Ser ving the Lackawanna & Luzerne Valley JUNE/JULY 2015 VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 Voted First Place Special Section/Niche Publication By Pennsylvania Newspaper Association
HEAD Start AT 50 Local program celebrates a half century of success
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Don’t forget:
APRIL/MAY JUNE/JULY 2015 2015 Vol. 4, 4, No. Vol. No.22
Father’s Day is June 21
The Valley’s Child is published every other month by Times Shamrock
Celebrate Dad! Through the years, he's always been there to help you along. Show your appreciation for dad with special gifts he would love to receive. Don't forget, Fathers Day is June 21. Louis M. Martini Winery — for a limited time, the winery is offering two Seize the Cabernet collections: a Seize the Cabernet Trio ($100) and a sixbottle, Ultimate Seize the Cabernet collection ($375), each with a collector's box. Available at www. louismartini.com.
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What you need to know about pregnancy and measles.
There is help for morning sickness
Infants & Toddlers ...............................................4-5 Infants & Toddlers .......................................... 4-10 Remember the go three Ts: Infant speech development hinges on it. Should my child to preschool? Head Start at 50
The Grade School Years....................................7, 14 Be a taskmaster: Chores are good for your kids. The Grade School Years................................ 11-16
You & Your Teen....................................................10 Teen................................................. 17
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The Empty Nest.................................................. 19 Little problems Thechildren, Emptylittle Nest.....................................................15 Why an empty box ranks among the best Mother’s Day gifts ever.
Grandkids — maybe too smart! The Joyareofsmart Grandparenting....................................15
In praise of the kiddie rides.
EDITOR: Elizabeth Zygmunt 570-207-9001, ext. 5415 CONTRIBUTORS: Jennifer Butler Dave DeCosmo Francene Pisano Dudziec Phil Yacuboski
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Crafts for Kids .............................................. 14-15 Crafts for .................................................12-13 Whimsical craftsKids for lazy, hazy days of summer
The Joy of Grandparenting................................. 19
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THE VALLEY'S CHILD
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Your Pregnancy.......................................................4 Your Pregnancy.................................................... 4
Science enrichment reurns to the Scranton Cultural Center. Summer need not break the bank
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CONTENTS
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Your pregnancy
By Jennifer Butler Don’t let the name fool you. Morning sickness during pregnancy is not just for the mornings! It can strike any time — day or night — and is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. It can occur as early as two weeks after conception and linger through other trimesters. Characterized by nausea, with or without vomiting, the entire cause may not be known, but hormones most definitely play a role. “The common nausea of pregnancy has to do with the increase in the hormone human chorionic gonadatropin or HCG. This is high in the first trimester of pregnancy and then it drops at 12 weeks when the placenta takes over the synthesis of hormones,” says Sheela Porter-Smith, certified nurse midwife with the Women’s Health Center of Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers. Rarely, morning sickness is so severe hospitalization may be required for treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids and medications. This violent nausea is classified as hyperemesis gravidarum. A patient’s chances of suffering hyperemesis gravidarum increase if she suffers from motion sickness or migraines and may increase if the expected infant is a girl. Also at increased risk are women with family history of hyperemesis gravidarum; or who have experienced it during a previous pregnancy. “Probably one in 100 women get that sick. We’ve been fortunate to not have a lot of that lately,” says Porter-Smith. Perhaps the most famous new mother to suffer from the condition is the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who experienced the illness during both of her pregnancies. According to Hans Cassagnol, M.D., director of obstetrics and gynecology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical
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at the middle of the inner wrist and three finger lengths away from the crease of the wrist, in between the two tendons, can be pressed firmly, one wrist at a time for three minutes. Avoiding any smells and foods that create nausea may help. ACUPRESSURE FOR NAUSEA? Psi Bands (www. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, psibands.com ) are advertised as a drug-free low in fat and easy to digest are good wrist band for the relief of nausea, most comfor nausea. Avoid greasy, spicy and fatty monly caused by morning sickness. Do they foods. Snacking often is recommended work? While the Valley’s Child was unable to because having an empty stomach can locate scientific research either proving or make nausea worse — so women are disproving the claim that the bands’ acupressure urged to eat several small meals every relieves nausea, individual testimonials suggest day instead of three large meals. ‘it depends!’ Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/MCT “For nausea in the morning, eat a small snack — like crackers or dry toast Center, mild cases of hyperemesis gravi— before you get out of bed. Allow the darum are treated by changing diet, getsnack to digest for a few minutes before ting extra rest and taking antacids. More slowly getting out of bed,” Dr. Cassagnol severe cases may require the administration of intravenous (IV) fluids to hydrate recommends. Drink plenty of fluids including water, the mother, and restore electrolytes, sports drinks, broth or juice, because vomvitamins and other nutrients. In some cases, the mother may be hospitalized for iting can dehydrate you, and try your best to get quality sleep — stress and fatigue a few days. can make nausea worse. “The inability to keep food down After getting advice and instrucand get all the nutrition needed when tions from your doctor, there are certain a woman is ‘eating for two’ needs to be antihistamines that may relieve morning watched very closely,” said Hans Cassickness. Women should contact a healthsagnol, M.D., director of obstetrics and care provider if: gynecology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley ■ Nausea or vomiting is severe; Medical Center. “It isn’t cause for panic, ■ Only a small amount of urine is but it is cause for vigilance.” passed or it’s dark in color; The doctor says there are some ■ It’s impossible to keep liquids down; things a pregnant woman can do at ■ You feel dizzy or faint when you home to relieve and manage some stand up; symptoms. After taking it for a few ■ Your heart races; or days, ginger may offer relief. Ginger ■ If you vomit blood. comes in the form of capsules or it can Morning sickness does not usually be grated fresh into hot water for tea. cause complications for the mom or After getting advice and instructions from your doctor, vitamins B6 and B12 baby. However, if you are underweight prior to becoming pregnant, it may afcan help reduce nausea and vomiting. fect gaining a healthy amount of weight Acupressure also helps relieve nausea for some women. A pressure point located during pregnancy.
