December 2018



A publication of the Howard County Office Children and Families,
Family Institute
Visit the web page to see what is on the upcoming calendar for families.

Worries, Concerns & Apprehension
Even in the Elementary years, schoolwork, friends, reactions to negative experiences, or just the anticipation of something happening can overwhelm a child. With all of these everyday occurrences, many parents report about the anxiety and stress that it puts on their children and the entire family. Thursday, December 13, 6:30 p.m. To register..
Host a workshop at your school or organization. Contact us today.
IEPS: The Basics and Beyond – How to Become an Active, Informed Member of Your Child's IEP Team. Wednesday, December 5, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. To register/ more information, call 410 313-7161. Presented by  Family Support and Resource Center .  







Holiday Tips
from Child Mind Institute

Holidays with children can be both exciting and overwhelming. Planning for the variety of activities can fill the time with more joy and less stress.
How to help your kids be at their best and have fun too. 

Tips for keeping kids happy and able to enjoy the fun.

Tips to help minimize stress and make the holidays more fulfilling .

Kids sometimes need a little nudge from their parents.  
Be an educated consumer during this season of shopping. Howard County Library System (HCLS) can help by providing FREE access to trusted reviews from Consumer Reports Online . To have access, enter your HCLS card number and PIN. To learn more, watch the brief video tutorials, click
Holiday Shoppers Beware!
Gift Card Scam Alert

One of the biggest gift requests of teens are gift cards. If gift cards are on your shopping list, be aware of the latest scam that could turn your generous gift into a useless piece of plastic. To learn how to protect your purchase, read the article from Howard County Office of
Consumer Protection here
Are You the Parent of a Child with Disabilities and Feeling Isolated or Stressed?

Is communication difficult for everyone involved?
Is it difficult to connect with other parents in similar situations?

This holiday season, ask for help with your children so that you can attend this informative and helpful course. It is difficult to prioritize your own needs over those of your family, but a s they say in pre -flight, "you need to put your oxygen mask on first."

A special series of Powerful Tools for Caregivers focuses solely on the parents of children with disabilities, and how -- through self-care, effective communication and other vital tools -- one may feel less isolated and more empowered. 
Free Flu Clinics
Walk-In. No appointment necessary.
Wednesdays, December 12 and 19
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Howard County Health Department
8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
The end of the year holidays and celebrations tend to increase the number of times that you and your family go out to eat. Choose My Plate provides ways to make healthier choices when eating food away from home.

Visit 10 Tips: Eating Foods Away from Home to get their ideas before you head out the door for your next meal.
Why Your Family Needs a Crisis Plan
Behavioral Health Resources

While you can't predict when your family might experience a behavioral health emergency, you can take steps now to prepare. If your family does not yet have a Crisis Plan in place, connect with Maryland Coalition of Families for no cost help in establishing one.
Call 410-730-8267, press 1 or reach out by email
To sign up for the Maryland Coalition of Families newsletter .

 Holidays and vacation time in December often mean that children are spending more time out of school and at home. How can you be inspired to engage in some fun, research-based practices?

ReadyRosie offers seven research- based ways to promote literacy! 
  • Have ongoing and engaging conversations
  • Create literacy friendly environments
  • Make reading enjoyable
  • Hold high expectations for your child's learning
  • Communicate with your child's teacher
  • Use your home language
  • Visit the library
Are you interested in receiving the full video library from ReadyRosie for your children ages birth to five?

Free to Howard County residents !

Click for video
If you were forwarded this e-mail and would like to receive the latest Parent Pages news and updates directly, please click!