A publication of the Howard County Office of Children and Families Family Institute July 2022

Nothing I Do Works: A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors   The Pyramid Model is a comprehensive, research-based approach that considers all factors that impact a child, family and a child's behavior. Learn how to help decrease negative behaviors from happening and/or what to do when they do occur. Ask questions and leave with skills and resources that you can use immediately to help you feel more confident in your parenting. For parents of children ages two to eight.   Tuesday, July 26 / 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. / Register / Free Virtual Workshop We want and need your feedback! We are planning to schedule our next parent workshops and want to hear from you. Please take a brief survey and let us know what times work for your busy schedules: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XPHRK7Z

Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have authorized the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals ages 6 months and older. The Howard County Health Department will distribute vaccine to county pediatricians and clinics hosted by the department as supplies are received. For clinic locations, click here. For answers to frequently asked questions about the vaccine, visit http://covidlink.maryland.gov.

Summer Routines  As we transition into the summer months, many families experience changes in routines which can be challenging for both adults and children. Research has shown that people, especially young children, are most successful when they follow a consistent routine and know what to expect. There are many ways to help your child be adapt to the changes that the summer brings. Here are a few ways to promote success:  Visual schedules – Creating a visual schedule that outlines daily activities, or routine-specific activities, is a great way for your child to know what is next. Post the schedule at eye-level for your child in a place where they can see it.   Consistency is key – Consistency provides children with a sense of security as they learn the schedule and know what to expect next. If something changes, it’s important to inform your child as soon as possible and continue to remind them of the change as it approaches.  Make it fun! – Transitions can be challenging for some children. You can help your child with transitions by being silly and singing songs. Provide a verbal warning of an upcoming transition, using an hourglass or cooking timer, and give your child a job to do during the transition. Use First/Then language, like “First, put your dishes in the sink, then we can play blocks together.”  Keep it simple – Use words and phrases that your child understands. Ask your child to complete only one task at a time to decrease confusion and increase success!  Remember, we may think of a routine as simply a cluster of tasks that we know we need to complete. For children, however, each task is its own piece of the routine. As adults, we know what it means to “get ready” in the morning so we can go to work. Children often need the “get ready” morning routine broken into simple, individual tasks. An example of a morning routine is wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put clothes on, shoes on, gather backpack, and get in the car. Outlining each task on a visual schedule helps your child be successful and helps your day run more smoothly!

Traveling with Tots  Summer travel and family vacations can be fun. With little ones in the backseat, it can also be challenging. How do you keep your toddler busy during a long journey? Before handing your child a phone or tablet to pass the time, consider packing a busy bag with screen free options such as special toys, games, and activities to keep your young child entertained. Check out these simple ideas to create a busy bag for your next trip. 

Exploring through Movement and Play   Exploring through movement and play is one of the five pillars of the Basics movement, designed for families to help their children achieve their full potential. Going outside and allowing your child to explore and be active can be just as stimulating as teaching them how to read or count. Touching, reaching, and using their senses is one of the many ways children learn about the world around them. Children learn best when they are given the opportunity to try things out on their own, building coordination and problem-solving skills. Allowing your child to be active and play also teaches them from an early age that a healthy lifestyle can be fun. Tips to explore movement and play with your children include, but are not limited to:  Letting them move around  Helping with experiments  Playing peek-a-boo  Using all five of their senses  To learn more about exploring movement and play with your children, as well as the other pillars of the Basics movement, click here. The Basics program is designed for children 0 to 3 years. To receive information specifically for your child’s developmental stage, sign up for free text messaging here. Available in English or Spanish.  Here is a testimonial from a Basics' parent:   “I signed up for Basics Insights shortly after my son was born. My four year old daughter and I read them together so she can learn facts about her baby brother and do the suggested activities right along with me! Not only do these texts provide useful information, but I now have weekly affirmations that I’m giving my son the things he needs to grow and learn.”

Thursday, July 21, 11:00 a.m. Ellicott City 50+ Center 9401 Frederick Road Ellicott City, 21043 The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) helps to protect Howard County consumers by investigating complaints and mediating disputes, taking enforcement action and providing presentations on consumer issues and tenants' rights. OCP's upcoming presentation in July, “How to Safely Use Payment Apps,” will highlight how to choose and when to use apps like PayPal, Venmo and Zelle. Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a consumer and how to protect yourself from criminals who use the apps to try to get your money. FREE. Call 410-313-1400 to register.

