Celebrating NEW Families |
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Sunday February 13, 2011 |
Your Twin County United Way is proud to celebrate the family along with many others in our community. We believe that it is essential for parents & caregivers to realize the opportunities available each day to teach our children valuable lessons. This week we want to celebrate new families that are beginning their parenting journey by pointing out five simple guidelines that can help your child learn and be happier.
Understand and respond to your baby’s needs.
You can’t “spoil” an infant, so go to her when she fusses or cries. By responding to your baby’s cues, you teach her that you care about her needs and that she can trust you. Ignoring a baby’s needs can cause harm by causing stress levels to rise. You may not always understand your baby’s cues, but be patient. This is a learning process for both you and your baby. If she likes what you are doing, you know you are getting it right.
Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby.
Becoming a parent can be overwhelming and exhausting. Unless you take care of yourself, you will have a hard time taking good care of your child. For this reason, it is important to have support from friends, family, or community organizations. Do not be afraid to ask for help caring for your child.
Talk, sing, and read to your child.
Let your child hear your voice as much as possible. The young brain is especially interested in sound. You can form a deep emotional connection between you and your child by simply sharing the sound of your voice. Sounds are also important to a child because they are building blocks of speech and language.
Create a predictable world for your child.
Providing routines and expected responses give your child a sense that the world is a trustworthy place. It also teaches him that he can depend on you. If your child understands this, he will spend less energy fussing over his needs and more time learning. Routines can include basic activities like feeding and bathing.
Provide a warm and loving environment.
Helping your child feel safe and secure is the key to encouraging growth and development. A child who feels loved will have an easier time learning about the world around her. Therefore, make sure you interact with your child, providing love and affection.
Taking the time to celebrate your new family is important and exciting. Remember that by engaging in the development of your children is powerful as it will result in lasting change for our entire community. Your Twin County United Way asks you to join us as we become engaged in celebrating the family for lasting change. We also invite you to find ways to GIVE, ADVOCATE, or VOLUNTEER. Visit us at www.tcuw.org for more information.
Thanks, Lewiston Tribune! During the month of February, Twin County United Way is partnering with the Lewiston Tribune to CELEBRATE THE FAMILY
Every year at this time there is a special feature called "Celebrate the Family" in the Lewiston Tribune. It publishes Sundays starting with the last Sunday of January through the last Sunday of February. Your Twin County United Way is committed to celebrating the family by submitting articles that draw our attention to the importance of family & LIVING UNITED.
