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Developmental Activity
of the Month
Rainbow Colored Macaroni Beads
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Dye macaroni and create your own beads for stringing using this simple recipe. You
can use any shape pasta you'd like as long as it's something that can
be strung.
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- Mix 2 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol and 3 drops of food coloring (more if you want deeper color) in a small container and set it aside.
- Pour 1 cup of uncooked macaroni (Elbow and Ziti work best) in a large Ziploc Bag.
- Add the colored alcohol to the bag.
- Zip the bag closed and squeeze the macaroni around in the alcohol for about 2 minutes until it's evenly colored.
- Cover
a cookie sheet with two layers of paper towels and spread the colored
macaroni out to let it dry. It should take about 5-10 minutes to dry
thoroughly.
Now your beads are ready to be used. Your child can work on learning colors and practice important fine motor skills by stringing them on some yarn or an old shoelace to make "Macaroni Beaded Jewelry".
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OUR SPONSORS
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Dear Parenting Digest Subscriber,
Summer will be here before we know it and no doubt you have already begun the summer chores such as lawn mowing and gardening.
In our May issue of Parenting Digest we have included an update from the American Academy of Pediatrics on the new rear facing car seat recommendations for toddlers up until age two, as well as a Mommy & Me craft using colored macaroni and information on why People First Language is important for all of us.
Don't forget to check out our BLOG as well as the latest in early intervention news on our FORUM at the Early Intervention Support web page.
Early Intervention Support is a place for families who are facing any challenge
pertaining to their child's growth and development. It is a place where you can
come to find answers and practical suggestions from licensed therapists on how
to work on a variety of issues. Whether you are a parent, grandparent or
therapist of a child with a disability, challenging behavior or other
developmental issue-childhood is short, it should be savored and enjoyed!
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FEATURED ARTICLE: Rear Facing Car Seats Recommended Until Age Two
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By Tamara Guo, M. Ed.
In April the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
announced that parents should keep their children in rear facing car seats up
until age two (not one, as previously recommended). The newest research has
shown that kids in rear facing seats are more than five times safer than those
riding in forward facing seats. Statistics from recent studies have shown that
children under the age of 2 who ride in rear facing seats are 75% less likely
to die or suffer major injury during a collision.
Previous thinking was that children who rode in rear facing
car seats where their feet touched the vehicle seat were more prone to injuries
of their lower limbs. It has been found, however, that lower limb injury while
riding in a rear facing seat is rare. The rear facing seats seem to better
support the head, neck, back and trunk of children and help distribute the
impact of a crash evenly over a child's whole body. Forward facing seats for
toddlers are found to concentrate the impact more on the seat belt contact
points, making them more prone to injury.
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People First Language
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By Tamara Guo, M. Ed.
What is "People First Language"? The term came about
primarily to recognize the fact that people with disabilities are first and
foremost people, and should not be described by their disability alone. People
First Language (PFL) tells us what a person HAS, not what a person IS. Keep in
mind that one out of every 5 people has a disability of some kind and that these
people are our friends, neighbors, co-workers, moms, dads, husbands, wives,
kids and more. This largest minority group is the only one which any
person can become part of, at any time! Some join at birth-others in the split
second of an accident, through illness, or during the aging process. If it
happens to you, how would you like to be described? Think of yourself, are you
"myopic" or do you wear glasses? Are you "cancerous" or do you have cancer? Are
you "freckled" or do you have freckles?
You may still hear people saying things like "He's a
cripple" or "She's an epileptic" and even statements such as "He is wheelchair
bound" or "She suffers from cerebral palsy". All these statements are archaic.
PFL strives to eliminate stereotypes, focus on people's abilities, and promote
dignity and respect. PFL avoids negative words that imply tragedy, such as "afflicted
with", "suffers from", "victim of", etc.
What should you say? Below are some examples:
Instead of "He's an epileptic" you can say "He has epilepsy"
or "He has a seizure disorder".
Instead of "She had a Down's baby" you can say "Her baby has
Down Syndrome"
Instead of "He's confined to a wheelchair" you can say "He
uses a wheelchair for mobility"
Instead of "The blind lady" you can say "The lady with the
visual impairment".
Instead of "He's an autistic" you can say "He has autism"
Instead of "She's afflicted with dwarfism" you can say "She is of short
stature"
Always remember the person comes first!
The State of Pennsylvania
has an Executive Order for People First Language that was signed back in 1992
by Governor Robert P. Casey.
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"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."
~Stacia Tauscher
From The Team At Early Intervention Support
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