A publication of the Howard County Office of Children and Families Family Institute March 2022

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Calling all hungry caterpillars! Join the Parents as Teachers team for a virtual lunch break with a craft and story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Children will have an opportunity show and tell us about their creations. Use materials from your home: construction paper, scissors, glue, and/or anything else you would like to add to your craft. Wednesday, March 9 / 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. / Free Virtual Workshop / Register   Nothing I Do Works: A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors The Pyramid Model is a comprehensive, research based approach that considers all of the factors that impact a child, family and a child's behavior. Learn how to help decrease negative behaviors from happening and/or what to do when they occur. Ask questions and leave with skills and resources that you can use immediately to help you feel more confident in your parenting. For children ages two to eight. Wednesday, March 9 / 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. / Free Virtual Workshop / Register   Developing your Child’s Emotional Intelligence In addition to keeping children physically safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also important to care for their emotional health. Children may be sensitive to changes in their routine and the stress experienced by caregivers, as well as their own feelings about the pandemic. Most often, they cannot express or manage these big emotions effectively. This workshop will provide you with the tools you need to support your child’s social-emotional development during this unprecedented time. Parents will explore the meaning of emotional literacy and learn practical strategies to teach children how to recognize and label emotions as well as appropriate ways to manage those big emotions. Thursday, March 24 / 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. / Free Virtual Workshop / Register For questions about Family Institute Workshops, call 410-313-5992 (voice/relay).

The Basics Howard County, a texting program for families with children 0 to 3 years, provides activities to enjoy with your child which connect evidence-based strategies to brain development. The first principle of the Basics, Maximize Love, Manage Stress helps parents lay the foundation for healthy social, emotional and cognitive development. When children feel loved, safe and follow a predictable routine, their happiness increases, and their emotional health is strengthened. Children learn they can count on you, and it builds confidence. Children are also affected by your emotions, whether you are happy or upset, so it is important to find strategies that help you cope with challenges and stress. Caring for yourself helps you to stay calm and be patient with your child. To maximize love, manage stress,  Play together - join your child on the floor and play games like peek-a-boo.  Take turns – practice taking turns by adding blocks to a tower.  Self-care – take time for self-care, take a walk, eat healthy food or start a hobby.  Avoid stress – think about situations that cause you stress and plan how you can improve or avoid them.  For more activities based on your child’s age, sign up for free text messaging here, available in English and Spanish. For more information about the Basics, email [email protected] .

Child Care Scholarship Program  If you’re a working parent, in school or participating in an approved training program you may be eligible for the Child Care Scholarship Program. Formerly known as the Child Care Subsidy Program, this program provides financial assistance with childcare costs to eligible working families. For instance, a family of four with an income of $71,525 may be eligible for the program. For more information and step-by-step instructions to complete an application click here or contact the CARE Line at 410-313-2273 or [email protected]. If you have already applied and have questions regarding your application status, redetermination or change in circumstance, complete the Child Care Scholarship Provider Inquiry to connect with Child Care Scholarship Central 2 (CCS Central 2). For additional assistance, watch How to Complete the Child Care Scholarship Application at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vq3iMbpTA4. Also available with Spanish subtitles at  https://vimeo.com/672956284

Safeguarding Your Money National Consumer Protection Week (March 6-12) is a time to help people understand their consumer rights and learn how to avoid frauds and scams. This year, the Office of Consumer Protection will offer two virtual workshops to help safeguard your money.  Follow OCP on social media for consumer tips and alerts at @HoCoCommunity.

Debt Collection, Credit & Your Credit Score  Tuesday, March 8 / 7:00 p.m. Take charge of your credit and credit score by understanding what determines your FICO® score, how you can improve your credit, what your rights are if facing debt collection, and what kind of debt workout scams exist and how to avoid them. Register here.

How to Safely Use Payment Apps   Thursday, March 10 / 7:00 p.m. The pandemic spurred a desire for contact-less payment systems. However, what happens if the transaction doesn’t go as planned? This program will explain your rights under the law, how payments apps have become a favorite of criminals and what you can do to avoid being scammed. Register here.

