Kindness

“When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it also helps us to develop inner happiness and peace,” ~Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama talks about how being kind can lead to our own peace and happiness. Kindness matters and our local businesses and non-profits were on board too with their own campaigns to spread the word. This move to the Heartland has been such a wonderful experience for me and my entire family. Grateful for my personal and professional rewards as I reflect on my moving anniversary. Not just in the Heartland but everywhere kindness is all around us. Maybe just being ready to look for it wherever we are is the key? Look for the kindness heartbeat where you are. What do you notice? How does it make you feel? How can we promote acts of kindness?

Poet, Mary Oliver, posed a question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Let’s plan to cultivate kindness every day and everywhere. If you happen to see me driving by, wave! Please just assume that I’m driving slow (not to irritate you) because I’m checking on my animals or the corn. I’ll wave back thrilled to see you while enjoying this amazing ride. #makekindnessloud

You Can Do It!

Create some art for home with our little ones. With families spending more time at home, here is an activity to do with children using recycled tin cans depending on the child’s age and/or developmental abilities.

Make animals from cans. Here my little one and I cleaned out our junk drawer and got things to glue on the cans to make owls. Be sure to set the activity up for safety and supervise children at all times. Can you have fun repurposing tin can. Yes! Yes, you CAN do it!

Small Moments, Big Memories!

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” ~Vincent Van Gogh

I love the above quote by post-impressionist painter, Vincent Van Gogh. It reminds me that great things come from small beginnings. To me, I feel like Van Gogh was talking about the importance of tiny, little, miniature moments. Small things and moments that are brought together can make a big difference. It is the daily activities and routines that can have a meaningful impact on a child’s overall development. 

When I was little, mealtime routines were a big event at my home and school. Every night my family sat around the table to eat dinner together. At school, we sat at our desks during lunch time. Tucked into my 1970s Donny & Marie Osmond lunchbox was evidence of my mother’s love when I was at school. I was so proud of that lunchbox. A former cool whip container held homemade pasta and meatballs, piece of fruit, spoon, and washcloth. It wasn’t until some of the girls in my class made fun of my food that I became self-conscious about what was in my lunchbox. I started to feel embarrassed by the ethnic food my Italian family sent me to school with and the recycled vessels like cool whip containers and butter tubs. Today I feel embarrassed that I was embarrassed by my school lunch. I remember feeling like I wanted to fit in with the other kids and have a lunch of peanut butter and jelly on plain Wonder bread. When I became a teacher, I tried to help my students feel proud of their heritage and culture. It is who we are.

If you celebrate Valentine’s Day, I have an activity you can do that celebrates reusing and recycling common household objects (like my parents did with cool whip and butter tub containers). Take a container that holds plastic or aluminum wrap. Remove the contents and the jagged edge that cuts the wrap/film or aluminum. This should leave your box smooth and safe to now decorate to your hearts content. In this picture you can see we painted the box and added wallpaper to the top lid. You and your children can create yours any way you like. Play with creativity. Once you have your box beautifully decorated, fill it with a yummy treat. We rolled Oreo cookies in frosting and sprinkles.

What would Van Gogh do? I think he would create lasting things. We can too. Create lasting memories out of the common daily activities and objects. During the pandemic many parents are looking for things to do with their little ones because we are spending so much more time together at home. Give children a scavenger hunt and have them find objects around the house that can be repurposed to create a Valentine’s gift ala the box of goodies. Reuse and recycle household object(s) to create beautiful artistic gifts for your loved ones. You can turn the small moment into a big memory for your child. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Thank you, Dolly!

“I always just thought if you see somebody without a smile, give'em yours!” ~Dolly Parton

The scent of turkey is starting to permeate the house as I pluck at letters to make words with only the twinkling tree and computer screen lighting my way across the keyboard. I’m waiting for the rest of my family to wake up. Today is Thanksgiving! With abundant gratitude I reflect on my blessings. I am grateful for my husband of 21 years, my precious daughter, my Mom and Dad, my two brothers, my 4 nieces and 4 nephews, in-laws, extended family members in America and Italy, and friends. I am especially grateful during this health crisis for my own good health, and the health of my family and friends. I am grateful for my students, colleagues, and work. I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

Before the day is over, people will start holiday shopping. Gift exchange season is upon us. This year might look different for many of us because of the global pandemic and health crisis. Instead of giving and receiving presents in person, many will be going to our mailbox and using postal and delivery services for exchanging holiday presents and cards. 

