Things that Matter: March 2014

Good health habits start early. To make sure young kids have the tools they need to grow up healthy, it is important that parents have the information they need to make the best choices for their family.

Joanne Makielsky speaks to parents about nutrition and fitness at the February playgroup

On Tuesday, February 18^th, families came together to learn about food and fitness at a playgroup organized by Verde Valley Healthy Families and Parents as Teachers, which are both free home visiting programs for families with children ages five and under and funded by First Things First. Through these programs, families receive visits from a home visitor, who partners with them to support the health and development of their young child by providing information, activities, and referral to other community resources. Families are also invited to monthly playgroups like this one where they can learn and socialize.

There’s a reason the programs both focus on the early years. “90% of a child’s brain connections are made before the age of five,” said Susan Lacher, Supervisor of Verde Valley Healthy Families, a program of the Verde Valley Medical Center. “The experiences parents provide and the habits they teach during this time are laying the foundation for their child’s future.”

At the February playgroup, held at the Verde Valley Baptist Church, Lacher invited Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Joanne Makielsky to lead a discussion with parents about early childhood nutrition. Makielsky works with Fit Kids, a program of the Verde Valley Medical Center that works to prevent and treat obesity in children. As the children ran and played nearby, parents learned tips on infant, toddler and preschool-age nutrition, what foods to encourage and avoid, and how to teach their kids healthy eating and fitness habits.

Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers, and Makielsky said that children learn their health behaviors by watching their parents. She urged parents to make fitness and healthy eating a whole-family matter. ““We all want to support the early health of children,” Malkielsky said. “Health habits start early, and parents are children’s most important role models.”

Verde Valley Healthy Families and Parents as Teachers are free programs for families with children ages five and under and are funded by First Things First. For more information about Verde Valley Healthy Families, please contact Susan Lacher at (928) 639-6566. For more information about Parents as Teachers, a program of Arizona’s Children Association, please contact Rainee Crabtree at (928) 443-1991 X 2021.

‘Circle of Security’ Strengthens Parent-Child Relationships

Raising a child is a parent’s most important job, and as any parent or caregiver knows, it can also be the most challenging. Each child has unique personality traits, needs and wants. However, there is one thing that all children need regardless of their differences: a safe and nurturing relationship with their parents or caregivers.

In Yavapai County, a free parenting class called “Circle of Security” focuses on this important relationship. The class, taught by Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists Anjaneane Knudsen, Leah May and Laura Crimmins, has been made free to parents and caregivers of young children through a grant from First Things First. Participants attend the class over several consecutive weeks for a total of twelve hours. Through the class, parents learn about child development, attachment, discipline, and building their relationship with their child. They also get the opportunity to connect with each other. To make sure the class environment feels safe, confidential and comfortable, the class capacity is set at 15 people.

Early Childhood Mental Health Experts Leah May and Anjaneane Knudsen
lead a discussion during “Circles of Security”, a free parenting class

Research has demonstrated the benefits of a secure relationship between parent and child. Children with a secure relationship with their parents have better friendships, higher self-esteem, and better problem solving skills. They are also more likely to trust their parents and turn to parents in times of trouble.

‘Circle of Security’ came highly recommended to Lillian and James, a couple who will soon be adopting their two grandnephews. “We’re taking this class so that we can better recognize their wants and needs,” said James. “We would also like to learn communication techniques and better forms of discipline.”

Colleen Reckrow, who has a young son, said that her husband raved about this class when he took it last year. “I’m here to learn how to better connect with my son, read his emotions and help him to handle his feelings,” said Colleen. She also said she was looking forward to connecting and learning with other parents in the area.

Children learn about the world through their relationship with their parents, and it is also through this relationship that children learn to behave. Through Circle of Security, parents are given the opportunity to reflect on the way they were raised and how this affects the way that they parent their own children. With this awareness, and by forming stronger, more nurturing relationships with their children, parents can help their kids grow into healthy, confident and competent adults of the future.

For more information about Circle of Security, please contact Anjaneane Knudsen at 928-925-5130. To find other parenting education classes near you, please visit ParentsAZ.org.

