LifeSpan Child Care

The term “mental health” for young children can seem questionable to some, as it is associated closely to mental illness. However, the two are quite different from one another as mental illness refers to a problem (illness) and mental health focuses on something positive (health). When referring to early childhood mental health we are focusing our attention to the positive results of early intervention for children who are experiencing challenges socially and emotionally so that they can be successful learners in the future before problems become more serious. Healthy social and emotional development for children includes learning to express and regulate their emotions, forming close and secure relationships and learning to explore their environment.  We would like to raise awareness of the importance of Early Childhood Mental Health this month by providing resources and articles relating to the topic. Each week we will send home an article for parents and also include helpful websites as resources for your family.

Below is the first article that we will be sharing with parents that simply explains what mental health is for young children and lists tips on healthy social and emotional development.

What is Early Childhood Mental Health?

We are always here as your first resource. Please do not hesitate to share with us any questions or concerns about your child’s social and emotional development. We will be happy to help answer those questions and provide you with the services needed for your child and family.

www.parecovery.org

It is an absolute joy to be back among my LifeSpan friends and family. We are such a wonderful community of teachers and advocates for early childhood education. It’s such a comforting feeling to know the difference we make and the lives that we impact.

As many of you know, as the music teacher for our daycare components, I’m the one who sings, dances, acts with little inhibition, and leads the children in truly rewarding and instructional music activities.

As wonderful as it is to hear the voices of children singing, and to see them dancing without inhibition, we sometimes forget how influential and important music is in regards to the development of infants.

Below you’ll find an article published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The article touches on the importance of singing with our infant children, and what they learn from vocalization.  Although we already know that singing encourages language, rhyme, and rhythm; we don’t always realize the social-emotional impact it has on young children.

http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/music-math-more/10-ways-babies-learn-when-we-sing-them

Also, please see the article below written by a Pre-School music teacher. Although the beginning of the article address benefits of singing to children, it’s the ending of the article that is a little more interesting for parents. Although not all of us are the best singers, that should not stop us from enjoying music with our children.

http://www.preschool-music.com/singing-to-baby.html

kidshealth.org, is quoted in saying:

“Children who grow up hearing music, singing songs, and moving to the beat are enjoying what experts call “a rich sensory environment.” That’s just a fancy way of saying a child is exposed to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors, and sounds. And kids who enjoy such a rich environment do more than have fun. Researchers believe they forge more pathways between the cells in their brains.”

It’s important for us as educators to realize that a “wide variety” does not mean complex. You don’t have to have the greatest singing voice, and you do not need to sing complex songs to encourage and advocate for music education. Keeping it simple is the best way to use music as a bonding tool for you and your child.

Dental health is an important concept to encourage children to develop. It must start at an early age. Maintaining good dental care early in life helps ensure continued tooth and gum health in the future. When it comes to dental hygiene for kids, you can never start too soon. The most basic elements of dental care are regular brushing and flossing, but it’s important that your children know effective dental hygiene techniques and have access to quality dental products. You should also try to make your children comfortable with visits to the dentist and routine dental cleanings. The earlier you start exposing them to good dental care, the more likely they will be to keep their beautiful smiles for life.

http://www.dentalcareclearwater.com

Infant Dental Visits will help to…

Establish a dental “home” for your child, which is important when you have new concerns or emergencies.

Avoid anxiety. Children who begin regular dental visits at age 1 are less likely to have anxiety with future visits when compared to children who have their first visit at age 3 or older. Early dental visits can also reduce anxiety that parents may have related to their child’s oral care.

Lower oral health costs. Studies show that the dental costs for children who have their first dental visit be-fore age one are 40% lower in the first five years of life than for those who do not see a dentist before their first birth-day.

Reduce your child’s risk for cavities and improve oral health throughout childhood.

Here are some tips to keep kids’ teeth healthy and strong

0–2 years

• Wipe gums with a washcloth after feeding. This will help get rid of the sticky coating called plaque that can cause tooth decay.
• Brush teeth twice a day with water and a soft-bristle toothbrush.
• Schedule first dental appointment before first birthday.

3-5 Years

• Start using fluoride toothpaste at age 3
• Use only a pea-sized amount. Make sure your child spits it out after brushing.
• Try to break thumb-sucking and pacifier habits by age 4.

6–9 years

• Begin flossing as soon as teeth touch.
• Let your child know that it’s normal for baby teeth to fall out. That’s how “grown-up” teeth come in.
• Until children are able to practice proper oral health habits alone, parents should help their child brush and floss    twice a day.   Always pay special attention to the back teeth, which may have more plaque.

10–12 years

• Require children who play sports to wear a mouth guard to protect their smile.

13+ years

• Parents can make the most of their teen’s interest in how they look by reminding them that a healthy smile and fresh breath will help them look and feel their best.

http://www.dentalcare.com/en-US/dental-education/patient-education/children-english.aspx

Did you know that RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is very common during Fall, Winter and Spring? It may look like just a common cold, but for infants and older adults it can be very serious.

Help Prevent the Spread of RSV by following some of these tips:

• Wash your hands often Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Washing your hands will help protect you from germs.
• Keep your hands off your face Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Germs spread this way.
• Avoid close contact with sick people Avoid close contact, such as kissing, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who have cold-like symptoms.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the trash afterward.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people frequently touch, such as toys and doorknobs. When people infected with RSV touch surfaces and objects, they can leave behind germs. Also, when they cough or sneeze, droplets containing germs can land on surfaces and objects.
• Stay home when you are sick If possible, stay home from work, school, and public areas when you are sick. This will help protect others from catching your illness.

For more information check out:

• CDC Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) website
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Trends and Surveillance
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) [PODCAST

Gymnastics, swimming, dance, martial arts, basketball, soccer… There are already many choices available to parents for physical, movement-based extracurricular classes for their children. What makes yoga different? And what are the benefits for yoga for children?

Our children live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don’t think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The bustling pace of our children’s lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy—and usually not for the better. By practicing yoga poses, children can learn how to exercise, develop confidence, and concentrate better. As yoga becomes more popular in schools through physical education classes and after-school programs, yoga’s rising popularity can be attributed to its basic stretching advantages and improved body awareness, with the added component of a mind-body connection. Yoga is beneficial to children in many ways. Because children encounter emotional, social, and physical challenges or conflicts, a dedicated and intentional yoga practice that includes breathing techniques, behavioral guidelines, and physical postures can be incredibly valuable for them.  Yoga is something children can practice anywhere and that the breathing, the concentration, the poses, and the way children learn to act or react to situations, will lead to constant self-discovery and inquisitiveness, yoga builds self-esteem and self-respect. A child’s yoga practice is a rare opportunity to experience play and focus without worrying about being wrong, yoga is an option for children who shy away from physical activity or group activities for fear of failure or being picked last, and it helps athletic children excel in other physical activities and sports, yoga introduces cornerstone values such as non-harming, truthfulness, moderation, cleanliness, gratitude, and self-discipline.. (more…)