Parents and children in the US and other countries will be going to their mailbox and they will receive presents from the musician - Ms. Dolly Parton. The gifts she gives children every month are…BOOKS! Glorious books! The Imagination Library is a foundation that Dolly started in honor of her Father.

For over 20 years, the Imagination Library gifts children with books once a month. A personalized book with the child’s name is mailed to their family’s home. Children continue to receive these monthly books from birth until they go to Kindergarten. Dolly’s early literacy gift can help children learn language, letter sounds, story elements, and so much more.

I got to talk with Mr. David Dotson, CEO of the Imagination Library, on a recent episode of the BUTTERCUP podcast. Check it out and hear what he said about Dolly’s wish, where the logo from the library comes from, how Dolly and David work with authors and publishers to deliver books to children, pursuing a career in the non-profit world, and the story of the Imagination Library. There will also be a premiere of the Imagination Library documentary on Dec. 9th at 7pm on Facebook that Mr. Dotson shared on the podcast. Mark your calendar.

David Dotson, CEO of Imagination Library

This season I am so grateful for gift givers, like Dolly and David, and want to be sure to communicate my gratitude. Time for me to start writing my THANK YOU letters to David Dotson, Dolly Parton, and the Imagination Library team who give the gift of early literacy to children. Thank you for your thoughtful and generous gift of books. Thank you all so much!

Dolly Parton, Founder of Imagination Library

Child Find on a Virtual Home Visit

Connecting children with services is a critical concern in the face of the global pandemic. Child Find is a system that focuses on early identification of delays and/or disabilities in children. In America, Child Find has been in existence since 1975 when P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children’s Act was passed by congress. Today we call this law the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The intent of IDEA Child Find is, “to create and implement a system to actively locate…children with disabilities.” There are many ways to actively locate children who may be eligible for IDEA services due to a delay or disability.

One way to find children who are eligible for community-based services is on a virtual home visit.

If someone close to the child (e.g., parent, family member, familiar caregiver) has a concern, they can contact their local provider(s) who could follow up on their concern by conducting a developmental screening assessment during a virtual home visit. First, staff provide screening tools in advance for parents to review. Some parents may wish to complete screening tool independently, or during the virtual home visit. Staff score questionnaires and discuss results with parents during the virtual home visit. Be sure families have the technology needed to conduct a virtual home visit. Screening materials could be available in the home using things that are familiar to the child. Adequate time is necessary for parents to try and/or observe items with the child. Staff may translate or adapt for cultural, language differences.

For more information check out this webinar called “Child Find: Identifying Children for IDEA Services in a Remote and Virtual Context.” I made this webinar for the Brookes Coffee Chat series and it is now available on demand at the following link:

https://brookespublishing.com/resource-library/child-find-identifying-children-for-idea-services-in-a-remote-and-virtual-context/

Child Find Using Phone

Connecting children with services they need is a concern in the face of the global pandemic resulting from Covid-19. Child Find is a system that focuses on early identification of delays and/or disabilities in children.

In America, Child Find has been in existence since 1975 when P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children’s Act, was passed by congress. Today we call this law the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The intent of IDEA Child Find is, “to create and implement a system to actively locate…children with disabilities.” There are many ways to actively locate children who may be eligible for IDEA services due to a delay or disability. One way is through developmental screening over the phone.

If someone close to the child (e.g., parent, family member, familiar caregiver) has a concern, they can contact their local provider(s) who could follow up on their concern by conducting a developmental screening assessment with them over the phone. A phone interview would consist of the professional using their developmental screening instrument to guide them in asking questions over the phone.

Questions are derived from the screener. Questions from the developmental screening instrument could be filled out by the professional based on answers provided over the phone by the person familiar with the child.

Considerations for using the phone to conduct developmental screening include: (a) arrange a time for the phone interview that is optimal for parent(s), (b)  allow for the possibility for the child to participate in the phone interview because the parent may need time to interact with the child in order to determine if the child can do a skill, and (c) conduct the interview in the family’s preferred language.

Once the interview is finished the professional could score the screening while the parent is still on the phone and share results, or scoring could be done later and results shared at another time.

