The Value of Thankfulness

Here is a very timely article from Cheryl Chaves-Torres, a member of our Great Start Collaborative here in Jackson County. 

Cheryl Chaves-Torres

Great Start Member

Happy Thanksgiving!   Family and tradition are at the heart of Thanksgiving.  What a great opportunity to teach our children and grandchildren both family traditions and the value of thankfulness.   The most important way to teach children positive behavior is to model.  As you prepare for the holidays express your gratitude out loud to your children.  Whether it’s a day off, a great meal, or time with family and friends that you value, let children know what you’re grateful for as an individual and as a family.

The following is a list of books for young children from the Zero to Three website that promote thankfulness:

• Biscuit Is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Pat Schories
• Little Critter: Just So Thankful  by Mercer Mayer
• Feeling Thankful by Shelly Rotner
• Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland
• I’m Thankful Each Day by P.K. Hallninan
• Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Jake Swamp
• All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan

Holidays also bring some stress.  At the Belly to Baby Expo on November 6^th I overheard one of the learning stage presenters share ideas for dealing with holidays.  She said that although it’s tempting to let children sleep in or stay up late when they are out of school, it is important to keep their schedule and routine consistent.  This will help avoid meltdowns and problem behavior when children get tired from all of the holiday excitement.

After the Expo, I started thinking more about holidays and young children.  I found lots of information everywhere including the websites below: 

• Zero to Three:   www.zerotothree.org
• TRUCE:  www.truceteachers.org(Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment)
• CCFC:  www.commercialfreechildhood.org (Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood)

Check out the December Great Start Parent newsletter for more information from me on sharing the holidays with young children and age appropriate toys!  Go to http://www.greatstartjackson.org/ to see the latest edition.

Cheryl Chaves-Torres, MA Ed

Early Childhood Education Consultant

Child Care Network/Southeast Great Start RRC-Jackson

 

Advocacy...Is Fun?

I would like to welcome another contributor to our Great Start blog!  Jeanette Lamphere is our Great Start Parent Liaison and leads our parenting leadership and advocacy efforts through the growth and development of our Parent Coalition.  Jeanette will be sharing with us regularly so let us know if you have questions or suggestions for future entries.  --Sheri

When you hear the word 'advocacy', what is the first thing that comes to your mind?  For me, when I was asked to advocate on behalf of young children, I suddenly felt myself spiraling back in time to high school government class listening to the faint drone of a teacher straight from the halls Charlie Brown High (waa, waa, wwwaa, wwwa, wa).  This was almost enough to make me stop in my tracks and run as fast as I could in the opposite direction.  Thank goodness I stayed because I have made the most amazing discovery over the past couple of years working with the Great Start Parent Coalition (GSPC).  Yes, I have learned that advocating can actually be fun!

So what is this thing called advocacy?  It is a fancy word that simply means sharing your opinion--sharing what is important to you and why.  Now, if you are like me, you are probably thinking, "no one cares about what I think, and they are certainly not going to take the time to listen."  The wonderful thing that I have also discovered is that this could not be farther from the truth.  The GSPC works with early childhood professionals from throughout the county and beyond who truly want to hear what parents are thinking, want to learn where parents are struggling, and want to mold and shape resources around these areas to make a difference in the lives of children.  In fact, many professionals, especially our legislators, tend to hear from parents of young children only in times of extreme circumstances, leaving them with a perspective that probably does not match your reality.  The good news is that we as parents have an opportunity to change that fact through dialog within the GSPC.

Now that you know a bit more about advocacy, you may be wondering, "do I have to stand up and give a speech?"  Thank goodness the answer is "absolutely not."  When our parents gather to share, it is more like a conversation among friends around a table than a formal meeting.  GSPC parents have ongoing opportunities to meet people, make friends, and contribute to the development of themselves and this community. 

The bottom line is that the GSPC wants to hear from you in whatever format you are comfortable, whether that be in person, on-line, over the phone, or in writing.  Our hope is that this blog will provide parents just like you with another avenue to share your stories--your hopes, fears, struggles--and help inform the work of Great Start and its' members in the areas of child care & early education, family support, emotional/social health, parent leadership, or pediatric & family health. 

So what are you waiting for?  Join the conversation today!  From our Child Care and Early Education Group, let us know what you think about the following:

What does quality child care mean to you?  Do you feel you have access to it?  If no, how would your life be different if you did have access to quality child care?

I look forward to 'advocating' with you and sharing any next steps that are made as a result of your responses.

Jeanette Lamphere, Parent Liaison
Great Start Parent Coalition

Great Start Commitment - From a Member's Perspective

Keeping a blog interesting and fresh is no small task, so I've asked for lots of help from members of our Great Start Collaborative.  Below is a message from Robert and Sarah Allen who operate Anew Horizon Childcare & Family Development, Inc. here in Jackson.  --Sheri

Robert and I have been a Great Start Collaborative members for the last year and a half.  The main reason why we joined the GSC is because they are comprised of many different businesses in an array of venues and with different missions, but we all have one common goal; to ensure that every child has a great start. 

When you hear us say we want a child to have a “Great Start” this means we want to help build a strong foundation for every child to ensure they have the tools they need to succeed.  We want every child to be in good health, to be confident, safe, and secure individuals. 

We have witnessed these goals be reached and we are so honored to be a part of this great work.  We know there is still a lot of work to be done, and we are all dedicated to making sure every child’s needs are meet, and that every child is given the best tools to succeed in life.

Sarah & Robert Allen
Program Director, Executive Director
Anew Horizon Childcare & Family Development, Inc.