Celebrate a World of Flavors  March is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month, families are invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits. This year’s theme, Celebrate a World of Flavors, urges families to taste flavors from cultures around the world. It’s a way to nourish our bodies and appreciate our diversity. Explore these weekly tips:   Week one - eat a variety of nutritious food and learn how to read nutrition labels.  Week two – see a registered dietitian and nutritionist who specializes in your unique needs.  Week three – plan meals and snacks. Make healthy choices when away from home.  Week four – create tasty foods at home. Learn cooking and meal preparation skills.  Have the kids participate in these nutrition activities for elementary and middle school students.

Five Fun Facts About Reading  National Read Across America Day is March 2.  “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr. Seuss  Reading is a great stress reliever - studies show that reading reduces stress by 68 percent.   Reading isn’t everyone’s strongpoint - an estimated 40 percent of students are considered poor readers.   It all adds up - reading just 20 minutes a day adds up to reading 1,800,000 words per year.   It's the fastest way to build vocabulary - children learn 4,000–12,000 words every year by reading.   Classroom libraries create bookworms - kids in classrooms without mini-libraries read 50 percent less than kids with classroom libraries.  To celebrate Read Across America, enjoy the week reading with your child:  Monday - read a book about families. Tuesday - read a funny book. Wednesday - read a book about an inspiring leader.  Thursday - read an #ownvoices book.  Friday - read a book that celebrates books. You can also check out monthly offerings from Books by the Bushel and the Marvelous March Activity Calendar in English and Spanish.

Toddlers Have Feelings Too! Teaching Your Children How to Navigate Emotions  When toddlers have a hard time expressing their feelings, they are more likely to get frustrated or aggressive and lash out at those around them. Toddlers have the capability to learn how to express their feelings, they just need guidance to get there. Well before they have the words to express themselves, babies have the capacity to feel the same emotions adults feel. “Research shows that children’s ability to effectively manage their full range of emotions, also known as self-regulation, is one of the most important factors for success in school, work, and relationships into the long-term.” (Lerner, Claire. “First Feelings: The Foundation of Healthy Development, Starting from Birth” Zero to Three, https://www.zerotothree.org/)     What can parents do?  Name or label your child’s feelings, and your own - naming your child’s feelings is the first step toward helping them learn to identify them.  Point out other people and label their feelings - observation is a great way to learn!   Play Feelings Games - take turns making facial expressions and guess what feeling is being shown.  Read books about feelings - books are a wonderful resource to help teach your children about feelings. Here are a few from Zero to Three.  Don’t fear the expression of feelings - listen openly and calmly when your child shares difficult feelings. Send the message that feelings are valued and important.  Teaching your children how to express their emotions can be challenging, but with time and patience your child will develop the skills to effectively express how they feel!   For more information about social and emotional development, visit:  https://www.zerotothree.org/early-development/social-and-emotional-development  https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/emotions/

CDC Updates Developmental Milestones   The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the developmental milestones for infants and young children. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers clues about development. The changes have made it easier to identify typical behaviors and achievements such as showing facial expressions (nine months), pointing to things in a book when asked (two years), and unbuttoning buttons (four years). It has also made it easier for parents, doctors and caregivers to recognize delays and provide early intervention. For more information, download the free milestone tracker app in English or Spanish

Meet Little Monster  The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has created a mental health coloring and activity book for young children. “Meet Little Monster” allows them to express and explore their feelings in a fun, creative way as well as start conversations between children and adults. The book was developed in response to the ongoing pandemic as children were cut off from friends, teachers and school counselors, and were experiencing powerful feelings without the community supports they had access to before quarantine. “Meet Little Monster” is available in English and Spanish.