Military Wellness Community Connection  Howard County's Office of Veterans and Military Families has partnered with Fort Meade Alliance to introduce the Military Wellness Community Connection (MWCC), an initiative to address the unique needs of veterans and active duty military personnel and their families. Resiliency is the core of holistic health and the link to increased capability and readiness. A strong community stands on the shoulders of five symbolic pillars - emotional, physical, social, family and spiritual - so the office has connected with local businesses and nonprofits which offer classes, workshops and/or lessons. Offerings include dance, theatre, yoga classes, equine therapy, nature programs and hikes and financial and career coaching. To view offers from community partners, register here. If you are a business or nonprofit that would like to participate, please register here.

HC DrugFree provides resources and education on prevention, treatment, and recovery, and offers classes, events and programs to share information with the community. The program's website also has resources in Spanish; information and resources about drug and alcohol use prevention; and how to talk with kids about drugs and alcohol. Check out HC DrugFree here.    Emoji Decoder for Parents  Parents, think back to your youth and the slang you used to talk with friends. It seems every generation had a unique way of sharing information. Kids today also have their own shared language, which often includes emojis. Unfortunately, drug dealers also use emojis to avoid having their messages flagged for inappropriate content, and kids use them to keep parents unaware of things they might be doing. HC DrugFree suggests several resources for parents to better understand what to look for and what additional meanings some emojis have:   Drug Slang Emojis: Here’s What Every Parent Needs to Know - Bark  How Drug Dealers May Be Using Emoji To Sell Drugs | SWA Blog (strugglingwithaddiction.com)   Video: Emoji drug code decoded: Parents, do you know what that text really means? (foxla.com) For a downloadable copy of the DEA's Emoji Drug Code Decoded, click here.

Prepare for College Emotionally, Not Just Academically The transition to college can be hard on an adolescent’s mental health. Many may be living away from home for the first time, trying to handle academic stress while also trying to make friends, build routines and more. Parents can prepare their teen for these emotional challenges by providing skills and tools they can use when feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Child Mind Institute suggests several key things parents can do to help their college-bound teen:    Don’t try to fix every problem - instead validate your teen’s feelings and let them solve the problem, but let them know you’re still a support if needed  Practice mindfulness with your teen – be in the present, notice how you are feeling, and take deep cleansing breaths before deciding how to handle challenges  Establish good self-care – encourage them to get a good night’s sleep and maintain healthy eating habits  Work on planning and coping ahead of time – a lot of stress can be avoided by planning ahead, think through how to get things done  Develop strategies for self-soothing – come up with a written plan that weighs the pros and cons and thinking through consequences   Every parent wants their teen to enjoy college and have a good experience, but it requires preparation for them to handle the challenging times. Having a toolbox of skills at the ready can make a difference in your teen’s mental health. For more information, click here. Also available in Spanish.

Who is the You in YouTube?: Missed Opportunities in Race and Representation in Children’s YouTube Videos  Over the last few years, video viewing has increased among kids and teens, especially on YouTube. However, research has shown YouTube lacks diversity and often features stereotypes of black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC). Here are a few facts from the report:  In videos viewed by children age 8 and younger, BIPOC characters were portrayed as shallow or missing the majority of time.  When BIPOC characters are featured, they are more likely portrayed as violent, using strong language and abusing alcohol and other substances.  YouTube videos are not reflecting the actual ethnic diversity of American kids. Many shown on videos are black, Latino or multiracial.  For tweens and teens, ethnic-racial stereotypes appear in about one in 10 videos on average.  Ongoing research shows representation is important to how kids build their identities. Parents and kids want to see themselves reflected in the videos and hear diverse voices and stories. YouTube has an opportunity to empower as well as inspire real life stories and representation of BIPOC communities. YouTube can lift up BIPOC creators and make finding videos easier. Families can find YouTube Kids channels with diverse representations here.

