dear mecp families, · 3) decorations and plants. aunt celeste loves to decorate with poinsettias...

Multnomah Early Childhood Program December 2013

Multnomah Early Childhood Program

December 2013

Dear MECP Families, The beginning of the holiday season is upon us. Hopefully, the holidays will provide all of us with the opportunity to spend time with our families. The approaching holidays and accompanying vacation can often contribute to interrupted routines for children and families. We have included many strategies to support families and minimize holiday stress.

MECP looks forward to the year 2014 and working with your family. Have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Lisa Grotting

Upcoming Events:

12/10/13

12/23/13-01/03/14

01/06/14

Introduction to Autism Register for our free class. Call 503-256-6500

x4690 to register.

No School-Winter Break

First day back from Winter

Break

Pg. 1

5208 NE 122nd Portland, OR 97230 Phone: 503-261-5535 Fax: 503-894-8229

Find free toy drives and holidays meals near you. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898211, toll-free, for additional information.

Multnomah Early Childhood Program (MECP) December 2013

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“Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Skills Every Child Needs” a book by Ellen Galinsky

Ellen Galinsky is the president and co-founder of the Families and Work Institute. By collaborating with researchers in the science of childhood brain development, she has also written a book identifying the seven life skills that help children reach their full potential.

In “Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs” the big message is simple: teaching children to think may be the most important thing a parent can do. It doesn't take a village and it doesn't require fancy courses or equipment. This book includes a description of the skills children need to develop to become successful adults by combining the more practical aspects of "what do I DO to make this skill happen?" with the research to demonstrate WHY these skills are important.

The seven skills include:

1. Focus and Self-Control: Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly, and exercising self-control.

2. Perspective Taking: Perspective taking goes far beyond empathy: it involves figuring out what others think and feel, and forms the basis of children understanding their parents’, teachers’, and friends’ intentions. Children who can take others’ perspectives are also much less likely to get involved in conflicts.

3. Communicating: Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, reading and writing - it is the skill of determining what one wants to communicate and realizing how our communications will be understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is most lacking today.

4. Making Connections: Making connections is at the heart of learning – figuring out what’s the same, what’s different and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for information, it is people who can see connections who are able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well.

5. Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to guide beliefs, decisions, and actions.

6. Taking on Challenges: Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school and in life.

7. Self-Directed, Engaged learning: It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can we, for as long as we live – as long as we learn.

Continued on page 4


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PBIS Corner:

Positive Behavior Intervention

Support The Holidays are upon us and perhaps some of you experienced a wonderful, stress-free, and joyful time with your family over our last break. If so, this article may not be for you. J For those of you who found yourself in the middle of the river, chasing your child around the forest, on your way to Grandma’s house…it may be helpful to read on!!

During busy times it is easy to forget those basic prevention strategies that can make life smoother for you and your child. The holidays are no different! Along with more time with family and friends, the season often brings with it more sugar, more noise, more people, less sleep, and less structure that make us all a bit crazy. Even if you are not traveling or planning to go to any big events, just the added people, noise, and lights in the stores can be enough to tip you or your child over the edge. That is why it is even more important to spend a few extra minutes upfront to prevent a longer meltdown later. The box below summarizes several Holiday Survival Tips that are outlined in a longer article in the ‘Making Life Easier’ series, titled ‘Holidays: Strategies for Success,’ found on the TACSEI (challengingbehavior.org) website. For a more detailed description of the strategies we have included the direct link below. If you do not have access to the Internet at home, you can go to your local library or ask your service provider to bring you a copy of the article: http://www.challengingbehavior.org/do/resources/documents/life_easier_holidays%20and%20tipcard.pdf

Here is wishing you a safe, happy, and ‘smoother’ holiday season, Your PBIS Team,

Tracy Branscomb and Tim Andrews


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Stress and the Holidays: A few words from our Mental Health Consultants

“Mind in the Making” Continued from Page 2

Do you ever feel stressed during the holidays? You're not alone! Here are some tips to help you and your child bounce back from holiday stress: Stick to routines. As often as you can during the holidays, follow routines that help you and your child feel your best. For example, if your child has tantrums when she's hungry or tired, try going to bed, waking up and eating meals at a consistent time during the winter break. Bonus: This will help your family readjust to the daily grind when the holidays are over. Encourage physical activity. Exercise is great for our bodies, our mood and our energy level. Even a quick exercise break can help clear your mind and lift your spirits. Go for a walk with your child. Take a stretch break. Yes, even dancing to a silly kids’ song counts! Whatever physical activity you choose, enjoy it. You deserve it! Enjoy family traditions. As best you can, maintain your family’s holiday traditions. Kids count on those traditions, knowing that while some things change, other things will remain the same. Plan ahead. Talk with your child ahead of time about special events like holiday parties. Who else will be there? What might happen? Most importantly, what good behaviors do you want to see your child use? If you praise those positive behaviors right when they happen, your child is more likely to continue using them. Give help when you can, and ask for help when you need. Helping others can be a great way to manage holiday stress. Asking for help when you need it is important, too! Every time you give or receive help, you teach your child that friends can solve problems together. These are powerful social skills that will help your child thrive in kindergarten. Want more tips on coping with stress during the holidays? MECP’s friendly team of mental health consultants is here year-round and has tons of other ideas to share. You can ask your child’s service coordinator anytime for a referral.