Follow up is a critical part of the process and should be done in a timely manner. Follow up with the parent with results of the screening assessment. Share resources and recommendations for next steps.

The phone interview is a strategy that can be used when a remote context is needed like during a quarantine. However, a phone interview strategy to conduct IDEA Child Find can be used anytime when a phone interview can help screen children.

For more information check out this webinar called “Child Find: Identifying Children for IDEA Services in a Remote and Virtual Context.” I made this webinar for the Brookes Coffee Chat series and it is now available on demand at the following link:

https://brookespublishing.com/resource-library/child-find-identifying-children-for-idea-services-in-a-remote-and-virtual-context/

Things to Consider as a Result of COVID-19

The vice provost of our university’s digital learning program, Dr. Thomas Cavanagh, wrote on Twitter that one of the lessons he has learned recently from this national experiment in remote teaching is that it is impossible to over-communicate.

I’m reminded of this lesson daily about communication. Effective communication is imperative even though we are physically distant from one another as we move our work to a virtual/remote format. The world has changed so much since the last time I wrote a blog entry. It feels like 327 years ago…but it was only about a month ago on March 1, 2020 when I was writing about bulletin boards.

A global pandemic has changed all of our lives. For me, I’m healthy and safe at home with my family. Yay! I am extremely grateful. The quarantine has been going well. I get to work from home teaching adults who are working on their undergraduate and graduate degrees in Child Development and Early Education. COVID-19 has changed how I interact and teach my students. I’m lucky to have the support and resources of my university to teach online.

In addition to the physical space, another thing that has changed for me is my work attire. I’ve added a new accessory to my work-from-home wardrobe. Virtual classroom teaching and virtual office hours attire for me now includes mouse ears. Yup, that’s me….

Marisa Macy

I love my students and I love Disney so I’ve tried to stay positive by signaling happiness with the way I dress for virtual teaching. Luckily I have several sets of ears between my Disney wardrobe and my family’s wardrobe that they have agreed to share with me. Thank you, fam! Here’s a picture I took a while back at a store in Disney Springs where I shop for mouse ears. I am looking forward to the day I can go back there and shop.

Another lesson that I’ve learned during this move to a virtual/remote format is how valuable it is to connect with people. Some ways I’ve been staying connected with others is through electronic communication, video conferencing, and phone calls. I haven’t talked this much on the phone since I was a teenager.

This global pandemic has been challenging for everyone. For my college students it has been rough on them in many ways. Students may not have the equipment and/or resources at home to fully function in an online capacity. Many students have had their final field experience disrupted and moved to a virtual/remote format. Several of my students did not even get a chance to say goodbye to the children they had been working with all semester which has been heartbreaking for them. Graduation celebrations have been postponed or canceled. I feel terrible that students may not get to experience the joy of walking across the stage at graduation and shaking our Dean’s hand at commencement. I’m so sorry for these and other things that are being missed out on as a result of the quarantine.

With so many things that have changed as a result of moving to remote/virtual format, we may find ourselves using time differently. Quarantine time may be an opportunity to add some professional activities that were hard to find time for before the global pandemic. I created this list with the help of my spring 2020 practicum students (thank you CB, JC, NF, EK, EP, KT, and JV … you guys have been such a pleasure getting to know better this semester!).

Here are things to consider if you are looking for ways to experience gratitude,  learn, and grow during COVID-19.

1.   Make a smile file. A recipe box with index cards are where I add things that happen I want to remember that make me happy. Here is an example of something that happened to me that is on an index card in my Smile File. What would you add to your file?

2.   Create a parent newsletter.

3.   Develop or revise program/agency handbook.

4.   Find ways to communicate with children and/or parents using other modalities. Learn or work on proficiency in other languages to include sign language.

5.  Create a resource list or binder.

6.  Work on curriculum or curricular enhancements.

7.   Attend virtual meetings, workshops, and/or trainings.

8.  Write reflection paper. Storyboard your ideas and experiences.

9.  Make a virtual bulletin board or design your future spaces.

10. Watch video clips on skills like positive behavior supports and other topics that enrich professional development.

11. Communicate with parents. Share tips and/or activities they can do with their child during quarantine.

12. Collaborate with related specialists (e.g., speech language pathologist, therapists, other), if applicable.

13. Set up a time to check in with others on a regular basis.

14. Participate in webinars that pertain to Early Education. I’ll be doing one on authentic assessment in May for Brookes Publishing. Stay tuned….

