Shayna's Village at the JCC
 
Shalom! 

 

Each month, in this newsletter, I will be writing about key components that I feel are necessary to achieve life-long happiness and success.  My hope is that you will consider these components as you raise your child in this complicated world.  Last month I talked about the importance of meaningful social connections.  This month I'd like to talk about self-regulation or self-control.
 
Self-regulation is a very complicated process in which children need to use all of their senses to figure out what
is going on in a situation, compare it to what they know, focus and control impulses, and choose to respond appropriately. 
 
In order for a child to be self-disciplined, they must learn how to self-regulate.  This begins at birth and is learned through interactions.  One of the earliest examples of how a parent teaches a child to self-regulate is showing an upset baby how to soothe himself by sucking on a pacifier or finger. This is an early coping technique. As children grow, they need constant guidance and practice while they learn to self-regulate, but sometimes parents get busy and don't take advantage of teachable moments.  
 
Along with self-soothing, the following are a few more examples of self-regulation: 
  • stopping play to comply with a request
  • sticking with a task, even when frustrated
  • tuning out distractions
  • planning a solution to a problem, rather than responding impulsively
Do either of these scenarios sound familiar to you?

Scenario One: Your baby grabs your phone out of the diaper bag and starts to play with it. You take it from
her hands and say, "That's not a toy." Your baby shrieks, arches her back, and bursts into tears.

Scenario Two:You are trying to have a conversation with another adult and your child is at your side, tugging
on your pant leg, repeating, "Mommy... Mommy... MOMMY... MOMMY!"

Both of these situations depict children who, due to lack of experience, have not mastered the ability to cope.
They are not able to regulate their strong emotions.

Now take a minute to think about how you usually handle a situation in which your child displays a lack of self-
control. Do you give in and fix the problem for them or do you empower them by talking through the problem and giving the child an opportunity to come up with what to do.  
If some form of Scenario One has happened to you, did you replace the item taken away with an appropriate
toy and remember to say the very important second half of the sentence? "This is not a toy, but here, take
this rattle. We play with rattles." Telling a child what she can do, rather than what she can't is crucial to their
understanding of what is acceptable behavior.  For the very young child, we need to constantly describe in simple words what is expected.

If the Scenario Two sounds familiar, do you usually stop your conversation with the adult and tend to your
child's needs? If you do, you are sending the message that your child doesn't have to cope with waiting a
minute and that it's okay to interrupt. This breeds impatience, rather than tolerance. Instead discuss what interrupting means and how it is not helpful.  Teach your child to quietly place her hand on yours, so that you know she needs something. Tell her this will be your special
signal, and then make sure to continue to talk for a short time before addressing your child. When you do,
turn toward your child and make sure to compliment her on her patience.

Helping children develop self-regulation skills is similar to helping children learn any other skill, such as reading
or tying shoelaces. We model, give them clues, and then step back and let them do it.

According to a study reported in Time.com's article The Key to Health, Wealth and Success: Self-Control, "Kids who scored low on such measures - for instance, becoming easily frustrated, lacking persistence in reaching goals or performing tasks, or having difficulty waiting their turn in line - were roughly three times more likely to wind up as poor, addicted, single parents or to have multiple health problems as adults, compared with children who behaved more conscientiously as early as age 3."

 

Remember to take advantage of teachable moments and treat your child's lack of self-control with the same attention you would if they were learning to ride a bike. Stay by their side and encourage them to be brave and steady. Let go, and then PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE their success!

 

 

Sincerely,

   Karen Duncan Signature
    Karen Duncan, Director of Shayna's Village  
 
Shayna's Village
Together Time Classes for Infants/Toddlers

 

 

 

 

We love to boast about our Together Time classes! We think they are the best you'll find in Orlando, and our Facebook fans agree: 

 

"I met some of my best friends 14 years ago while attending Shayna's Village classes. Such a GREAT mommy/baby experience!!" - Tara H.

 

"Whether it's cooking, band camp, science or guitar, [my daughter] can't wait to get there. This has been a tremendous aide in her social and emotional growth and development. And the staff is one of a kind. Don't let your child miss out on the fun!" - Melanie B. 

 

"[My daughter] is very bright, but very quiet and shy, and she gained SO much confidence from her gentle transition from mommy & me classes to classes on her own, all located within the comfortable and familiar walls of "her" village...Shayna's Village is an absolutely INCREDIBLE resource for our community (for Jewish and non-Jewish families alike!), and their classes and teachers are, without a doubt, the BEST in Central Florida. The location is super convenient, and there is always something going on!" - Melanie C.


"The child development philosophies that the preschool and Shayna's Village possess are like none other... I highly recommend Shayna's Village to anyone who is searching for a place for their child to thrive and for guidance in our world's ever changing parenting challenges." - Julie K. 

