The Family Center: enrichment programs for families and professionals
Summer Brain Drain
Ask the Experts by Michael Richman
Q: What does "summer brain drain" mean?
A. Summer brain drain, also referred to as summer learning loss, is the phenomenon that occurs over the summer when students forget some of what they learned in the prior school year. Most people know that the school year is based on the agricultural cycle.
Students had their long summer holiday during what was traditionally harvest time. Of course most students in our community no longer work the fields in the summer, but the effect is the same for our students. They forget a significant portion of the material they learned If they are not challenged with some form of learning opportunity. There has been much written on the subject over the years.
Breast Feeding
Ask the Experts by Mary Ann Godzwon, R.N.
Q: I'm pregnant with my first child and deciding if I should breast-feed.
A: Making the choice to breast-feed your new baby is one of the most important decisions you will make as a new mother. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend breast-feeding as the preferred method of infant nutrition. Breast milk continuously changes and adapts to your baby's needs, creating protection that is customized to your baby on a daily basis, regardless of the age of your baby. The act of breast-feeding itself helps form a close, emotional bond between mom and baby.
TIME-IN: Setting Up Effective Time-Outs
Ask the Experts by Ted Kasper, LMSW
Q: My wife and I use time-out as a discipline tool with our children, ages 2 1/2, 4 and 6. I would like to use this tool most effectively. Do you have any suggestions?
A: For many parents with children this age, time-out is the most preferred method of discipline.
Time-out is neither a "cool-down" period for the child and/or parent, nor "think-time" for the child. It is time-out from being able to receive positive attention, earn rewards, or receive reinforcement for a specific behavior.
Most parents will agree that time-out "works" - meaning that the "bad" / negative / undesirable behavior is stopped - at least for the moment. It is not effective at all in teaching more appropriate behavior. For doing that, we must practice time-in along with time-out.
ChariTea Bear's Tea Party Attendees: Thank You!
"What a fantastic event." "We had such a great time." "The food, the games, the magician, the story time - my daughter was so happy with everything!"
So many moms and dads and grandmothers and aunts made a point of stopping and saying thank you for their afternoon at ChariTea Bear's Tea Party on April 29, 2012. Wow, thanks! Thank you!
The Race to Nowhere
Ask the Experts by Brendan Walsh
Q: The film "Race to Nowhere" argues that our schools are contributing to a growing problem of "over-achievement," leading to harmful stress on our children. Are schools truly the problem? What can we do about it?
The film "Race to Nowhere" exposes what the filmmaker called a "silent epidemic in our schools." In a call to "change the national dialogue on education" the film’s creators want to "mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America."
The film contributes to the national debate about high-stakes testing and the "over-achievement" culture. But for every advocate mobilized by "Race to Nowhere," as many or more fret that American students are slipping in global benchmark reports.
Videos on Medicaid, Depression in Children, Infant Massage, Autism Challenges
Detroit Public TV's VITAL SIGNS programs take a first person look at health issues in Southeast Michigan. The program introduces the people, families, professionals and institutions involved in making Michigan healthier place to live. Click on the links below to hear their stories or you can watch the first episode On Demand here.
Under Pressure: Iris Parez takes us inside Covenant Community Health Center, a Health Clinic in Royal Oak, MI, to give us a first person account of how an individual can approach a community health worker about applying for Medicaid and receiving important health services for his/her family. Covenant's staff gives advice on how to get help. Watch >>
The Temperature: Talking with a child who has struggled with depression is a good way to get a real first person feel for what it’s like to cope with this disease. In Ranequa's case, she channels her emotions through poetry as a form of therapy and, more importantly, much needed self-expression. Watch >>
The Pulse: Good health needs to start from day one, and in this segment, cutting-edge researchers and practitioners introduce us to the world of infant massage and how this innovative practice establishes a base for a healthy life at the earliest stages. Watch >>
Breathing Room: Alex is a young mother with two children, one autistic and one not, and we get her point of view as she struggles through that dynamic. The caregiver role, already so integral to motherhood, is affected by an illness such as autism yet this mother embraces that role in spite of the challenges she faces every day. Watch >>
All information © 2012 Detroit Public Television.
LEGO Artists Challengers: Thank You!
The LEGO Artists Challenge was great fun for all - contestants, their families and friends turned out on April 21 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm and enjoyed reviewing all the entries. Emcee (and Family Center Board of Directors member) Ted Everingham announced the winners: first, second and third place in three age groups.
But everyone was a winner at the LEGO Challenge. As one mom said, "Thank you so much for this wonderful event! My son had such a great time planning and making his LEGO project. We are all proud of his efforts and we're having a great time looking at the great work the kids have done!" Read on for more photos >>
Achievement Culture, Part 2 of 2
Ask the Experts by Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW with questions by Becky Weiland, reporter for the GPS Tower Newsletter
Q. Do you think this is unique to this community, which consists of many privileged students?
A. While I don't think this achievement culture is unique to privileged communities, it can exacerbate the issue. We live in a community where many parents have the resources to provide kids with a broad spectrum of opportunities and experiences.
Of course, this is a positive. But anything in excess can become a negative. It is our responsibility as parents to help children develop passion, resilience and engagement. This means we need to help kids to choose what is most meaningful to them. This involves giving them the opportunity to experiment, create, have down time, fail and recover.
Achievement Culture, Part 1 of 2
Ask the Experts by Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW with questions by Becky Weiland, reporter for the GPS Tower Newsletter
Q. Why do you think teens feel pressure to exceed expectations and where do you think these pressures come from?
A. I think there is a cultural demand to perform strongly across the board - in academics, sports, community service and extracurricular activities - particularly in privileged communities like ours.
Being good is becoming a less acceptable standard and kids are feeling pressure to excel in multiple areas. The pressure comes from a variety of sources - parents, peers, teachers, and it can also be self imposed.
Kroger Community Rewards Program
Kroger's Community Rewards Program makes fundraising for The Family Center automatic every time you use your Kroger Plus Card.
APRIL is here and time to RE-ENROLL in the Kroger Community Rewards program to support THE FAMILY CENTER!
It’s also a great time to enroll as a NEW member.
We earn funds directly from Kroger based on your Kroger shopping purchases, it’s as easy as that!!
Skills for Kindergarten Sucess
Ask the Experts by Beth Moran, Early Childhood Teacher
Q. What Skills Does My Child Need For a Successful Kindergarten Experience?
A. It is vital in the preschool years to provide your child with experiences to help him/her gain skills and build a foundation for school. But, does my child really need to identify colors, shapes, letters and numbers before entering kindergarten? The answer is YES! Kindergarten is no longer just play time. It is now like first grade used to be and our children need to be prepared.
Stuttering and Language Skills
Ask the Experts by Christine Yeskey, M.A. CCC-SLP, Grosse Pointe Speech and Language
Q: My child repeats words over and over and tends to get "stuck" on certain words and sounds. Is this normal?
A: What you may be describing is called a fluency disorder or stuttering. Children who have difficulty speaking fluently may repeat parts of words, whole words, entire phrases, or use fillers ("um") more often.
Couple's Quest for Communication Success
Ask the Experts by Kim Steggles, M.A., L.L.P.,
Q: How can I get my partner to help more at home and with the children?
A: The way you deliver your request can make or break your partner's reaction. For instance, "Honey, here's this weekend's to do list. How can we tackle it together?" may be more effective than, "Don't make any plans for the weekend, we have a lot to get done."
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