Celebrate Week of the Young Child!!!

Week of the Young Child is a national celebration April 11-15. Week of the Young Child is held each year to honor young children and thank teachers and all those who make a difference in young children’s lives. Alexander County Partnership for Children will hold a Week of the Young Child Kick Off and Open House Breakfast April 11th from 7:30am to 9am. Stop by and view children’s art work, book projects and recycled art.

Other special activities for this week include:
Monday, April 11
Car Seat Check
ACPC
2pm to 4pm
Car seats that are inappropriate will be replaced. No appointment needed.
April 12
Story Hour at Library with Ms. Mel
10am
Children attending will receive a free book to take home and read.
April 13
Reading With Rudy
Matheson Park
12:15-1:15
Join Rudy, the Black Lab from the Alexander County Public Library’s "Reading with Rudy", under the canopy at the park. Children attending will receive a free book to take home and read.
April 14
Spring Art Extravaganza
ACPC
10:30-Noon
Parents, grandparents and children are invited to attend an art session designed with the child in mind. Children will participate in art projects to take home.
April 15
Story Hour at Library
10am
Children attending will receive a free book to take home and read.

"Stewards For Children" Community Program

As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2011, Alexander County Partnership for Children is presenting
“Stewards of Children”- A program to empower Alexander County in the prevention of child sexual abuse.

“Stewards of Children” is proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behaviors. This revolutionary program is for any responsible adult who cares about the welfare of children including sports leagues, child care centers, after school programs, children’s clubs, church groups and more. Parents will also benefit from the program. Join us and learn:
• Facts about the problem of child sexual abuse
• The types of situations in which child sexual abuse might occur
• Simple, effective strategies for protecting children from sexual abuse
• The importance of talking about the prevention of sexual abuse with children and other adults
• Plus much, much more!

This powerful program will be presented on Thursday, April 28, 2011, 10:30am to 2pm at Taylorsville Presbyterian Fellowship Hall with lunch included and Thursday, April 28, 2011, 5:30pm to 9pm at Alexander Head Start with dinner included and child care available.

The real prevalence of child sexual abuse is not known because so many victims do not disclose or report their abuse. Researchers have suggested rates varying from 1% to 35%. Most professionals in the field of abuse use rates from 8% to 20%. Even if the true prevalence of child sexual abuse is not known, most will agree that there will be 500,000 babies born in the US this year that will be sexually abused before they turn 18 if we do not prevent it-1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls will be abused before their 18th birthdays.

Adult retrospective studies show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 18 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). This means there are more than 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S.

The primary reason that the public is not sufficiently aware of child sexual abuse as a problem is that 73% of child victims do not tell anyone about the abuse for at least a year. 45% of victims do not tell anyone for at least 5 years. Some never disclose (Smith et al., 2000; Broman-Fulks et al., 2007).
Think about it – attend “Stewards of Children” and in just 3 hours, you’ll have the information you need to better protect every child you know including your own. How can you say no? Sign up today! Space is limited and is available on a first come first serve basis.

1,002 Pledges Presented!

An Alexander County delegation traveled to Raleigh on March 23rd to meet with local legislators to discuss the importance of services for young children. Pictured are L-R Bonnie Canter, Director of Millersville Child Development Center; Kim Draughn, Director of Lulus Child Enrichment Center; Representative Mark Hollo; and Dale Clary, General Manager of Carris Reels and Board Chair of the Alexander County Partnership for Children. Not pictured Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of Alexander County Partnership for Children. 1,002 people who work & live in Alexander Co signed the Pledge to Protect the Children. This pledge acknowledges that communities thrive when children thrive. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, ministers, business professionals, doctors, social workers, nurses, and retirees are just a few of the folks who took the time to say children are important in Alexander County. This effort was led by the Alexander County Partnership for Children Board of Directors and assisted by the Chamber of Commerce. Signed pledges were presented to Representative Mark Hollo and Senator Dan Soucek. Alexander County Partnership for Children is a United Way agency.

