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April 2021
A publication of the Howard County Office of Children and Families
Family Institute
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Week of the Young Child
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrates the Week of the Young Child April 10-16. During the week, early care and education professionals focus on family engagement and the importance of community. Special activities are often planned for children. Throughout the week, children enjoy art, music, food, and other activities they can also share at home. Check with your child’s program for additional resources for young children. Click on the calendar to find daily activities for you to do at home.
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Family Institute Workshops
Howard County Office of Children and Families
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A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors
Wed., April 14, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Free Online Workshop, register here
Don't allow tantrums, power struggles or misbehavior make daily life difficult in your household. Learn how you can help decrease the incidence of negative behaviors and what to do when they occur. Ask questions and learn 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.
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DIY Toy Making Workshop
Tues., April 27, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Free Online Workshop, register here
Do you have empty toilet paper rolls in the house? Don’t throw them out! Using household items to make toys can be beneficial for promoting early learning skills and fostering parent-child attachment. Learn how to make simple “do it yourself” toys for your little ones in this fun and engaging workshop. Using materials commonly found around the home, these simple, yet fun toys are sure to spark creativity and keep your little ones engaged! This workshop will be geared towards caregivers with children zero to five years old.
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Brain Builders: Optimizing Your Toddler’s
Early Brain Development
Tuesday, April 20, free virtual workshops
12:00 to 1:00 p.m., Register here
7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Register here
Through this workshop, parents and caregivers will explore the ingredients for building a strong foundation of social and emotional skills during their child’s first three years. Learn about the exponential brain growth that occurs during this time period, look at the serve-and-return interactions that happen through play and gain tips on how to stay positive when your toddler is exerting their ever growing sense of independence. Also gain resources on how to continue to support young children during the pandemic.
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The Basics Howard County complements what many parents and caregivers provide young children daily. It provides information on children’s brain development from birth to three years and activities to enhance learning. The second principle of the Basics, Talk, Sing, Point focuses on how children learn to communicate. Babies learn language from the very beginning. Talking to them, naming body parts or simple imitation of a smile can boost your infant’s skills. They pay attention to the sound of your voice and facial expressions often responding with a coo or a smile. Toddlers continue developing language by singing rhyming songs and pointing at things that interest them. To encourage language skills, play the I Spy game while taking a walk. Say “I spy a bird” and ask if they can find it. You may need to give a few hints before they spot the bird. This activity helps toddlers learn the meaning behind what you say. For more ideas, visit the Basics Brain Boosts here.
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The Basics Howard County texting program for families with children birth to three years, provides tips on activities to enjoy with your child connecting evidence based strategies to brain development. Sign up for the free Basics Insights text messaging here (available in English and Spanish). To learn more about The Basics Howard County, visit here or email children@howardcountymd.gov.
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Nature Walks With Young Children
Whether your family lives in a suburb and enjoys access to public parks or lives in a rural setting, making time for outdoor play every day is a lifestyle choice you won’t regret. Children can experience so much from what they see, touch, and smell if they are allowed to walk freely and not be confined to a stroller or attached to a backpack. Let your child be the lead where you can supervise them safely. By letting your child be the lead, they are building confidence-making skills while satisfying their curiosity. Remember to dress your child appropriately.
- Bring a container to gather leaves, pine cones, acorns, twigs, stones, and more
- Use magnifying glasses and tweezers so children can examine their finds
- Practice mindful listening of the wind, birds, leaves, and streams
- Take pictures of your child in nature
- Make a craft from the items collected
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Roaming Gnomes Scavenger Hunt
In April, families are invited to search for Roaming Gnomes in select Howard County parks. Each week, visit Recreation & Parks’ Facebook page for clues that will guide you to one of it's four Roaming Gnomes. Find the gnome, scan the QR code and submit your entry form to Recreation & Parks to be entered into a weekly prize drawing. Prizes are awarded each week with a grand prize to be awarded to a searcher who finds all four gnomes by the end of the month! For additional info, visit here.
