Just when it is highly difficult for a stressed mother to offer the most support, when a baby is wailing inconsolably, is when an infant needs loving attention the most.

This approach especially in the first year of life pays dividends for later security, according to data from the large National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care.

That study shows that the mother’s sensitivity to her child’s needs is associated significantly with the chances forming a secure attachment to the mother, Nancy McElwain, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois here, and Cathryn Booth-LaForce, Ph.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle, reported in the August issue of the Journal of Family Psychology…

“The first year of life is so important and we can see from this study that the way mothers and caregivers respond to a baby’s distress is a very important factor in the child’s healthy development,” Dr. McElwain said. “It’s important that babies become securely attached to their caregivers because it’s the foundation for future healthy child development.”

Mothers who realize they are uncomfortable with their baby’s distress should try to change, she said. “Ideally, you want to show your child through your facial expression and your tone of voice that you understand how she feels and that you empathize with her,” Dr. McElwain said.

“Respond in a timely way to your infant’s cues, and let your interactions with your infant be driven by the baby’s agenda, not your agenda,” she added. “Try to see things from the infant’s point of view as much as possible.”

But the mother shouldn’t be obsessed. “Sensitivity doesn’t necessarily mean responding to your baby every minute of the day,” Dr. McElwain said. “It does mean thinking about why the baby is upset.”

Source: medpageTODAY
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Parenting/tb/3828

Laura Justice Wins Presidential Research Award

Justice, director of the Preschool Language & Literacy Lab in U.Va.’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, has been testing the best ways to boost language and reading skills — the building blocks of future academic success — by using storybooks. She is identifying specific techniques teachers and parents can use with preschool children, from low socioeconomic households or with language impairments, to see improvement before they run into problems in grade school.

With almost 40 percent of fourth graders unable to read at a basic level, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and most never catching up, Justice likens the problem to a public health concern…

It’s not just reading to children that’s important, she has found. For instance, intentionally talking to preschool children about print during shared reading activities makes a “dramatic impact” on their literacy, said Justice. Such elements include the front and back of the book, first and last pages, the title, individual words and letters…

“With print as the focus of attention, the children’s alphabet knowledge increased fourfold in eight weeks”…

Source: The University of Virginia News
http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2006/20060727LauraJusticeAward.html

According to a recent report by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), 63 percent of the nation’s children under five years of age are in some type of child-care arrangement every week; and most parents assume such programs are regulated to ensure the health and safety of their children. In reality, that is often not the case…

“The results of this survey should be a wake-up call to policy-makers,” said Linda K. Smith, NACCRRA’s Executive Director. “Parents need child care, and they don’t want just any care; they want high-quality care. They want their children in a safe and healthy learning environment that prepares them to enter school ready to succeed.”

According to the NACCRRA, the quality of care a child receives during the first five years of life is critical because 90 percent of brain development occurs during those years. “Forty-six percent of kindergarten teachers report that at least half of their students are not prepared to learn,” Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT). “If we are to remain a competitive nation, we simply must improve our early care and education.”

A Parents.com report indicates that children in high quality child care have better social, math, and language skills, as well as fewer behavior problems. Moreover, several long-term studies have shown that kids in high-quality early childhood programs are significantly less likely to drop out of school, repeat grades, need special education, or commit crimes. In fact, a recent study by the Committee for Economic Development (CED) revealed that for every dollar invested in such programs, taxpayers receive a net benefit of $2 to $4, a significant boost to the long-term economic growth of the country…

Source: FOXNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205917,00.html

It is an observation not a criticism, but Frost’s conversation suggests a woman who acts on instinct rather than intellect. Asked how she fits into the history of child-rearing gurus, from Dr Spock to Penelope Leach, she says she doesn’t know because she has never read the textbooks in her field. Her knowledge is experiential, not academic. “I am very intuitive with children. I’ve been in many situations, so I’ve used my experience to come up with the insights and techniques I implement with children. They’re tried and tested.” …

When she looks at a child, she doesn’t see what others see. “I know I don’t see the same thing because I’ll sit with people who say, ‘My God, she’s dreadful!’ And I won’t see that. I see what’s on the inside, and that’s what I want to show parents. It amazes me that people don’t see it.” …

The most important thing for young children, argues Frost, is structure. They need boundaries and they need consistency. When asked to name the biggest mistake modern parents make, Frost immediately says, “Not keeping their word. Parents who say one thing and then change it to suit themselves. And getting angry,” she adds. “When did it become acceptable to shout and swear at your children because you’re working 24 hours a day and are stressed and angry? Is that a good excuse? Not for me.” …

