Recognising and Reporting Abuse

Child abuse is a problem that concerns all of us! We can all help to prevent it.


Through the efforts of schools, neighbors, families and the community, we can help prevent and stop child abuse and neglect. 

 

To help us prevent child abuse, here are things you can do:

1. Understand the causes of child abuse and learn all you can about abuse and neglect.
2. Learn to identify the warning signs that signal that a child is being abused.
3. Report any known or suspected case of child abuse immediately.
4. Seek help if you feel you are at risk of abusing a child.
5. Be a friend to a child or parent in need.
6. Alert others to the problem and help them to recognize and understand the effects of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.

Family Connections of Lane and Douglas counties is offering a Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect workshop for $10 on Thursday, April 26, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm, at LCC Main Campus. For more information call  (541) 463-3954  or  1-800-222-3290.

What to do if you believe your child, or any child, is being abused or neglected:

1. Obtain medical attention for the child immediately, if necessary.
2. Insure that the child has no further contact with anyone you believe may be committing the abuse or neglect.
3. Notify the Child Abuse Hotline in your state and/or local police.

Lane County: 

541-686-7555 local
866-300-2782 toll free
(Main office numbers) Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Linn County:

541-757-5019 local
866-303-4643 toll free
(Dedicated child abuse hotlines) Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m 

Douglas County:
541-440-3373 local
800-305-2903 toll free
(Main office numbers) Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453)

4. Cooperate with the authorities investigating your report.
5. Insure that the child receives all necessary medical and psychological help. Check in the Yellow Pages under Mental Health, or contact your local United Way.

United Way of Lane County
3171 Gateway Loop
Springfield, OR 97477
(541) 741-6000
http://www.unitedwaylane.org/ 

United Way of Linn County
PO Box 905
Albany, OR 97321-0333
(541) 926-5432
http://www.unitedwayoflinncounty.org/ 

Greater Douglas United Way
PO Box 2329
Roseburg, OR 97470
(541) 672-1734
http://www.gduway.org/ 

or go to : http://www.unitedway.org/

For more information about United Way:

http://www.unitedway.org/pages/mission-and-goals/

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/

Commit to prevent child maltreatment.

The Six Protective Factors: 
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

1. Nurturing and Attachment
2. Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
3. Parental Resilience
4. Social Connections
5. Concrete Supports for Parents
6. Social and Emotional Competence of Children

To learn more about the protective factors that build strong families and promote optimal development check out the Department of Health and Human Services 2012 Resource Guide:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/guide2012/guide.pdf  or click the button below:

Here's a link to some tip sheets for parents and caregivers also produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/tipsheets.cfm

Child Welfare Information Gateway provides free access to print and electronic publications, websites, databases, and online learning tools to professionals and the public. Check out this website for more information: http://www.childwelfare.gov/aboutus.cfm

Family Connections of Lane and Douglas counties is offering a Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect workshop for $10 on Thursday, April 26, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm, at LCC Main Campus. For more information call  (541) 463-3954  or  1-800-222-3290.

Club of the Month!

(click article for better view)

The PEECE club made "Club of the Month" at Lane Community College. We are proud to spearheading the college's first ECE club and very thankful for ASLCC and Torch support! 

What's in a Scribble?

Scribbling is a developmental milestone in young children. Many people look at scribbles and think, "That is ugly." These drawings were done by a four year old who is exhibiting multiple skills in one drawing. If you look at the first drawing you can see lots of scribbles but there are also some cross-hatch symbols and some closed shapes. This child is also able to put multiple closed shapes together to create a recognizable picture. 

In the second drawing the child has taken time to carefully write down letters. You can see how children's scribbling is actually a precursor to early literacy as well as self expression. 

Try this: Supply children as young as 18 months with drawing materials, save even the "ugliest" scribbles and record the date. Look at the collection in sequential order after about a year or two. You will see the progression from scribbles to symbols to pictures. To make learning even more apparent to children, look through their portfolio with them and point out how they have progressed. Most children love to see how they have developed over time. It also validates the work that they do when they see you have saved it and want to talk about it.

More about stages of drawing:

http://www.learningdesign.com/Portfolio/DrawDev/kiddrawing.html

Learn about the role of documentation:

http://www.reggiokids.com/about/about_approach.php

Stress, Emotions, and How We Can Help

Building Relationships
With Children Who Teachers Find Challenging

Listen to NAEYC Radio: Body Mind and Child for the 12 minute interview.

http://www.jackstreet.com/jackstreet/WMBKnaeyc.Gartrell.cfm 

“There’s no such thing as a challenging child, per say. What there is, is children who have challenging life circumstances who are reacting to the challenges of those circumstances.” “The issue is not that a kid is challenging. The kid has an environment that’s challenging for the child and we’re seeing the result of that in the classroom.” “So the technique is always to build a one to one relationship with the child that reduces stress levels and builds trust levels”. -Dan Gartrell

Dan Gartrell is a former sixth grade teacher and Head Start teacher. For many years Dan has been director of the Child Development Training Program and professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota.