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Transitioning Back to Care
During this time, many children are returning to school or early child care programs. This may produce feelings of anxiousness and worry. Below are some ways to support your child during this transition:
- Start talking about it early and be positive about the transition
- Mark it on the calendar and do a countdown to the first day of school
- Send a picture of your family to school with your child
- Allow your child to bring a comfort item, such as a stuffed animal
- Help to familiarize your child with the teacher and/ or classroom
- Connect with the teacher to create a consistent drop-off routine
- For younger children, explain when you will be picking them up
- Plan a special and exciting activity for when your child returns home
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Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for Fall 2021 is open online and available for children turning five years by September 1, 2021. Parents may view information and the required documentation upon registration on the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) link below.
Kindergarten Registration: Available now, Online
Pre-Kindergarten Registration: Available now Online
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How Oppositional Defiant Disorder Ruptures Families and How You Can Learn to Manage It
Tues., April 6, 1:00 p.m. / Free ADDitude webinar, register here
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is one of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’s (ADHD) most common co-existing conditions, with a 20 to 45 percent comorbidity rate. Children and adults with this condition are hardwired to oppose anyone they perceive as telling them what to do — which can lead to lives filled with conflict.
In this webinar, you will learn how:
- ADHD and ODD overlap in symptoms, genetics, and treatment
- ODD progresses; it may spontaneously diminish or get much worse and develop into Conduct Disorder
- To treat ODD with medication and behavioral management techniques
- Untreated ODD/CD can damage lives, relationships, families, marriages, and jobs
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The Howard County Library System offers literacy and early learning activities for infants/toddlers and preschoolers. All pre-recorded classes are posted on the Howard County Library System YouTube channel playlists. For additional information, visit the calendar of monthly activities and classes.
Family Time: Sat., April 3, 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. Online
Ages birth to five, families. 15 to 20 min. Interactive language and literacy-based activities to engage the whole family. Click here for registration.
Baby Beats! Fri., April 9, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Online. Click here to register
Ages birth to four. The Beatbox Dads are Mr. Root and Mr. Max, two Human Beatboxers from Baltimore who feature music, language and movement, designed to engage and elicit kinesthetic and linguistic response from young audiences and the adults.
Virtual Zoomobile live: Fur, Feathers and Scales
Sat., April 17, 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. Online. View calendar for registration.
Ages five to ten, families. Discuss the differences between birds, mammals and reptiles with the Maryland Zoo for a live and interactive activity designed for school-age children. Children will have a chance to meet three of the zoo's animal ambassadors!
Picture Book Pals Live: Surprises! Thurs., April 22, 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. Online
Ages birth to four, families. Develop school readiness skills through stories, songs, fingerplays and rhymes. View calendar for registration.
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Family Support and Resource Center
How to Support Social/Emotional Needs for Three to Eight Year Olds
Thurs., April 8, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. / Free virtual event
With changing times, many families are looking for new strategies to support their young children. Psychologists and behavior interventionists will help tailor tried-and-true strategies for routines, emotional needs and behavior for your specific family. This event will focus on strategies that help all children. Children are welcome to attend with their parents. Email michal_boyars@hcpss.org for meeting link and to ask questions in advance.
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April is Autism Acceptance Month
Join the celebration of differences and learn more:
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Your Child has Just Been Diagnosed with Autism. Now What?
Mon., April 19, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. / Free, register here
Join the Howard County Autism Society (HCAS) for this virtual, parent-led panel designed for families with a newly-diagnosed or younger child with autism. Learn from other parents who are at various stages of the autism journey with their own children ages elementary school through adults:
- What they wish they knew at the time of diagnosis
- What helped them get through the challenging early days
For more information about the HCAS, click here
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Can 4-Years-Olds Be Diagnosed with ADHD?
Common Parental Concerns and Answers from ADDitude
Are you hearing from your child’s preschool teacher, friends or family that your child is hyperactive, lacks focus or is impulsive? You may see these behaviors, but hesitate to have your child evaluated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as it can be scary to think your child has a condition that could adversely impact his life. Parents’ concerns, focusing on typical behavior, medication use, behavioral therapy, and the fear of labeling a child will be addressed. Parents are provided information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) detailing at what age children can be evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD. Reasons why a child should be diagnosed are also discussed. Click here for more information.