Source: The Scotsman.com
http://living.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1056562006

So-called liberation for women has left young mothers struggling desperately to balance life and home, and under so much pressure that they can no longer fulfil either role properly… The focus on work has, of course, enabled many women - including myself - to enjoy fulfilling careers. But the pendulum has surely swung too far…

What is happening now is that, thanks to a mix of political and financial pressures, mothers are being forced into the career marketplace long before they are ready to leave their children - and before their children are ready to be left…

Raising a child is hard work. It takes time and cannot be shoehorned into a few minutes at either end of the day. And ideally, it takes both a mother and a father…

As a result, children have no understanding of the meaning of stable relationships, nor do they find it easy to accept authority.

Source: The Daily Mail
http://tinyurl.com/youfs3

South African and international research shows that the first few years of children’s lives are critical for development. The early years of children’s lives are the period when they acquire concepts, skills and attitudes that lay the foundation for lifelong learning. This is the time when children’s brain development is at its peak…

Research also shows that from the time before birth until a child enters primary school, development advances at a pace greater than at any other stage in life. During this period, children develop linguistic and cognitive skills and begin to exhibit emotional, social and moral capabilities.

Source: The Cape Argus
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=498&fArticleId=3346073

Is divorce ever a good option for the children?

Yes, it can be, but there are many sides to the issue. Some parenting specialists believe that children living in chaotic or unhappy marriages learn bad parenting techniques, and feel that these kids would benefit in the long run by their parents divorcing. However, one leading authority on the family (Judith Wallerstein, author of “The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce”) disagrees. She theorizes that keeping the family intact is of such import that, even if unhappy or lonely, parents who are able to remain civil (not exposing the kids to fights, coldness or extreme disagreements) provide a better option than divorce. But folks who can commit to living together respectfully when actually desiring to be apart are rare, as this often means putting their own happiness and perceived fulfillment “on hold” until the kids are older or have left the home…

Source: MSNBC
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13924018/

Studies have long shown that boys in the United States and around the world do not read or write as well as girls. There are several reasons, according to the common wisdom: — Girls mature more quickly. — Boys are more likely to suffer dyslexia and other reading disorders. — Race and poverty play a role.

But a new study finds that the problem cuts across socioeconomic lines and pins part of the blame on schools, whose techniques cater to the strengths of girls and leave boys utterly disinterested… In school, teachers emphasize reading literature and talking about character and feelings,” she said. “This way of teaching reading does not turn boys on. Boys prefer reading nonfiction, such as history and adventure books. When they are taught at home, parents are more likely to let them follow their interests.”

Source: FOXNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204181,00.html

It’s now not enough for a child to find their coat cubby and sit still for circle time. By the end of kindergarten they need basic literacy and math skills…

When they finish kindergarten, students have to be able to write a short piece of text such as a greeting card or grocery list — even if they haven’t spelled the words correctly… They have to be able to retell a story, with an accurate sequence of events. They must be able to estimate quantities, understand the concept of volume and decipher simple math problems using words instead of numerals…

Increasingly, teachers are facing pressure from parents, boards and principals to make their programs less about play and more about academics.

Source: The Toronto Star
http://tinyurl.com/yqgewc

Momentum is building for a significant investment in the quality and quantity of child care.

The movement is welcome. Success should be measured by how rapidly child-care centers broaden from mere baby-sitting to places offering educational enrichment and stimulation. A growing body of brain research argues convincingly for educating children early, even in utero. Science has revealed that the majority of brain development occurs between infancy and age 5. If educators miss that crucial window, children enter school unprepared for the K-12 system’s heightened academic requirements. That is the reality right now. Half of our state’s children enter kindergarten unprepared to learn.

Gov. Christine Gregoire has been on the right side of this issue from day one. Not long after entering office, Gregoire merged three offices to create the Department of Early Learning. The move places day care, child care and preschool education under one strategic roof.

Gregoire has teamed up with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to lead “Thrive by Five: The Washington Early Learning Fund.” The entity will boost training, education and support for child-care center staff and for parents…

These are good things. Children of privilege have long benefited from early learning. Their parents enrolled them in private preschools with low teacher-to-child ratios and learning plans for students as young as 2. Toys and activities designed to stimulate young brains are a mainstay in private early-learning centers…

Source: The Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003131504_childed17.html