FAMILY MATTERS

The First Years Last Forever

By Steve Duncan
MSU Extension Service

01/14/98 BOZEMAN - - For twenty years, research has shown what Grandma and Grandpa instinctively knew: The early years of life are critical to the development of children. New brain research reinforces that the early years are even more important than we once thought. It shows that early experiences help determine a child’s brain structure, shaping the way he or she learns, thinks and behaves for the rest of his or her life.

The "I Am Your Child" campaign recently was launched in all 50 states. Its overall goal is to promote family and community involvement in young children’s healthy development. There are 50 partners in Montana, including Montana State University’s Early Childhood Project, the governor’s office and the MSU Extension Service.

The "I Am Your Child" campaign has developed 10 basic guidelines to help parents and care givers raise healthier, happier children who can reach their full potential.

Be warm, loving and responsive. Children’s early attachments actually affect the way their brains work and grow. When children receive warm, responsive care, they are more likely to feel safe and secure with the adults who take care of them. Secure attachments to adults form the basis of a child’s future relationships.

Respond to the child’s cues and clues. The cues and clues that infants send are the sounds they make, the ways they move and the facial expressions they use. Children become securely attached when parents and other care givers try to read these signals and respond with sensitivity.

Talk, sing and read to your child. Telling stories about daily events, reading children’s books aloud, singing songs about the people and places your child knows, describing what is happening during daily routines--all of these interactions give your child a solid basis for later learning.

Establish routines and rituals. Daily routines and rituals associated with pleasurable feelings are reassuring for children. A song before nap time or a story before bed are examples of routines.

Encourage safe exploration and play. As infants grow, they begin to explore the world beyond their care givers. Encourage this exploration and be receptive to the child’s questions and need for security.

Make television watching selective. Television by itself can’t teach an infant language, and it can’t teach a child how to communicate. Avoid using TV as a babysitter. Whenever possible, sit and watch programs together with your child and talk about what you’re viewing.

Use discipline as an opportunity to teach. As children explore their ever-expanding world, they need limits and consistent, loving adult supervision. Many approaches to setting limits can work, as long as they are intended to help and teach children rather than to punish them. Never hit or shake a child. Brain research shows that these forms of punishment can have long-term negative effects.

Recognize that each child is unique. Children grow at different rates. Their ideas and feelings about themselves reflect, in large measure, parents’ and care givers’ attitudes toward them. When children receive concrete praise, they begin to see a connection between their actions and your response.

Choose quality child care and stay involved. When selecting child care, visit unannounced and observe how providers respond and interact with the babies and children in their care. Seek a provider who responds warmly and responsively, who cares about children, who will give them individual attention and provide a clean, safe environment for their creative play and exploration.

Take care of yourself. Parents and care givers need care, too. When you are exhausted. preoccupied, irritable or depressed, you will have a harder time meeting the needs of young children. When you feel overwhelmed, reach out to friends, family members and others who can help you.

The campaign is providing many resources to parents. A free booklet, "The First Years Last Forever," includes tips on how families can promote young children’s healthy development. A video of the same name is also available. Both of these can be ordered by calling (888) 447-3400. The video also will be available to rent through Blockbuster video stores by Sept. 30, 1997. In addition, go to the library to read the excellent Summer 1997 special edition of Newsweek for other helpful information.

Look for each of the above guidelines on Darigold milk cartons, on public service announcements, and in this column.

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