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July 2021
A publication of the Howard County Office of Children and Families
Family Institute
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Nothing I Do Works:
A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors
The Pyramid Model is a comprehensive, research based approach that considers all of the factors that impact a child, family and a child's behavior. Learn how to decrease negative behaviors and what to do when they occur. Ask questions and leave with skills and resources that you can use immediately to help you feel more confident in your parenting. For children ages two to eight. Monday, July 19, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Click here to register for this virtual workshop.
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The fourth principle of The Basics Howard County, Explore through Movement and Play, encourages curiosity, discovery and builds healthy bodies. Allow children to move around. Babies should have space to explore their surroundings by rolling, crawling and reaching out for toys. Help older babies push the doorbell or turn on light fixtures. Have your toddler try dancing to fast and slow songs. Talk about the different speeds and how your child’s dancing changes. Create a mystery bag and place objects inside. Have your child guess what’s inside without looking. Allow them to feel, smell and shake the bag. These tips and more can be found here.
The Basics Howard County texting program is geared for families with children birth to three years. This program provides tips on activities to enjoy with your child connecting evidence-based strategies for brain development. Sign up for the free Basics Insights text message here ( available in English and Spanish). To learn more, visit here or email children@howardcountymd.gov
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Child Tax Credit
Starting July 15 through the end of the year, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin sending monthly Child Tax Credit payments to eligible families. Those who have filed taxes in 2019 and 2020 are eligible for the Child Tax Credit. The IRS has also launched a simplified online tool which will allow families who are not automatically enrolled in the program because they did not file taxes last year, to receive the Child Tax Credit. Families can visit ChildTaxCredit.gov for additional information. Also available in Spanish.
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4th of July Fireworks Returns
Howard County's annual Fourth of July fireworks show returns to downtown Columbia Lakefront. This year's event will feature twenty minutes of fireworks, live music and a variety of food trucks to enjoy. Families may lay down blankets after 3:00p.m. Click for more information.
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Lakefront Summer Festival is Back
Columbia Association (CA) has brought back free movies and concerts to Downtown Columbia Lakefront. Join the fun and listen to Damon Foremen, Kaleidoscope or Cadillac Jump Blues. Bring the kids out to watch Jumanji, Aladdin or Disney's Frozen 2. Come spend Friday nights dancing under The People Tree. Spend the summer enjoying everything CA has to offer. For a list of events click here.
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Summer Schedules
During the summer children’s days are often less structured. While this added freedom can be nice at times, it often leads to challenging behaviors. Children thrive on routine and structure, which help them feel safe and in control of their world. Using a visual daily schedule to structure summer days helps to create predictability and lessen challenging behaviors. Below are a few examples.
Monthly Challenge: Create a visual schedule to use with your child this summer.
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Fun with Bubbles
Summer is a time to relax and have fun outdoors with the family. One traditional summer activity is blowing bubbles. Bubbles offer so many benefits for young children, such as encouraging mindfulness, regulating breathing, scientific experimentation, sensory play, and strengthening oral muscles for clearer speech production.
How to Make Your Own Homemade Bubbles
Pour 1 cup of warm water into a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of dish soap. (Optional – for shinier, stickier bubbles, add 1 tablespoon of corn syrup or glycerin.) Slowly stir ingredients together to avoid soap suds from forming. For best results, allow solution to settle for a few minutes before using.
Tip: Check the humidity in the air. Humidity extracts moisture from the bubbles, causing them to burst quickly.
Now that your bubble solution is made, it’s time to blow some bubbles! Experiment with wands of different shapes and sizes. Even ordinary household items can become bubble wands:
- Drinking straws bundled/taped together
- Empty plastic bottle with bottom cut off
- Kitchen utensils with holes
- Cookie or playdough shape cutters
- Pipe cleaner formed into different shapes
This activity offers loads of fun. Don’t forget to save your excess bubble solution in a sealed container to use for later.
