DDC_Parent Source_Fall 2023

Parent Source

Help your kids keep up with classroom skill levels

5 questions to ask your doctor about virtual health visits

September 10 • 11:00 am - 3:30 pm

DeKalb Kiwanis Park, Fairview & South 4th Street

The DeKalb Park District is excited to host the 18th annual DeKalb Kite Fest again! Kite Fest is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and see amazing kites! Demonstrate your flying abilities and watch as our pilots bring you dazzling displays of kite flying. Music and seasonal activities will also be available. Families are welcome to bring their own kite or purchase one on-site (while supplies last). Food trucks will also be available. This is a FREE event!

Featured Kite Flyers:

Al Sparling

Darryl Waters

Anthony Catalano

Team Sky FX

Team Chicago Kite

Learn more at dekalbparkdistrict.com

9 IN 10 PARENTS SAY THEIR CHILD IS AT GRADE LEVEL. About

HOW

TO

HELP KIDS KEEP PACE WITH CLASSROOM SKILL LEVELS

Shareeda Jones thought her 9-year-old daughter was doing well in school, even during the pandemic when remote and hybrid learning took a significant toll on student achievement. Shareeda said her daughter enjoyed school and her report cards were good. But when her daughter entered a new school, Shareeda found out that she was three grade levels behind.

Since the pandemic, schools and families alike have focused on getting back to regular routines and getting their children back on track academically, but many parents like Shareeda have a misperception of how far behind their children are.

New research by the national non-profit Learning Heroes finds that 9 out of 10 parents of children in grades K-12 nationwide believe their child is performing at or above their grade level – but the Nation’s Report Card reveals

that just 29% of eighth-graders nationally are proficient in reading, and only 26% of them are proficient in math.

WHY THE GAP BETWEEN PARENT PERCEPTION AND REALITY?

Parents primarily rely on their child’s grades to know how they’re performing at school, and research shows that 80% of parents say their child receives mostly Bs or higher. However, only 30% of teachers rate report cards as one of the most important ways to gauge student achievement. Grades reflect many other important factors, including attendance, participation and behavior.

“Parents are problem solvers. But they can’t solve a problem they don’t know they have,” said Cindi Williams, co-founder of Learning Heroes. “To help their children reach their full potential, it’s important for parents to partner actively with their children’s teachers.”

1 in 4 are.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

To help parents understand what their children’s skill levels really are and what they need to succeed, the website GoBeyondGrades.org provides information in English and Spanish to help families search and sign up for district, community-based and online summer learning opportunities. At GoBeyondGrades.org, parents can follow the ABCs:

• Ask your child’s teacher if your child is at their grade level in reading and math.

• Be in the know about your child’s learning and what’s expected in each grade.

• Connect to programs for summer learning like tutoring, camps, activities and more.

SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD

Nationwide, there are many fun, engaging and educational programs to help children with reading, math and life skills, and summer is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of them. Many summer programs are available at low or no cost due to pandemicera funding from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER).

With the help of these recovery dollars, school districts are able to provide high-quality options for students by mixing learning time with summer fun and exploration. This federal funding will expire soon, so now is the best time to take

advantage of many educational opportunities.

With the knowledge that her daughter was years behind in reading, Shareeda took action by teaming up with her child’s

teacher and identifying summer learning opportunities. As a result, her daughter is now on track to be ready for the fourth grade.

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Scrub- a -

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Bath time can sometimes feel like a daunting experience, especially for first-time parents. But bath time with your little ones is so much more than just another chore on the list. It provides parents the opportunity to bond with their child while making sure they’re happy and clean.

With some expert advice you can turn bath time into a happy, developmental activity for the whole family. Bath time expert Ashley Sousa, registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Baby Magic ambassador, shares her top five tips to help create a fun and relaxing bath time experience for babies and parents.

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT BATH TIME

Routine is essential to baby’s health. A daily routine helps baby transition into a rhythm, which in turn, helps them to feel comfortable and secure. You can help your baby expect bath time by selecting a time in the day when they’re most relaxed and happy. An ideal bath time might be after a long day of play or a delicious (but messy) meal. Once you find a time that works best for your family, do your best to stick to it.

2. CREATE A BATH TIME RITUAL

Establishing a bath time ritual creates cues that let your little one know it’s time to relax while you bathe them. As the tub fills, begin play time with your baby so they associate bath time with fun time. After a bath, dress them in their pajamas and enjoy some cuddle time so your little one feels calm and relaxed before you tuck them in.

“My husband has started a new nightly

5 tips for making bath time easy and enjoyable

routine with our daughter,” said Sousa. “Every night before bed he uses the Baby Magic Vanilla & Oat Creamy Whipped Butter to massage our daughter’s legs and feet and talk about their days. They giggle and bond while locking moisture in on skin.”

3. INTEGRATE BATH TOYS

Babies love playing with toys, especially in the bathtub. Toys like rubber ducks, squirt toys or water scoops can make bath time fun and stimulating for baby. Having dedicated bath toys builds positive association with bath time so that your baby looks forward to getting squeaky clean.

Be sure to pick out age-appropriate toys that are safe for your baby to use in water. Offer them a variety of toys to choose from so that bath time is always new and interesting. Changing up bath toys from time to time can help keep them engaged during a bath.

4. SOOTHE FEARS WITH BUBBLES

Water can be a scary element for babies. The sound, temperature and sense of floating can startle them, making them feel unsettled or scared. Help soothe your little one’s fears by adding a playful element like bubbles.

