Spring has sprung, so head outside with your little learner! Children are born ready to explore, and the great outdoors is full of opportunities for them to engage all five senses in new and wonderful ways.
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Natural Play in the Preschool Yard (Community Playthings)
Irvine Nature Center
When it comes to favoritism among children, perception matters most. In fact, a recent study shows that children who view themselves as slightly less favored by parents, are almost twice as likely as those who do not have this perception, to use alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. Listen to find out what researchers recommend to avoid this problem.
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The demand for child care to accommodate children with special needs is substantial. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say one in 68 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder each year. Thankfully, Maryland Family Network’s LOCATE: Child Care is here to help.
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Children find a mother’s voice comforting. And now, researchers at Harvard Medical School think it might have healing powers, too. Listen find out more.
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Mother’s voice and heartbeat sounds elicit auditory plasticity in the human brain before full gestation (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science)
One the most influential teachers a child may ever have is in an early care and education setting. Yet the pay for child care professionals is often close to the same wage as fast food workers. This has been the case for far too long and a change is due.
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2015 Child Care Demographics (Maryland Family Network)
Children enrolled in state-supported pre-Kindergarten programs are less likely to be placed in special education according to a new study by Duke University. This leads researchers to believe that early childhood education can address developmental delays in children prior to a child enrolling in Kindergarten.
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Study Finds Preschool Programs Lower Special Education Referrals (EdSource)
Congratulations! You child is ready to graduate to a "big kid" bed. But are you ready? Listen for information that will help the transition to toddler bed go smoothly.
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Ask Dr. Sears: From Crib to Bed (Parenting.com)
Robin Parker is a single mom living in Anne Arundel County. When her children were one and two years old, she found herself in a difficult spot. Affordable safe quality child care was out of reach for the struggling family. But one program changed the odds. Learn more about the ways Early Head Start makes a big difference.
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Maryland’s Network of Family Support Centers (Maryland Family Network)
Find your Local Early Head Start Center (Maryland Family Network)
Maryland Head Start Association
Early Head Start National Resource Center
Self-control can be hard. New ways of dieting, exercising and saving money are seem to always be in the news. But a recent study demonstrates that adults who learn self-control as very young children grow up healthier and with few financial problems. Learn more.
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For Kids, Self-Control Factors into Future Success (NPR)
Promoting Self-Control: It Might Not Be What You Think (Huffington Post)
Babies love to nap and they love to learn. All that sleeping just might be making them better learners.
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Napping Helps Infants Form Memories, Study Shows (Baltimore Sun)