GMCAA Help Me Grow Newsletter

January 1, 2012 Volume 6, Issue 3

GMCAA Executive Dir ector, Tom Reed GMCAA Planner/Hel p Me Grow Director, Teresa Varian parentsmartsblog.blogspot.com gallimeigscaa.webs.com

Teachable Moments are Everywhere Every Day

Upcoming Events
Please check for cancellations and changes Please call 992-5266 or 1866-0110 and register if you will be attending any of the activities! Thanks.

April
April 9th Spring Fling @Dave Diles Park 11:00 come visit with the Easter Bunny!

May
May 2 from 10:00 to 12:00 Mothers Day Brunch @HMG Fun Fair @ Family Life Center in Middleport on th May 11 from 10:00 to 2:00
nd

June Fathers Day Picnic @ Dave Diles Park on June 5th from 5:30 to 7:00

activity that is a teachable moment. Gross motor can be crawling and walking which are everyday activities that support this domain. Social emotional skills can be as simple as defining your childs moods for them as they happen, playing games and interaction with others helps to build this important skill. Cognitive development can be as easy as allowing your child to try new experiences helping to support their thinking skills and When you give your child a bath you are things you do with your child are looking at your child speaking to every day. them in your mommy or daddy voice Language: Reading, singing and helping them learn social skills. You talking to your baby are every day name your childs body parts as you moments that turn into learning moments that promote language wash them. You count their little skills. toes; play peek-a-boo with the washcloth. Guess what? Learning has Remember you are your childs first and most important teacher. occurred. This is what are called Now you know how easy it is using teachable moments and it couldnt be easier. You are getting the things everyday routines and familiar places to teach your child, give baby requires and helping them yourself a pat on the back and learn by doing something you do relax. You are doing a great job! every day! You are helping to build the foundation that will make up your childs five developmental domains like small motor skills such as picking up small foods like cheerios and putting them in their mouth is an Think you have to spend hours teaching your baby? Worry no more, daily activities, such as feeding, bathing, and diaper changes are valuable occasions to encourage your childs development. It is everyday activities that make ordinary jobs a teaching moment

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GMCAA Help Me Grow Quarterly Newsletter

Should I Smoke While Pregnant?

Smoking while pregnant is putting you unborn childs health at risk. Your baby is more likely to be born prematurely, born with lungs and other organs not fully formed causing your child to experience costly medical interventions. Your baby could be born with a low birth weight. Contrary to popular belief this does not make delivery any easier. In fact it makes your child at greater risk for developing problems during birth and less healthy as they grow up. Your Baby could have problems breathing and have to receive an injection to help develop their lungs before they can leave the hospital resulting in extra days in the NICU or they may develop asthma or allergies later in life. Your baby could be at greater risk of Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as recent studies have suggested. Smoking while pregnant can be linked with childhood behavior problems and slower learning so your child may be delayed and have to receive time consuming interventions to catch up to others in their age group. When you smoke during and after pregnancy you are exposing your child to over 4,000 different chemicals. These are passed through you to your baby before and after birth. Some of these toxic chemicals are formaldehyde, arsenic, benzene
and cyanide just to name a few. The nicotine in a cigarette can raise you and your babys heart rates reducing blood flow and slowing digestion. It can also cause birth defects. Why take the risk of putting your childs health at risk? If you smoke and are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant why not set your Quit Day today!

Ways to Quit Smoking

Set a quit day and make a plan of how you are going to tackle the urge to smoke. Get of a fresh start by throwing away all smoking materials. Wash all your clothing and clean your hose to rid it of the smoke smell. Stock all the places you kept your cigarettes with sugarless gum, mints, straws, and tooth picks to keep your hands and mouth busy. Withdrawal symptoms can be tough the first few days. Use what is called the Four Ds to help you. Remember, this will not last forever. It should get easier after the first three days as the nicotine leaves your system. The 4 Ds 1. Deep Breathe. This can calm the urge to smoke. Drink Water. This keeps your mouth fresh and helps to flush the nicotine out of your body Do something. Fix your nails. Write a note to someone. Do something with your hands to distract yourself. Delay. Put off taking a puff. The urge to smoke should only last 3 to 5 minutes

April Activities
Help Me Grow will have its annual Spring Fling to be held in Dave Diles Park on Monday April 9th at 11:00 oclock. Come have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny, receive a treat bag and hunt Easter eggs. There will be door prizes and treats for the little ones. Parents will be able to help their children hunt for the eggs. plan accordingly. In case of inclement weather the Spring Fling will be cancelled. Bring a container to hunt for the Easter eggs!

