Thursday, February 27, 2014

Welcome Baby Provo Playgroup: Valentine's Day

 As children are growing up and learning about the world around them, they need a variety of experiences in order to grow in the right ways. Research has actually shown that one of the key ways to strengthen your child’s social and emotional skills is by taking them to a community playgroup where they can interact with other children. (Citation)

Welcome Baby currently has a playgroup at the South Franklin Community Center in Provo that is open to children under five and their parents on Fridays at 11 am.

For our playgroup on Valentine’s Day, we started out the day with free-play where we played with blocks, cars, and other fun toys together. Then we moved on to making Valentine’s Day cards by tracing our hands. See how cute they turned out? This activity helped develop fine motor skills as the children color.  This activity can be used for any special occasion to share with a special someone.  Click on the link below to learn how to make your own.

 When all hands were traced, it was time to read “The Kiss Box” for story time. All the children gathered on a rug as they were read to, enhancing their cognitive development.
Then it was time for everyone’s favorite part of the day: snack time! In honor of Valentine’s Day, we made mini heart-shaped pizzas and ate oranges too.  

Check out how much fun we all had during playgroup and look below for a general schedule of what you can typically expect each Friday as we play! We hope you will join in all the fun and come to Provo playgroup! To join, visit the Welcome Baby website at www.welcomebabyuc.org or call us at 801-691-5320.

Playgroup Schedule:
11:00-11:20   Play time
11:20-11:25   Clean up
11:25- 11:45   Story time/ singing/ finger plays
11:45-12:00    Arts/ crafts
12:00- 12:15   Snack time
12:15-12:30    Large motor/games Clean up 



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Superheroes and Spilt Milk


A child's mind is filled with so much imagination and fantasy their eyes glisten when they hear a story or watch a movie that they connect with. Then you end up reading that story or watching that movie 4 or 5 times a day!

 So it shouldn't be surprising when a bit of their imagination spills over into reality. Telling a fib is not unusual for a child to explore the boundaries between reality and fantasy.  

Credit 

An example can be when a parent who asks their 3 year old if they were the ones who “spilled the milk on the floor” can find it frustrating to hear “it wasn't me, my superhero doll did it.”  It's easy to assume that your little toddler has learned to lie when you know it was them who knocked over the milk that you have to clean up again!
When should the concept of "lying"  be addressed to a toddler? And how do you explain lying and truthfulness in a way they can understand?



What the experts have to say

Pediatric psychologist Mark Bowers explains that children under the age of 5 are not “future criminals” because they didn't confess being the one who spilled milk in the kitchen. They are too young to understand what a lie is.

What are ways to encourage truthfulness in young children according to Bowers?

You can lay down the rules.  If you catch your child drawing on the walls,sometimes your first instinct is to confront them. Chances are when you do they will say “no” because they don’t want to get in trouble.  It is more effective to remind them of the rule and offer a solution.

 For Example: "We have a rule in this house that we only draw on paper. So why don't we get some soap and you can help Daddy clean it up."

Here are more tips from  Developmental Psychologist Susanne Ayers Denham to help your children practice truthfulness.

* Encourage honesty. Instead of coming down hard on him when he lies, thank your toddler when he's being direct and tells the truth. You might say: "That's great that you told me about the broken truck. Now I understand how it got that way."

* Avoid putting your child on the spot. Try not to question him about the details of a transgression. After all, in many cases it's patently obvious; if he has chocolate all over his face, you know exactly what happened to his sister's candy. Often we question young children because we want them to confess, but this can create a battle where there doesn't need to be one.


* Act on what you know. In a matter-of-fact way, say, "Gee, Justin, it's not okay to take some of Becky's candies. They're hers and it upsets her to lose them. Let's give her some of yours, okay?" By taking this tack, not only have you circumvented the "confess-you-are-lying" confrontation, but you've also led him through the process of reparation. In the long run, knowing how to make up is a more useful skill than knowing how to respond to an interrogation.

* Model trust. Show your toddler that you trust him and he can trust you by always telling him the truth. Make it a priority to keep your word, and apologize profusely if you break a promise. He'll learn more from your behavior than he ever could from your admonitions.


