Raising a Reader

By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Children who read succeed and reading readiness begins in the preschool years.  Beginning literacy means helping young children enjoy books and use language expressively, not urging them to memorize the alphabet or recognize words.  When young children derive pleasure from reading and storytelling and are immersed in language activities, they will…

Be Playful with Your Child

By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. Do you know that when you play with your baby, you are helping him or her to learn while their brain is growing and making important connections? Babies and toddlers love to play, but play isn’t just fun, babies’ brains grow during play especially when they are using all five…

Skip the Power Struggle

By Nancy Olsen-Harbich  “It doesn’t matter what I ask – she never obeys me.” “He’s impossible! I hate it that every day ends with me yelling and him crying.” “The simplest thing turns into a contest, and no one wins.” Sound familiar? What parent hasn’t been frustrated by trying to solicit cooperation from a child…

The Evidence-Based Living Blog

The College of Human Ecology at Cornell University publishes The Evidence-Based Living Blog and has published some excellent posts over the past few months with information you may find useful both at work and in your personal life including articles about how to avoid mosquitoes, the effectiveness of new medical treatments, gun violence and public…

NAP SACC – Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care

NAP SACC – Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care

NAP SACC is one of the initiatives of the Creating Healthy Places in Suffolk County grant that CCE’s Family Health and Wellness program received from the New York State Department of Health.   What:  NAP SACC is an obesity prevention program for child care centers. Why:   currently 26% of U.S. children, ages 2-6 are classified…

Healthful Sleep Routines

By Kerri Kreh Reda As our lives become more hectic, few Americans are getting enough sleep.  Our youngest children are no exception. During the summer it may be even more difficult to maintain sleep routines, making it even more difficult for infants and toddlers to meet the recommendations on the sleep table below: When young…