THE VALLEY'S CHILD
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Source: preschoolmatters.org
There is help for morning sickness
Should my child go to preschool?
By Jennifer Butler Parents who wonder, “Is my child ready for pre-school?” may have another thought, “Is pre-school even necessary?” “Education begins from the moment the child is born and continues through preschool and kindergarten. An individual’s capacity to learn is lifelong, but it’s never as intense as during the preschool years. With this in mind, babies, toddlers and preschoolers need positive early-
An individual’s capacity to learn is lifelong, but it’s never as intense as during the preschool years. learning experiences to help their intellectual, physical, social and emotional development. This lays the foundation for school success and for life,” says Jeanette Heim, assistant director of the Edison Early Learning Center in Carbondale. “A very high amount of learning takes place from birth to age six. It’s a time when children need high quality individual care and learning experiences.” Between the ages of three and five, children’s vocabulary grows from 900 to 2,500 words, and their sentences become longer and more complex. Language skills are increased with conversations with the teachers and other children, and many hands-on activities improve cognitive Please see PRE SCHOOL on page 11
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Infants & toddlers
Dragging parents up: The story of Head Start
By Elizabeth Zygmunt In 2007, Robin Cole-Mascaro was 23, unemployed and a single mother. It seemed nothing was working out as she planned. She had an associates degree from Allied Medical and Technical Institute (now Fortis) in graphic design but she says, “There was no job. Not anywhere.” She had been driving from Scranton to an internship in Cresco, but her car broke down and there was no way she could afford to get it fixed. Holed up in her apartment with her daughter, Cole-Mascaro was living on public assistance and denial. “It was a terrible circle,” she said. “EARN* kept calling me, saying, ‘Your cash assistance is going to run out. You have to come to job training.’ I didn’t
know what to do. I needed day care to go to job training, but to get help with child care, I needed to be employed for at least two weeks. It The Head Start logo was designed to communicate that was a vicious circle early learning lifts families up. made worse because I had no transportation.” Seeing no way out, Cole-Mascaro just
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Lady Bird Johnson attends the ceremony for National Head Start Day, June 30,1965. From left: Danny Kaye, Lady Bird Johnson, Mrs. Lou Maginn (director of a Head Start project in East Fairfield, Vermont), Sargent Shriver. (LBJ Presidential Library)
gave up. “I stopped answering the phone, hoping it would all go away,” she said. Cole-Mascaro’s story could have ended badly in homelessness and despair, but that’s not what happened. Instead, Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency (SLHDA) intervened and helped her regain control. “EARN actually came to my door,” she said. “They got my daughter into day care and gave me a bus pass to get to job training. I had to be at SLHDA’s offices every day a 9 a.m. for classes. That’s where I ran into a high school friend of mine who worked for SLHDA. She said to me, ‘You have to get your daughter into Head Start.’” Head Start, she soon discovered, was much more than a preschool. It provided a comprehensive range of services focused just as much on parent development as on the child’s. By embracing the guidance and training offered, Cole-Mascaro flourished — so much so that in 2013 she won Community Action Association of Pennsylvania’s (CAAP) statewide “SelfSufficiency” award. **Employment, Advancement and Retention Network program jointly operated by the Pennsylvania Departments of Public Welfare (DPW) and
Lisa Bonarrigo was among the first local students to attend Head Start and she still has her graduation certificate signed by Lady Bird Johnson and Sargent Shriver. Labor and Industry in order to address the needs of welfare clients with barriers to employment)
HEAD START In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson created Head Start — a program to help meet the emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs of preschool-aged children from lowincome families. The focus of Head Start is self-sufficiency — enabling parents to be the “primary nurturers and educators of their children.” Ann Lynady, SLHDA’s Head Start project director, said, “I used to work in CYS (Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services), so I have great appreciation for efforts to stop child abuse. I’ve seen things from the other side. I’ve seen the depression, hopelessness. The risky business. It’s better not to get there. Head Start models positive behavPlease see HEAD START continues on nest page