“Sometimes babies can be afraid of bath time. A good way to help with the fear is by adding Baby Magic Soothing Hair & Body Wash to the water for some extra bubbles. Making sure the water is shallow is another great way to slowly introduce bath time,” said Sousa.

5. SING, TALK AND BOND

Bath time is the perfect opportunity to bond with your little one. Talking and singing to them while they bathe can help them feel secure, entertained and loved. Try singing nursery rhymes, telling stories or simply talking to your baby. Your

presence and voice will help them relax and make the time a more enjoyable experience. The sound of your voice will help you and your baby bond and create cherished memories to last a lifetime. Exercising these five tips can make bath time a fun part of your daily routine with your baby. When bathing your child, make sure to use wholesome products like Baby

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Magic’s Soothing Hair & Body Wash and Whipped Butter to cleanse and moisturize hair and skin. The Soothing Collection is specially formulated for sensitive skin with nourishing colloidal oat to leave skin feeling soft and comforted. Best of all, they can be used by the whole family! To learn more visit BabyMagic.com.

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VIRTUAL HEALTH

Have you experienced a virtual health visit? We know that people enjoy the convenience and potential cost-savings of virtual health because it often eliminates the need to travel, find childcare and take time off work. However, there are challenges standing in the way of a seamless, consistent,

high-quality and frictionless experience that’s accessible for all.

In Deloitte’s Center for Health Solutions report, “Tapping Virtual Health’s Full Potential”, findings showed that quality of internet service was associated with use of virtual health visits. Nearly half of people surveyed (46%) with very good/reliable

internet service had a virtual visit in the last 12 months, compared with 31% of those with very poor/unreliable internet service. Although most people surveyed (81%) have broadband access, only half (52%) describe it as reliable and meeting their needs. Not surprisingly, 63% of those surveyed with an annual household income greater than $100,000 have reliable internet, compared with 46% of those making less than $50,000. “Our research shows that access to reliable broadband service is key to people’s ability to try a virtual visit, and it also contributes to their satisfaction with the experience,” said Bill Fera, MD, principal and virtual health practice leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Virtual health can complement in-person care, and it has the potential to reach patient populations that are underserved and under-resourced. If we empower people with the technology and information on how to best use virtual care options, and collaborate at the community level, virtual

for underserved groups, more physicians said virtual health has increased access (39%) than decreased (7%), while 12% said it had no effect and 25% said the effects were mixed. While these findings are encouraging, to help ensure that virtual health isn’t creating a digital divide, health care organizations should consider collaborating with local governments, utility providers and businesses in their communities (such as shopping centers, schools, shelters, libraries and pharmacies) to provide free Wi-Fi and digital devices that can be used to enable virtual health services. While virtual health is not a substitute for how care has traditionally been delivered, it can offer new ways of receiving care that were not possible in the past. When done well, virtual health has the potential to provide care to more people in a convenient, comfortable setting that can potentially save costs, be a component of the continuum of care, reduce stigma and

To learn more about the survey findings, read Deloitte’s report titled, “Tapping Virtual (BPT)

For people interested in virtual health, here are five questions to ask your health care provider.

n Do you offer virtual visits and how can I schedule one with my physician?

n Do you have services available to help me learn how to use a portal or how to interact with my physician in a virtual setting so that I can feel comfortable?

n What do I need to do to prepare for a virtual health visit?

n Can a caregiver join my virtual health visit?

n If my insurance doesn’t cover a virtual visit, how much will it cost me out of pocket?

It is the season of “back-to-school” checklists, and there is one task that is important to cross off: a checkup to ensure your child is caught up on their routine vaccinations. After a summer of fun, routine vaccines can help make sure your child’s immune system is well prepared to protect them from serious diseases like measles, polio and chickenpox.

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 93% of kindergartners in the U.S. got their recommended routine vaccinations. While the overwhelming majority of children are getting their vaccines, the data also showed a 1 percentage point drop in vaccination coverage for the second year in a row. That means at least 250,000 kindergarteners may lack important protection from preventable childhood diseases. Now is a great time to catch up.

Parents, are you ready to get your child off to a healthy start this school year? Test your knowledge of routine childhood vaccines.

ADD ROUTINE VACCINES

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE ABOUT ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINES?

True or False: Many children have missed recommended childhood vaccinations over the past few years. True. Now is an excellent time to take your child to a well-child visit and catch up on any recommended vaccinations. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children catch up on routine childhood vaccinations and get back on track for school, childcare and beyond.

True or False: Getting children caught up with recommended vaccinations is the best way to protect them from a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases and keep them in school and participating in other activities.

True. Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough. These diseases are extremely contagious and can be very serious, even deadly. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of measles in the United States, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.

True or False: Children may qualify for no-cost vaccines.

True. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program offers vaccines at no cost to children who qualify. In fact, more than half of American children younger than 19 years old receive VFC vaccines. Ask your doctor if your child may qualify.

True or False: Vaccines are safe and effective against preventing diseases. True. The United States’ long-standing vaccine safety system ensures that vaccines are as safe as possible. Currently, the United States has the safest vaccine supply in its history. Millions of children safely receive vaccines each year. The most common side effects are very mild, such as pain or swelling at the injection site.

Prepare your child for a healthy start to the school year by ensuring your child is up to date on their routine vaccines. Learn more about routine childhood vaccination and schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor today.

For a healthy start, to your child’s back-to-school checklist

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NIU ARTS 23/24

•Concerts

•Performances

•exhibitions

•special guests

NIU students can attend all College of Visual and Performing events free of charge.

Learn more about what’s coming up at: go.niu.edu/arts