Children love to be read to and the first building block of future reading ability is learning to understand and speak language. Babies learn phonemic awareness (the ability to perceive individual sounds in the stream of speech) in the first eight to ten months. By eighteen months, they may already understand an average of fifty words. After age two babies acquire vocabulary at an awesome rate (about 8 to 10 words a day). By age six a child understands about 13,000 words.
How do babies learn vocabulary? They learn from hearing a flood of words from their parents through positive conversations and a daily variety of read-alouds. Jim Trelease, the read-aloud guru states so simply, "if the child has never heard the word, the child will never say the word; and if you have neither heard it nor said it, it's pretty tough to read it and to write it." So read and talk and read to your child to help provide that all important foundation for learning. Some good books to start with are:
1. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? By Eric Carle
2. Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle
4. Pat the Bunny By Dorothy Kunhardt
5. Peek a Who By Nina Laden
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Free Tax Preparation
Did you know that you could pay 60% to 180% of your refund to loan companies or local tax preparation businesses to get that quick, before you walk out the door, refund? Are you sure you are taking all the deductions you are entitled to? Surprisingly you may not be! It is estimated by the Ohio Attorney Generals office that in Meigs County 530 people do not claim Earned Income Tax Credit. (EITC) On average $1430.00 could be claimed by those who don’t claim EITC. Are you one of them?
How do you know if you are eligible for EITC? If your gross income is less than the following amounts, you could be eligible:
Income....... Status......Dependents
48,279 ........Married....3+
43,279 ........Single........3+
45,295 ........Married....2
40,295....... .Single........2
40,263 ........Married....1
35,463 .........Single.......1
18,440 .........Married...0
13,040......... Single.......0
Even if you did not make enough money to file your taxes you may still be eligible for the ETIC credit.
Gallia Meigs Community Action Agency’s Ohio Benefit Bank sites can do your taxes for free. Yes free! No need to go to costly Payday Loans offices or rapid refund centers and pay 60% to 180% interest to get money you are entitled to. Not to mention having to pay $50 and up for getting your taxes prepared.
Call Gallia Meigs Community Action Agency at 740-992-6629or 740-367-7341 or Help Me Grow at 740-992-6629 and ask for an Ohio Benefits Bank Counselor to get an appointment.
You can also contact a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site (call 1-800-906-9887). You will need to bring these items with you to your appointment. Proof of income, Social Security cards for all household members, Wage and earning statements, interest and dividend statements, if available, a copy of last years returns, total paid for day care and the providers tax ID, Your bank routing number and account numbers for direct deposit, And last, your spouse if married, to sign the required forms. Direct deposit takes 8 to 10 days but you will get all your refund back without any paying anyone anything. Sounds like a pretty good deal. Call and make an appointment as soon as you get your wage and earnings statements!
How do you know if you are eligible for EITC? If your gross income is less than the following amounts, you could be eligible:
Income....... Status......Dependents
48,279 ........Married....3+
43,279 ........Single........3+
45,295 ........Married....2
40,295....... .Single........2
40,263 ........Married....1
35,463 .........Single.......1
18,440 .........Married...0
13,040......... Single.......0
Even if you did not make enough money to file your taxes you may still be eligible for the ETIC credit.
Gallia Meigs Community Action Agency’s Ohio Benefit Bank sites can do your taxes for free. Yes free! No need to go to costly Payday Loans offices or rapid refund centers and pay 60% to 180% interest to get money you are entitled to. Not to mention having to pay $50 and up for getting your taxes prepared.
Call Gallia Meigs Community Action Agency at 740-992-6629or 740-367-7341 or Help Me Grow at 740-992-6629 and ask for an Ohio Benefits Bank Counselor to get an appointment.
You can also contact a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site (call 1-800-906-9887). You will need to bring these items with you to your appointment. Proof of income, Social Security cards for all household members, Wage and earning statements, interest and dividend statements, if available, a copy of last years returns, total paid for day care and the providers tax ID, Your bank routing number and account numbers for direct deposit, And last, your spouse if married, to sign the required forms. Direct deposit takes 8 to 10 days but you will get all your refund back without any paying anyone anything. Sounds like a pretty good deal. Call and make an appointment as soon as you get your wage and earnings statements!