15. Make a parent letter/video/song/other of what parents can do at home with their children while they are away from school.

16. Look up different ideas and hands on activities to do with children. Here is an example of an art activity I love to do with my daughter.

17. Research and make program brochure.

18. Learn and use tools to implement developmental activities.

19. Create developmentally appropriate resources for parents to use during the COVID-19 quarantine.

This historical time in our lives is an opportunity for us to grow together. Right before the quarantine, I interviewed Mr. Bill Isler for the Buttercup iTunes show. Mr. Isler ran the Fred Rogers Productions Company and contributed and appears in the Tom Hanks movie about Mr. Rogers entitled, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (2019).

Mr. Bill Isler

Mr. Isler shared some wonderful stories about his time with Mr. Rogers. One thing Mr. Rogers encouraged children to do is talk about their feelings and look for the helpers. Children and adults could all benefit by remembering kindness during these times and look for ways to not only survive but thrive during this difficult time. We will get through this together. Stay safe, stay connected, and look for the helpers, and/or become a helper. Wishing you good health!  

See ya real soon. Charge on!

“Parenting is a Participation Sport”

On a recent episode of the Buttercup podcast, my guest Mr. Art Sims said that “parenting is a participation sport.” He was talking about balancing work and life while raising 5 awesome children. Mr. Sims shared how being present in children’s lives matters. Laughter and being present are important in leaving a legacy for children, described Mr. Sims.

I have been thinking about his words, and wondering how to become more present. Being distracted is the enemy of presence. As adults it is easy for us to get distracted with work and other responsibilities.

“Phubbing” is nothing new. Growing up, it was common for me to hear phrases like, “shh, I’m on the phone,” “be quiet kids this is a long distance call from (fill in the blank),” and “I’m trying to talk on the phone here.” We had a phone that was attached to the wall and had a curly cord that made it impossible for my parents to talk on the phone more than 2 feet from the wall. Calls were usually brief because of the discomfort of holding the phone in the crook of one’s neck. “Phubbing” is where someone is snubbed by another with their phone.

Ph (phone) + snub = phub. Phubbing can occur when we focus on phones and ignore the humans in our presence. Today us parents have so many more things we can do with our phones that make it more challenging if we use the smart phone with our children present. I remembered something Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that to change the world, go home and love your family. Parenting is a participation sport where our children thrive on engagement.

Innovation in the Sunshine State

Children removed from their parents experience trauma and early attachment is disturbed. Our court system is responding and creating trauma-informed policies for children and families.

I am at the Zero to Three national conference and wanted to share something exciting with you about our state.

Last night at the keynote to kick off the conference, Justice Barbara J. Pariente (FL Supreme Court) and Dr. Mimi Graham (Florida State University) presented info about how Florida is leading the way with building Safe Babies Court Teams. I attached a picture here. Florida is being used as a model for other states. We have 24 early childhood therapeutic problem solving courts across Florida! FANTASTIC!

I am sharing more about this conference on Twitter. Feel free to follow if you're interested @marisa_macy.

Give Kids the World

Many people walked by and did not stop to help when a young child was in distress. The little girl was in potential danger all by herself in this big world and campus. K.T. was walking on campus at our university when she noticed the child. The little girl was separated from her Mom when K.T. stopped to ask if she needed help. The little girl said her Mom parked her car in the garage that goes “round and round.” They searched parking garages together. They tried to call home, but no answer. After looking for what might have felt like an eternity, the child and her mother were reunited.

How many times do we look the other way when we might be able to be helpful to someone? It is good that people like K.T.  are willing stop and help. How can we help children?

·       We can give kids the world when we take time to become aware of their needs.

·       We can give kids the world when we show we care about them.

·       We can give kids the world when we help them when they are in danger.

The way she responded is inspirational. Let’s follow K.T.’s model and Give Kids the World.

Communication with Families

This semester in my early childhood assessment class we have a peer coaching program where parental communication is a focus. The university has created a High Impact Practice (HIP) Peer Coaching program that we are using to support college students in their development of effective parental communication around early childhood assessment and assessment practices.

