July, 2018

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Hydrate to Beat the Heat We all need to drink plenty of fluids in the heat of summer to stay healthy and hydrated. Young children and toddlers are at a greater risk of becoming dehydrated because their small bodies don't cool down as easily as adults, and they don't understand the importance of drinking fluids throughout the day. Encouraging water intake is important, but offering a variety of diluted, low-sugar juices throughout the day may keep young children interested in consuming fluids. Adding fruit slices to water add flavor and can make the beverage more appealing. Freezing low-sugar drinks to make ice pop treats is another tried-and-true option to beat the heat!

Make Some Music! Intuitively we know that listening to our favorite music can reduce our stress and boost our mood. But the power of music, and its effect on our brains, our bodies and our overall well-being, involves so much more. Music stimulates creativity and imagination, helps improve memory, reduces anxiety, and increases motivation. Brain scan images show that listening to music changes and modulates the neurochemicals in various regions of our brains, even those areas that aren’t involved in auditory processing. Several studies have also shown that very young children who learn to play music reap brain benefits that may last into old age.

Does My Child Have Physical Developmental Delays? If you have questions about your child's physical development, healthychildren.org has an interactive tool for identifying delays and understanding what is typical for ages 0-5.  This free online resource is available in both English and Spanish . Spanish-speaking parents can also check out the new Spanish developmental milestone information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Did you know that Pennsylvania residents who have qualified disabilities (and their families) can save up to $15,000 a year for disability-related expenses while maintaining government benefits? Learn more about this new program .

Khan Academy Kids is a new, free early learning app for toddlers. The app was developed by the national nonprofit educational organization, Khan Academy , which gained attention by producing You Tube video lessons for children. The new app, designed for children aged 2 - 5 years, focuses on subjects such as math, reading and science, and includes creative activities without advertisements. It is available to download at the Apple App store.

Fighting Hunger For many Pennsylvanians, food insecurity is a daily part of life. It's estimated that more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians, or 13.8% don't get enough food to eat. More than 19% of children in PA experience food insecurity, often going to bed or to school hungry. Governor Tom Wolfe signed an executive order to make sure PA provides nutrition and food assistance, established a coalition to create blueprint for a hunger-free PA. Use the links to see the the 36-page PA Blueprint , Chester County Food Bank , and the USDA summer meals program .

We love the sun, but the ultraviolet (UV) rays are not good for our skin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the sun's UV rays can damage our skin in as little as 15 minutes and offers several  sun safety tips for adults and children .

Stay informed with these resources! Use the underlined links to learn more .  PA Promise for Children website has information to help parents understand developmental milestones, tips to help children learn, advisce on how to find the right child care for your family, strategies to manage challenging behavior, and much more! Mental Health First Aid - Free class offered in Oxford - August 23 and 24. Must attend both morning sessions for certification. Registration required. New Charting the LIfeCourse flier and information. SafeKids Worldwide reminds us this summer to never leave a child alone in a car! Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children Audiology Department announces their 5th Annual Audiology Conference for professionals serving children with hearing disorders in September. Chester County Early Intervention Connections has a Facebook page. Connect with us! Chester County Refer Web for social services in our area.

Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities www.chesco.org/mhidd Chester County Commissioners Administrator - Linda Cox Director, Early Intervention Services - Lori Gallagher