Infants & toddlers
Ellen Casey, second from right, helps open a new Head Start Center in Scranton in 1991. From left: Fred Lettieri, Ann Lynady, Mrs. Casey and Sam Ceccacci. HEAD START — continued from previous page
I moved around a lot. I found an apartiors — like conflict resolution — for kids ment near the West Side Head Start Center and my sons started going there, and their parents.” but I hated being home all alone — I was Head Start engages and empowers stressed out to the max. It was hard to get parents immediately by involving them in the direct administration of the center a job and I was always worried, wondering, ‘What will happen to us? How can I that serves their children. Every Head do this?’ Then I started volunteering at Start parent is encouraged to become an active member of the center’s “Parent my kids’ Head Start. I thought, ‘I can go Group,” which plans social activities and there, they feed me...it’s a family.’ People special events for the children. A step up supported me.” from Parent Group is the Policy Council, During that time, Collins San Martin composed of current parents and commu- met Ann Lynady, who was then parent nity representatives who make decisions coordinator at the West Side Center. about the nature and operation of the Lynady recognized Collins San Martin’s entire local Head Start system. intelligence and latent leadership skills. She urged her to take part in the West Side DRAGGING PARENTS UP: Center’s Parent Group and, later, Policy From welfare to leadership Council. In fact, Lynady said her partnerSusan Collins San Martin has intimate ship with Collins San Martin helped to experience with Head Start’s focus on build up the Policy Council to the effective developing parents. She attended Head institution it is today. The community noStart as a child in the 1970s; her sons atticed. Collins San Martin’s work on Policy tended from 1992 to 1997. Her story demCouncil led to her being named Voluntary onstrates the power of second chances. Action Center’s “Outstanding Volunteer.” “I was a parent at 19,” she said. “When I got involved with Policy “Because I didn’t want public housing,
LUNCH FOR LITERACY, HELP HEAD START: The Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. With the support of PNC Bank as presenting sponsor, a Lifelong Literacy Luncheon Event will be held at the Scranton Cultural Center on Sept. 29, featuring LeVar Burton as keynote speaker.
Council, I had to go to monthly meetings,” Collins San Martin said. “I gained so many skills from the experience. I learned Roberts Rules (for running meetings). I was doing public speaking and helping to make decisions. Suddenly, I felt I could rule the world.” Collins San Martin said the powerful feelings she got from her experience with Head Start carried over into other areas of her life. She enrolled in Marywood University in 1994, where she founded a chapter of Chi Alpha Epsilon, an honor society dedicated to recognizing the academic achievements of students admitted “through non-traditional criteria.” She earned a degree in early childhood education and additional credentials in special education. She is now a teacher in an emotional support classroom at Mid Valley, teaching grades seven through 12. All four of her sons are college graduates. Linda Prutisto, SLHDA’s director of development, said Collins San Martin’s
story is inspiring but not necessarily unique. “Head Start works because lowincome people grow far too used to being told what to do. We don’t do that. We ask: What do you want? How can we build this together?” AN ADD-ON TO HEAD START: EARLY HEAD START Reaching out to new mothers Like Cole-Mascaro and Collins San Martin, Krista Getts feels “saved by Head Start.” Her first brush with the program was in 2003, when she was a “heavily single parent.” She said she was shy and didn’t volunteer much then. She later got married and had another child in 2008. Then in 2011 her world fell apart. The house she was living in was in her husband’s name only. “He threw me out and changed the locks,” Getts said. A judge gave her 24 hours to get her things
Please see HEAD START on next page
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Join Girl Scouts! Visit girlscouts.org/join or call 800.692.7816 A LONG LOCAL HISTORY: A Head Start ‘graduation’ ceremony in the 1990s.
In an archived photograph from the 1960s, the community examines the work of students in the Scranton area’s new Head Start program.
