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What's New Index
This month, the LINK website continues to provide you with new
information about young children with low incidence
disabilities. Make
sure to check out our newest feature-- "Hot
Off the Press" which fills you in on the latest buzz about low
incidence disabilities in young children.
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Hot Off the Press
Baby
Signs
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Feature
by Meredith Holcomb, B.A.,
Graduate Assistant
CBC News Online published a
recent article pertaining to "baby signs" and how this method of
communication is booming in the United States. According to research,
babies do recognize that a word or a sign can symbolize something
else. The article states that normal hearing children usually say
their first word at about 12 months, while children who learn baby signs
start signing at around 8 months. This four month gap tells us that
the brain may be ready to produce language earlier than the child can
vocally produce it. Although baby signs do not solve all communication
problems, it can alleviate frustrations for the child.
Resource: CBC News Online,
March 10, 2004.
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Tip of the Month
How to Deal With Bullies
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Feature
by Sue Porr, M.Ed., MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist
Several
years ago I was attending a parent night at my child's school. In one
of the classrooms, posted on the wall above the teacher's grading system,
was a sign. It began with a familiar childhood ditty but ended with a
truth that too many young children today know is real: "Sticks and
stones may break my bones, but words will break my heart."
Today
bullying has become a forefront issue in schools and play centers
alike. Defined as a behavior (e.g. hitting, name calling) meant to
hurt another (Davis, 2004), bullying is done by the more powerful person to
the less powerful victim. Recent research indicates that while
children may have an inborn trait for aggression that peaks in "toddlerhood"
(approximately 17 months of age), appropriate adult role models can help
young children to self regulate this type of behavior.
Suggestions*
for helping with the bully situation in the preschool setting include:
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Teaching
children ways to channel aggressive impulses in constructive ways (e.g.
outdoor, active play)
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Modeling
the use of words to negotiate with others in social situations
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Using
a classroom curriculum that promotes conflict resolution, teaches
empathy, and models positive anger management strategies
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Posting
and following brief, clear rules on bullying in the classroom
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Having
immediate consequences for bullying and immediate rewards for behaviors
that include others and foster positive social interactions
*(adapted from Starr, Education World: www.education-world.com)
Resources
and Links:
1.
Davis, S. (2003). Schools Where Everyone Belongs: Practical Strategies
for Reducing Bullying. Wayne, ME. Stop Bullying Now.
2.
Facts in Action, March 2004, http://www.factsinaction.org
3.
Stop Bullying Now, http://www.stopbullyingnow.com
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New Index
Feature
by Meredith
Holcomb, B.A., Graduate Assistant
The
About Our Kids website (http://www.aboutourkids.org)
was created by the NYU Child Study Center. This site is a great informational tool for
parents and professionals interested in child mental health issues. This
organization offers expert psychiatric and psychological services for
children and their families, with emphasis on early diagnosis and
intervention of child mental health issues. The site contains up-to-date
articles, research, and tips for most issues in child mental health.
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Resource Review of the Month
The Visually Impaired Preschool
Service and the "Can Do" Video Series |
Review
by Stuart Teplin, M.D., Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician
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Resource:
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The Visually Impaired Preschool Service
("VIPS") and the "Can Do" Video Series. Accessed
at: www.vips.org |
The Visually Impaired
Preschool Service (“VIPS”) is a center-based program in Louisville,
KY is an outstanding program serving visually impaired children in the state
of Kentucky. Fortunately, they have also focused a lot of their attention
on collecting and distributing their wisdom so that parents, early
interventionists, child care providers, preschool teachers, and other
caretakers can have access to the expertise of the staff at VIPS.
This information is available through the VIPS website (www.vips.org)
and through their series of well-produced videotapes, called the “Can
Do!” Video Series.
The VIPS website is a great source of practical information.
The reader can click on a variety of sections or links.
For example, one of the pages provides some handy definitions of some
commonly used terms and services in Early Intervention.
Another Section is the VIPS Parent Newsletter. By clicking on this
link, the reader is presented with a tremendous array of practical tips and
materials that will make the process of teaching and interacting with
infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are blind or visually impaired more
effective and more fun. Included
is an archive of all the previous newsletters.
A separate link brings the reader to a list of other useful websites
related to working with young children with visual impairments.
A separate link introduces the reader to the wonderful "Can Do!"
Video Series. The
"Can Do!" Video Series was developed to show parents
and professionals some practical and sound ways to assist the young
child who is blind or visually impaired to develop skills and take off on
the road to independence. The
series consists of 11 videos demonstrating a progression of skills in
crucial areas of development for the child who is visually impaired.
The Can Do! Series include
the following:
Video
#1 Seeing
Things In A New Way: What Happens when You Have A Blind Baby
Video
#3
Becoming a “Can Do” Kid: Self-Help
Skills
Video
#4
Making Friends: Social
Skills and Play
Video
#9
Successfully Adapting the Preschool Environment
Video
#10 Power At Your
Fingertips: An Introduction To
Learning Braille
All
but the most recent video (“Full of Hope”) is available for purchase
through VIPS, but they can also be borrowed at no charge from the LINK
library at the CDL. In order to
borrow a tape, please contact Becky Pretzel
at 919-966-4806 and LINK will send the tape to you for up to 30 days.
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