We know it pays to brush and floss instead of getting cavities. The same idea applies to early childhood programs.

A study by Wilder Research shows Michigan’s investment in school readiness programs have saved taxpayers millions.

Michigan Kindergarten teachers say children who start behind tend to fall behind, and never catch up. Schools spend more in remedial or special education services. Many students end up dropping out and becoming drains on society rather than contributing, tax-paying citizens.
Read more about the Michigan Kindergarten teacher survey and tell me what you think…..I have to go brush my teeth.

This question is my ‘come back’ when our kids ask for yet another ‘thing’. Do you really need it or want it? Of course they ‘need’ nearly everything they ask for. Lenawee parents were recently asked a similar question. ‘What would you find most helpful’? The options were: free consultation with experts, parenting classes, a parent’s night out or the opportunity to get to know other parents. The choices seem to be ‘need’ vs ‘want’. Parents may ‘need’ more help with their parenting skills and some expert advice now and then, but they ‘want’ a night out and time with other adults. How did Lenawee parents vote? Nearly half chose ‘getting to know other parents’. Another third said, ‘a parent’s night out. Let’s apply my ‘come back’ question here. Do you really ‘need’ a night out and time with adult friends or do you just ‘want’ it because you can get out of your work as a parent. Well from my set of ‘parent shoes’ I would say it’s a ‘need’. (Hmmm, just like my kids) But really, my friends can expertly make me laugh, when I ‘need’ it most. And as I have come to know other parents and hear their experiences, I have happily learned much more about normal childhood, because almost everyone else’s kids are doing the same crazy things as mine. For me that has been pretty good parent education. A needed Friday night with friends leaves me better equipped for Saturdays with the kids. Thank goodness for babysitters!

I recently worked with 170 Lenawee County high school students teaching them about soy foods. Most of these teenagers would tell you they had very limited exposure and experience with soy foods. This didn’t surprise me. However, after learning about soybeans, why they are good for you, how to cook with them and where to find them in the store, the students bravely tried the nine different soy foods we prepared. I was very encouraged. When I saw all of the soy foods were completely eaten – tofu chocolate mousse to soy veggie chili to Edamame – I was reminded once again that kids will try new foods if you give them a chance. If your taste buds are feeling adventurous check out www.soyconnection.com and learn for yourself the benefits of soy foods.

Kids will try new foods if you give them a chance. Start by getting your kids involved in cooking and food preparation – as young as possible. This is the secret to getting them to try new foods. Even a two year old can rip lettuce or stir ingredients. (Doing this will also help them develop their fine motor skills.) Make it a special privilege to help you choose a new food to try when you are at the store. Have kids pick out the produce for you and show them what to look for. Let your children help you prepare food whenever possible (even if it’s just washing the grapes). Trust me, if your kids have a say in what’s for dinner and help prepare it, you can bet they’ll try it. This doesn’t mean they’ll like it, that may take as many as 12 more exposures to the new food, but don’t give up and don’t give in to the same old menu. Getting your kids to like new foods, starts with getting them to try new foods – even if that means they simply allow it to be on their plate to be poked at. Finally, remember to be a good food role model. After all, in the end, they want to be just like you.

While health care reform appears to be in our future, don’t put off important check ups or treatment for your child while the debate goes on. Good health is vital for all of us but especially young children as they grow. There are two Michigan health insurance programs for children that can help you pay for doctor visits and medical bills. Check out Healthy KIDS and the MIChild program that insure children from birth to 19 years of age. Healthy KIDS is free and can be used as supplementary insurance. MIChild has costs of as little as $10 per month. If you are interested in learning more or want to sign up get in touch with the Lenawee Health Department. They can help you with the 15 minute on-line insurance registration process. To schedule an appointment or to learn more call 517.264.5254. Plan to bring your child’s birth certificate, social security number and know your household gross income and weekly pay. Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Are you a parent of a young child with a disability or mental health condition, or concerned that your child might be at risk? Have you been frustrated by trying to find resources to help your child? At the direction of the Michigan Department of Community Health, Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority is leading the development of a system of care for children birth-18 years that have either a severe emotional disturbance and/or a developmental disability. The goal of a system of care is to bring community organizations, members, and systems together to nurture children and adolescents to become more productive, satisfied adults. Like the Great Start Collaborative, the success of the system of care depends on the community deciding that this is something worth putting time, energy, and funding towards. All Lenawee County children, including these two groups who often have additional or more complex needs, deserve the community’s support!

A series of focus groups are planned to gather input from parents and other concerned community members about what they see as the aspects of current services that these two groups of children use as well as suggestions for improvement. Please consider attending one of the upcoming focus groups to help create a more positive, nurturing Lenawee County for children with mental health conditions and developmental disabilities. Also, please stay tuned for updates on the results of the focus groups as well as opportunities to get involved with the development of our system of care. For more information, please contact Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority at 517-263-8905.

