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


August 2022
As families enjoy this last month of summer, The Family Institute will be hosting virtual workshops to help plan and prepare them for a smooth transition into the Fall.

  • Brain Builders: Optimizing Your Infant’s Early Brain Development / Wednesday, August 17, 7:00
  • Nothing I Do Works: A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors / Thursday, August 18 , 7:00 p.m.
  • Brain Builders: Optimizing Your Toddler’s Early Brain Development / Tuesday, August 23, 7:00 p.m.
  • Preparing for Child Care: Planning for the Big Transition / Monday, August 22, 7 to 8 p.m. & Wednesday, August 24, noon to 1 p.m.
  • Managing Your Family’s Schedules and Stress Levels / Thursday, August 25, 7:00 p.m.
  • Discipline and Communication in the Elementary Years / Wednesday, August 31, noon 

Visit the Family Institute web page to view full descriptions of all workshops and register to attend! For questions, email children@howardcountymd.gov
We want and need your feedback! We are planning to schedule our fall parent workshops and want to hear from you. Please take a brief survey and let us know what times work in your busy schedules.
Getting Ready for Kindergarten  
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) offers a full-day kindergarten program. Children must be five years old by September 1 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten. All eligible children must be enrolled this fall or have an approved waiver form. 

To help prepare your child for kindergarten, HCPSS has provided a 2022 Road to Kindergarten presentation featuring kindergarten readiness, the kindergarten program and how to register your child for school.
For more information on HCPSS kindergarten, click here. 
Tips to Make Educated Back to School Purchases 

Here are some back-to-school shopping tips to consider:
  • Compare prices between stores and online. Don’t assume the “sale” price is the best price. Use price comparison websites and apps to assist. 
  • Use unit pricing where available to compare products and pricing. 
  • Research products, especially electronics, before purchasing. Read a variety of reviews on-line. Be aware there’s opinion spam—false reviews made by bots, hired reviewers or the retailer itself. 
  • Read the posted refund policy before purchasing. Many retailers limit the number of returns, the amount of time you have to make returns, or only offer store credit.   
  • Ask for receipts and warranties and save them for any major purchase. 
  • Only shop on websites which start with HTTPS and use credit cards (not debit or payment apps). 
  • Do not click on links in unsolicited emails or social media posts. Website clones are easy to create, and you could be clicking on a scam. 
  • Be aware of fake websites and fake retailers advertising on social media. Use ScamAdviser and similar research tools to verify an online retailer.    
Teach your children about credit and how it works. Explain that credit cards are not “free money,” and that what you pay for with the card must be paid back with interest. 
 
For more information on this or other consumer issues, contact:  
Howard County Office of Consumer Protection at 410-313-6420 (voice/relay), email: consumer@howardcountymd.gov or visit: www.howardcountymd.gov/consumer 
Updated COVID-19 Guidance

The Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland State Department of Education have released updated P-12 and Child Care COVID-19 Guidance. The guidance provides recommendations for local school systems, nonpublic schools, and child care programs to decrease the transmission of infectious diseases. For more information, visit Covid Guidance.
ADDitude

ADDitude magazine is a trusted source for strategies and information about Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related conditions such as learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder. ADDitude has provided guides, tips and a webinar, all of which focus on your child’s success in the upcoming school year.  
Count, Group, and Compare 

Counting, grouping, and comparing is one of the five pillars of The Basics movement, meant to help every family help their children achieve their full potential. Many children learn how to count before knowing what the numbers actually mean, but that’s ok. The next after counting is learning about one to one correspondence. The opportunity to learn about numbers and counting is all around us. You don’t have to set aside time specifically to teach your child how to count, you can do it as you and your child go about your day. Your child can learn a lot as they learn about shapes and the world around them. Tips on counting, grouping, and comparing with your children include, but are not limited to: 
  • Comparing sizes 
  • Discussing more or less 
  • Counting items
  • Stacking towers 
To learn more about Counting, Grouping, and Comparing with your children and the other pillars of The Basics movement, click here. The Basics is a program for children 0 to 3 years. To receive more information specifically for your child’s developmental stage, sign up for free text messaging here. Available in English or Spanish. 
Toddler Tantrums - How to Prevent and Manage Toddler Tantrums  

Tantrums are common in children 1 to 3 years old. Often toddlers have tantrums because they are overwhelmed by emotions. The first step to deal with your toddler’s tantrum is to try to understand why they are having the tantrum. Tantrums and meltdowns are generated by a lot of different things: frustration, fear, anger, sensory overload, hunger or tiredness. Most toddlers do not have the advanced language skills to communicate their needs and therefore rely on displaying strong emotions to communicate. According to the Child Mind Institute toddler tantrums are not consciously willful or voluntary but rather a learned response. They come to realize that when they display strong emotions, they get the desired response. As parents, we can help our children unlearn this response by teaching them more mature ways to handle a problem situation.   

Strategies to Prevent Tantrums 
Assessing your child’s triggers can help you to understand your child’s needs and develop a strategy to deal with outbursts before they occur. Helping your child to understand emotions, by labeling feelings like sad, happy, tired and frustrated can help them develop their language skills. Provide your child with positive reinforcement and encouragement when they handle a difficult situation without displaying a tantrum. Modeling positive reactions to stress can help your child to develop coping skills. For example, during stressful moments tell your child that you are taking deep breaths to stay calm.

Strategies to Handle Tantrums 
You will not be able to prevent all tantrums. If your child is experiencing a tantrum, remain calm, stay close and after they are calm offer comfort by reassuring your child that you understand their feelings. Try to avoid reasoning with your child during a tantrum. Once the toddler has calmed down, help them to name their feelings and verbally provide an appropriate response for the emotion. For more information about how to deal with tantrums visit Child Mind Institute (Spanish) or the NCPMI for tips on how to reduce challenging behaviors.  
Need Assistance Finding and Paying for Child Care? 