2.

Please give us a call and let us know

you are planning on attending so we can
Mothers join Help Me Grow in celebrating Mothers at the Mothers Day Brunch which will be held at Help Me Grow in Middleport on Tuesday May 2nd from 1012. Refreshments will be served and there will be a painting demonstration along with a make it take it craft. Choose from an assortment of plants to take home. The 6th annual Fun Fair will be held on

3.

May Activities

4.

Friday May 11th at the Family Life Center in Middleport from 10 until 2. Clowns, games free food and prizes for all will be available. There will be a bounce house and face painting along with a real Fire Truck and Emergency Squad to explore. Who knows there may be a few Disney like characters walking around that you know and love.

GMCAA Help Me Grow Quarterly Newsletter

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June Activities
Help Me Grow will be having a Fathers Day Picnic in Dave Diles Park on Tuesday June 5th from 5:30 until 7. There will be Corn hole games for the fathers and games for the little ones. If you know of first time parents with a child under 6 months old that might want a listening ear and valuable child development information please feel free to bring them along to any of our activities. Please give us a call at 9925266 or 1-866-219-0110 and let us know how many you will be bringing to this or any event we are having so we can plan accordingly.

Family Fun Fair Help Me Grow will host the 6th annual Family Fun Fair for all birth to five children and families is Meigs County . The Family Fun Fair will be held at the Family Life Center@5th and Main Street in Middleport on May 11th and will start at 10:00 and end at 2:00 Join us for a fun filled day of free food, games, and prizes. Area agencies that serve young children will be there to offer a small carnival type game or other activity with your child along with information about the valuable services they can provide for your family. Let everyone know the Family Fun Fair is coming!

Fun Learning Songs and Finger Plays

Finger Plays with Nursery 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.

were none. (Bend down last finger)

Friends (tune: If youre happy and you know it) If you have a toy, then share it With a friend. (Clap, Clap) If you have a toy, then share it With a friend. (Clap, Clap) If you have a friend and know it And you really want to show it If you have a toy, then share it With a friend. (Clap, Clap)

Five Little Easter Eggs

Five little Easter eggs lovely colors worn (Hold up five fingers) Mother ate the blue one, and then there were four. (Bend down one finger) Four little Easter eggs, two and two you see, Daddy ate the red one, then there were three (Bend down one finger) Three little Easter eggs, before I knew, Sister ate the yellow one, then there were two. (Bend down one finger) Two little Easter eggs, oh, what fun! Brother ate the purple one, and then there was one. (Bend down one finger) One little Easter egg, see me run! I ate the last one, and then there

Touch Your Nose

Touch your nose, touch your chin; thats the way this game begins. Touch your eyes, touch your knees; now pretend youre going to sneeze. Touch your hair, touch one ear; Touch your two lips right here Touch your elbows where they bend; thats the way this touch game ends.

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

Free Car Seat Safety Class

Car seat safety class will be held April 12th at 10:00 in the Help Me Grow offices. These seats are convertible safety seats that are rated for children 5 to 50 lbs. and whose height is between 19 and 47 inches tall. It is designed to be rear facing until one year of age according to Ohio law or until the child reached 35 lbs. It can then be turned around to be front facing until the child reaches 50 lbs. and is no more that 47 inches tall. There are no High Raising kids is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world and the one for which you might feel the least prepared. Here are nine child-rearing tips that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent and enjoy your kids more, too! 1. Nurture your child's self-esteem 2. Catch children being good Backed Boosters with or without harnesses available at this time. Please call the HMG office at 992-5266 or 1-866-219-0110 to register for the free car seat safety class.

Give your child a helping hand right from the start!

Nine Steps to Effective Parenting

3. Set limits and be consistent with your discipline 4. Make time for your child 5. Be a good role model 6. Make communication a priority 7. Be flexible and willing to adjust your parenting style 8. Show that your love Is unconditional 9. Know your own needs and limitations as a parent.
Happy Parenting!

Were on the Web!

parentsmartsblog. blogspot.com

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