Child Mind Institute is a national resource for children, families and educators focusing on mental health and learning disorders. It offers articles, webinars and information sessions through the Family Resource Center to support children who are struggling with behavior challenges, mental health and learning disorders. Topics vary from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, autism, depression and mood disorders, and so much more. Take a look at some of the articles provided:   What Should You Look for in a Diagnosis?  (Spanish)  What Are Adjustment Disorders? (Spanish)  Do Kids Outgrow ADHD? (Spanish)

NAMI Howard County   History of Racial Trauma and Its Impacts on Mental Health  Tuesday, July 19, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, Room 10  Free Event The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) presents speaker Marcus Nicks, an acclaimed researcher, historian and educator. Mr. Nicks facilitates conversations around the African American historical experience, the topic of race and its present-day implications.

Howard County Library Summer STEAM  Every Thursday / 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.   45 minute sessions Ages 6 to 10   Miller Branch   Dive into Science, Technology, Art, and Math to explore the Oceans of Possibilities within our world. New topics each week. Tickets available at the children's desk 15 minutes prior to class.    Little Learners Under the Sea  Tuesday, July 5 / 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Ages 3 to 5 with adult  Central Branch  Stories and activities about sea creatures. Tickets available 15 minutes prior to class.    Exploring on the Patio with The Basics  Wednesday, July 6, 13, 20, 27 / 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.  All ages and families   Central Branch  Listen to a story, develop observation skills while exploring nature, and participate in an activity you can also do at home. Tickets available 15 minutes prior to class.     3D CAD: Oceans of Possibilities  Monday, July 18 / 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Ages 11 to 18  Elkridge Branch - Belmont Room  Join a group of robotics team members from FTC team #20123 Cryptic to learn the fundamentals of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) using the cloud-based software Onshape! No previous coding or CAD experience needed. Please plan to attend all 8 sessions.  Kindergarten, Here We Come!  For children entering kindergarten in the fall. Stories and activities to help mark that all important first day. Click on a date below for more information: Wednesday, July 27 / 4:00 p.m.  Wednesday, July 27 / 7:00p.m.  Thursday, July 28 / 11:00 a.m.    Thursday, July 28 / 2:00 p.m.    Saturday, July 30 / 3:00 p.m.

Lakefront Live Lakefront Live is a series of free entertainment at the downtown Columbia Lakefront. Columbia Association (CA) is bringing back movies, local musical acts, and Dancin’ Under the People Tree. CA is also teaming up with Columbia Festival of the Arts to bring a new series of internationally recognized acts to the lakefront as well. Food and drinks are available from your favorite local restaurants. For a list of activities click here.

Visit Howard County's Farmers' Markets Howard County Library – Miller Branch Farmers’ Market  9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City  Wednesdays, May 4 – November 2  2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.    Clarksville Commons Farmers’ Market  12250 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville  Saturdays, May 7 – November 5  10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Participating in the Maryland Money Market Program. Click here for more information.    Oakland Mills Village Center Farmers’ Market  5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia  Sundays, May 8 – November 6  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.    Howard County Library – East Columbia Branch Farmers’ Market  6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia  Thursdays, May 12 – November 17  Noon to 6:00 p.m.    Maple Lawn Farmers’ Market  7405 Maple Lawn Boulevard, Fulton  Saturdays, May 14 – November 5  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.    Elkridge Furnace Inn Market  The market is closed this year. Offering “Chef Curated Market Boxes”  Pre-order by Monday and pickup on Wednesday  410-379-9336 prompt #2

Making Leftovers Last   Parents, are you looking for new ways to make meals last through the week? All it takes is preparation and teamwork. Sesame Street in Communities offers tips to stretch your groceries to make several different meals each week: Think about how you plan your family meals – talk about your family’s favorite foods that might be used in different meals and create a shopping list together  Find learning opportunities while shopping with the kids – ask your child to select three peppers or have older children read the nutrition labels  Involve children in meal preparation – everyone can help prepare food; children can wash and chop soft vegetables or talk about how food changes when it’s cooked (color, texture, and shape)  Store leftovers and stretch out ingredients – use containers and storage bags to freeze cooked items   Planning and preparing meals together is not only fun, it shows families how to stretch their groceries all week. For more information and to view a video, click here.

‌ ‌ ‌

Sign Up for Parent Pages If you were forwarded this email and would like to receive the latest Parent Pages news and updates directly, sign up today!