Here are 7 tips for meaningful communication with children's parents when English is not their first language created by María Spinetti who is a Guest Blogger and a HIP Peer Coach.

1) Establish what language is best to communicate. Ask parents if they feel comfortable with English or if they would rather have the message translated. Even though it does not take long to translate an email to the parents, doing so demonstrates a willingness to accommodate their needs and helps them feel supported.

2) Establish what is the best way to communicate. Some cultures prefer face-to-face meetings, while others are more used to emails. Let the parents know how to best contact you.

3) Avoid using acronyms no matter how common you think they are. This can be hard depending on your job, but if the parent is translating the message, the acronym won’t translate.

4) Establish your job title and responsibilities. For jobs such as Child Life Specialist, chances are they have never heard of the position before and don’t know what to expect from you. To establish a healthy relationship, it is important to determine expectations from both ends. This doesn’t have to be long, but explicit enough for parents to understand your role.

5) Be succinct. For non-native English speakers it can be daunting or exhausting to read a very long paragraph in a language that they don’t speak very well.

6) When explaining your degree, a lot can be lost in translation. Some countries don’t have AA degrees or use words like major and minor. Similarly, when translating the word “bachelor’s”, there is a high chance that the new word won’t be accurate. I recommend sticking to more universal words such as university or college.

7) If you will be meeting, determine how you are going to communicate. Whether parents need to bring a translator, or your employer will provide one. Maybe they are comfortable enough speaking in English. Either way, sorting this out will allow them to be prepared for your meeting.

Message from today’s guest blogger:

My name is Maria Spinetti, I was born in Venezuela and moved to the United States when I was 18 years old. I’m currently an Early Childhood Education major at the University of Central Florida. Coming from a different culture, I have come to realize how nuances can be difficult to understand and how communication is dictated by cultural practices. Sincerely, Maria Spinetti

Take Time

Effective communication does not just happen. We must take time to build trusting relationships with the families we serve. Here are some ways we can create meaningful relationships.  

1.     Introduce yourself. Share who you are with the family. Make first contact(s) positive.

2.     Use family friendly words to convey meaning. Avoid technical jargon.

3.     Tell the truth. Never lie or over-promise. Honesty is the basis of a trusting relationship.

4.     Maintain confidentiality. Keep sensitive information private. Do your best to control what you say and write when it comes to confidential information.  

5.     Put yourself in the family’s shoes. Taking the perspective of another can create empathy.

6.     Share resources. If you are aware of needs, you can share what you know and/or do research to locate resources for families.

7.     Build on family strengths (not deficits).

 Spend time each day connecting with parents and families. Checking in on a regular basis with parents can support the bond we have with the families we serve. Children benefit when we invest time in creating mutually beneficial partnerships.

Bleisure

If you travel for work, why not extend your trip for leisure?

Business + Leisure = Bleisure.

Last year we had 72 million people travel through our Orlando airport, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Many of those travelers were experiencing a happy case of bleisure. Here are some ideas for you in how to spend the leisure part of your bleisure if you are fortunate enough to travel to Orlando, Florida.

Winter Park

If you like to shop, then visit Park Avenue in Winter Park. The main street has over 100 boutiques. The oak trees will offer you plenty of shade as you meander your way to a quaint café for a bite to eat or sip of espresso. Throughout the year there are events that are sure to please you and your family. One of my family favorite events is the WUCF PBS Kids “Be My Neighbor Day” celebrating Mr. Fred Rogers who attended college in this area. 

Vero Beach

Many people who come to Orlando think of theme parks, but just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of the attractions is the Atlantic Ocean. Vero Beach is a great place to unwind after corporate travel. Vero Beach is a welcoming community with sandy beaches, palm trees, and a variety of bird species. If you come at the right time of the year, you might be able to catch a glimpse of loggerhead sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach. Nature tours are a great way to learn more about this unique ecosystem during your bleisure trip.

Vero Beach, Florida

Space Coast

While you are at Vero Beach, head north up the road and experience the Space Coast of Florida. The Kennedy Space Center offers many things to see and do. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, cruise ships, beaches, NASA, and rocket launches… oh my. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin are actively dominating the Space Coast scene.

