me Grow would not be the same without you!  I'd also like to thank Harper Randall, M.D. for being our Help Me Grow Pediatric Champion!



Friday Morning, everyone was back at it!  
HMG Utah had a tour of their call center and how things are run, a networking breakfast and talk about the next steps for National and Affiliates.  Dr. Paul Dworkin also spoke on policy implications and wrapped up with reflections on the forum.  

Dr. Dworkin is a fabulous speaker as well.  The amount of information he holds in that brain of his, is unbelievable to me (can I say that on here? :)  I have heard him speak many times now, at least ten, and ALWAYS learn something from him.  He never gives the same speech twice, and is always interesting to listen to.  The man is talented.




Eventually, everyone had to leave and fly back home to wherever they came from.  Many friendships have been made, and I have no doubt that with the kind of people I met over the past few days, that we will do exactly what Kerry Patterson recommended, deal with the overwhelming problems in our community and families, by overwhelming them back!

Thanks for visiting Utah!  
I look forward to visiting HMG Florida next year for the next event!


HMG National Forum: Day One


Wednesday night after the family event, we all met together as states and welcomed our guests.  Each state took a minute to introduce their team, so we could get to know each other a little better.  

We were honored to hear a few discussions by a wonderful group of people.  The panelists' were: Dr. Dworkin, Judith Almeida - A Help Me Grow parent and former intern at United Way, Dean Barley PhD., Licensed psychologist and licensed clinical social worker from BYU comprehensive clinic, Andrea Gamarra HMG coordinator, and Dr. Miguel Knochel, M.D., Pediatrician.


I personally loved hearing how each one of them answered the questions, depending on their background and how they were involved with Help Me Grow.  My take away was that, we can all help in our own way - no matter what our involvement is - if we care.

And of course, wrapping up the day with a little "sweet" is always a great thing!


                                        ..............................................................................

Friday, April 12, 2013

National Forum: Family Event


It's hard to capture all of the fun that we've been having over the past few days here at Help Me Grow Utah!  

We have been so privileged to host the 4th Annual Help Me Grow National event, right here in our backyard!  Amazing people from all over the country, have come to visit and share their experiences, passions, stories, and love - for families.

Each state has it's own journey developing the Help Me Grow model, because of the diverse people, cultures, situations from which they come from, and challenges they face in trying to bring families the resources they need for healthy children, but everyone is making it happen in their own creative ways.

I believe we are all more alike than we are different.  It's been so much fun learning from each other, and helping one another to reach our goals. 

Some of the people coming to the conference decided to visit one of our family events that we held in Salem.  Family events are one way we love sharing information about the Help Me Grow model, and get the kiddos connected right into services they may need.  We will actually have the Ages and Stages questionnaire right there, along with information for the parents to take home.  

As you can see, it's just as much fun for the volunteers as it was for the children!