Children First Chatter

Helpful Websites:

• Routines are very important for children.

This episode the team discussed:Kindness

1. Definition of kindness
2. Types of kindness
3. How kindness impacts your health
4. Teaching kindness
5. Tips for being a kinder person

This episode the team discussed: Universal Pre-K (UPK)  

This episode the team talked about - Summer Time - Sun/Insect Protection

• Benefits of the sun
• Importance of outside time
• Protecting skin
• Tips
• Summer bugs

This episode the team talked about Summer time - Water Safety

• Helpful hints
• Fence tips
• Other protection products
• Pool rules

SOCOYOGO-Southern Colorado Youth Go

What is SOCOYOGO

How was it started

Who can participate

Helpful websites:

This episode the team discussed Teaching Anger Management Skills

Feelings vs. Behavior

Role Modeling

Establishing Rules

Teaching Coping Skills

Consequences

Be Preventative

Helpful websites:

CTC This episode the team (and guests) discussed Communities That Care - CTC

What is CTC

Quality Child Care 

Youth Friendly Community Spaces

Connecting Youth to Pueblo experiences

Youth Action Board

Empathy

This episode the team discussed Teaching Empathy:

Define Empathy

What does it mean for a child to empathize with another 

Milestones in Empathy

How we can help    

  Empathize with your child
      Talk about others' feelings
      Provide suggestions on how your child can show empathy       Read stories about feelings
      Be a role model
      Use 'I' messages
      Validate your child's difficult emotions
      Use pretend play
      Think through the use of 'I'm sorry
      Be patient

Helpful websites:

Emerging and Expanding Grant, Quality Initiatives, Substitute Fund

• What is the E&E grant 
• Who is eligible
• What other initiatives does the Department have coming
• What is the Substitute Fund

CACFP-Colorado Child and Adult Care Food Program

• What is CACFP
• How is it funded
• How can organizations participate in this program
• What kind of meals/snacks this program provides

• What kind of support is available to providers who may be concerned about the capacity to implement the CACFP

• What unique challenges do Coloradans who live in southeast Colorado and the western slope face?

• What is CDPHE doing to make food more accessible to people living in southeast Colorado area and the western slope

• How can a child care center or adult day care program get more information if they are interested in participating
  

Helpful websites:

Who ECCLA is as an organization.

Grant Programs offered by ECCLA

• T.E.A.C.H.
• Back to Work
• Rural R.U.N.
• EC Coach Credential
• FCCH Grant
• Concurrent Enrollment
• Scholarship/Grant Funding Ending in 2024

• Listen to and acknowledge your child’s thoughts and feelings
• help your child experience success, not failure
• provide your child a feeling of reasonable control over their life
• Reinforce that your child is lovable and capable
• Show your child that you have a positive view of yourself
• Signals of children with positive self-esteem and those with low self-esteem

Helpful website:

• Be clear and consistent with the limits
• Re-think time out
• Provide alternative behavior and reasonable consequences
• Offer choices, provide positive statements and don't argue

Helpful websites:

• What is PD
• Where can I find PD
• PD Topics
• PD Trainers
• Licensing and PD

Websites:

• Benefits of parent involvement
• What areas/roles/levels of involvement
• Tips for getting involved
• Tips to encourage involvement
• Home visitation programs
• Involvement outside of the classroom
• Supporting children whose families aren't involved

Websites:

The team discusses communication with babies, children and the adults in their lives. High points include:

• Why is communication important?
• What does good communication look like?
• Tips for effective communication
• Active listening
• What can you do to help your child communicate?
• Communicating with children who may be nonverbal
• Communicating with adults in the child’s life

Helpful websites:

Illuminate  Colorado joins us to talk about their efforts to reduce child neglect  and maltreatment through increasing protective factors and strengthening  families.  With April being  child abuse prevention month, we talk about how others can get involved  in this important work, which could include attending their conference,  2022 Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities.  We talk about  two of their many programs; Circle of Parents  and Illuminating Child Care.  Check out their website to learn more  about the important work they are doing and opportunities to become  trained or offer support.

This  episode focuses on Mandatory Reporting of child abuse or neglect and  guest Lori Jenkins shares her expertise as the Executive Director of  Kindred Kids Child Advocacy Center.

We discuss:

· What is mandatory reporting

· Why do we have mandatory reporting

· Legal requirements and who that includes

· Protection for the reporting party

· How to report, to whom and what happens after a report is filed

Helpful websites:

On this week’s episode we discuss routines and how important they are to all of our sanity!  We talk about how to make them fun, educational and predictable.  Although consistency is key, we know it takes many attempts to get it nailed down…for everyone!

We also discuss transitions (moving from one activity to another) and the importance of them.  Lots of tips, tricks and personal experience.  Routines are important for adults too!  

This week’s episode discusses the importance of reading, both for adults and to children.  The team answers common questions surrounding reading and provides tips/ideas to make reading enjoyable: reading routines, resources, getting children involved, real vs. imaginary, diversity and expanding the learning from books.  

Helpful resources 

Children First Department @ Pueblo Community College hosting a weekly podcast discussing all things early childhood (prenatal – 8yrs).  The Departments motto is ‘Your leader in Early childhood’ and they discuss what brought them to Children First.  Discussion about events, helpful website, tips and funny stories.