Space Coast Florida

U-pick Fruit Farm

The subtropical climate in central Florida is a paradise for fruit lovers. Discover citrus groves and pick your own fruit. Find a hydroponic garden and you might not even get dirty when you pick your own fresh fruit. “A Patch of Blue” is an urban hydroponic community farm near Winter Park that grows blueberries to pick during April and May, and strawberries from January to May.

Hydroponic U-pick Farm

Downtown Public Library

Since the 1960s, the Orlando Public Library has been located in downtown Orlando. The design of this building was called, "composition in monolithic concrete” by the architect John M. Johansen. The Orlando Public Library is the headquarters for the entire award winning Orange County Library System (OCLS). There are many branch library locations throughout the county. OCLS received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service which is the highest honor possible in America. When you visit this big urban library enjoy exploring all the floors. It wouldn’t be Orlando without a gift shop for you to take home a memorable souvenir before you leave. 

Bleisure is on the rise (Jain, 2018; Easen, 2017; Habtemariam, 2018; Lichy & McLeay, 2018). Wander your way around “City Beautiful” and make some great bleisure memories to last a lifetime. Treat yourself to extra time and play!!!

Sources:

1. Easen, N. (2017). Playing away. Buying Business Travel, 85, 28-31.
2. Habtemariam, D. (2018). More than two-thirds of business travelers embrace bleisure. Business Travel News, 35(5), 6.
3. Jain, A. (2018). Business, leisure or 'bleisure'?. Hotel Management, 233(6), 26-26.
4. Lichy, J., & McLeay, F. (2018). Bleisure: Motivations and typologies. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 35(4), 517-530.

What's New?

Happy New Year! I hope your new year is off to a great start. In 2018, my colleagues and I will be putting the finishing touches on the new edition of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System for Infants and Children (AEPS®).

We have been working on the AEPS®-3 since 2005 and I’m thrilled to see it going into production. Early childhood professionals can benefit from having a measure to assess young children that also links to a curriculum that could be used during play and routines. The AEPS®-3 Family component can be used to create positive and engaging partnerships with parents. Some of the most exciting new things in the AEPS®-3 are the early childhood math and reading areas.

Listen in to my iTunes show to hear a conversation with the pioneer of the AEPS® Dr. Diane Bricker (pictured below) talk about how she got started in our field, early childhood theoretical perspectives based on the work of Skinner and Piaget, and the influences and impact of her work in the area of early childhood assessment. 

If you would like professional development on the new AEPS®-3, start now. You can email me at marisamacy@gmail.com to begin. Wishing you all the best in 2018!

Left row: Carmen Dionne (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières), Amy Perkins (Brookes Publishing), Naomi Rahn (Wisconsin DOE), Diane Bricker (University of Oregon), that's me in green - Marisa Macy (University of Central Florida), and I-Ching Chen (Kent State University). Right row: Sarah Zerofsky (Brookes Publishing), Misti Waddell (University of Oregon),  Jennifer Grisham-Brown (University of Kentucky),  Joann Johnson (St. Cloud University), and Heather Shrestha (Brookes Publishing)

Below is a PDF of our “Sneak Preview” my co-authors and I presented at a national conference. 

http://aepsinteractive.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DEC-AEPS-3-Presentation-2017.pdf 

http://www.brookespublishing.com/resource-center/screening-and-assessment/aeps/

Car Seats, Strollers, and Child-size Suitcases...oh my!

Families traveling with young children have many considerations to make when going on a journey. I was traveling recently and noticed a family next to me struggling to get through airport security due to all the extra objects needed when traveling with small children. In addition to all the adult things they brought for the trip, they had: a car seat for each child, one stroller, 2 child-size suitcases, and a diaper bag. Many of the contents in the diaper bag had to be removed because they contained liquid. We were on the same plane and again I saw how challenging it was for the family boarding the plane. It is no wonder that many parents choose to stay home and avoid travel because of the hassle involved in moving a family from point A to point B.

On the Go

The Dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Dr. Pizam, delineates travel from tourism. He says that travel is moving people from one place to another, whereas tourism represents businesses engaged in providing goods and services to tourists (who are people traveling to places outside their homes and usual settings). Families are a unique segment of the travel and tourism industries and may need different things compared to people traveling without children.