Photo Credit
What is important to remember when helping your child practice being truthful is allowing those moments to be teaching opportunities that show and model for your child what they should do in the future, and unless it is serious avoid punishment and turn the act into a learning moment for both you and your child.



Friday, February 21, 2014

"Who is my Child?"


Photo Cred
On Wednesday, at our "Ready to Learn" Parent group, we had a fantastic presentation done on child temperaments. Previous to this class, I had no idea what this meant, and after learning about it, I think this knowledge could be a parents best friend!

A temperament is how a person usually acts and every person is made up of several different traits. Understanding temperament is important because it affects how much your child learns, how well he or she behaves and how happy your child can be.

As you read through the traits, think about where your child might fall on the spectrum- then you can use that information to learn more about how you can help your child use those traits to their best advantage.



The Traits of Temperament are as follows:

  • Activity Level: How active is my child? Very active or less active?
  • Sensitivity to Senses: How sensitive is my child to light, smells, sound and touching? 
  • Awareness of Feelings: How aware is my child of feelings and emotions?
  • Strength of Expression: How strongly does my child express feelings, wants and opinions?
  • Persistence: How does my child stick with and complete a task?
  • Distractibility: How does my child pay attention? Not distracted or easily distracted?
  • Ability to Change: How does my child adapt to change? Enjoys it or prefers the familiar?
  • Need for Physical Routine: How much routine does my child need? prefers routine, or likes variety?
  • Usual Mood: What is my child's mood most of the time?
Once you identify where your child fits in with these traits, then you can learn more about that specific temperament from the website here! (it starts on page 16). Under each trait, there are tips for working with your child and helping them use their temperaments to their (and your) advantage! 

If you have any additional ideas about children temperaments, let us know by commenting below. 
Also, our Aspire and Ready to Learn Parenting classes happen on the third Wednesday of every month at the Utah Department of Health in Provo. Its free and pizza and a lesson are provided! Come join us next month! 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

5 Tips for Weaning Your Nighttime Nurser

Photo Credit

There is no denying it.

Having a baby that wakes up several times a night to nurse can be exhausting! You wake up the next day with the dark under-eye circles, the chronic yawning, and the ever-growing question:

Will my baby ever sleep through the night? 
(A.K.A. Will I ever sleep through the night?)

Well he will! (And you will too!)

Here are some tips that will help your little one to get the comfort and nutrition he needs during the day so you can get the rest you need at night!

Tip #1: Understand where your child is developmentally.
It is important to know that babies who do not weigh at least 11 pounds will be unable to sleep through the night because they do not have enough mass on their bodies to maintain necessary calories overnight. They need the extra nourishment that comes through nighttime nursing. In addition, babies will show readiness signs for nighttime weaning, such as the ability to sleep for longer periods of time (about 10 hours) without waking.

Tip #2: Gradually decrease the length of nighttime feedings and increase the length between those feedings.
Start to gradually nurse your baby on each breast for a shorter period of time during nighttime feedings. If you fed baby for 10 minutes on each breast, try feeding for 5 minutes on each breast. Also try to increase the length between feedings by replacing some feedings with patting and comforting baby to sleep.

Tip #3: Nurse/Feed more during the day.
Try feeding baby every 2 hours instead of every 3 to make sure he gets more milk during the day. If your baby is old enough, make sure he eats enough solid foods during the day (especially at dinner) so you can be confident that night wakings are occurring more for comfort than for hunger.

Tip #4: Tank up before bedtime.
Nurse baby often in the hours leading up to bedtime. You could try nursing on just one breast during this time to ensure baby gets the higher fat milk that comes at the end of a feeding. Filling up on the higher fat milk will help baby sleep longer between feedings. You can also do what is called a "dream feeding" where you feed baby right before you go to bed, even if baby was already asleep. This way baby won't wake up only 1-2 hours after you go to bed (and you can get more sleep!)

Tip #5: Listen to your baby (and your intuition).
There is no exact science to weaning your nighttime nurser. Every baby is different, but you, as their parent, know them best! You can take these tips and use whatever ones you think will work best for you and your baby. If you try weaning your night time nurser and he cries inconsolably for two or more nights, try again in a couple weeks. Or if he seems to be more anxious or clingy during the day after you start weaning, try it again later. When in doubt, you can always contact us here at Help Me Grow. One of our care coordinators or our child life specialist would be happy to help you with your unique situation.

