BC Empowerment Time Out Newsletter

On Saturday, April 14, 2007, Benton County Empowerment will sponsor a free workshop featuring nationally known speaker Brenda Nixon. This workshop on Discipline will be held 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. at the Palace Theater in Vinton.

Registration will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. A complimentary dinner will be held from 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m. at the Pizza Ranch in Vinton. Free childcare will be provided by Happytime Child Development Center. Please contact Heidi Schminke at 319/472-4543 or 888/690-3444 to register and request childcare. You can also register your attendance by e-mailing ccc@bcempowerment.com. Transportation may be available if needed. Please register no later than April 7, 2007. Space is limited and will be filled first come first served.

Since 1996, millions have been empowered in their childrearing skills through Brenda’s speaking, writing, media interviews and book. Following is an overview of some of what will be presented at the workshop.

Actions Teach Better than Words—One morning my five-year-old daughter, Laura, was dressing for school, supposedly. Instead, I found her half-naked, staring in the closet and mumbling to herself. Somehow, she’d managed to find numerous distractions to prevent progress. “Laura, get dressed!” I urged for the umpteenth time. However, this sweet kindergartner continued dawdling. “Laura, are you dressed yet?” I asked again. At that point I realized, I’m nagging my kid! Nagging was a violation of my own rule in parenting. I should be smart enough to prevent this misbehavior, Laura was not doing what she was told and its partly my fault. A logical consequence seemed in order. I wanted to teach her that she was acceptable even though her dawdling behavior was not. I walked into her room and calmly yet firmly announced, “Laura, if you aren’t dressed when your bus comes, you’ll have to finish on the bus.” She gazed at me with a smirk on her face. I left her room resolved not to mention it again. Several minutes later, I heard the bus pull up. Anxiously I bit my lip wondering if she was presentable. I went to her room and saw Laura was dressed – except for her feet. “I’ll put your socks and shoes in this sack so you can finish dressing on the bus,” I said as I dropped them in a bag. Then I handed it to her while she stared at me with disbelief. Barefoot, Laura held my hand as she shuffled down our driveway toward the waiting yellow bus. She hesitantly mounted the steps toting her bag of unfinished business. I watched as she meandered through the aisle and sat down on a seat. “Have a good day. Love you!” I cheerfully reminded as the doors folded shut. Then I watched her bus drive out of sight…feeling a bit shameful and haunted with doubts, Was I being too harsh?

The next morning, without reminders, Laura was completely dressed before her bus arrived. The previous day’s experience taught her to stay on task. Fortunately, this logical consequence was necessary only once and I share my minor triumph to help you effectively discipline through consequences. What did my discipline technique teach Laura? I believe she learned about time management, self-discipline to stay on task, and that Mom can be trusted – she means what she says. Kids need rules and guidance to help them learn appropriate behavior. Research shows that effective parents don't need to use physical force to discipline, but are more likely to set clear rules and explain why these rules are important. Effective parents are not punitive, overly strict or permissive. Most kids learn better from experience than passively absorbing words (reprimands or nagging) from adults. Consequences help kids learn they are accountable for their actions, without damaging their self-esteem. It is good parenting to allow our kids to make an age-appropriate choice about their behavior and to live with the result of that decision.

For maximum effect any consequence must be - specific; related to the misbehavior; allowed to happen (no rescuing). In my situation, the grueling part was enforcing the consequence. It would’ve been easier to plop my little darling on the bed and hurriedly pull on her socks and shoes. But I couldn’t allow it to slide or I would’ve enabled her to ignore the task. She needed to learn self-direction, concentration, and the consequences to time negligence. Effective parents state the rule, the outcome, and then allow the consequence to happen. And kids receive a valuable message: “I live by my choices.” Natural consequences are also a successful teaching tool. Within reason and safety allow natural consequences to happen in child discipline.

Why don’t more parents allow consequences to teach their kids? It may prove inconvenient so parents rescue and sabotage the lesson. When you cave in it indicates a lack of respect for yourself. Consequences also take time to be effective with some kids. They may need repeated experiences to internalize the rule and change behavior. Kids need parents who say what they mean and mean what they say. Then kids learn to trust and rest in the knowledge that they are always loved, but their behavior is not. ©2004, rev. 2005. Brenda Nixon

Chiro-Kids—Raising Healthy Kids, Naturally

My name is Dr. Zach Wilson and I am both a chiropractor and parent. My office is located in Garrison at 202 North Sycamore Avenue. This is the first of what I hope to be a regular column of helpful information for raising your kids to be healthy, wealthy, and wise! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at wilsonfamilychiro@mchsi.com or 319/477-6066.