There are so many benefits to family travel and tourism. Relationship therapy is one of them. Family functioning may improve when a family has the opportunity to go on a vacation together. Enabling access to travel and tourism opens doors for young children and their families.

Source: Pizam, A. (2009, June). What is the hospitality industry and how does it differ from the tourism and travel industries? International Journal of Hospitality Management. pp. 183-184.

What Not to Ask

There is an art to asking parents questions. What not to ask parents may be just as important as what to ask.

“Can you be here at 1:30pm on Monday for our appointment to talk about your child?”

 “What worries you about your child?”

These are some of the many questions parents get asked.

Recently, I had a chance to chat with Dr. Frances Page Glascoe on my iTunes show about her work with parents and professionals. One of the things she shared was how to use time efficiently when interviewing parents about their children during pediatric encounters. Dr. Glascoe talked about how to use different tools to gather information prior to the parent/professional visit. This could help avoid the oh, by the way and door knob concerns at the end of an interview when the time is up.

Health communication literature has a well-known study called the “3-Min. Interview.” Researchers studied encounters between healthcare providers and patients. They found that if the professional interrupted the patient within the first 3 minutes of the encounter, the patient was less likely to give information that would lead to an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Glascoe cautioned the use of the word, “worry.” For example, is there anything that worries you about your child? This could be a loaded word that parents may have difficulty addressing. Words and methods for communicating with parents may have a significant impact on service quality.

Check out the podcast to hear Dr. Glascoe talk about facilitating effective communication with parents and much more. http://www.marisamacy.com/podcast/

Dr. Frances Page Glascoe

School Ring

A school ring saved his life.

Every year at this time, thousands of people come out to the New Mexico desert at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) to run a half or full marathon. Participants can choose to do the event with a 35-pound pack. This is no ordinary race. It is a tradition for many who have a connection to the Bataan Death March which took place in the Philippines during World War II.

Col. Ben Skardon is a survivor of the Bataan Death March. Yesterday, at the age of 99, Skardon spoke about his experiences at Bataan during WWII to a standing room only crowd in a WSMR theatre. He stood at the podium and read his eloquent words then responded to questions with a sharp intellect and with details that seemed like it was just yesterday when the events happened.

While in the prisoner of war camp, Skardon found two other American soldiers who were from his alma mater—Clemson University. The three friends stuck together having their school as a common bond. Skardon kept his Clemson ring hidden from his captors in places like his socks.

The Bataan Death March was 69 miles in the grueling heat with many American and Filipino casualties. Along with yellow puss discharge in his eyes that sealed them shut, Skardon was suffering from beriberi, malaria, and diarrhea. When it looked like death was imminent, his Clemson brothers sold his university ring to buy a chicken, cooked it, and fed it to Skardon. He described how every part of the chicken was consumed leaving only white bones because even the marrow had been sucked out. The nourishment he got from the chicken gave him enough fuel to finish the march. Skardon’s Clemson brothers did not make it home from the war. When Skardon came home he got married, started a family, and became a professor at Clemson University.

If you are out on the course today you will notice his posse because they are the ones with the bright orange shirts that say, “Ben’s Brigade.” Col. Skardon plans to walk 8 and a half miles, like he has done in recent years, with friends and family who have come to support him.

Col. Skardon attributes family and faith for getting him through difficult times. In Latin, the words alma mater mean “nourishing mother.” The people, places, and experiences from school can be an impactful and enduring part of our lives. Skardon’s school ring is so much more than a piece of jewelry. The memory of his ring is a symbol of love.

Blooming desert at WSMR

Race website: http://bataanmarch.com/

Further reading on the Bataan Death March by New Mexico resident Hampton Sides:        

Sides, H. (2001). Ghost soldiers: The forgotten epic story of World War II’s most dramatic mission. New York: Random House.

YouTube video: “Col. Ben Skardon’s Amazing Ring Story”

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01&hsimp=yhs-SF01&hspart=Lkry&p=ben+skardon+ring+ceremony#id=3&vid=58c922fb1a87361c8892eb3f8baf0199&action=click

Parental Concerns

Many parents do not know where to turn when they are concerned about their child’s development. In one community I lived in, the lead agency placed ongoing advertisements in the local newspaper that they were conducting a free screening fair the third Friday of every month at the local library. Parents with concerns about their child could visit the library that day and meet a specialist who would conduct a developmental screening during a play-based assessment, as well as have the parent complete a questionnaire about their child’s growth and development. The screening is at no cost to the family or parent(s). Each community has their own way of doing what the law calls, “Child Find.” Community awareness and developmental-behavioral screening assessments are required in order to address parental concerns.