for Parents. I worked on my credit and learned to write checks — my husband had always done that. I learned to balance out of house — and there was an unbooks and to budget. In 2012, I became generous list of things she could take, consisting solely of what belonged to her president of Policy Council. As president, I sat in on job interviews and participated before marriage. “I had one bed, my car and a friend who in all employee reviews and evaluations and signed off on them. It was overworked at the Catherine McAuley Center,” Getts said. Through her friend, Getts whelming but I learned so much. During got an apartment. The landlord, however, (the federal government’s) sequestration, I even participated in decisions about how had not been expecting a tenant, so it Head Start could cope with a budget cut initially lacked heat and electricity. She was able to get her younger daugh- of $266,000.” Getts already had an associates degree ter into the Head Start center in North in early childhood education. That, Scranton but she then faced a problem coupled with her blossoming on Policy endemic among low-income people — lack Council, led to her current job as a parent of transportation. “I was working part-time educator for Early Head Start, a proand I could get my daughter to Head Start gram established in 1994 for low-income but not home. Luckily, I started talking families with infants and toddlers and for to the family engagement workers at the pregnant women. center and they put me in touch with a parent who could help. I met her at a PUT THE BABY DOWN. Parent Group meeting and ended up as an COME HERE AND TALK. alternate on Policy Council.” Empowered mother becomes From that moment, Getts was on empowered entrepreneur an upward trajectory. “I kept going to Pearl Yanick had a very bad childhood, (policy) meetings. Then I went to my colored by experiences living with an daughter’s center for the adult training ofPlease see HEAD START on next page fered, like PNC Group’s Financial Literacy HEAD START — continued from previous page
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Infants & toddlers
tivities for the children to do to stimulate sensory development. I found myself findabusive mother and stepfather and, later, ing other activities on Pinterest to suggest to her. It made me feel better as a parent.” a great grandfather suffering from AlWhen Julie turned three years old, she zheimer’s. “Everything I learned about being a mother came from raising a younger was ready for regular Head Start. “I was nervous, afraid Head Start might be judgesister and helping my foster parents with mental, but instead I got understanding babies who usually left our care at about and advice.” For example, Yanick said she age one and a half.” was “incredibly stressed” when her daughAfter leaving foster care,Yanick ter was potty training. The staff at Head bounced around a bit, briefly living with Start told her, “Don’t stress...calm down. her newly rediscovered birth father for a We have a potty plan.” On another day, time and then moving in with a boyYanick was having a morning from hell friend, who was her supervisor at a retail store. Similar to Getts’ story,Yanick found every parent would recognize. She had an argument with her boyfriend. Then, on herself summarily “thrown out” and was the way to Head Start, both girls started homeless for two years. Despite her homelessness, Yanick still crying. By the time they arrived at the center, everyone was frazzled and the girls worked in loss prevention in retail and were wailing. “I remember what the staff spent a great deal of time trying to find housing. Several initially promising efforts said: ‘Put the baby down. Come here and faltered in the face of capricious landlords talk.’” Yanick said she learned to model the or unstable roommates. “I thought, ‘Oh staff’s behavior. “I watched how to be a my God, I can’t get out of these negative mom that first year at Head Start. I was situations,” she said. Finally, she met the future father of her growing with Head Start,” she said. “It made me want to become more involved.” two children and found a home. Yanick Yanick became Parent Group president never thought she’d be a mother. As a teen, she was told by doctors she couldn’t and then went on to Policy Council as an alternate. “I also became an informal become pregnant due to a hormonal advocate for Head Start, doing things problem. Nevertheless, in 2009,Yanick like staffing a Head Start table at Jermyn got a big surprise. She was pregnant. To Night Out.” compound matters, hers was deemed a Volunteering and being involved high-risk pregnancy due to her previously became a way of life for Yanick. She now diagnosed endocrine condition. donates time to animal rescue groups, her In 2010,Yanick gave birth to her first local EMS,the Jermyn Historical Society, daughter, Julie. She initially got help from the Nurse Family Partnership, a free, Crime Watch, the Wright Center’s Jermyn voluntary program that partners first-time facility and she helps the homeless through at-risk mothers with nurse home visitors. CIC (Community Intervention Center). Her involvement in the life of Jermyn When Yanick “graduated” from the Nurse led to a friendship with the elderly propriFamily Partnership, she was told about etor of a food market in the borough. Early Head Start. Yanick is now in the process of buying “Amber from Early Head Start came the market and making plans to run her to my house for an hour and a half every own business. All of this has had a posiweek. It was never just my daughter and tive effect on her children. One day at Amber. She involved me and, later, she the market she heard her girls in the back involved my younger daughter. She included the whole family. Our philosophy and found they had gotten into the Little Debbie snack cakes. The girls, however, was ‘get messy, make mistakes.’ It’s the best way to learn. Amber would have ac- were not eating the treats. They were busHEAD START — continued from previous page
Tom Bonomo photo
Seen from left are Karen Badyrka, Head Start medical secretary and past Head Start parent; Susan Collins San Martin, past Head Start student and parent and presently a teacher in the Mid Valley School District; Robin Cole-Mascaro, Head Start office clerk and past Head Start parent; Pearl Yanick, Early Head Start and Head Start parent and an entrepreneur; Lisa Bonarrigo, Head Start nutrition coordinator; and Krista Getts, past Head Start parent and parent educator for the Early Head Start program.
ily stocking shelves with them. “Head Start was a new start,” Yanick
said. “It taught my girls and me. We learned together every step of the way.”
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I’m
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The grade school years Truancy laws to get a tweak after mother’s prison death
Beware! Bites and stings can lead to other things
Pennsylvania physicians are urging residents and guests to the state to take precautions as they hit the outdoors this summer, and know what to do if you have the misfortune of being bitten or stung. “The old saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ really holds true when it comes to bites and stings,” says Karen Rizzo, M.D., president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and a practicing physician in Lancaster. “Simple things like checking yourself for bugs and wearing bug spray can make a difference in the long run.” Pennsylvania’s tick threat Of all insects, possibly ticks raise the greatest amount of concern in Pennsylvania, particularly in light of an April 2015 study released by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The study raised eyebrows when it indicated Lyme Disease is now a risk in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Before this study and according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was well
known that Pennsylvania had the highest number of confirmed Lyme Disease cases in
Trinity Lutheran Church, Clarks Summit, is expanding its early education classes with two new exciting programs for Fall 2015!