Kristen Columbus
kebc77@yahoo.com

Tecumseh parent

It’s time for all of us to take a stand on behalf of our youngest citizens. In less than 30 days a new State budget must be in place for the next fiscal year. The budget decisions facing the legislature and administration are gut wrenching and boil down to a matter of priorities. How our legislators prioritize next year’s spending will shape the future for all of us. If Michigan is to survive and thrive in the 21st century, young children MUST be one of Lansing’s priorities. Every cost analysis of early childhood programs show the benefits far outweigh the cost. Other industrialized countries around the world already recognize the connection between a strong economic future and giving children a strong start. It is imperative that Michigan reset it’s priorities for the future. Legislators must lead the way by spending wisely. Please contact your representative and ask them to vote to maintain early childhood programs and move Michigan forward.
Contact State Representative Dudley Spade at dspade@house.mi.gov and Senator Cameron Brown at senebrown@senate.michigan.gov

Babies need adults to pay attention to their sleeping environment. One child every week–52 Michigan babies–died of accidental suffocation while sleeping in 2006. We now know that many of the cases, once labeled Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS, were actually cases of accidental suffocation. How does this happen? Common suffocation risks are: sharing a bed with others, soft bedding and soft sleeping surfaces.

When infants share a bed with adults or siblings, and the other person inadvertently compromises the infant’s breathing ability with their body, suffocation can occur. Bedding, which is either too soft or there is too much of, can cause suffocation. Babies that sleep on a very soft surface such as a waterbed, couch, or adult bed can suffocate when their mouth and nose become obstructed as it is pressed into the soft surface.

Remember these dos and don’ts of safe sleep for babies:

• Infants should be placed to sleep on their BACKS for every sleep.
• Use a firm sleep surface such as a firm mattress covered only with a fitted sheet. Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib
• Do not share the same sleep surface with infants: infants may be brought into bed for nursing or comforting but should be returned to their own sleep surface when the parent is ready to return to sleep.
• Give the baby tummy time when they are awake
• Don’t smoke or let others smoke around the baby
• Make sure others who care for your child are aware of safe sleep habits: Grandparents, babysitters, childcare providers, neighbors

Today’s understanding of safe sleep has saved the lives of many babies. Unfortunately each year babies still die because of unsafe sleeping environments. Learn more about safe sleep at www.stlsafesleepforbabies.com and share what you know with family and friends.

Mary Vallad
Director of Nursing
Lenawee Health Department

Voters were in no mood to ‘play’ as they chose ‘reading together’ as their favorite parent-child activity in a recent Great Start poll. Would the results be different in a summer poll? Do these results only confirm our deep desire to be ‘inactive’? Is this playing out in obese children with diminished attention spans?

What is your favorite parent-child activity? Reading together was selected by 77% of Lenawee voters, ‘eating together’ was chosen by 14% of voters and ‘playing a game’ earn only 9% of votes. (The fact that no one voted for ‘doing crafts’ is a subject for another post about ‘lost arts’.)

Time spent playing is one way children develop a skill called executive function. Executive function is the ability to self-regulate. Kids with good self-regulation are able to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline.

In case you forgot, play is FUN! If this poll had been taken by kids…I wonder how different the results would be?

Considering the 20% unemployment rate in our county, I do feel very fortunate to have a job–one that I like very much. However, I am also relieved and grateful to have the next four days off! Which means lots of time to spend with the little one instead of the computer.

When Stella (my daughter) was first born, I couldn’t imagine that I would ever forgive myself for working instead of being at home full-time with her. My mother stayed at home, and I had never actually given much thought to whether I would do the same, until Stella arrived, and my maternity leave drew to a close. Then I started waffling a bit. I wanted to work but I also wanted to hold her all day long.

Fast forward a couple of years, and the decision to work is still bittersweet. On one hand Stella, being an only child, enjoys the social aspects of being at ’school’, and I enjoy being able to have some time to be productive and creative. However, the mornings when Stella cries, “I don’t want to go to school, I want to stay home.” Those are hard. So are the days when things aren’t running too smoothly at work and I just want to cuddle on the couch with my baby girl instead of figuring out what needs to be done next.

So for the next four days, I’ll take the opportunity to be ’stay-at-home’ mom, enjoying every moment (minus the tantrums). By the time Monday comes I am sure both Stella and I will be happy to spend a little time doing our own thing, holding the fun we had together in our hearts.

At the end of each year I always like to make a written list of what I accomplished during the past 365 days. Yes, I am one of those people! I’ve done this for years, but since I had my daughter a little over 2 years ago, I find myself making daily reminders to myself rather than yearly resolutions. For example, I remind myself:
1) Childhood is short–enjoy every moment, no matter how messy it gets.
2) Picture-taking is indeed memory-making.
3) The work, dishes, laundry will always be there, my toddler won’t.
4) Even a temper tantrum in the middle of the grocery store can’t last forever.
5) Soak in all the smiles, hugs and cuddles possible.
6) Patience is a virtue.
7) Be thankful for a healthy child who can communicate with me–loudly!
The list goes on…and as corny as it sounds, I really do find it helpful to remind myself of these things and enjoy the present moment, especially when the going gets a little rough. After all, there are only 5,475 days (approximately) until my daughter goes to college!