NEW! Separating Fact from Fiction about Parent-Child Attachment Webinar with Dr. Marti Erickson – January 12

December 30th, 2010

We are pleased to announce a new session about parent-child attachment in the series of FREE Webinars designed to bring evidence-based child development information to parents and those who work with families. Join us for these parenting Webinar from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. each month on a different topic. These Webinars are designed specifically for parents of young children ages birth to five-years-old, but are highly relevant for anyone working with families. They are made available to you through a partnership with MDE and the Working Family Resource Center. The Webinars are one of our innovative strategies for increasing public awareness and child find for Minnesota Help Me Grow.

Good Enough Moms and Dads:

Separating Fact from Fiction about Parent-Child Attachment

January 12, 2011 

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Parents today are bombarded with messages telling them how to raise successful kids. One concept that plays a prominent role in those messages is “parent-child attachment,” reportedly an essential foundation on which a child’s optimal learning and development build.

But what does “attachment” really mean, and why is it so important? How can you tell if your child’s attachment with you is developing as it should? Is it true that a baby’s brain development is affected by the quality of the parent-infant relationship? Can a good attachment develop if mom and dad both work outside the home? Is it necessary to breastfeed, “wear” your baby in a sling, or share the family bed in order to form a good attachment? Is it possible for a child and parent to be too attached? If a baby is premature, medically fragile, or at risk for a disability, how might attachment develop differently? And what about an adopted child who may have missed out on a good attachment as an infant? What will it take for that child to form positive connections with adoptive parents, teachers and other caring adults?

Find out answers to these questions and more on the January Early Learning Counts Webinar with Dr. Marti Erickson.

To register for this Webinar, go to www.workingfamilyresourcecenter.org/wfrc/en/MDE05.asp  and click on the Webinar title.

Can’t attend the live presentation? Access the recorded version at www.workingfamilyresourcecenter.org/wfrc/en/MDE05.asp. All sessions are recorded so that parents and others can access them at times convenient to their schedules. The past sessions have been receiving outstanding evaluations can be accessed at online by topic:

Early childhood programs can also use these Webinars in their parenting education classes, special events, home visits and to share with their community partners. Several ECFE parent classes are registering for the Webinars as a group. The parent groups will be participating together in the Webinar and following the presentation, will have a parent educator facilitated discussion. Additional ideas for how to use this and other valuable and free parenting resources are included in the attached flyer on how to use MDE/WFRC resources.

Announcing Innovative Parenting Webinars: Early Learning Counts!

September 28th, 2010

We are pleased to announce a new series of FREE innovative Webinars designed to bring evidence-based child development information to parents and those who work with families using innovative technology. Join us for a new parenting Webinar from 12:00-1:00 p.m. each month on a different topic. These Webinars are designed specifically for parents of young children ages birth to five-years-old. The sessions are also recorded so that parents and others can access them at times convenient to their schedules. Early childhood programs can also use these Webinars in their parenting education classes, special events, home visits and to share with their community partners.

Download descriptions of each monthly Early Learning Counts parent Webinar and visit workingfamilyresourcecenter.org to register. Thank you in advance for sharing this information with all your staff, parents participating in your programs and your community partners.

These new parent Webinars are provided through a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Education and the Working Family Resource Center.

For further information, contact Debbykay Peterson at debbykay.peterson@state.mn.us.

Summer 2010 Early Childhood Newsletter

July 30th, 2010

Check out the Summer 2010 Early Childhood Newsletter presented by PACER Center.

It has some great information about:

Planning for your child’s first day of school

If your child will attend school for the first time in the fall, you can help make the important transition—and new experience—easier. The following tips are geared to a child entering kindergarten, but most apply to those beginning preschool, as well.

  • Take photos of the school and spend time over the summer reviewing the pictures and talking about going to school. Some parents have created a simple storybook with the pictures for their child.
  • Help your child meet other children in the class. Call other parents to arrange for summer play dates with children who will be in the classroom or at the school.
  • Help your child adjust to small groups. Try to provide some opportunities such as a story hour at your local library. Click here for the full story

 

Early Childhood Workshop

Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behavior

Parents of young children from birth to age 5 with developmental delays and /or disabilities will learn about brain development and behavior, different temperament types, stages of development and strategies to provide children with acceptable ways to get their needs met. Click here for full story

Don’t miss the outstanding Good Enough Moms (TM) podcasts scheduled for July 2010!

July 7th, 2010

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Working Family Resource Center (WFRC) and GOOD ENOUGH MOMS™ (GEMs) talk show co-hosts, Dr. Marti Erickson and Erin Erickson, are partnering to bring developmentally sound, evidence-based information to parents — and help nurture supportive communities among parents in their workplace.

 

Click here to download a flyer

Click here to download handout

Have Fun With Letters

June 11th, 2010

In a recent edition of Pacer’s early Childhood Connection Magazine there were some great Ideas regarding building early reading skills.

  • Have your child play with alphabet toys
  • Print not familiar letters
  • Imitate sounds and letters while playing together

Click here to read more. The article is found on page 7 of the PDF