recent years of all states. CDC data suggests there were nearly 5,000 confirmed cases of Lyme Disease in Pennsylvania during the 2013 calendar year. The state DEP study prompted acting Pennsylvania Physician General Rachel Levine M.D. to offer advice on precautions the public can take. Among those recommendations are ■ Avoid tick infested areas ■ Wear protective clothing ■ Use insect repellent ■ Do a full body check after spending time outdoors
Kindergarten Readiness Program(KRP) - A five day morning program designed for students to experience an academic program, beyond preschool, that allows for the introduction of, exposure to, and practice in skills necessary for success in Kindergarten. And Foundations/Transition Program (FTP) - A five day afternoon program that specializes in exposure to and practice in specific content area skills that are necessary to prepare current Kindergarten students for the expectations of first grade. FTP will focus specifically on mathematics, language arts, and writing skills. Both classes will be taught by Karen Woytach, who has her BS degree in elementary education, Masters in reading education, and 15 years experience teaching early childhood education. For information on these classes or our 3 and 4 year old preschool classes, please call Trinity Lutheran Church (570) 587-1088 or visit our website www. trinitylutherancs.com
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Pennsylvania physicians offer summer health advice on ticks, mosquitoes, bees
East Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Sharon Laverdure and Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) Deputy General Counsel Sean Fields testified June 9 on behalf of PSBA regarding school truancy. The hearing was held before the Senate Education Committee. The hearing was held in regard to “Eileen’s Law,” named after a single mother of seven from Berks County who died last year while serving a two-day jail sentence that was imposed under current law. Eileen DiNino, 55, of Reading was sent to jail after she was unable to pay approximately $2,000 in fines and court costs. State Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) said in an April op-ed piece that “research shows the majority of individuals who are jailed for failure to pay truancy fines are women with very limited resources. House Bill 141 would give judges more flexibility when handing down penalties in school truancy cases.”
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PRE SCHOOL — continued from page four
skills in students. First and foremost, preschool is an opportunity to learn to share, follow instructions and begin the foundation for learning that will occur in elementary school. A good combination of learning and social skills is important so as not to over-emphasize pre-reading and pre-math skills at the expense of playtime. Tara Palickar, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Forest City Regional School Elementary, strongly recommends preK learning, but acknowledges this is a
choice parents alone must make. “The period between three to five years of age is a critical learning time for children. I feel a pre-K education will only foster more personal-social and academic skills for all learners. Even if a parent has the opportunity to stay at home with a child, a pre-K experience can still be helpful to build social skills and help children get accustomed to a school experience that makes the transition to school much smoother,” Palickar said.
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The grade school years
Affordable summer tips to get kids active
As the school year comes to a close, it's up to parents to make sure their kids' summers are filled with opportunities for them to stay active. Summer programs and sports leagues are great, but they often require expensive participation fees. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Dr Pepper Snapple Group found that nearly half (52 percent) of parents said the cost of sports equipment and participation is a barrier to getting their family active.
Despite the challenge staying active sometimes poses, it's important that parents make sure their kids get the active play they need, because play provides more than just fun. It helps kids maintain healthy lifestyles and also contributes to the development of motor skills, control, coordination and strength, according to research by the nonprofit group KaBOOM!
Summer enrichment needn’t come from a camp
With summer vacation upon us, many parents will pack up the kids and send them not to the beach or to a mountain retreat, but a summer camp. And while camp can be a great experience, some argue regular and creative play throughout the summer can be just as good — without the cost. “Just because we want to keep kids safe from injury and other problems, we cut it out and play is essential for kids” said Dr. Parminder Parmar, associate professor of Tips for a playful human development and family at Penn summer State Worthington Scranton. Inserting active Dr. Parmar, who did her doctoral play into your family's summer fun research in the area of children and Please see ACTIVE on page 17 play, said too often kids are not encouraged to be themselves and instead are forced into other activities that may not hold their interest. “More and more, we are just developing programs for all age groups, where we are providing kids with pre-programmed activities and not really encouraging the creativity within them,” said Dr. Parmar. She said parents often need to inspire children. “We don’t enforce or motivate the natural intelligence, creativity and enjoyment that kids have,” she said. “That’s why kids often — when they are given just one activity — they can seem bored.” 570-766-6362 She said even in well-crafted youth camps, kids can often become bored. (She admits she’s sent her kids to camp.) She also notes with organized sports, parents often get “too involved.” Sometimes, “it should be just for fun,” she said. Summer camps are big business. The American Camp Association (ACA) estimates it’s a $15 billion a year business with more than 12,000 resident and day camps in the United States. The research also finds more females go to camp than males (60 percent to 40 percent) with the most popular being swimming and arts/crafts camps. The
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Imaginative & Creative Play Ideas Half the fun is setting things up or getting dressed up; the other half is playing out or acting out the various roles and creating the story itself. Stories can be continued from one play session to the next. Doctor’s Office, Hospital or Veterinary Clinic Use a play medical kit on dolls or stuffed animals as patients. Find something to use as an ambulance. Send patients home with a prescription. Use a small box as an x-ray machine and draw the x-rays. Medieval Times Dress up as king, queen, prince, princess, knight, wizard, witch, fairy, elves or dragons. Fun props include swords, shields, magic wands, crowns, hats, capes, and jewelry. Make up fantasy stories that include good and evil sides. Outer Space Dress up as astronauts and aliens. Find something to be a space ship. Set up different space stations on friendly and hostile planets. Store Set up items to sell. Use old wallets or purses. Make or buy play money. Write up bills and receipts on small paper. Picnic, Dinner or Party Invite stuffed animals, dolls. Set up the place settings using plates, utensils, tablecloth, napkins, flowers. Use play food and empty food containers. Or, make food out of Play-do.