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Summer Offerings at the Library
Children, teens, and adults are invited to participate in Howard County Library System's Summer Reading that began June 1. Customers may register and participate by signing up online at hcls.readsquared.com, printing a copy and handing in at the library or by downloading the free ReadSquared app. Visit http://hclibrary.org/summer/
for more details. Available in multiple languages.
Summer Slugger
Wednesday, July 7 / 10:00 to 10:15 a.m.
Ages: five to ten
The Orioles have partnered with Everfi to offer Summer Slugger, a free game-based learning program with online math and reading challenges. To register, click here.
Crazy 8’s: Math Club
Saturday, July 10 /10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Ages: five to ten on Elkridge Children's Patio
Crazy 8's is a nationwide math club designed to get kids fired up about math. Every week kids get to build stuff, run and jump, make music, make a mess...and make friendships at the same time.
Craft Curious?
Saturday, July 17 / 1:00 to 1:15 p.m.
Ages: five to ten
Explore the ins and outs of making a digital breakout room; bake a single chocolate chip cookie; learn basic crochet skills; explore needle felting; improve your violin arpeggios; and discover the joys of letter writing.
Award-Winning Chapter Book Club
Wednesday, July 21 / 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Ages: five to ten
Online discussions about award winning chapter books. Book to be discussed is
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks.
To view the full calendar and to register for classes click here.
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Summer Enrichment
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has provided a listing of summer academic and personal enrichment programs in the county as well as online resources. Children can participate in various activities including art, music, math, physical education, science, mindfulness, self care, and more. Participants range in age from birth to high school. Click here for more information.
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Building a Sense of Hope in your Child
We don’t always know what’s going to happen next in our lives, but hope helps kids focus on goals and believe that they can achieve them. It’s not always easy, but helping a child build skills and showing them they are cared for can help. To foster a sense of hope in your child
- Ask about their goals- “What would you like to do?” Offer help to achieve those goals
- Encourage children by pointing out their positive character traits “You can do it, you’re a hard worker”
- "I’m here"- remind your child that you and others are here to support them
Click here for additional tips to encourage a sense of hope in your child. You may also watch the video “I Can Do It” to help children gain confidence and try to reach their goals.
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Sensory Processing
Issues Explained
Sensory processing issues are often noticed during the toddler years and can cause a lot of confusing behavior. Parents may notice children tugging at their clothing, complaining that it’s uncomfortable. Parents may see children meltdown over noise and activity level in different settings. Some children may seem clumsy or have difficulty climbing stairs. Fine motor skills may be affected. A child may have trouble holding a pencil or fastening a button. These behaviors are caused by children having difficulty processing too much or too little information from their senses. Child Mind Institute explains sensory processing and behaviors associated with the disorder. For more information click here. Available in Spanish.
How to Help Siblings Get Along
Healthy relationships are the foundation for happiness for everyone in a family, but building the relationships aren’t always easy. Parents may not know what to do when siblings fight or teens turn away from the family unit. It can be even more difficult when a child has a mental health or learning disorder. Child Mind Institute takes a look at How to Help Siblings Get Along: Coping with Conflict and Fostering Strong Bonds. It’s not unusual for siblings to fight from time to time. They may disagree over shared spaces or vie for their parent’s attention. Siblings aren’t always competitors, but can be an important source of support and connection. Child Mind Institute provide tips and strategies to keep the peace and foster strong bonds. Here are just a few:
- Set ground rules-set up clear schedules and systems
- Be specific and age-appropriate-use concrete tools to make rules clear based on child’s age
- Provide positive reinforcement-reinforce the behaviors you want and focus on the times when things work between siblings
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What is Self-Control?