We hope these tips have been helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to comment! We would love to help.

For moms interested in nighttime bottle weaning, check out this post.

References used for this post:
Help Me Grow's Child Life Specialist, Robin Lindsay
Babycenter.com
Askdrsears.com

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Bath Time Fun!


Confession: I am 24 years old, and I am obsessed with bath time. I love baths for me, I love baths for cute babies, I love the bubble baths, I love reading in the bath.... I just love it all! Bath time can be a great way to wind down the day OR keep the kiddos entertained. Here are some bathing tips to make bath time go as smoothly as possible:



Preparing Your Baby's Bath
  • Plan for your baby's bath. Get everything ready before you start the bath. This makes bathing your baby easier and safer.
  • If you can, turn down your water heater to 120 degrees. Babies can get scalded easily. Fill the sink or tub you're going to bathe your baby in with warm water. Always test the water with your wrist or elbow. The water should be comfortably warm, not hot.
  • Make sure you have everything you need for the bath. You can keep mild soap, cotton balls and a clean diaper in a shoebox or other container. Then you can bring the box in with the towel and washcloth to the room where you bathe your baby. When everything is ready, get your baby.
  • Never leave your baby or toddler alone in water. If you forget an item, the phone rings, or someone is at the door, you will have to carry your baby with you or just ignore it. 
Ideas to make Bath Time Fun!
  • Bath tub crayons- I kid you not, I want these for me! You could pull these out as a special surprise, or for entertainment on long rainy day. Find them here
  • Glowsticks- Snap 'em, and throw 'em in. You might want to bring a book into the bathroom with you because your kids will be entertained for hours.
  • Rubber duckies- kids do not need all the bells and whistles of expensive toys; they can be fully entertained by a dollar store rubber ducky that squirts water, or a plastic cup to dumb water. You can keep it simple and it will still be fun.
  • Fizz balls or bath bombs- These come in all different colors, shapes and sizes, and they smell great! 
  • Finally, you can get in the tub with them!! They just might think this is the greatest thing ever and it is a great way to bond and connect with your child. 
Do you have more ideas on how to make bath time fun and stress-free? Post below so we can add to our ideas! 
Happy Bathing! 


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Let's Talk Tummy Time!

You're doctor has probably said it, getting daily exercise is important! Is it any surprise that the same holds true for the little ones in your life? Whether your child is two months or twenty, working those little muscles is an important step in their development! That's right, I'm talkin' tummy time! Did you know spending time on their tummy helps infants to develop strength in their neck, shoulders, arms, back, and torso that helps them learn to crawl?

Photo Credit
If your baby shows little or no interest in tummy time, it can be difficult but try to be patient! Try setting them on their tummy in shorter intervals through out the day. The more time they spend on their tummy, the more normal it will become.

When should my baby start tummy time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends encouraging tummy from the first day home while they are awake and alert in short intervals (3-5min) 2-3 times a day. As they grow older and begin to enjoy the activity, more time is needed to build more strength.

Need some inspiration? Try the following activities to help encourage tummy time for your baby!

Tummy to Tummy
You can start encouraging tummy time from birth by resting your baby on your chest. This will help the position feel more natural later on, not to mention give you some great social interaction and eye contact with your baby!

Entertainment! 
Staring at the carpet can get boring, try placing a toy or a colorful cardboard book in front of them. To give them a different perspective, change up the view! Roll up a small receiving blanket and put it under your babies chest with there arms over it.

Lap Time
To mix it up, try laying your baby down lengthwise across your knees while providing neck support. Remember to keep the baby's head aligned with their body. You can also move your legs softly from side to side to keep them entertained, if they fall asleep just remember to move them to their back.

For some babies beginning tummy time is a blast! For others, not so much. Just remember to keep trying, it's a process! As they say, you gotta crawl before you can walk. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here!