“You Are What You Eat” - There was a study I stumbled across that was done by scientists from the University of Toronto dealing with high-fat diets and brain function. The scientists warn that high-fat diets may lower cognitive function (brain function). The study was done on rats, and I know we are not raising rats, but these types of studies are done with rats because their nervous system operates in a very similar manner as ours. The animals that consumed the high-fat diet showed significant impairment in learning and memory tests. This is important information for those of us raising kids in a society that makes fatty foods so readily available. Not only can those fatty, greasy foods hurt the heart, but can hinder the mind as well. Think about this the next time you are deciding what to give your kids for lunch.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

Repetition is important in developing language. Repetition makes language predictable for the child. Repetition increases the chance that the new word will be retained and expressed later. By using repetition of a new word within a context, it helps the child comprehend the meaning of the word. For instance, if you are walking from the parking lot to the store, you could jump over the cracks in the road/sidewalk and repeat “over” each time you jump. By using the word within the context, the child understands the abstract word. By using different inflections in your voice when repeating that word can add an entertaining element.

Books that focus on repetition are important for young children. Repetition can be rhythmical, which also adds predictability to the new language. For instance, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See?” by Eric Carle, provides the repetition, rhythm and the predictability.

Speech and language is based on rhythm. Without a sense of rhythm, the child may speak at a rapid rate causing him/her to omit sounds and words. This fast rate of speech usually leads to a decrease in intelligibility. Nursery Rhymes have been around for centuries. Even many years ago, we knew the importance of rhyming for the foundation of developing speech and language. Nursery rhymes help the child discriminate between subtle differences within words. Children that have difficulty with auditory discrimination, struggle with the development of speech and language.

A favorite nursery rhyme is “One, Two Buckle My Shoe.” It has an easy rhythm and fun rhymes. You can clap or bounce on a ball while you recite the rhyme. By using movement, the child gets a “feel” for the rhythm. Without the appropriate rhythm the meaning of the words and the sound discrimination can be lost.

Lower Your Taxes or Increase Your Refund

Nearly 2/3’s of women with children under age six and over 3/4’s of women with children ages six to seventeen are in the paid labor force. For these women and their families, finding affordable, good-quality child care can be a continuing challenge. Although the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant provides funds to the states to help low-income families pay for child care, stagnant federal funding and state budget difficulties have led to cutbacks in state child care assistance. Many states are turning away eligible low-income working families, lowering income eligibility cutoffs, raising co-payments, or putting families on waiting lists for child care assistance due to inadequate funds. Federal and state tax credits provide an important supplement to public funding provided for direct child care subsidies. Federal tax credits—the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Earned Income Tax Credit—and similar state tax credits can provide a significant boost to families. These credits can lower the income taxes that families must pay and, in some cases, give cash refunds to families whose incomes are too low to owe taxes. Eligible families can use these tax credits to help offset their child care expenses, including the cost of co-payments for families that receive subsidies. Unlike child care subsidies, these tax credits are available to all families who are eligible for them—but families must file a tax return to claim them. Federal tax credits can bring thousands of dollars in tax benefits to low– and moderate-income families. The following paragraphs explain how much each of these credits can be worth to families.

The credit values listed are for the credits families can claim when they file their 2006 tax returns in early 2007, based on the income they earned and the expenses they incurred during 2006. In some cases, these credits are refundable, meaning that even if a family does not earn enough to owe income taxes, the family may be able to collect a refund check from the government.

The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is designed to offset some of the child and dependant care costs that families pay in order to work. This credit is worth up to $2,100. The deferral Child Tax Credit is designed to help families offset some of the costs of raising children. This credit is worth up to $1,000 per child. Even families who owe little or no income tax can receive at least some of this credit as a refund if they have at least $11,300 in earnings. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit is designed to boost the wages of eligible families (married couples earning less than $38,348). It is worth up to $4,536 and is available as a refund for families that owe little or no income tax.