Source: www.kathyeugster.com/articles/article007.htm
camps analyzed in the research are just those registered with the ACA and do not include many non-affiliated camps held each summer throughout the country. Dr. Parmar added that some summer activities — like reading — should be “just for fun” and not necessarily aimed at enrichment. Since kids learn early to view reading as a chore, she said, “There should just be a time when kids sit down and do it for fun.”
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Valleys crafts
Whimsical Bubble Wands By Francene Pisano Dudziec Mom/proprietor of Monogram Muse, Clarks Summit
Using pipe cleaners is a fun and inexpensive way to make your own bubble wands and an entertaining craft for kids during summer holiday parties. These bubble wands are easy to hold, and best of all they holds so much liquid you won’t believe how many bubbles you can blow without having to re-dip!
Materials:
Cookie cutters Chenille pipe cleaners Beads (optional) Scissors Bubble liquid or make your own (recipe below) Small Bowl (to pour bubble mix into)
Easy Bubble Recipe:
1 cup liquid detergent (Dawn or Joy) 1 cup glycerin (or light corn syrup) 3 cups water
Whimsical bubble wands are a great summertime craft.
1. To form the shape, use your fingers to wrap the pipe cleaner around the outside of the cookie cutter leaving a little extra bit to wrap around the body of the pipe cleaner in order to keep the shape.
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2. String on beads onto the bottom of the wand. When all your beads are on the pipe cleaner, twist the end of the pipe cleaner to keep them from falling off.
3. The bigger the shape, the bigger the bubbles.
Valleys crafts
Summer Foil Fish By Francene Pisano Dudziec Mom/proprietor of Monogram Muse, Clarks Summit
Shiny foil fish are a fun, inexpensive summer activity that kids can make at home or during a family beach trip while also learning about the various types of both saltwater and freshwater fish.
Materials:
Aluminum Foil Card stock Scissors Permanent markers or acrylic paints
Foil fish look great hung next to a window where they can shine and reflect the sunlight.
2. Place the cut out fish shape on a larger piece of foil. Trim the foil approximately one inch larger than the card stock fish shape.
3. Wrap the foil around the card stock fish. You can fold it or scrunch it to get it to fit your shape.
4. Once the fish is covered in foil, flip the fish over to the foil covered side for the kids to use their imagination to draw textured shapes, like scales and fins for unique fish designs!
1. Draw a fish shape on a piece of card stock and cut out.
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All about pool safety Enroll in swimming lessons. Many people lack basic swimming skills. Lessons reduce the risk of drowning accidents. Don’t allow children to swim alone. Swim safety Drowning is silent, and The Centers it happens quickly. Alfor Disease Control ways have a responsible and Prevention adult watching while (CDC) reveals children are near the pool. that drowning is the second most common Keep pool areas tidy. Cleaning up pool cause of accidental deaths among kids. toys after play lessens the temptation of chilOlympic gold medal winner and mom, Janet dren to enter the pool area unsupervised. Evans, offers these tips to keep kids safe: For many families, some of the most anticipated summertime activities happen around the pool. But before you dive into the fun, be sure to practice pool safety.
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You & your teen
ACTIVE — continued from page 12
doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are a few creative and cost-effective ways to inspire play in your family this season from Let’s Play, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to get kids and families active nationwide: Create your own field day Rather than spending money on pricey sports equipment, reuse household items to create your own competitive events for your family. For example, set up a field hockey game using brooms as sticks and a tennis Races are a great way to get your family moving outside, ball as a puck. Create your own but the registration fees can add up. Gather a few friends shot-put using a re-sealable and family and create your own fun run. You can use a bag filled with dry rice or head nearby neighborhood track or just mark off the course on the sidewalk around your house. to the neighborhood pool for some aquatic races. Make sure they already own, the equipment is brand to hold a medal ceremony afterwards to new to others. Organize a play equipment celebrate everyone’s success. swap in your neighborhood to give your Host your own community run gently used items a new home. Your famRaces are a great way to get your family will also benefit by receiving some new ily moving outside, but the registration toys and sports equipment to inspire them fees can add up. Gather a few friends and to get out and be active. family and create your own fun run. You There are also several nonprofit can use a nearby neighborhood track or organizations, such as Good Sports, that just mark off the course on the sidewalk provide communities and organizations around your house. in need with sports equipment grants. To Play equipment swap nominate an organization for a grant, visit As they say, one person’s trash is LetsPlay.com, where you’ll also find more another person’s treasure. While your kids inexpensive play ideas organized by age, may be bored with the play equipment group size and season.
