Going back to school is always one of the most anticipated times of the year. We look forward to opening our schedules, seeing our friends we missed during the summer break, and meeting new people in classes, through sports, and by joining new clubs. While it’s easy to get caught up in all of the excitement this time of year brings, it’s also important to have a conversation with your children about internet safety.
On her first day of preschool, my daughter woke up ready to go! She was joining the Owl class, and so she put on an owl shirt, helped me pack her lunch, and grabbed her blankie for nap time. The day didn’t go as planned. About 30 minutes after drop-off, I got a call saying she had been accidentally placed in the wrong class, so they were taking her over to the Bear class instead. Here are four ways you can help kids navigate heading back to school.
In order to ensure that our children feel safe coming to us to discuss any questions or concerns they may have, we have to show them that we accept people of all genders and identities. This is something that we can start early and revisit often with children. We want to reinforce the message that we love them unconditionally while simultaneously modeling for them what it can look like to support people in their lives who may come out to them someday. Below is a list of ways to celebrate Pride this month, and all year round!
Many fathers today are very different than from generations past. Decades ago, a father’s role was to earn a living so the mother could stay at home with the children. Many things have changed over the years, but I think this change is one for the better! Fathers today are caregivers. Importantly, they set an example for their children on how to be in the world and how to be with their peers.
When is my child ready for a forward facing car seat? Or ready to move into a booster seat? For the best possible protection, keep infants and young toddlers in the back seat, in a rear-facing child safety seat, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat.
From our friends at Building Bright Futures: If you have young children living in your household or visiting your home, it’s important to test your drinking water, paint, and soil around your house. This testing should be done by a certified lead professional. The Vermont Department of Health provides this list of certified lead professionals, their contact information, and what questions homeowners should ask.
Teaching toileting to your child can be stressful and uncertain. If you are preparing to introduce your child to the potty, or have hit bumps in the road, this workshop may help. Workshop includes a 60-minute lecture, as well as 30-minute Q&A. If you cannot attend at this time, a recording will be provided to everyone who registers.
Children always look forward to Halloween – costumes and candy! Making sure your children keep good memories of this holiday is important and can be as simple as keeping in mind what age appropriate activities and costumes are and candy; size of candy for safe chewing and swallowing and the amount of sweets. Here’s a brief reminder of age appropriate holiday behavior:
By now, most of our children have returned to school. It’s the time of year that is welcomed by parents who are ready to get back into a routine after a summer of long busy days and flexible bedtimes. As a result of Covid it may also be an emotional time, for families who have never sent a child off to school before. There is no doubt back to school is a big transition for families.
Although most parents know that lead paint is dangerous, especially for young children and pregnant people, did you know that lead poisoning doesn’t show any immediate symptoms? That’s why it’s required in Vermont for all 1- and 2-year-olds to be tested for blood lead levels, in line with national standards of pediatric care. Every 1- and 2-year-old should receive a blood test for lead at their well child visit with their regular doctor
It is difficult to comprehend that there is yet another mass murder of children in our country. Nonetheless, a young 18-year-old boy who appears to have been bullied, dropped out of school, was unemployed, fighting with his parents and without a plan for his future, has committed the unthinkable. In his hands a weapon of war, an AR-15 machine gun, created for soldiers on the battlefield, not a classroom, ended the lives of 19 human beings.
NPR's Life Kit spoke with a handful of child development experts about what parents, teachers and other caregivers can do to help prepare and protect kids from all the scary news out there, whether it's fighting overseas, a school shooting, devastating wildfire or a global pandemic. Here's what those experts had to say:
The news has taken notice that some are misusing a word that is important to protecting children from the risk of experiencing child sexual abuse. At PCAVT, we want to help parents know how to protect children, so it is important that miscommunication be avoided. This article will help you know what the word “grooming” really means and help you keep your child(ren) safe and healthy!
Children and teens have been impacted significantly by the Covid 19 pandemic. They could not always go to school or see their friends and family members. Wearing masks, though so important for safety, was a detriment for social interactions with peers and teachers.. At times, overly stressed parents and caregivers found themselves taking out their own feelings of helplessness out on their children and teens. It has been a very hard time for a great number of families.
PCAVT continues to be a state, national and international leader in the prevention of child sexual abuse and healthy sexual development as well as healthy parenting. While becoming Zoom proficient was never the goal for PCAVT’s staff, the pandemic’s limitations have provided a silver lining. Our education providers have been able to deliver more training programs and hold more family support programs than in the now long gone “pre-pandemic days,” and in 2021, 7,500 adults and children received direct training or support, which extends to a much larger “family” of nearly 60,000 children and adults who will be touched by these programs.
Each week this month experts from the Institution for Innovation and Implementation at The University of Maryland School of Social Work are sharing their tips on helping children, youth, families, and providers thrive during this winter season. Visit their holiday resource page for more resources. We wish you a safe & peaceful season.
It is clear that COVID 19 will not end before the holidays or the New Year. Though we have taken measures to protect our families, loved ones, co-workers, and neighbors, we are going to continue to need to take special steps to ensure the well-being, mental health, and optimism of our children and teens. This means we are going to have to get creative, care for ourselves as well as we possibly can, and talk to our family members and partners as we make holiday plans.
