GMCAA Help Me Grow Newsletter

April 1, 2011 Volume 5, Issue 8

Fostering Early Development

Upcoming Events
YOUR NEW BABY Congratulations! You had your baby. Now that you are accustomed to the feeding and sleeping schedules of your brand new infant you may be thinking, what are some ways I can foster early development in my child? There are many toys on the market that declare that by using their special, expensive toys it will result in your baby being smarter. The good news is you do not have to purchase these items to have a smarter baby. The very best things you, as a parent, can do to promote early childhood development and have a smarter baby are talking, reading, singing, and simply playing with your child!

GMCAA Executive Director, Tom Reed GMCAA Planner/Help Me Grow Director, Teresa Varian gallimeigscaa.webs.com

The following dates are tentative. Please check for cancellations and changes. Please call 992-5266 or 1866-0110 and register if you will be attending any of the activities!

July 2011
Couponing Class Wed. July 13 @ 11:30 Shopping Matters Class Wed. July 20th @10.00 Powells Food Fair Financial Literacy Class All about Credit Reports Fri. July 29th @ 1:00

Back to School Savings Couponing Class Wed. Aug. 10 @10:00 Financial Lit Designing a Spending Plan Aug. 26th @ 1:00

August 2011

Yard Sale and Swap Sept. 2 @ Rutland 9-2 Moms Guilt Free Day of Pampering Wed. Sept 21 10-1

September 2011

READING Its true. Reading aloud is one of the simplest ways to connect with your child, and its free. It brings to two things your child loves the most together, your voice and closeness to you. While they are feeling safe and loved you are teaching your baby communication, building listening, memory, and vocabulary skills. You are introducing baby to concepts such as shapes, colors, numbers and letters, along with giving your baby information about the big new world around them. By the time baby reaches their first birthday they will have learned all the sounds needed to speak their native language! Babies who parents frequently talk and read to their baby know more words by the age of two than children who have not been read to.

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GMCAA Help Me Grow Quarterly Newsletter

My Baby Wont Sleep at Night

If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you're tired. You are not alone. Try these tips for a good nights sleep for you and your child. likely get back on track. Take into account your childs temperament. Pay attention to how baby handles stressors such as loud noises or people talking. Your child may need more help to calm down before falling asleep. Put baby to sleep when he is awake. Beginning at around 4 months of age, you can help your baby learn to fall asleep on his own by putting him to sleep when he is drowsy but not asleep. Theres no right or wrong way to put your baby to sleep so try different ways to put your baby to sleep. Be consistent. Time and patience are needed when teaching your child any new skill. When you are consistent in what you do at bedtime and naptime, you help your baby learn new bedtime skills more quickly and easily.

Water Hazards and your Child

Water is hazardous for young children. A baby or toddler can drown in less than an inch of water. Pool drains are one of the top biggest hidden home hazards the suction from a pool drain can be strong enough to hold even an adult underwater. Missing covers often cause the problem. Make sure the water is warm enough, preferably between 84 and 87 degrees. Don't put a baby less than 6 months old under the water. Although infants naturally hold their breath under water, they continue to swallow. Take an infant/child CPR course. If you have a plastic wading pool, drain it and store it in an upright position after each use. If you have a permanent pool, make sure it's enclosed with a fence that's at least 4 feet high, and lock the gate leading to the pool after each use. After swimming, remove any toys from the water and deck. Make sure the pool equipped with rescue equipment and a readily accessible phone for emergencies.

Keep it routine. Bedtime routines help babies learn when its time to go to sleep, having a bedtime routine means doing the same thing as much as possibleevery time you put your baby to sleep. Read the signs. Watch for the ways your baby lets you know he is tired. When you see these signs, slow things down and start your bedtime routine. Consider whats going on in your childs life. There are situations and events that can lead to or worsen sleep problems. When this happens, be patient and consistent, and try to maintain your bedtime routine. With time and patience, your childs sleep will

July Activities

Have you ever wanted to know how healthy meals for your family. to save on groceriesthby couponing? On Friday July 29 at HMG Middleport office learn how you can get a free credit Help Me Grow what toproviding a is incorrect information on it. Please call at 740report and will be do if there class on Wednesday, July 13th @to register. 992-5266 or 1-866-219-0110 11:30 at the Middleport HMG office . Bring your coupons and learn the secrets. Take your coupon knowledge to Shopping Matters at Powells Food Fair on Wednesday, July 20th at 10:00am learn how to make your food dollars stretch and still have

Come to Help Me Grow on August 10th at 10:00 AM to learn how you can save on back to school shopping. We will look over the ads and find the lowest prices on things your child needs for back to school, and form a shopping plan. Then on Friday July 26th join us for more

Back to School Shopping

August Activities
Financial Literacy to learn how to set up a Family Spending Plan and ways to stick to it!