Parents and caregivers, as you look toward the new school year you may have questions on where to find child care. You may also question how you can afford child care. There are resources available to assist you.
LOCATE: Child Care is a free personalized service that helps parents find child care. The service provides referrals and counseling to help parents choose high quality child care to meet their needs. LOCATE: Child Care also offers an Enhanced Service for parents of children with special needs and those who need to speak with a Referral Specialist in Spanish. Another available resource for families, is the Child Care Scholarship Program. If you’re working, in school or participating in an approved job training program you may be eligible for the Child Care Scholarship Program. The Child Care Scholarship Program (formerly known as the child care subsidy program) provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families. For instance, a family of four with a maximum annual income of $90,033 may be eligible for the program. For more information on LOCATE: Child Care or the Child Care Scholarship Program you may contact the CARE Line at 410-313-2273 (voice/relay) or email children@howardcountymd.gov. 
Concerned About Your Child’s Mental or Emotional Health? Maryland Coalition of Families Can Help! 

Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones within specific time frames, learning healthy social behaviors, and having coping skills and resilience to deal with conflicts and problems. Some children have challenges with some or all of these areas, either periodically or consistently throughout childhood. For parents and caregivers, this can be confusing and scary. 

If you think your child is showing warning signs of mental illness, if you have received a diagnosis, or if you have concerns about your child’s behaviors, Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) can help! Trained staff have experience as parents, grandparents and caregivers of children who have had challenges with their mental health – and now they use their knowledge to support other families. Some of the mental health concerns include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MCF staff can help you: 
  • Learn how state programs work and help you negotiate your way through the social, legal and health care systems 
  • Learn about the services and supports available in your community and how to access them 
  • Navigate the school system and work collaboratively with teachers and administrators 
  • Advocate for your child’s needs at every stage of development 
  • Accept your child and the situation without feeling judged, ashamed, or guilty 
  • Connect with other families who know what you’re going through 
  • Find hope for the future 
All services are confidential and free to families regardless of income. To connect with MCF email help@mdcoalition.org or call 410-730-8267. 
Youth Climate Institute  
The Youth Climate Institute (YCI) educates and certifies the next generation of leaders in climate science, environmental justice and real- world solutions. In partnership with the Howard County Conservancy and Howard County Public School System, the goal of the program is to educate and empower student Climate Ambassadors to create awareness and understanding of global climate change. Students entering the 10th and 11th grade in the 2022-2023 school year may submit an application to learn more about becoming a YCI Ambassador. For more information, click here.  
Accessible Resources for Independence  
Self -Advocacy 101: Take Charge of Your Education 
Thursday, August 25 / 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. 
Free Virtual Event 
Students, do you wish your parents and teachers understood what you want for your life? Parents, do you want to know how to support your student with an IEP or 504 and make sure their education needs are being met? Workshop attendees will: 
  • Learn the benefits of self-advocacy 
  • Gather tools to successfully self-direct an educational meeting 
  • Openly discuss self-advocacy barriers and solutions 
For transitioning youth with disabilities (residing in Anne Arundel or Howard County) in grades 9-12 with an IEP or 504 plan and their families. To register, click here. Sponsored by Accessible Resources for Independence and Parents’ Place of Maryland. 
Howard County Library

STEAM Carnival
Saturday, August 6 / 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
East Branch for all ages
Play carnival games like skeeball, catapult, pinball, ring toss, and Ten80 cars. Participate in Earth science and chemistry experiments, watch a football throw-off featuring local football players, and play corn hole, giant Jenga, and more. Food available for purchase. Click to register for more info.

Moving Up to Middle School 
HCLS is also offering classes for students entering 6th grade this school year. Students will meet new classmates, discuss the big move, and learn the secrets to success. Students can also compete in a book bag relay and combination lock time-trial. Visit here for a list of classes, locations and to register.
 
Classroom Ready 
Wednesdays, August 3, 10, & 17 / 2:00 p.m.  
Central Branch Children’s Classroom for ages 3-5 
Develop school readiness skills and gradually practice independence while enjoying music, books, and creative expression. Register here. 
 
Summer STEAM: Wonders of Water 
Thursday, August 4 / 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 
Miller Branch for ages 6-10 
Dive into Science, Technology, Art and Math and explore the Oceans of Possibilities within our world. New topics each week. Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class. 
 
So You Want to Podcast? 
August 8 – 12 / 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. 
Glenwood Branch  for ages 11 to 18 
In this class, students will learn about the world of podcasting. This class is an introduction to a five-part program, where students will gain experience and insight on how to build their own podcast. Students will investigate the various podcast genres, formats, and topics, as well as participate in a Shark Tank-esque activity where they will rate and present different podcast concepts and ideas. Attendance at all 4 sessions is highly encouraged. The Friday recording session from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. is optional. Click here to register. 
 
Summer READer Celebration: Enchanted Garden Carnival 
Wednesday, August 24 / 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 
Miller Branch for all ages 
Come one! Come all! Bring the family and have a ball at the Enchanted Garden Carnival. Games, music, and fun for everyone! The Kangaroo Kids a precision jump rope team from Howard County will be performing at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Ellicott City 50+ Center on the library campus. The carnival will take place rain or shine. 
Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week  

Parents, are you preparing for back-to-school shopping? The 2022 Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is Sunday, August 14 to Saturday, August 20. Qualifying apparel and footwear purchases ($100 or less per item) are exempt from the state sales tax. The first $40 of a backpack or bookbag purchase is also tax-free.
Accessory items, other than backpacks, are not included. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week. 
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