Is your child learning how to manage their feelings? Children may have difficulty managing strong emotions and can struggle with self-control. Understood offers strategies to help your child cope with their emotions. Self-control is a part of a group of skills that allows children and adults to manage their thoughts, actions and emotions to get things done. This group of skills are known as executive function. Sitting still, taking turns, waiting in line are all skills children learn. As children get older they build self-control in three areas:
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Movement Control-children are unable to sit still and are constantly moving
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Impulse Control-children stop and think before doing or saying something, they’re able to put on the “mental brakes”
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Emotional Control-children can continue to function when something unexpected happens or in upsetting situations
For more information on developing self-control click here.
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HC DrugFree: Summer Online Life Skills Classes for Howard County Students
8 classes: FREE
July 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 / 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
HC DrugFree is providing a series of FUN and interactive skills-based classes designed to promote positive health and personal development. Taught by a team of college and high school students and HC DrugFree's adult team. The curriculum was designed for students in grades 6 to 9, but for slightly younger or older students, each request will be considered. The curriculum is designed to strengthen student abilities in the following areas:
- Personal Self-Management Skills
- General Social Skills
- Drug Resistance Skills and more
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Family Support and Resource Center
Middle school and high school aged self-advocates with intellectual disabilities can come together online with two instructors from ArtStream for an hour of interactive activities such as role playing, conversation and games. Please contact director@cdspg.org with any questions.
Super Social High Schoolers With ArtStream
Thursdays July 8, 15, 22, 29
5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Super Social Middle Schoolers With ArtStream
Thursdays July 8, 15, 22, 29
4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
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What is Empathy?
Empathy is the ability to understand and care for someone else’s feelings. Everyone can develop empathy and we can teach it to children. We can start by talking with children and helping them recognize other’s feelings.
Make faces-show different emotions with your face, have children guess what emotion your sharing based on your expression. Role play using a toy animal and ask your child how the animal might feel if someone did something hurtful or unkind.
Try it out-give your child a chance to nice things for others like sharing a ball
Watch the video from Sesame Street to learn how to build empathy.
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Parent Craft
Parent Craft is an online video course that teaches parents and caregivers skills and techniques needed to meet the risks of substance abuse among adolescents. The Parent Craft course consists of five sections that are self-paced, can be completed over several weeks and allows for practice of new skills. The sections highlight
- Understanding teen’s triggers for use
- Learning communication skills for discussing concerns
- Using positive reinforcement to influence and change behavior
- Allowing for natural consequences
- Suggesting professional help
Click here to access this free resource for families.
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New Moms Support Group
Howard County General Hospital
Tuesdays, July 27 to September 14 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Share experiences with other new moms and babies up to five months old. This group offers support, referrals, discussion of parenting topic and the opportunity to connect with other new mothers. Topics are most appropriate for first time moms, but new moms with other children are also welcome to attend. Sessions will be both virtual and in-person. Attending every class is encouraged but not necessary. Register for this FREE group at hcgh.org/events or email jstanto6@jhmi.edu.
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2021 Howard County
Farmers’ Markets
As adults we are conscious of the importance of choosing fresh, nutritious foods, but children today are bombarded with ads for foods loaded with sugar and unhealthy ingredients. When children understand where food comes from, they can develop healthy eating habits. Even if you don’t normally shop at a local farmers’ market, these venues are a great learning opportunity for children. There are a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and more. Children can talk to farmers about the farming and everything they grow. Visit local farmers’ markets.
Clarksville Commons
12250 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville
May 1 to November 6, Saturdays
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Elkridge Furnace Inn Farmers’ Market
5745 Furnace Avenue, Elkridge
Year-Round, Wednesdays
12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Farmers’ Market @ Maple Lawn
7505 Maple Lawn Boulevard, Fulton
May 8 to November 6, Saturdays
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Howard County Library Charles E. Miller Branch
9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City
May 5 to November 3, Wednesdays
2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Howard County Library East Columbia Branch
6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
May 6 to November 11, Thursdays
12:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Oakland Mills Village Center
5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
May 9 to November 7, Sundays
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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