GMCAA Help Me Grow Quarterly Newsletter

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HMG Family Yard Sale Moms Day Out Spa. Get a quick massage, do your nails, get a facial and learn ways Bring items you want to sell to our to relax. There will be healthy snacks for you and recipes you can take home. Learn 5th annual Help Me Grow Yard Sale. make your own cosmetics to use at home. Come join us for the fun on how to It will be held at Jim Vennari Park in Wednesday, September 21st from 10-1 at Pomeroy Public Library. Rutland. There is a playground for the Kids and you can set up your table with items you want to sell. The yard Moms Day Out Spa sale will be held August the 2nd from 9-2. Come join us for a Now that your children are back at guilt free day of school dont you need some pampering on pampering? Come to our 1st ever Wednesday, September21st @ Meigs County Library from 10am til 1am. Finger Plays with Nursery

September Activities

Fun Learning Songs and Finger Plays

Rhymes are valuable activities that help children acquire skills that are essential to their development and learning. They help improve and advance memory and language skills, while also aiding in the development of eye-hand coordination and enhancing their gross and fine motor skills. Finger Plays also help in the development of the young childs mind by stimulating the brain to aid in the connection of brain cells before the age of 3. Here are a few to try. If Youre a Monster and You Know It (to the tune of If youre happy and You know it) If youre a monster and you know it, wave your arms, If youre a monster and you know it, wave your arms, If youre a monster and you know it, then your arms will surely show it, If youre a monster and you know it, wave your arms! Additional verses: show your claws; gnash your teeth; stomp your feet.

Receive a variety of free services like hairstyling, manicure, pedicure, facial, makeup application, massage, yoga, ways Two Little Fishes to relax and how to Two little fishes side by side (hold up two index fingers, side by side) make your own pampering items. Swim through the water. Learn the importance Swim through the tide. of womens health (swimming motion) care and healthy guilt They dont need a motor. free snacks. And they dont need a sail. Call and let us know if (shake head twice) you will be They just wiggle their fins. participating so we (wiggle hands at side) will have enough And wiggle their tails. goodie bags for (wiggle hands behind your back) everyone .

Two little blackbirds Two little black birds, Sitting on the hill. (hold up one finger of each hand) One named Jack, The other named Jill. Fly away Jack! (put a hand behind your back) Fly away, Jill! (put the other hand behind you back) Come back, Jack!

GMCAA Help Me Grow 122 N 2nd Ave. P.O. Box 129 Middleport, Ohio 45760 Phone: (740) 992-5266 1-800-219-0110 Fax: (740) 992-6553

Shopping Matters
Shopping Matters is a program of Share Our Strength. It is an interactive guided grocery store tour that helps adults make healthy and affordable choices at the supermarket. During a Shopping Matters tour, participants learn information and practice skills that help them understand how to economically purchase fruits and vegetables, save money by comparing unit prices, and make healthier choices by reading food labels and ingredient lists. Participants also receive handouts and recipes so they can continue practicing what they One World, Many Stories is the 2011 summer reading program at the library. It is for children of all ages and runs June 6 through July 22. There are many fun events planned so plan to sign up today! All Events will be at the Pomeroy Library and are subject to change so call before attending. June 15th Jeff Nichols Cartoonist @ 2:00 pm learn at home and on future trips to the store. You will earn free gifts to take with you and use on your next shopping trip. The next Shopping Matters Tour will be held on JULY 20TH AT Powells Food Fair starting at 10 AM. Please call 740-9925266 or 1-800-219-0110 to register to get the time and store and so we will have enough free gifts for everyone.

Give your child a helping hand right from the start!

Fun Days at Pomeroy Public Library

Were on the Web! parentsmartsblog. blogspot.com

June 22nd Nancy the Turtle Lady @2:00PM June 29th Sojebety West African Drummer 2:00 PM July 7th Didgeridoo Down Under 2:00 PM July 13th Chautauqua Program Civil War 10:30 AM Youth 1:30 PM Adults July 21st Pool Party at London Pool Story Times Mondays Racine Library 2:00PM

GMCAA Help Me Grow 122 N 2nd Ave P.O. Box 129 Middleport, Ohio 45760 galliameigscaa.webs.com

!!!!! Special Notice !!!!! Fathers Day at Dave Dils Park has been changed to Wednesday June 15th at 5:30 to 7:00. See you there!