Here in Multnomah County, we have been part of a national pilot project implementing “Mind in the Making” learning modules through a variety of community partners that include Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County, Children’s Institute, David Douglas School District, Friendly House, Portland Public Schools Office of School and Family Partnerships, Portland State University’s Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services, SUN Community Schools, IRCO, Impact NW, Mt. Hood Community College, Neighborhood House, and Self-Enhancement, Inc.

Using a facilitated learning approach, each module gives participants the opportunity to reflect on their own adult experiences, learn what researchers have discovered about how children learn best, and discuss how to apply this research in their role as a parent or educator. The Seven Essential Skills learning modules are intended to create learning communities of parents, early childhood practitioners, and elementary school administrators and staff. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to participate in these learning modules during 2014.

Whether you read the book, or participate in the “Mind in the Making” modules, you can learn how to teach our children these crucial life skills.

By Hillary Hyde EI/ECSE Outreach Specialist


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Some Holiday Tips from our MECP Nurses…

Tips for Traveling with your child with ASD

The Holidays are the busiest time of year for travel. Preparing your

child ahead of time can really make the trip much more

enjoyable for you and your child. Here are few links for tips on

preparing to travel with less stress.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/family_services_docs/Holiday_Travel.pdf

http://needsmorecrayons.com/holiday-travel-tips-make-traveling-

asd-kids-easier/

It can also be helpful to read a social story about going on an airplane. Here is a link for an

example.

http://www.abilitypath.org/tools-resources/abilitypath_socialstory_

airplaine_2011.pdf

With the holiday season upon us, it can sometimes be difficult to stay energized rather than end up exhausted. To help make this year as stress free and safe as possible, here are a few time-tested reminders for all of us.

1) We can’t do everything! Martha Stewart does not have small children, so give yourself a break. The holidays don’t need to take a toll on our health and pocketbook. Keep a check on over commitment and overspending. Balance work, home, and play. Get support from family and friends. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. We will remember time spent with family or friends where we were relaxed, enjoying the moment and not having to rush off to another commitment. Get plenty of rest, eat a healthy diet, and cover coughs and wash hands frequently to help everyone stay healthy during the season.

2) Toys, toys, toys! The aisles at the department store can be overwhelming and the TV advertisements even more so. Keep in mind one or two things that would be appropriate for your child, and stick with that. Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest levels. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts, so baby’s new teeth can’t gnaw them off.

3) Decorations and plants. Aunt Celeste loves to decorate with poinsettias and holly. Looks great, doesn’t it? Small children may think that holiday plants look good enough to eat, but many may be poisonous or cause severe stomach problems. Watch out for mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis. Keep all of these plants out of children's reach. Twinkle lights galore? Beautiful. But be safe and turn off all lights on trees and decorations when going to bed or leaving the house. Unplug extension cords when not in use.

4) Food. If cooking a turkey for the first time is part of the plan, there are excellent cooking guidelines that take the guesswork out of the process. (see below). Also, thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits. Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands.

5) Laugh. We all benefit from fun, and hope that these next weeks will include good health and good times. Enjoy!

http://www.cdc.gov/family/holiday/

www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Holiday-Safety-Tips.aspx

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/sites/default/files/Turkey_fact_sheet-English_2009.pdf

www.nsc.org/Documents/Holiday Safety Tips.pdf

Available in hard copy and online at www.spectrumsmagazine.com is geared towards families who have children with Autism. The latest edition has some nice articles that include travel tips for children with special needs, an educational toy guide, sensitive Santa opportunities, managing holiday expectations and a local events guide.

Multnomah Early Childhood Program December 2013

Winter Weather Alert: Snow Days,

Delayed Openings, Emergency Early Closings

www.FlashAlertPortland.net

Winter weather is here bringing icy mornings and the possibility of late starts or school closures. MECP will follow the late start or closure for the district where your child’s classroom, speech clinic, or home visit is located.

Please go to FlashAlertPortland.net. for the most current information regarding late start or school closures.

Many local radio and TV stations broadcast information about late openings and closures due to ice, snow or other weather conditions that make driving conditions hazardous. Please turn on your radio, TV or go online and listen to information about the district that transports your child to and from service and the district in which your child receives service. If the schools are closed in the district your child attends school/clinic, then MECP services will also be closed.

If the district you live in is closed there will be no transportation to your child’s site.

If a school district announces a late start, the MECP site in that district will not be open for morning classes. In the event of a late start transportation will not be provided in the afternoon for families residing in the PPS School District.