Sarpy County/ESU#3 Head Start

Head Start Families:

As we approach fall and our calendar continues to fill up, we wanted to share a few important dates and opportunities to keep on your radar.

Fall Festival
Don’t forget to join us for our Fall Festival on Thursday, October 15th, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. at ESU #3. We look forward to spending time with our families and enjoying a fun fall evening together!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

October is a wonderful time to connect with your child’s teacher through Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please watch for announcements from your child’s teacher and be sure to sign up for a conference. This is a great opportunity to partner with your child’s teacher, review information about your child’s progress, and learn more about the skills they have been developing and demonstrating in the classroom.

Family Zoom: Language Development
On Wednesday, October 28th, we invite you to join us for a special Zoom presentation, “From Babbling to Books: How Talk Builds Literacy Skills.”

This session will focus on language-development milestones by age and provide parents with practical ways to support language skills at home. Building strong language skills early can help prepare children for success as they learn to read.

Join the Zoom October 28th at 4:30 p.m.:
https://zoom.us/j/99532669396?pwd=vDowizEtbzV5hI9CQ6d84aillbbLwQ.1

Holiday Assistance
As the holiday season approaches, our team will also have information and resources available regarding Holiday Assistance programs. Please be mindful of application deadlines and submit any required documents to staff in a timely manner so we can make sure your family is considered for available assistance.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you to support your child’s growth, learning, and success. We look forward to a wonderful fall season together!

Sincerely,

Audra Oestreich

Director

Sarpy County/ESU #3 Head Start

Although tantrums can surely be unpleasant, try to see them as opportunities for

your child to learn—about rules and limits, about feelings, and about

self-regulation—all critical skills for life.

Prevention

Tantrums from small children can have surprising emotional impact—knocking grown-ups off

balance in the moment.

Taking a preventive approach can benefit everyone. Here are some actions you can take ahead

of a major meltdown:

Separate yourself from your child’s behavior. This can be tough in a

culture that blames parents for “doing it wrong” if a child is having a

tantrum. Remind yourself that your child isn’t purposefully trying to

humiliate you—he is just having a hard time coping. Your job is to support,

guide, and stay calm. Let the bystanders think what they want.

Decide if setting a limit is necessary, also known as “choosing your

battles.” Get clear on what limits are important, and where you can be

flexible.

Offer advance notice about when an activity is about to end. “When

this book is finished, we’re going home,” or, “When the timer dings, it’s time

for your bath.” This heads-up will work sometimes, but don’t be surprised

when it doesn’t.

Give age-appropriate choices. Ask, “Do you want the blue or red cup?”

or, “Do you want to brush your teeth before or after books?” Avoid asking

questions if no choice is actually being offered, for example: “Your job is to

put all the blocks back in the box”, versus “Can you clean up your toys?”

Set your limit with as little emotion (and as few words) as possible.

The more matter-of-fact you can be, the better. Talk in a low, steady voice

and be aware of the nonverbal messages you’re sending with your facial

expression and body language. Using a kind and compassionate tone can

be calming to your child. (And, it’s also a way to soothe yourself during a

stressful time.)

Intervention and Support

Lots of parents ask, “How can I get my child to calm down?” This is tricky because you can’t

actually make children calm down. What you can do is respond in ways that maximize the

chance that they will pull themselves together more quickly.

Here are some things you can try to deal with toddler tantrums:

Keep yourself calm and present in the face of the tantrum. When a

child is having a hard time, she needs you to be her rock. If you have a big

reaction (frowning, shouting, getting upset), your child is likely to get even

more riled up, making it harder for her to calm down. Co-regulation is

important for helping a child learn to manage their emotions.

Validate your child’s feelings and perspective: Say, for instance, “You

really wanted another cookie. You are upset that you can have only one.” If

you skip this step, your child is likely to dial up his reaction to show you just

how much he wants another cookie. Skipping this step and going straight to

reassurance (“You’ll be fine—you’ll have another cookie after dinner”) may

just fuel the tantrum.

Honor your child’s feelings while holding the limit. Your child’s feelings

are not right or wrong. It is how feelings get expressed that can be

problematic, such as hitting when angry. Give her some space while

continuing to supervise: “You are so upset your whole mind and body are

out of control. I will be here by your side and wait for you to calm.” You can

also make space for feelings (“I see that you are upset.”), while putting

limits on behavior (“I will stop you from hitting.”). This can be done calmly,

and without passing judgment or shaming the child.

Offer connection, physical comfort, or an alternate activity. You can

ask if he wants a hug or offer a soothing activity like sand or water play. You

could share a favorite song or book, or go for a walk together.

Model and share how to take a break. Take a parent “time-out” if you

need it (ensuring your child is in a safe place). Create a safe “Cozy Corner”

where children can feel relaxed and go to calm down.

Offer an acceptable way to “get the mad out.” Some toddlers love

learning new words to describe their feelings, such as furious, irate, and

livid. You can also offer an activity like ripping paper, stomping feet, or

punching a pillow/ball of clay—activities that you see as acceptable ways to

express anger.

With lots of modeling and coaching, children learn to soothe and regulate themselves over time.

Although tantrums can surely be unpleasant, try to see them as opportunities for your child to

learn—about rules and limits, about feelings, and about self-regulation—all critical skills for life.

* October 16th - No School

* October 19th - No School

* October 23rd - No School

* November 2nd - No School

* November 11th - No School

* November 23rd-27th - No School