Parenting Archives - Pickens County First StepsPickens County First Steps

3 Things You Can Do TODAY to Maximize Love & Manage Stress

9:27 pm

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Why is it so important to be parents and caregivers who “maximize love?” Because love is foundational to a child’s health and success. It’s the number one thing every child needs and deserves. Children thrive when their world seems loving, safe, and predictable, and when parents are able to respond to their child’s needs with love.

For a parent to be able to maximize love, they have to learn how to manage their own stress. This means taking steps to avoid unnecessary stress and learning to cope effectively when stress is unavoidable.

Here are 3 things you […]

Reading stories together can help your child process difficult emotions. (Plus some booklists that can help!)

6:16 pm

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Literacy, Palmetto Basics, Parenting, Parenting during Covid-19

Stories are a great tool for connecting to your child’s “inner world” in a way that regular conversation doesn’t always touch.

We all struggle with how to handle uncomfortable emotions like anger, fear, nervousness, sadness, and grief. Learning how to acknowledge uncomfortable feelings is a crucial part of growing into an emotionally healthy person. The earlier our children learn to accept and process uncomfortable emotions, the better equipped they are to handle transitions, everyday disappointments, and relationships with others.

Books can be a simple and powerful tool to help them on their journey! Children can connect […]

How everyday conversation can help your prepare your child for math!

12:00 pm

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Palmetto Basics, Parenting

The Basics are 5 fun, simple, and powerful ways that every parent can give every child a great start in life! The third Basic has to do with math and you may be thinking: “But I’m not a math person!”

Never fear. Basic #3, Count, Group, and Compare, is already part of your daily life with your baby or toddler. You just don’t realize it. Think about the words you use each day as you talk with your child:

Your diaper bag is heavy. // Let’s go up the stairs. // Eat

Keep calm and connect with your child: simple ways to change the way you communicate (even in the midst of conflict)

8:20 pm
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Palmetto Basics, Parenting

Talking with your child from the very beginning is one of the most important things you can do to build a healthy brain and emotional security.

Children learn language from the moment they are born through relationships with their caregivers. Day by day, babies learn that sounds have meaning. Every time you talk, sing, or point to what you are talking about, you provide clues to the meaning of what you are saying and create strong relational connection. This is why “Talking, Singing and Pointing” is one of The Basics: 5 fun, simple, powerful ways every child can […]

How “The Basics” Support Resilience in Children

2:05 pm
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Child Abuse Prevention, Early Education, Literacy, Palmetto Basics, Parenting, Resilience

We imagine childhood as a carefree time of innocence, play, and curiosity. Sadly, far too many children are accumulating one negative experience after another. The effects show up in their brains, their bodies, and their behavior.

Professionals in mental health, education, and healthcare now recognize the affect of “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACEs) on brain function, mental health, physical health, and behavior. The more ACEs a child has, the more at risk they are for developmental disorders, adult diseases, and negative socio-economic realities.

As we care for our own children and serve children and families in our community, it’s […]

Let’s be honest: reading to little ones can be challenging. Here are 6 simple ways you can enjoy it!

12:00 pm
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Activities, Early Education, Literacy, Palmetto Basics, Parenting

Perhaps you already know that it’s never too early to begin reading to your child, that you can begin reading to them from the moment they’re born. Since 80% of a child’s brain development happens during the first three years of life, it’s important that parents and caregivers begin as early as possible!

But this message of reading to babies and very young children may seem impractical. After all, babies can’t yet understand the meaning of words or comprehend a story. Toddlers often can’t sit still from the first page of a book to […]

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