If you are a parent, here are some questions to consider:

Is there anything about my child that concerns me?

What do I hope to find out from the screening assessment?

How would I describe my child to a professional who is unfamiliar with my child or family?

How does my child communicate?

How does my child play?

How does my child participate in routines?

How does my child perform self-help tasks like washing hands, feeding, toileting, etc.?

How does my child use her small and large muscles? 

How does my child interact with familiar and unfamiliar adults?

How does my child interact with familiar and unfamiliar peers?

What are my child’s strengths?

What are some of my child’s characteristics that make me smile or laugh?

What are the best ways to communicate follow up information with me? Email, phone, text, face-to-face meetings, etc.? Do I need an interpreter?

If you would like more information about screening, contact Dr. Macy and/or check out this book:

Bricker, D., Macy, M., Squires, J., & Marks, K. (2013). Developmental screening in your community: An integrated approach for connecting children with services. Paul H Brookes Publishing, Baltimore, MD.

Time

I can make a proper French onion soup, or onion soup gratinée. Thank you, CIA! The main ingredients are simple—onions and chicken broth. Oh and sherry! The soup’s flavor comes from time. In order to develop the correct flavor, the onions need to cook slowly so they can become caramelized and acquire a deep rich color like espresso. Care needs to be taken so the onions don’t burn.

Gratinée means browned. The brown coloring comes from the onions being scraped on the pot with a wooden spoon for about an hour. Chicken (NOT beef) broth is poured over the onions once they have reached perfection.

Many cooks take a shortcut when making onion soup by using brown beef stock (for the color) instead of chicken stock. Shortcuts can save time. Shortcuts can sometimes make life easier. Shortcuts do not lead to optimal outcomes. 

A professor of mine at the University of Oregon once wrote an article about the tyranny of time. He showed how missed opportunities for students in special education can have a significant outcome on child well being and school success. The earlier we can address a child's needs can make a big difference for the child and his/her family.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has a component called Child Find where it is the lead agency's responsibility to locate children eligible for services in a timely manner. No shortcuts, please. Early identification of a delay or disability is of paramount importance in the lives of little ones. Time matters in childhood. 

Macy making onion soup gratinée at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)

Does Agency Status Matter?

The lead agency is Education for school age special education. However, the lead agency varies when it comes to special education for infants and toddlers (Part C of IDEA). Some states may have education, whereas other states may have social and/or health services. For example, the lead agency for infant and toddler services is Education in Oregon. If a child and family moved to New Mexico the lead agency is Health.

The eligibility criteria and federal funding awarded to each state for IDEA-Part C services varies from state to state in America. What does this mean for a family with a child who is eligible for early childhood intervention due to a risk, delay, or disability? It could mean that if they move to a different state they may experience differences in child/family services.

A recent study examined lead agency status in the United States and outlying territories. Specifically, Dr. Torres wanted to know if there is a functional relationship between a lead agency’s status for early intervention and the amount of per capita funding awarded to the state for services after controlling for population size. She found no statistically significant difference in lead agency status and funding. She did find that outlying territories experienced 14 times more funding when compared to the 50 states.  

Dr. Torres also wanted to know more about the criteria used for early intervention (Part C) eligibility determination. She used a formula by Dunst and Hamby (2004) to classify the restrictiveness of eligibility criteria as: (1) broad or liberal (includes environmental and/or biological risk), (2) moderate, (3) narrow (does NOT include environmental and/or biological risk). She found no statistically significant difference in lead agency status and criteria for defining the eligible population.

This study is one of the first of its kind to examine lead agency status as the independent variable. Research is an important endeavor that requires continued funding. A quote by the writer Zora Neale Hurston states, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” Let us remain curious! Money to do research helps too!

Writer Zora Neale Hurston

Source: “Variability in State Lead Agency Eligibility Criteria and IDEA-Part C Per-Capita Budget Commitments: An Exploratory Analysis,” by Christina Torres (2017)