Is It Time to Say "Good- Bye Diapers"

Thinking about saying good-bye to diapers for your child? Confused about how to begin the potty training process? It’s very difficult to go through the entire process of potty training without frustration or stress!

Alexander County Partnership for Children (ACPC) is once again providing a Potty Training 101 class for parents to help you in the process. Potty Training 101 is your resource for information on potty training toddlers, potty training readiness, potty training regression, and related information to assist you in successfully toilet training toddlers when they’re ready. Between the ages of 18 and 30 months, a child begins to show the readiness signs for potty training.

Potty Training 101 will be held on March 17th, 6pm at the ACPC office, 1565 NC Highway 90 West, Taylorsville-one mile past Food Lion. Come learn practical information, and proven techniques to ensure the best toilet-training experience for children and parents. Class will be taught by Tiffany Shumate CCR&R. Call Tiffany at 632-3799 extension 15 to register for this class or email tiffany@alexanderchildren.org. Child care can be made available upon request and no later than two days before the class.

More At Four Applications Available

Applications for the More at Four Pre-Kindergarten Program are now available. The More at Four program is designed to provide quality educational experiences in order to enhance kindergarten readiness for four-year-olds who are at-risk of school failure. The program is community-based, voluntary, free to participants, and designed to prepare at-risk four-year-olds in North Carolina for success in school.

Alexander County currently has 119 More at Four slots, housed in both private child care centers and Alexander Head Start. For more information, or to get an application, e-mail Susan Cogdill at susan@alexanderchildren.org or call 632-3799, extension 12. Applications are available at Alexander County Partnership for Children, 1565 NC Highway 90 West, Taylorsville and oour website www.alexanderchildren.org.

If you are concerned about your child’s readiness for Kindergarten, More at Four encourages you to complete an application. Children who are not currently enrolled in a child care program are prioritized. Your child must turn 4 on or before August 31, 2011 in order to be eligible. Eligibility is also based on income.

The application deadline is May 2, 2011 and must be received by the Alexander County Partnership for Children. Send to P.O. Box 1661, Taylorsville, NC 28681 or deliver to the ACPC office at 1565 NC Highway 90 West, Taylorsville on or before May 2nd in order to be eligible for one of the slots. Applications received after that day will be considered only when there are openings. More at Four classrooms operate on the school calendar. All More at Four services are free. Transportation is not provided.

Prevent Burns

Did you know that young children’s skin is thinner than older children and adults, and their skin burns at lower temperatures and more deeply?

Since burns are recognized as one of the most painful and devastating injuries a person can sustain and survive, we want to arm you with the tools to keep your children safe from this devastating injury.

• A scald is a burn from hot liquid or steam.
• 60% of all scald injuries are to children ages 0-4.
• The most common places children experience scalds are in the kitchen or dining rooms and in the bathrooms.
• The maximum recommended residential water temperature is 120˚F (48˚C).

It is important to remember that children, especially those ages 4 and under, may not perceive danger, have less control of their environment, may lack the ability to escape a life-threatening burn situation and may not be able to tolerate the physical stress of a burn injury.
Top tips to keep your kids safe around the house.

KITCHEN AND HOT FOOD
• Keep children at least 3 feet from hot appliances, pots, pans or food.
• Use spill-resistant mugs when drinking hot liquids around children.
• Avoid using tablecloths or anything a child can pull on and cause hot food to spill.
• When cooking, use back burners and keep pot handles turned towards the back of the stove.
• Always tuck cords from appliances where children cannot reach them.
• Never hold a child when cooking something hot.
• Test and stir all food before serving children to make sure it is cool enough to eat.
• Supervise children closely when they are in or near the kitchen.
BATHROOM
• Always test the bath water with your hand before bathing children.
• When children are in or near the bath, watch them closely checking the water temperature frequently.
• If you are unable to control the temperature that comes out of your faucet, install special tub spouts or shower heads that can shut off the flow of water when it gets too hot.

Information from SafeKids http://www.safekids.org.