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Talking with Young Children About Equity
Tuesday, April 13 and 20, 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. / Free webinar
For parents of children six and under who are searching for ways to talk with them about recognizing and respecting the differences in others. Join us for an opportunity to discuss equity through the lens of children’s literature. Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) is pleased to partner with Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day; two early childhood educators who lead this book-discussion program with parents and early childhood educators. To register, click here.
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Sesame Street's
Coming Together:
Race and Identity Resources
Children need an individual and group identity, but racism hurts the healthy development of both and hurts our entire society. Learn how to talk with young children about race and identity. The “ABC’s of Racial Literacy,” a part of Coming Together, is designed to help parents build racial literacy and have conversations with their children about race and identity. Resources are focused on helping children understand race, develop their understanding, curiosity, resilience, and empathy. Visit SSIC.org/Racial-Justice for age-appropriate language and strategies to answer children’s questions. SesameWorkshop.org/ComingTogether shows parents how to start the conversation and guide children to be smarter, stronger and kinder.
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Official Visitor Guide for Howard County
Whether you’re just visiting, new to the county, or a longtime resident, check out the Visitor Guide Howard County 2021 for fun things to do, places to shop and restaurants to visit. Howard County offers a wide array of activities from concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion, a walk through Robinson’s Nature Center, exploring museums, and so much more.
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Month of the Military Child
April is Month of the Military Child and is a great time to share a resource with families. United Through Reading (UTR) helps maintain the bond families have and builds resiliency while a family member is deployed or on military assignment. The purpose of UTR is to keep families connected and put a book in the hand of a child. Service members of all branches of the military have the opportunity to video record themselves reading a book to a loved child. Recording supplies are provided for those on and off base. Children of all ages (0-18 years) and reading levels will receive a book to encourage love of reading and the bonding experience. United Through Reading is a free program, including the recordings and the books.
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Mental Health Awareness Youth Art Display
Maryland’s First Lady, Mrs. Yumi Hogan, encourages children and youth to participate in a statewide art project. The Annual Youth Art Display raises awareness about the importance of mental health through artistic expression. Children and youth are asked to create art that reflects happiness, health and hope. A selection of artwork will be displayed online for the Mental Health Awareness Youth Art Display on Monday, May 3.
Deadline to submit artwork is Friday, April 9. To submit artwork click here.
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National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Growing a Better Tomorrow for All Children, Together is the theme for Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) month. Its message, “Every day, we help positive childhood experiences take root.” Just as plants need soil to grow, children need positive interactions and environments to flourish, mentally, physically, and socially. Participate in Digital Advocacy Day on April 21 to raise awareness for child abuse prevention. During the month plant a virtual pinwheel, the national symbol of great childhoods. Together, we can grow a better tomorrow for all children.
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Purchasing Deadly Drugs from the "Safety"
of Your Home
Dr. Laura Berman, appeared on talk shows and opened up about the tragic loss of her 16 year-old son after he took drugs laced with deadly fentanyl. It’s believed he was targeted by a drug dealer on Snapchat - all within the "safety" of the family's home. Watch the Dr. Oz segment and Watch the Tamron Hall segment
Drive-Thru Medication and Sharps Collection
Sat., April, 24, 10 a.m.to 2 p.m./ Wilde Lake Shopping Center parking lot
All prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and sharps (syringes, needles and Epi-Pens) can be dropped off. HC DrugFree is in need of medically-trained individuals as well as adult volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, sign up here.
The 17th Annual HoCo Student Film Fest will host a category for HC DrugFree,
KNOW: Kids Nurturing Others Wisely. This category was chosen to showcase ways that teens can encourage one another through mental health challenges, dealing with peer pressure, and most of all, how to avoid substance (drugs, alcohol, nicotine) misuse. Target audiences can include parents/guardians or grandparents of middle school students, school staff and students. Deadline to submit your film: Saturday, April 17 at 11:59 p.m. The Film Fest will be held on Friday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m.
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