Thursday, February 6, 2014

Managing Meltdowns

I am not a mom yet but I have been preparing for motherhood since the day I could hold a baby doll. Growing up, whenever I saw a child throwing a massive tantrum or becoming aggressive toward their parents, my immediate assumption was that the parents must be doing something wrong and that that would never be me! I don't think I was alone in my ignorance of blaming parents for crazy child meltdowns.  Is this not the epitome of annoying and frustrating for you all?

Recently I was forwarded an article titled, "Managing Aggressive Behavior in Young Children: 7 Positive Strategies from Kidpower for Preventing Meltdowns". I thought this article was great for anyone who spends any amount of time around kids. It is a little long so if you don't have time to read the entire thing, I have happily summed it up for you. 


Photo Credit

1.Understand that children sometimes have difficulty staying in charge of their behavior.

Children's brains are still developing and they do not have the same ability to control themselves that adults do. You can start teaching your child coping skills from a young age, which will teach them how to stay in control of their behavior. 



2. Identify and reduce causes of stress that trigger outbursts

Some commons triggers for children include: transitions, being too hot or too cold, needing more sleep, needing more space, being over stimulated, and needing more physical activity. See the article for more details. 


3. Teach children how to recognize and manage the feeling and actions that lead to unsafe behavior

The article suggests you actually practice with your kids! So make up some situations where your child might get angry and then have them practice walking away, closing their mouth, putting their hands away etc. Then, if a negative situation arises, you can remind them about what you practiced and ask them to show you what they know. The article lists a few different activities to try. 


4. Create a plan for how to prevent and handle outbursts

Different situations will cause different reactions, so prepare your child for a whole variety of them. Make a plan on how he or she should react when a toy gets stolen, when you say no, when their little sister hits them etc. 


5. Understand and stay in charge of your own emotional triggers

Don't lose control of yourself just because your child has lost control of himself. This one relates to number six which is to-


6. Be a powerful, respectful adult leader when taking charge of an out of control child

You are setting the example for your child on what is appropriate behavior, so plan accordingly as you address an out of control child. 


7. If you are responsible for other people's children, make a plan and get permission

The article is pretty long and much more detailed. Click here for the full article! If you have any further questions or concerns, post your questions below and we will be happy to help! 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Baby Sign Language

Before working at Help Me Grow, I ran the daycare for a local fitness company.  I would watch the trainer’s children as they worked out and there was one little girl in particular that I loved watching.  She was a little over one and was probably the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life! One thing I noticed with her though, was how she would respond to certain things I would say to her with hand motions.  I would ask if she wanted a drink and she would put her hand up to her mouth as if she had a cup, if I asked her if she wanted food she would put her little fingers up to her mouth as if she was eating.  I asked her mom if she was learning sign language and she said yes! But she only knew a few things so far and they were still working on it.  I just thought this was the coolest thing, and  now I really want to teach my kids to sign!


There are many studies that show the benefits signing have on infant communication.  Between 9 months and 2 years old children begin to know what they want, need, and feel but they do not yet have the verbal skills they need to communicate these things.  Signing can ease the frustration children feel and bridge the communication gap during this age range.

To begin teaching your child how to sign, you first need to familiarize yourself with common baby signs through books and websites.  Here are a few online resources that are very helpful in learning how to teach your baby signing. One of those is Baby Sign Language.  They have easy to follow steps for parents and access to a signing dictionary and flash cards for practice.  Another is Signing Time. They have products and information for children zero to eight.  Lastly, there is a YouTube channel called My Smart Hands that has instructional videos for parents. 

These are some important things expert have found to be helpful in teaching children how to sign:

      Be Patient! Have realistic expectations about when to teach your infant to sign and when you can expect them to sign back.  Most infants can begin communicating through signing around 8 to 9 months old.
      Don’t forget to communicate with your infant verbally as well.  As long as signing does not replace verbal communication, there should not be any negative effects of signing on learning to talk. 
 Keep signs simple.  Start with simple signs that have to do with everyday activities.  Don’t get frustrated if your child does not do every sign perfectly!  Signing is meant to relieve frustration, not add to it.
      Make it FUN!  Find fun, enjoyable activities to incorporate in their signing, such as dancing, singing, and eating to keep their interest while they are learning.