A Publication for Child Care Professionals

ConsCious disCipline

Child Care Aware®

January/February 2013

News

by Ingrid Pohl, Program Coordinator, Heartland Programs, Salina, Kansas

“Turn right in 500 feet” is what my GPS tells me when I am using it to arrive at a destination. I use my GPS in new cities or in other towns especially, if I want to arrive on time and in the proper place. However, at times, when I am thinking about something else, not paying attention or frustrated at the traffic I forget to listen to the GPS and it starts to say, “Recalculating, Recalculating” and I have to suddenly pay attention and redirect my route and awareness.

Not everyone uses a GPS to stay on the right track but everyone can use their EGS or Emotional Guidance System to respond to emotional situations correctly. All of us have a built in Emotional Guidance System, some are very well formed and others have an EGS that is always off track. Just like the GPS, this system will start telling you when you need to “recalculate” your emotions in a different way. This system is not an

Managing Your emotions in a different Way

Child Care Aware® of Northwest Kansas

Child Care Aware® of Northeast & North Central Kansas

Child Care Aware® of Eastern Kansas

Child Care Aware® of Southwest Kansas

Child Care Aware® of South Central Kansas

Child Care Aware® of Southeast Kansas

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service delivery Areas

Six Independent Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) provide service to all 105 counties in Kansas, directly serving families, child care providers/early education staff, and communities.

Child Care Aware® of Northwest Kansas: HAYsSatellite Office: ColBYToll Free 888-351-3589

Child Care Aware® of Northeast & North Central Kansas: TopeKASatellite Offices: lAWRenCe & sAlinAToll Free 800-279-2372

Child Care Aware® of Eastern Kansas: KAnsAs CiTY Toll Free 800-755-0838

Child Care Aware® Of Southwest Kansas Toll Free 855-750-3343

Child Care Aware® of South Central Kansas: WiCHiTA Toll Free 800-684-3962

Child Care Aware® of Southeast Kansas: piTTsBuRG Toll Free 866-732-9700

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added device but a built-in system that helps focus our attention, gives us important information, motivates us to communicate, and to react differently to circumstances.

Your EGS will dictate how children in your care respond to circumstances and situations. Our EGS can be organized into a very useful tool guiding us towards wisdom and calmness. Or we can allow our EGS to be disorganized and chaotic, in which we then respond to situations through screaming, threats and fear. Children cannot have a healthy EGS if they have not seen one in action or it has not been fostered within them.

As adults if we want children to navigate the streets of their emotions using a direct path then we must help them configure their EGS in a healthy way. For this to happen, you must allow your EGS to “recalculate” your emotions and respond from a calm state.

For more information on this topic or managing your own emotions you may consult Dr. Becky Bailey’s book, Managing Emotional Mayhem.

HeAltH & SAfety

by Lacy Krebs, LPC, Mental Health Therapist,

Heartland Programs, Salina Kansas

We’ve all heard it: Model positive behavior for children; teach children how to behave. This advice is often easy to give, but is sometimes much harder to do. When we use the skills and structures of Conscious Discipline, adults are given a “blue-print” of how to model the behavior they want from children by being able to teach them how to behave.

Dr. Becky Bailey, Conscious Discipline founder, points out that an adult can’t expect what they don’t teach and can’t teach what they don’t know. Parents are children’s first teachers. As such, parents have the earliest opportunity to lay the ground work of self-regulation, establishing and maintaining relationships, and so much more for their children! Parents, must be capable of:

¡ remaining composed

¡ setting limits

¡ implementing encouragement

¡ using positive intent

¡ appropriately using positive choices

¡ appropriately utilizing the impact of consequences

Would it be surprising to consider that all of those things listed must first be applied to our own lives-BEFORE we can ever expect them from children?! Conscious Discipline is a shift in how we live and, therefore, how we impact children. Share this information with the parents of the children you care for.

Source: Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline: The 7 Basic Skills for Turning Conflict into Cooperation by Becky A. Bailey, Ph.D.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you:

¡ Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in your home

¡ Have your fuel burning home heating system inspected each year

¡ Keep space heaters on a level, hard, nonflammable surface and at least three feet away from bedding and drapes and other flammable materials

¡ Do not heat your home with a portable propane space heater or your home’s electric or gas stove

¡ Have flues and chimneys inspected and open the fireplace damper before you light a fire and don’t close it until the ashes are cool

In addition to protecting your family from fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, other winter safety and health tips include that you should:

¡ Dress your children appropriately for cold weather, using multiple layers, and not forgetting about warm socks, gloves and a hat

¡ Encourage them to wash their hands frequently to try and avoid cold and flu germs and stay healthy

Keeping Children safe during the Winter Months

Source: http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/winter/winter_health_safety.html