Winter Safety Tips
Here are a few safety tips that may be helpful for the cold winter weather we are expecting this weekend.
What to Wear
Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Clothing for children should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred.
If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet.
As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. His speech may become slurred and his body temperature will decline.
If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.
Frostbite
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that her skin burns or has become numb.
If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water. 104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips.
Do not rub the frozen areas.
After a few minutes, dry and cover him with clothing or blankets. Give him something warm to drink.
If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
What to Wear
Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Clothing for children should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred.
If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet.
As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. His speech may become slurred and his body temperature will decline.
If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.
Frostbite
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that her skin burns or has become numb.
If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water. 104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips.
Do not rub the frozen areas.
After a few minutes, dry and cover him with clothing or blankets. Give him something warm to drink.
If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Snowy Day Finger Plays
Here are some finger plays and songs about snow you may want to try.
Snowman Song: (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little snowman, round and fat. (hold arms in front of you in a big circle)
Here are my mittens, Here is my hat. (pretend to put on mittens,and a hat)
When the sun comes out I melt away. (put arms in a circle over head for the sun)
When the sun comes out I melt away. (put arms in a circle over head for the sun)
See you next year On a snowy day. (wave good by)
Walking in the Snow
Let's go walking in the snow,(walk)
Walking, walking on tiptoe(walk on tiptoe)
Lift one foot way up high (lift 1 foot)
Then the other to keep it dry.(lift other foot)
All around the yard we skip (skip around the room)
Watch your step or you might slip!(pretend to fall)
Supply Card Winner
The November winner of a 20 dollar Supply Card for Family Dollar was Crystal Kassler. Remember to get your Developmental Calendar in for December. It's easy to win! Each day of the month jot down what you and your child do that helps foster your child's development.Then give to your Service Coordinator or mail it in. Things like singing a song, counting, stacking blocks, telling your child nursery rhymes, or reading a book and pointing out the pictures are but a few ways to help build your child's development.
The snow is a perfect opportunity to explore something new. Talk about the snow. Explain that is cold and snow melts and becomes water when it gets warm. Bundle up and go outside. Let them touch and feel the snow. Bring some snow inside and watch it melt. Talk about it. Listen to your child, answer their questions. Don't be afraid that you might not know the answer. Let them know that you will find out together. Go to the Library and get books about snow. If you have the Internet at home look it up. This is showing your child different ways to learn and if they see you doing it they will grow up to do the same. After all, parents are the first and most influential teachers of their children and these early years lay the foundation for yor child's success in school and life. Most of all, remember to have fun!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Heres a fun recipe to make with your child
Magic Reindeer Food
Makes: 1 1/4 cups Ready In: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup oatmeal 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
Directions:(Note: while many recipes for Magic Reindeer Food call for craft glitter, this ingredient can harm birds or wildlife if eaten. Substitute colored sugar crystals and be kind to animals!) In a small zipper food storage bag or empty shaker container, mix ingredients.
Add this poem if giving for gifts: "Be sure to take this magic food and sprinkle on the lawn, On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn. The smell of oats and glitter path will guide them on their way and you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn on Christmas Day!"
Makes: 1 1/4 cups Ready In: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup oatmeal 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
Directions:(Note: while many recipes for Magic Reindeer Food call for craft glitter, this ingredient can harm birds or wildlife if eaten. Substitute colored sugar crystals and be kind to animals!) In a small zipper food storage bag or empty shaker container, mix ingredients.
Add this poem if giving for gifts: "Be sure to take this magic food and sprinkle on the lawn, On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn. The smell of oats and glitter path will guide them on their way and you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn on Christmas Day!"
And the winner is....
The October Supply Card Winner was Draven Ramsey. Congratulations. There are six more chances for winning a $20.00 Supply Card to Family Dollar Store in Middleport, Ohio. To win submit your Monthly Developmental Calendar (things you and your child do together that enhances your child's development) by the last week of the month. Your name is placed in a drawing of all entries and if we choose your calendar you are the winner!
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