It’s time to have ‘the talk’ . . . . about college’s cost and its value If your son or daughter is contemplating college, chances are one of the biggest considerations is cost — and the biggest question: whether the cost is worth it, given a bleak job market for some majors. The National Center for Education Statistics says for the 2012-2013 academic year the average cost for tuition along with room and board at a public college or university, is around $15,000. At private schools, the cost is slightly less than $40,000. Some area institutions of higher learning say having “the talk” with both parents and students is vital to provide a realistic vision of what’s ahead. “What we always tell parents is that we offer the same level of quality education at a much more affordable price,” said Dr. Erica Barone Pricci, vice president of academic affairs, Lackawanna College. “Whether starting out for them means starting out with us and transferring their credits to a private or public school, financially it helps those concerned about the bill to come out with one-third the debt.” Dr. Pricci said the college helps families explore a list of outcomes when it comes to what jobs pay with the degree they will receive. However, she said there’s often more to it than just a financial discussion. “It’s one-on-one attention to fit a student’s needs right from the beginning,” she said,
adding that may mean exploring whether students need some extra support with time management, study skills, advising or other services. “We don’t want kids taking classes they don’t need or aren’t ready for and then lose valuable financial aid.” Liberal arts best basis for professions “For us, it starts with a Catholic, Jesuit identity for our university and building a strong educational foundation,” said Joe Roback, associate vice provost for admissions and undergraduate enrollment at the University of Scranton. “This is where the value comes in — in critical thinking and oral and written communication skills, which are transferable to so many other areas and different studies.” “I think that’s critically important,” said Roback. “The pendulum swings quite often and lately it’s been ‘what is my son or daughter going to be for the rest of their lives’ and for some students that’s easy to answer, but for others it’s not.” Although he notes Scranton’s liberal arts curriculum is quite challenging, he says it equips Scranton undergraduates to thrive in law school, medical school or to pursue an MBA. They become leaders in their professions — leaders who espouse the core principals of a Jesuit education. Roback said Scranton’s students’ values and ethics are well-known to those looking to hire their graduates. “That says something,” he said.
Susquehanna Health pediatrician warns of adverse effects of teen e-cigarette use Recent findings from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey indicate that while there has been a reduction in conventional cigarette smoking, use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has tripled and waterpipe vapor (hookah) usage has doubled among today’s teens in a year. Susquehanna Health Pediatrician Dr. Russell Gombosi believes the national
trend is consistent with what is occurring locally, and that it could take 15 to 20 years to fully determine the long-term effects of e-cigarette usage on the health of today’s youth. Experts agree that adolescence is a critical time for growth. Research has proven that nicotine alters brain chemistry and may result in sustained use and addiction. “Children’s brains are much
more susceptible to damage by substances like nicotine that cross the blood-brain barrier,” Gombosi explains. “Currently, we lack research on the long-term health effects of smoking e-cigarettes and hookahs to determine whether young brains can replace damaged cells or if there will be more permanent alterations.” While some experts believe e-cigarettes are generally safer than conven-
tional cigarettes due to potentially lower concentrations of chemicals, the batterypowered devices heat nicotine into vapor or aerosol that is released into the air with other cancer-causing chemicals and inhaled. To safeguard health and development, Dr. Gombosi encourages parents to keep open and honest relationships with their children. THE VALLEY'S CHILD
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The Empty Nest
Today’s Grandparent
Little children, little problems
Outsmarted by a child? Have good answers ready!
