Summer Learning
Learning doesn't stop in the summertime. Whether you go down to the ocean or stay at home, chances to learn are everywhere.
Resources
Know the Facts (National Summer Learning Association)
Summer Learning Day Resources for Parents (National Summer Learning Association)
Field Trips for Summer Fun (Child Care Aware)
Summer Reading Tips for Parents of Babies, Toddlers and Young Children (PBS Kids)
Summer Ideas for Pre-K (Pinterist)
Stay Safe Around the Water (American Red Cross)
Summer Learning Day Resources for Parents (National Summer Learning Association)
Field Trips for Summer Fun (Child Care Aware)
Summer Reading Tips for Parents of Babies, Toddlers and Young Children (PBS Kids)
Summer Ideas for Pre-K (Pinterist)
Stay Safe Around the Water (American Red Cross)
Fatherhood
Maryland Family Network's Family Support Centers provide free services to families. The goal is to help adults develop the skills they need to raise successful children. Fathers are a huge part of making this success a reality. Let's give men the resources, tools and time that they need to be great dads.
Resources
Maryland Family Network Family Support Centers The Proof Is In: Father Absence Harms Child Well-Being (Huffington Post)
The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children (Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children (Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Talking About Loss
When a loved one dies, parents may wonder how or even if to talk about the loss with children. The American Academy of Pediatrics tells us that even children who are too young to understand death should know why the people around them are sad.
Resources
Death and Dying (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Talking to Children About Death (NIH Clinical Center)
Children's Books About Death (NAEYC)
Talking to Children About Death (NIH Clinical Center)
Children's Books About Death (NAEYC)
Storytelling
Since the dawn of time, there have been storytellers. But we are just starting to understand how important this tradition is. New research published in The Atlantic suggests that young children who hear lots of detailed family stories grow into well-adjusted adolescents.
Resources
What Kids Learn From Hearing Family Stories (The Atlantic)
The Stories That Bind Us (The New York Times)
The Stories That Bind Us (The New York Times)
Pets
There's nothing cuter than young children and animals together. When children help care for a pet it teaches responsibility and boosts self-esteem. If you have kids at home under six, listen to this before adopting a cuddly companion.
Resources
Selecting the Right Pet For Your Family (The Humane Society)
Helping Your Child When the Family Pet Dies Pets and Children (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Helping Your Child When the Family Pet Dies Pets and Children (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Military Families
Finding child care is often difficult. With frequent relocations, deployments, and distance from extended family, it can be especially hard for military families. That's where Maryland Family Network comes in. LOCATE: Child Care has helped many military personnel find options that are right for them. A LOCATE Referral Specialist offers information about how to identify quality care and will personally contact child care providers to find openings. This lets service members focus on jobs and families.
Resources
LOCATE: Child Care (Maryland Family Network)
Assistance for Military Families (Child Care Aware of America)
Resources for Active-Duty Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families (Senator Barbara Mikulski)
Assistance for Military Families (Child Care Aware of America)
Resources for Active-Duty Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families (Senator Barbara Mikulski)
Decision Making
Learning how to make decisions as children prepares them to make sound choices as adults. Honoring a preschooler's choice also tells him that you respect him and his abilities. Here are some ways to guide children through this process.
Resources
Raising Good Decision Makers (Huffington Post)
Fun Activities to Teach Children About Decision Making (Global Post)
Deal or No Deal: Five Year Olds Make Smart Decisions In Games Of Risk (Science Daily)
Fun Activities to Teach Children About Decision Making (Global Post)
Deal or No Deal: Five Year Olds Make Smart Decisions In Games Of Risk (Science Daily)
Sibling Rivalry
Siblings play a very powerful role in our lives. Starting as young children, brothers and sisters shape the way we feel about ourselves, our families and society. But let's face it, siblings don't always get along. There're some things parents can do to help keep the peace at home.
Resources
20 Tips to Stop Quibbling Siblings (Ask Dr. Sears)
What Is Sibling Rivalry? (University of Michigan)
When Sibling Fights Go Beyond Harmless Kid Stuff (NPR)
What Is Sibling Rivalry? (University of Michigan)
When Sibling Fights Go Beyond Harmless Kid Stuff (NPR)
Compensation
Did you know that some child care professionals earn less than a fast food server? But a child's care and education are not drive-through services. Let's work together to explore ways to raise the salaries of child care professionals in Maryland without raising child care costs or blocking access for working families.
Resources
Appropriate Apps
It starts with proud parents Tweeting pictures from the delivery room to a seemingly endless supply of smartphone apps that claim to be educational. In the first few years of life, children are around computer screens all the time. It's hard for parents to know how much exposure, if any, is okay for developing brains. Listen now for some tips that will help.
Resources
Media and Children (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Technology That Supports Early Learning (NAEYC)
Should This iPad Rattle Really Be a Baby Toy? (Fast Company)
For The Children's Sake, Put Down That Smartphone (NPR Morning Edition)
Technology That Supports Early Learning (NAEYC)
Should This iPad Rattle Really Be a Baby Toy? (Fast Company)
For The Children's Sake, Put Down That Smartphone (NPR Morning Edition)