Troubleshooting IEPs and 504 Plans  Top Ten IEP and 504 Plan Problems: A Troubleshooting Guide  Tuesday, March 8 / 1:00 p.m.  Free Virtual Webinar  Join Susan Yellin, Esq., Director of Advocacy and Transition Services at The Yellin Center for Mind, Brain and Education for a discussion of issues that parents experience with IEPs and 504 Plans. Get answers to common questions including,  How are IEPs and 504 Plans similar or different?  How can I get the school to evaluate my child?  What can I do if my child’s IEP or 504 Plan isn’t working?  What if my child has a teacher who is not following their IEP or 504 Plan?  For more information and to register, click here.

Family Support and Resource Center  Raising Socially-Smart Tweens and Teens with ADHD  Wednesday, March 2 / 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.  Free Virtual Webinar  When kids with ADHD struggle socially, people assume they are “missing social cues.” In truth, the struggle is often due to lagging social executive function skills (EFs). Learn how to differentiate social anxiety from lagging EFs, how to bolster social skills, and how to guide without helicoptering. Register here.    Sibshops  Saturday, March 19 / 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. / Ages 4 to 13   Free Virtual Event  Sibshops allows brothers and sisters of children with special needs to participate in a fun, energetic, and activity-driven experience. Sibshops intermingles discussion activities, games, and most of all, peer support. Every third Saturday of the month through June 22.   Join Zoom Meeting at https://zoom.us/j/93508306924?pwd=Y3NuNnFmM3NTZEhJRlhMMFlOempUQT09   Meeting ID: 935 0830 6924  and Passcode: 974604   One tap mobile +13017158592,,93508306924#,,,,*974604# US (Washington DC)  Sensory-Friendly Sunday at the Robinson Nature Center  Sunday, March 27 / 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Designed for families with kids, teens, and adults with sensory-processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities, this event features outdoor, self-paced activities including sensory bins and pathways, scavenger hunts and crafts or games. The planetarium will be open 11:00 a.m. to noon. Pre-register to receive additional information prior to the event, 410-313-0400. Sponsored by the Robinson Nature Center and Howard County Recreation & Parks.

Stop Trying to “Fix” Your Teen  As parents of a teenager with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) you want the best for them, so you try to help them manage life, school and friendships. You want to “fix” the problems and challenges they face. Instead of focusing on their ADHD and hoping your child will outgrow the disorder, focus on empowering them. You can help your teen understand how their ADHD brain works, find long-term success by meeting short-term challenges and thrive with ADHD as they move into adulthood. Here are a few steps to get you started,  Take the long view – change is a gradual process so set reasonable expectations and allow change to happen over time.   You both have learning to do – you can’t “fix” a problem if you’re not clear about what it is. Look at how ADHD affects your teen and determine how to manage it.     Choose one area to tackle, avoid taking on a lot of things at once - work on something your teen wants to change; the “buy-in” is essential.   Motivate your teen to manage ADHD - they’re more likely to do something on their own if it’s interesting or creative.  For more information, click here.

Little Learners: Illustrators on Parade  Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 / 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.  Central Branch - Warfield Room  Ages 2 to 5 with an adult  Celebrate Women's History Month by exploring the work of children's book author-illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Enjoy stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning. Get tickets 15 minutes before class.  Cubelets Engineering Challenge  Wednesday, March 16 / 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.  Central Branch – Warfield Room  Ages 7 to 10   Work in teams to solve engineering challenges with Cubelets. Register here.  Mother Goose on the Loose: Ready to Hatch  Saturday, March 19 / 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Elkridge Branch – Seahorse Children’s Classroom  For Expectant Parents  Get ready for baby! Ready to Hatch is an interactive early literacy program for expectant parents. Learn more about your baby-to-be through songs and fun activities. Free book, activities calendar, and song sheet for attendees. Spanish interpreter will be present. Register here.  Little Learners: Healthy Me!  Tuesday, March 29 / 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.  Central Branch – Warfield Room  Ages 2 to 5 with an adult  Have fun while exploring healthy habits through stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning. Get tickets 15 minutes before class. STEM Fun: Code & Go Robot Mouse  Wednesday, March 30 / 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.  Central Branch - Warfield Room  Ages 6 to 9   Explore the science of coding and programming with Colby, the programmable mouse. Register here.

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