Second Step: Violence Prevention Programming

The Second Step preschool lessons are into their 9th week now and are going very well! We have finished up Unit One on Empathy Training, and just moved into Unit Two on Emotion Management. The children’s first few lessons were on identifying different feelings such as sad, angry, happy, surprised, scared, etc…and then determining how others may be feeling by looking at their faces and body language. We then discussed how our feelings can change over time, as well as why we may not always have the same feelings as someone else experiencing the same thing. Our final lessons in Unit One taught us about caring. We learned how to show people we care about them, how to help the people we care about, and what to do when we hurt someone we care about on accident. We then moved into Unit Two. Our first lesson in Unit Two taught us about strong feelings such as feeling Very happy, or Very sad, etc…The future lessons in Unit Two will continue to talk about strong feelings and how to calm down from strong feelings as well as how to manage those strong feelings. The children really seem to enjoy seeing the puppets (Impulsive Puppy and Slow Down Snail) each week, as well as learning new songs and seeing the different “situation pictures”! The Second Step lessons will continue into the spring season, with Parent Sessions coming up after the first of the year. Times and dates of Parent Sessions will be posted at each center where Second Step is being offered once the final days and times have been determined. The Area Substance Abuse Council is receiving wonderful support from all the centers, teachers, and parents involved with the Second Step program, and we can not thank you enough!

Help Wanted

As many of you already know, Young Parents Network (YPN) utilizes the Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton on Tuesday nights from 6:30 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. During this time we facilitate a parenting support and education group open to families in Benton County. The group has snacks together in the kitchen and then does an activity. Between the times of 7:00 p.m. and 8 p.m. children aged 6 months and over go upstairs for childcare while the adults discuss various parenting topics. YPN is now looking for volunteers over the age of 14 to fill the role of child care providers. In addition, we are seeking someone over the age of 18 to serve as the childcare coordinator (there is pay for this position). All volunteers over 18 must pass a background check. This is a great opportunity to volunteer your time and skills within the community! Please call Libby at 319/472-4557 with any questions or to request an application.

Available Childcare In Benton County

We will continually update you on all available childcare in the county as we become aware of openings. Please contact Heidi Schminke at 319/472-4543 or 888/690-3444 for more information on childcare.

Blairstown

Licensed childcare center, has full– and part-time openings in all classrooms.

Newhall

Licensed preschool, has openings in the 3's P.M. class. These classes run from 12:15 p.m.—3:15 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays.

Urbana

In-home unregulated childcare, has openings for any age group.

Vinton

Licensed childcare center, has full–time openings in the Infant Room (under 10 months) and the Preschool Only Program (must be 3 by September 15th).

In-home unregulated childcare, has openings, full or part-time for any age group.

In-home unregulated childcare, has openings, three full-time for any age group.

Licensed preschool, has 4 openings in the 3's P.M. class and 5 openings in the 4's P.M. class. These classes run from 12:30-3:00. 3's Tuesday and Thursdays and 4's Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

Cooking With Kids!

Groundhog Day Dirt Pie

For Groundhog Day enjoy a groundhog on his mound dirt pie.

Happy eating!

Ingredients

1 box instant pudding milk
4 chocolate graham cracker squares popsicle stick
Small picture of a groundhog 4 bowls
Mix one box of instant pudding according to directions. Place into four bowls. Crush four chocolate graham crackers squares into fine crumbs or until they resemble dirt. Sprinkle on top of the pudding in the dish.
Glue a small picture of a groundhog on a popsicle stick. Place in the center of the bowl of pudding and you have your Groundhog Day Dirt Pie.

Cut It Out!

Ground Hog Puppet
Materials:

Tacky glue
2” pom pom
Tongue depressor
2 smaller pom poms
1 tiny pom pom
2 1/2” wiggle eyes
Toilet tissue roll
Brown or green paint

Directions:

Using tacky glue, have your child find the center of a 2" pom-pom ball, squeeze a small drop of glue into the pom pom and insert a tongue depressor. Have your child place the two smaller pom poms on either side of the top for the ears and glue the smallest pom pom on for a nose. Finish with two 1/2” eyes. Set aside to dry.

Paint a toilet tissue roll either brown or green or a combo of the two for the ground. Let dry.
When both are dry, the pom-pom puppet goes inside his 'burrow' (the toilet paper roll) and pops out to see his shadow by the child's manipulation of the tongue depressor!