Keys To Care Giving

1. Keys To Care Giving

2. PHYSICAL NEEDS • Keep children safe • Keep children warm • Provide adequate rest • Keep children clean • Keep children fed

3. Keep Children Safe • Keep in a safe environment. • Think ahead…what dangers are lurking? • Remember the 6 points of danger: • Choking • Sharp Objects • Automobiles • Burns • Drowning • Poisoning

4. Keep Children Safe • Tell a grown up if you suspect child abuse. • The following numbers can also be used: • 1-800-678-9399 • 1-800-422-4453

5. Keep Children Warm • Kids don’t need to be a lot warmer than you. • Cover with a light blanket when weather is slightly cool. • In cold weather, protect their head, hands and feet. Keep them covered.

6. Provide Adequate Rest • Infants sleep 20 out of 24 hours when they are newborn. • Older infants usually need 2 naps a day. • Toddlers usually need one nap a day. • It is the responsibility of the caregiver to ensure that kids get enough sleep.

7. Keep Children Clean • Children should be taught to wash hands often, especially before eating and after using the rest room. • It has been shown that poor dental health can even contribute to heart disease. • Children may need to be encouraged to take a bath or shower.

8. Keep Children Fed • Small children have small stomachs, and they cannot eat a large amount of food at one time. • For that reason, we need to ensure that kids eat healthy food. • They need food from all parts of the food pyramid. • Don’t let food be a battleground. Some kids are very picky when young, but they outgrow it.

9. EMOTIONAL NEEDS • Avoid fearful situations. • Provide praise and assurance. • Keep calm. • Build self-esteem. • Give love and attention

10. Avoid Fearful Situations • Movies • Books or stories • Halloween haunted houses • When an adult is out of control • Never discount a child’s fear. It is real to them. • Can use air freshener “monster spray”.

11. Provide Praise and Assurance • Praise is genuine; kids can tell when we are faking it. • Praise them about things they DO well rather than how they LOOK. • Assurance means letting them know they are safe and you will take care of them.

12. Keep Calm • It is scary to children when the person in charge is out of control and is yelling, etc… • If you need a time out, take one. • It is okay to put an infant in a safe place like a crib and let them cry until you calm down.

13. Build Self-Esteem • Give children opportunities to do well at something. • Never use labeling or name calling. • Tell children when they do something right or good. I don’t like being called names!

14. Give Love and Attention • Physical touch such as holding babies, cuddling them, kissing them is important. • Children in European orphanages during WWII suffered from failure-to-thrive syndrome. • Had physical needs met. • Didn’t have enough touching and attention • Didn’t grow and develop normally.

15. GUIDANCE NEEDS • Use directive statements. • Use discipline prevention methods. • Provide learning activities in a learning environment. • Discipline with love.

16. USE DIRECTIVE STATEMENTS • These work better than corrective statements. • Tell the child what you want them to do instead of “don’t” or “no”. • Example: “Close the door quietly” instead of “Don’t slam the door!”

17. USE DISCIPLINE PREVENTION METHODS. • Anticipate possible problems ahead of time. • If you have permanent markers with a 2 year old, you may have a problem! • Provide clear expectations and rules. • Be consistent in the way you deal with children. Don’t say one thing and do another.

18. DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE • Tell the child you love him/her but do not like what he/she did. • Do not spank, hit or slap a child.

19. PROVIDE LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT • Turn off the TV, video games and computer! • Small children do not need to watch TV. • There are other educational games besides computer games and electronic toys. • Use books, puzzles, outdoor play, dress-ups, etc… • Children learn by doing.

20. DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUES • Divert the child’s attention. • Physically help the child do what you want him/her to do. • Start a new physical activity. • Use a “time out” period. • Don’t give a choice if there isn’t one. • Give a warning when an activity is about to change.

21. DIVERT THE CHILD’S ATTENTION • Draw the child’s attention to a new toy or activity. • Their short attention span will help them forget what they were upset about.

22. PHYSICALLY HELP THE CHILD DO WHAT YOU WANT • Sometimes you will need to hold the child’s hand and help them pick up their toys or do another job. • This does not mean you can be physically rough or mean.

23. START A NEW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY • Change is good…. • If kids are fighting, change from a quiet activity to one that is active or vice-versa. • “Let’s finish our game and go outside to ride bikes!” • Let’s stop playing basketball and go do a puzzle.

24. USE A TIME OUT PERIOD • The purpose is to let the child regain control of emotions and actions. • Should be short…one minute for every year they are old. • Need to remove them from others and whatever activity prompted the misbehavior.

25. DON’T GIVE A CHOICE IF THERE ISN’T ONE • Don’t ask a question during a command. • Do you want to go to bed? • It is time for bed, okay? • The correct way is to say, “It is bed time.” • Do give choices between two things that are acceptable to you. • “Do you want macaroni and cheese or sandwiches for lunch?” • Do you want to play legos or read a story?

26. GIVE A WARNING AT THE CHANGE OF ACTIVITIES • No one likes to be yanked out of something they are enjoying. • Tell them they are about to change. • “In five minutes you need to get ready for bed.” • “Three times down the slide, and we have to go home.” • This solves many tantrums and arguments. It lets kids know what is going to happen. A warning is like a “yellow light”.

27. CREDITS • The previous information was taken from the Family and Consumer Science TLC curriculum.