By Elizabeth Zygmunt
When my son was a colicky newborn who wouldn’t sleep through the night or when my daughter hit the “terrible twos” and went on a “dresses only” strike during which she rejected pants on even the coldest days, many older and wiser parents would say to me, “Little children, little problems.” I remember hating that phrase — what could be a more insurmountable problem than a crying baby who never sleeps? As usual, I’ve since learned that, like most adages, that phrase is more true than not. Although a crying baby keeps you up at night, that wakefulness is nothing like that of a parent waiting for an overdue teen driver to come home. It’s nothing like a parent of a young adult lying awake thinking of their child’s student loans and an abysmal job market. Most of all, the “little children, little problems” adage underscores the fact that parenting is never over. Potty training may give way to driver’s ed, but parental concern doesn’t have an expiration date. Your adult children will continue to look to you for guidance even when the questions are about careers and relationships and not about why the sky is blue. These thoughts occurred to me as I was interviewing the mothers for the Head Start story that appears beginning on page six. It occurred to me that Woody Allen summed up the most crucial rule of successful parenting when he said, “80 percent of success is showing up.” Talking to the Head Start mothers made me conscious of the fact that all the baby books and parenting blogs are unnecessary to a parent who decides to “show up” and be the constant, neverfailing presence in his or her child’s life. It is this simple truth that makes Head Start successful — Head Start revolves around getting the parents involved. Head Start is well-known for its success with early childhood education. What’s less well-known is how crucial Head Start parents are to the equation. I asked Ann Lynady, SLHDA’s Head Start project director, about the recently documented
HEAD START’S IMPACT ON PARENTS: . . . For the 3-year-old cohort, there was
of the injury and ask what happened. Since I tend to bruise easily I get a lot of Grandkids are smart. (1) less use of spanking and an increase in questions. One that I’ve heard from my the frequency of parents’ reading to their child Most, these days, know more about granddaughter a lot lately is why do I have and involving them in cultural enrichment computers than those of us over age 65. two chins? activities at the end of the Head Start year, (2) I kind of expect that from my two less use of the authoritarian parenting style When she fell recently and hurt her granddaughters who graduated from (characterized as high control and low warmth) own I explained that was the reason I had eighth grade this year. They’ve both been at the end of the age 4 year, (3) less spanking an extra chin. I also told her she can, honor students throughout their school and use of time out at the end of kindergareventually, look forward to having two of years thus far. One was even valedicten, (4) less use of time out and less use of her own. That seemed to make her happy! the authoritarian parenting style at the end of torian of her class. The other served as She, like most kids that age, also have 1st grade, and (5) an increase in the use of spokesperson for the Junior National the authoritative parenting style (characterized fantastic memories. They know just where Honor Society. as high control and high warmth) at the end of you hide . . . I mean keep . . . the cookies But don’t underestimate the little kids. 3rd grade. These impacts on parenting pracand candy. My wife was looking on when our pre tices are particularly relevant, given the patIf you move anything they’ll notice it. school granddaughter was trying to watch tern of favorable impacts on social emotional And they’ll probably ask about it too. a movie on one of those iPad devices you outcomes for the 3-year-old cohort. We had a gum-ball machine filled with Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: see everywhere these days. Third Grade Follow-up to the Head Start Impact Study, www. M&Ms and a supply of pennies close by. My wife wondered why the picture acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/third-grade-follow-up-toThe granddaughter went straight for it the the-head-start-impact-study-final-report froze on the screen for a minute or so. moment she came into the house. “Don’t worry” the grandchild ex“fade” in the “Head Start effect” reported Imagine her shock and disappointplained. “It’s just buffering.” in a national study that found, “while Head ment when she came in one afternoon I thought she was talking about Start participation benefited children’s and found it gone. The mechanism finally some kind of headache remedy. In reallearning and development during their broke down and couldn’t be fixed. ity, she already knew that’s the term time in the federally funded preschool I simply explained it was only giving that’s used as the video is being downprogram, those advantages had mostly out Ws so we had to get rid of it. My philoaded into a device. vanished by the end of third grade.” losophy is, you should always have good She, and a lot of other kids that age, Her answer was that it’s not Head Start’s seem to notice everything. And they’re not answers ready for the kids. benefits that fade, instead parental involveHope all your news is good! reluctant to talk or ask about anything. ment starts to flag once Head Start’s supportive Dave DeCosmo is a familiar television Show up with a bruise or a band aid services are no longer available. She’d like to personality and an awesome grandfather. and you can be sure they’ll take note see an ongoing program that continues to engage parents throughout the child’s schooling. I tend to agree with her. There’s magic in “showing up,” but it can be exhausting and overwhelming, even for parents with ample time and resources. For the eighth year in a row, the this year to meet the expected demand. In the interests of full disclosure, I con- Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Fund for “Over the past eight years, our annual sider myself a fiscal conservative and I am Children’s Advocacy, also known as HKQ helmet giveaway has turned into a wonderful generally skeptical of “too much governKids, will give away free bicycle helmets community event,” said HKQ Kids spokesment.” However, in the case of Head Start to hundreds of northeastern Pennsylvania woman Atty. Michelle M. Quinn. “ Our entire and the good it does children, I believe children as part of its ongoing efforts to firm looks forward to this event every year.” it’s money well spent. I say this because promote child safety in the region. The annual event will be held July 4 the program promotes self-sufficiency and Since HKQ Kids started the helmet from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the annual focuses on developing children acaprogram in 2008, the organization found- fireworks celebration at Kirby Park in Wildemically so they can compete in a world ed by personal injury Atty. Joe Quinn of kes-Barre. Children must be 12 or younger where so much depends on education. the law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn and accompanied by an adult to receive a I’d rather spend money this way — little has equipped more than 7,700 children helmet. All helmets distributed meet U.S. children, little problems — than ignoring with free bike helmets. Last year, HKQ Consumer Product Safety Commission them until they are big children, with big Kids gave away more than 1,300 helmets standards. Each helmet comes with a user’s problems that cost big money. and is planning to stock another 1,300 manual and CPSC label of certification. By Dave DeCosmo
HKQ Kids sets eighth annual Bike Helmet Giveaway for July 4 at Kirby Park
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