Early Childhood Expert Offers Insight on Teaching Kids Critical Skills

On Tuesday, January 28^th at the Yavapai College Prescott campus, dozens of Yavapai College students, early childhood professionals and interested community members came together for a workshop presented by Jenna Bilmes, author of Beyond Behavior Management: The Six Life Skills Children Need. Bilmes, who also works as an instructional designer and early childhood consultant, spoke to the group about the impact the first five years have in determining the health, wellbeing, and future success of a child.

Early childhood is a rapidly developing field of research. “Decades ago, people weren’t as conscious of children’s needs as we are today,” said Bilmes.

Now, we know 90% of a child’s brain develops before the age of five. Critical skills like motivation, self-esteem, focus and self-discipline take root in these early years. Since successful people share these traits, children must be given the tools and experiences to develop these skills. During her talk, Bilmes focused on the many ways adults can support children to develop the six social and emotional skills they need for life: attachment (relationship-building), belongingness, self-regulation, collaboration, contribution to others and adaptability.

In order to build these skills, Bilmes said that the first and most important thing children need is a positive, loving relationship with parents and caregivers. Relationships are the foundation upon which children develop, learn and grow. “Kids do better with adults that like them,” said Bilmes. “Your attention is the highest encouragement young children can receive.”

Author and Early Childhood Expert Jenna Bilmes

presenting at the Yavapai College Campus in Prescott

Bilmes also talked about dealing with children’s behavioral problems. Being a mother of two boys, Bilmes knows from experience that discipline can be one of the trickiest parts of caring for kids. “Relationship building is the best way to prevent behavior problems and improve children’s behavior,” she said. Bilmes also encouraged her audience to look for the causes of a child’s actions. “Children are not ‘being bad’ to make your life miserable,” Bilmes said. “Their behavior is trying to communicate something.”

Bilmes also said that it is important for adults to model positive behavior around children, teach them words to label their emotions, and teach them effective ways to cope with their feelings. “If we help kids get the skills they need, we don’t have to punish them for not having the skills they need,” Bilmes said. “We owe children love and acceptance. That doesn’t mean that they do everything right, but they deserve what they need to learn and grow to their potential.”

This workshop was organized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Future Teacher’s Club at Yavapai College. For more information about the club and future events, please contact LeAnne Lawhead at Leanne.lawhead@yc.edu.

Professionals Collaborate to Strengthen the Early Childhood System

As any parent knows, it takes a lot to raise a child, and every child has unique needs. Helping a child grow, learn, and stay healthy is a parent’s most important job. Fortunately, there are many programs available to support strong families.

Professionals and community members meet at the Yavapai County

building in Cottonwood to discuss the local early childhood system

It is important that all of these services work together to create a seamless system of support for families raising young children. That’s why Charla Boley, AmeriCorps VISTA with First Things First, held a meeting for organizations to network, share, and discuss how they can collaborate to best support the needs of young children in the Verde Valley area.

The meeting, held on Wednesday, January 29^th at the County Building in Cottonwood, was attended by 30 early childhood professionals and community members, including representatives from Yavapai County Community Health Services, Buena Vista Children’s Services, First Things First, area preschools, faith communities, South West Human Development, Verde Valley Guidance Clinic, Arizona’s Children Association, Yavapai College, and DES. Participants shared their visions and goals for their work in the community, and discussed ways that they could work together.

“My vision is to better inform the community about the importance of social and emotional development in young children,” said Virginia Hout, supervisor of Smart Support, an early childhood mental health program. “If children don’t build these skills early, the academic skills they need later won’t follow.”

The group agreed that networking and sharing meetings like this one are critical for professionals working to effectively support early childhood health and development. “It’s great to look around and see people on the same team, working to strengthen the early childhood system,” said Erin Mabery of Buena Vista Children’s Services.

“I’m glad we’re here to learn about available resources so that we can share them with parents to help strengthen families and keep children safe,” said Kenya Hernandez of DES, who is also a parent of two young children.

This is the first of a series of meetings to support collaboration in the early childhood health and education community. Any interested parent, organization, or community member is welcome to attend. To receive information about future meetings, please contact Charla Boley of First Things First at (928)-776-0062.