 

"My children have been taking classes at Shayna's Village for years. The range of classes (from art to cooking to music to friendship) is as impressive as teachers that lead these classes. If you have a baby, toddler, or preschooler you belong here. The enrichment your child will get cannot be duplicated anywhere else. Shayna's Village should be a part of your child's development. :)" - Samantha T.

 

 

 

Looking Ahead...

October 22: Shayna's Village Session II Started! It's not too late to join in the fun!
 
November 5: "You're Not Alone" Parenting Group: How Multi-Faith Families Celebrate the Holidays!

November 10: Saturday Night Out

November 12-16: Basketcase baskets are displayed in the ECLC Hallway

November 19: Treasure Hunt- Party in the Park 
2:15-3:15pm

November 22-23: ECLC closed for Thanksgiving

November 28: Healthy Habits for Life Children's Experience 9am-2pm in the Gym
 
Join us for Free Family Fridays!

 


 

All year long, join us for Shabbat at 9:30am, Stories & Snuggles at 10:15am, Snack Date at 10:45am, and a Music Concert at 11:15am! All free for JCC and Shayna's Village Members. (If you're not a member, just call or email ahead of time to let us know you'd like to try it out!) 

For more information contact Karen Duncan at 407-645-0923 or KarenD@orlandojcc.org

Not a member of the Village?

 

It is easy to join!  For a $125 you can become a member of our Village for one year. Enjoy all the FREE family events and register for all our classes at a discounted rate!

 

Not sure you want to join, you can still sign up for a class, just ask about the non-member rate!

 

Contact Karen Duncan at 407-645-0923 or karend@orlandojcc.org for more questions. 

 

 

 
We <3 Our Families!

 

Like us on Facebook 

 
We are building our Facebook community, and it's the best way to get the latest up-to-date info on what's happening in Shayna's Village along with great parenting tips, lots of photos, and so much more! It makes it all that much easier to share all the great stuff Shayna's Village has to offer with your friends and family!

 

We would also LOVE if you could leave us a recommendation! Many new families find us on Facebook and we are sure they would love to hear about why you are a Shayna's Village fan!

 

Expanding our Social Media presence!
We're Tweeting now, too! Find us on Twitter as ShaynasVillage! Bear with us as we get into the swing of it! 
 
We have also started our own Pinterest Board with book recommendations, craft projects and more, so follow us there if you love to pin like we love to pin! You can search for Shayna's Village, or click here.

Fun In Shayna's Village

Sign up now to join us!! 

karend@orlandojcc.org

 

Our Mommy & Me classes are SO MUCH FUN! They're a great opportunity for infants & toddlers to spend quality time with grown-ups & other babies!

  

Kids in Mind & Manners get a chance to stretch their bodies AND their imaginations!

  

Our parenting workshops give moms and dads some GREAT ideas on how to most enjoy the best job on earth.

  

Go Baby Go! The best time for physical exploration -- and strange new sensations -- is as early as possible!

  

Experiencing nature hands-on is priceless, and our outdoor classroom is the perfect place to play safely and enjoy the beautiful weather ahead!

  

  

Babies in Yoga Sprouts have the BEST time, and their grown-ups learn how to stretch and soothe their little ones.

 

 

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Session II Schedule
We are currently in the Session I of Shayna's Village Classes.  

 

This session will run through January 11.

 

If you have not already signed up, it's not too late.  Some classes still have space available.
 
Classes will be pro-rated if you join after the first class!
 
Visit the Shayna's Village schedule for more information.

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Faces of the Village 











PJ Library Logo  

Join the PJ Library today!

 

The PJ library is a national book program implemented on a local level. It is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and it is made possible through partnerships with philanthropists and local Jewish organizations throughout North America.

 

PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children's books and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, more than 70,000 families in more than 135 communities in the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through the art and literature of these free children's books.

 

All families raising Jewish children from age six months through five, six, seven or eight years, depending on the community, are welcome to enroll. 

 

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The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando seeks to engage Jewish people of all ages in relevant, meaningful ways that unite our community, enhance Jewish life and build cultural continuity from one generation to the next.

 


Shayna's Village Session II 

 

  

 

Shayna's Village sponsors

  

 

Remembering Shayna...

Matt, Justin and Shayna Presser
Matt, Justin and Shayna Presser

  

Shayna Cai Presser was a preschooler when she died of cancer in the early 1990s. 

 

Her time spent at the Jewish Community Center in Maitland, however, led her parents to establish a place there in her honor with an endowment fund.

 

Shayna would have been 20 years old this year.

 

 

Roth JCC of Greater Orlando

 

Shayna's Village is located within the Early Childhood Learning Center at the Roth JCC Maitland Campus.  When your child begins in our preschool, your entire family joins the JCC family. Both moms and dads make new friends through our fitness center and classes, sports leagues, arts programs, and family events. At the JCC, the entire family makes friends for life. 

 

Schedule a tour of our preschool today!