Crystal Hardy-Flowers
Early Childhood Educators Need the COVID Vaccination
On New Year’s Eve Crystal Hardy-Flowers died of complications from COVID-19. Crystal operated the Sandtown-Winchester based Little Flowers Early Childhood and Development Center for over a decade. We owe it to Crystal’s life lived in service to others that we don’t lose any more child care providers to this virus. 

Resources

Hogan announces changes to COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan (WBAL TV)

State Superintendent Requests Prioritization of COVID-19 Vaccines for Teachers, School Staff, Child Care Workers (MSDE)

Crystal Hardy-Flowers, social worker and child care provider in Sandtown-Winchester, dies of COVID-19 complications (Baltimore Sun)

Happy New Year 2021
Almost There
2020 is finally almost over. We can make 2021 the year put in place better supports for parents, children, and child care providers so the next time disaster strikes they will have the help needed to thrive. 
Healthy Providers, Healthy Kids
Healthy Providers, Healthy Kids
Has your child care provider told you her plans for staying safe from COVID-19 over the holidays? Have you told her yours? Sharing your plans are essential to keeping your kids healthy. 

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Tips and Questions to Keep Child Care Providers and Families Healthy (Child Care Aware of America)

Stressed mother with sleeping baby.
Tell Us About Telomeres
Being a parent can feel like it ages us 10 years in just 10 minutes. But the stress a parent experiences before getting pregnant can take it its toll on both mother and baby. 

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Mothers’ stress may lead to preterm births, faster aging in children (UCLA)

 

The Respectful Approach to Parenting
The Respectful Approach to Parenting
Helicopter parents take note: Sitting back and watching your child explore their world is good for your mental health and good for your child’s development.  

Resources

Helicopter parents should step back and watch, study recommends (Science Daily)

A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Respectful Approach on Early Parenting Competence and Stress (Springer.com)

 

Crying toddler girl.
Too Many Tantrums
Tantrums are a normal part of a toddler's development. But you can help your child learn skills now that will help them cope well with all the disappointment and frustration that will come their way. 

Resources

Yale Experts Think They've Found A Way To Manage Tantrums — Once And For All (Huffington Post)

Mother cuddling with baby.
Sometime it Hurts to Be a Baby
For an infant, going to the doctor can be a pain but it doesn't have to hurt.   
Boy in a hard hat.
A Labor of Love
When will we invest in the most important labor there is -- parenting?   

Resources

Time to Care --  (Time to Care)

 

Dad and child practice guitar
Music Soothes the Infant Soul
Where does our love of music begin? Experts believe it is in the first five years. 

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Frère Jacques, are you sleeping? (Harvard Music Lab)

 

Sands of Time
The Sands of Time
Imagine parenting with wooly mammoths and saber tooth tigers hot on your tail! Listen to the story of one mom who did just that, now on the First 5 Years. 

Resources

Fossil Footprints Tell Story of Parent's Journey (Cornell Chronicle) 

Fossilized Footprints Found in New Mexico Track Traveller with Toddler in Tow (Smithsonian Magazine)