Healthy Eating Strategies for Babies and Toddlers

From the February 2007 issue of The Well-Centered Child
Here are some ways to help your child become a healthy eater:

1. Remember: Meals are about more than food. Meals are a time to connect with your child and support your child's overall development. Talk with your child during meals and don’t let him/her eat alone. This helps build strong family relationships.
2.  Create routines around mealtime. Routines make children feel loved and secure. They also help children look forward to each meal. You might say a blessing if that’s part of your family’s tradition. Or, share something about your day before each meal.

Equilibrium and Disequilibrium

Developmental Stages – The Roller Coaster of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium

The Center for Parenting Education

A resource to help parents do the best job they can to raise their children

Do you ever feel as if parenting your children is like riding a roller coaster?  At one point you are enjoying your child and the next you are wondering what ever happened to your sweet little girl or your charming little boy.

Research by the Gesell Institute of Human Development has shown that children’s growth is not always an even ride from less to more maturity. Instead, smooth, calm behavior alternates with unsettled, uneven behavior. Some experts in the field refer to this as going through periods of “equilibrium” when children are more a joy to be with versus “disequilibrium” when their behavior can be more challenging.

Doing Good

Looking for something good to do during spring break? Try Doing Good Together:  http://www.doinggoodtogether.org/

Podcasts

Below are some links to early childhood podcasts. Thanks for sharing Mike!

 

Value of early education--

http://freakonomics.com/2015/11/19/does-early-education-come-way-too-late-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

How children learn--

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179010396/unstoppable-learning

How our brain learns through play--

http://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/390249044

Fix-It Clinic

Bring your broken, non-functioning things -- electronics, clothing, household goods, toys, etc.-- for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair.  We'll provide workspace, specialty tools and guidance to help you disassemble and troubleshoot your item.  Whether we fix it or not, you'll learn more about how it was manufactured and how it worked.  This is a family friendly event.

WHAT:   Fix-It Clinic

WHEN:   Saturday, Dec 12, noon to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd, 55369

BRING:  your broken or non-working thing (carry-in only: no oversize items)

COST:   Free!

WHY:    To learn how things work, fix stuff and have fun!

URL:     hennepin.us/fixitclinic

 

"The pure joy that follows when you fix a gadget that was once broken is hard to match."

http://lifehacker.com/when-gadgets-should-be-repaired-not-replaced-53

Family Fun for the Weekend!

Friday, December 4^th 

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in St. Paul. See the animals and enjoy a little tropical getaway at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Admission is FREE. A voluntary donation of $3 for adults and $2 for children is appreciated.

Preschool Storytime with the St. Paul Public Library. 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Saint Anthony Park Library. Preschool storytimes incorporate stories, song, puppets and other activities to help teach social skills, listening comprehensive, letter and number recognition, and vocabulary. Preschool storytime is a FREE event.

Wells Fargo WinterSkate. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Rice Park in Downtown St. Paul. Bring your family ice skating at Rice Park this winter. This event is FREE and open to the public. If you don’t have your own skates, you can rent them at the outdoor rink for $4 each.

Discipline and Limit-Setting: 24 to 36 Months

From Zero to Three

In order to follow rules and understand limits, children need to have self-control. Self-control is the ability to cope with strong feelings and stop ourselves from doing something we want to do, but that is not allowed. Developing self-control begins at birth and continues across our lives. Young children learn self-control through interactions with peers and guidance from parents and other loving adults.