Book Nookeasy to love, difficult to discipline: The 7 Basic skills for Turning Conflict into Cooperation

by Dr. Becky A. Bailey

Dr. Becky Bailey’s unusual and powerful approach to parenting has made thousands of families happier and healthier. Focusing on self-control

and confidence-building for both parent and child, Dr. Bailey teaches a series of linked skills to help families move from turmoil to tranquility.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Love-Difficult-Discipline-Cooperation/dp/0060007753/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351267172&sr=8-2&keywords=conscious+discipline#_

ReSoURCeS to SHARe WItH fAMIlIeS

Conscious discipline: a shift in how we live

BeSt pRACtICe IN ACtIoN

by Maridee Armstrong, Preschool Teacher, Heartland Programs, Salina, Kansas

Conscious Discipline in early childhood is the model for building culture, one that

accepts differences, builds unity and brings all children into the fold of being a caring, contributing member of the environment. For the teacher or child care provider, it is the shift from control to connection. The motivation for children to behave is built on connection and relationship with the teacher or child care provider. The connection literally wires the brain for impulse control and willingness. Connection is the key ingredient for a successful problem solving environment.

Each of the seven skills of Conscious Discipline has an environmental structure. The first skill - “Composure” utilizes The Safe Place. The Safe Place provides an opportunity for children to remove themselves from the group in order to become calm and regain composure. This is an opportunity to teach not a punitive measure! It is the foundation to your anger management program. The second skill - “Encouragement” establishes structure of meaningful jobs for all the children in your environment and a system to notice all helpful acts. The third skill - “Assertiveness” has a structure called the Time Machine. This structure teaches children they have a voice and they can problem solve conflicts. The fourth skill - “Choices” is where the child is presented with two positive choices in order to build self esteem and willpower. The fifth skill – “Positive Intent” creates teachable moments throughout the day. The structure for

Building a positive environment

Conscious disciplineby Dr. Becky A. Baily

Transform conflict into cooperation using the seven proven powers and skills of Conscious Discipline to help children perceive, use, understand and manage their emotions.

Source: http://consciousdiscipline.com/store/pc/Conscious-Discipline-4p7.htm

this skill is The Celebration Center where you celebrate accomplishments of all children as well as individual children. The sixth skill - “Empathy” teaches the children to have compassion for their peers. The structure for this skill is the “We Care” center where the children can help others get through a rough time by providing comforting items to their friend in need. The seventh skill – “Consequences” helps children learn from their mistakes. The structure is called Class Meetings where the children can use their problem solving skills.

Conscious Discipline has a Feeling Buddy curriculum also to help children address their feelings. Significant amounts of research show the impact that emotions within child development have on success and life-long learning; Conscious Discipline addresses the emotions and implements strategies for the early childhood environment.

ReCoMMeNDeD ReADING

don’t Forget!pRovideRs — do you have vacancies?

Are all your slots full?did your hours change?did your rates change?

Contact your local CCR&R to update your information that is shared with the families when they contact the Referral Center for child care. (see front)

Most children, especially fussy eaters, often eat more between meals than they do at mealtimes, so it’s important to give them healthy snacks. These bars contain energy-rich ingredients with a high content of vitamins and minerals.

Source: The Fussy Eaters’ Recipe Book by Annabel Karmel

Trail Mix Bars

Ingredients

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 3 tbsp honey

1 1/3 cups quick-cooking oats 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup Cheerios 1/4 cup raisins

2 tbsp to 1/4 cup salted peanuts 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips

1/4 cup sunflower seeds 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Line an 8-inch square pan with baking parchment and grease lightly.

3. Put the butter and golden syrup in a small pan over low heat until the butter has melted. Set aside to cool.

4. Put the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and stir together. Add the cooled butter mixture and mix well to combine.

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin and press down firmly. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the center is just firm to the touch.

6. Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into 8-12 bars, using a sharp knife. Allow to cool completely before lifting from the pan. Store in an airtight container.

Note: You can also substitute pumpkin seeds for peanuts and dried cranberries for chocolate chips.

A few tips to keep your child safe this winter:

¡ Be careful with high risk foods and holiday treats that can pose a choking hazard to children under age four. This includes nuts, hard candy, grapes, raw carrots, popcorn, and apples.

¡ Encourage your child to wear a helmet while skiing or sledding.

¡ If your child has food allergies, be sure to keep this in mind when visiting others and having meals.

Source: http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/winter/winter_safety_tips.html

CalendarFebruary 28 - March 1, 2013Annual KdeC Conference: “survive and Thrive in uncertain Times”Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Wichita Airport, Wichita, Kansas

Winter safety Warm up this winter with a tasty treat!

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