In July of 2011 Dan Gartrell responded to a selection of questions and comments in an online event: The Goals of Good Guidance: Understanding and Responding to Challenging Behaviors. To read the questions and answers go to:

 http://www.naeyc.org/event/challenging-behaviors


Children Who Bite

How to Deal with Children who Bite

Young children lack maturity and impulse-control skills. Caregivers need to help children learn these skills by modeling how to communicate feelings in a productive manner, and assisting children when overwhelming feelings limit their ability to self care and make healthy choices. Offering daily stress-relieving activities, multiples of the same toy, and building trust with the child so they know you support them will also help reduce conflicts.

What Do You Do with the Mad 

that You Feel?

Fred Rogers was a Television pioneer in helping children develop emotional competence. This song is a good one to teach kids; the message is empowering and the tune is catchy and sweet. To listen to or print the song:        http://pbskids.org/rogers/songLyricsWhatDoYouDo.html

What do you do with the mad that you feel

When you feel so mad you could bite?

When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong...

And nothing you do seems very right?

What do you do? Do you punch a bag?

Do you pound some clay or some dough?

Do you round up friends for a game of tag?

Or see how fast you go?

It's great to be able to stop

When you've planned a thing that's wrong,

And be able to do something else instead

And think this song:

I can stop when I want to

Can stop when I wish.

I can stop, stop, stop any time.

And what a good feeling to feel like this

And know that the feeling is really mine.

Know that there's something deep inside

That helps us become what we can.

For a girl can be someday a woman

And a boy can be someday a man.

By Fred M. Rogers © 1968

To learn more about Mr. Rogers: http://www.fci.org/new-site/fred-rogers.html
For wonderful video resources from the Fred Rogers Company:
http://www.fci.org/new-site/pro-dev-archives.html

Get The Mad Out Cookies:

Children who are feeling stressed or other strong emotions need something to do with their hands or bodies to help them relax. Make these cookies with children or try baking bread with them (see our February 10^th post “Baking Bread” 
http://paint-newsletter.blogspot.com/2012/02/baking-bread.html).

3 cups oatmeal

1.5 cups brown sugar 

1.5 cups flour

1.5 cups butter

1.5 tsp baking powder

large bowl

cookie sheet

Let the child place all the ingredients in the bowl and mix them together. Have the child take out a manageable hunk of dough. Tell them to mash it, knead it, and pound it-they taste better the more you pound the dough. When the child is through mixing and pounding, help them roll the dough into ping-pong sized balls. Place them on the cookie sheet and bake them at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Recipe from:

http://pbskids.org/rogers/recipe5.html

Baby Tag Blocks

I found this fun and easy pattern to make soft baby tag blocks.  I ended up making three sets for infants in my family. -Traci Kennedy (PEECE club member)

For full instructions:

http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/Blog/baby_blocks.pdf

Baking Bread

Creating a routine of baking bread every day is a great way for children to reduce stress and engages the child physically, socially, and mentally at the same time. Many children love the feel and smell of kneading dough. The smell of the fresh baked bread and the joy of sharing it with everyone creates a wonderful and nurturing environment. 

In this Montessori Class:

Every day at least one child chooses on his or her own, to bake bread for the class. Each child gets a one on one lesson in bread baking. The children are able to concentrate on this work for over an hour. The teacher has put out everything they will need to mix and knead the dough, let it rise, and take it to an adult to put in the oven. (Did you notice the child in the background of the first video peeling an egg? Check out the Montessori link at the end of the post to learn more).

NAEYC's position on baking bread with preschoolers:

http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/pgpbakingbread

For a bread recipe:

http://www.education.com/activity/article/yeast-dough/

More about Montessori Approach:

http://www.michaelolaf.net/BirthtoThreeDevelopment.html

Children's Stories

"The Dog and the Dad" By K, age 4

One day the dad was counting on his finger. Along came the dog and he snozzed with his nose. And then he just ate it. 

Art in the classroom

Photos by Christine Olmstead

ISpy Bag DIY- Whitney Sews

These cute little bags will entertain kids when they have to wait. This is a great tutorial for a craft you can make with things from around your house.