WAUSAU FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENT 4K PROGRAM WILL YOU FILL MY BUCKET?

“PARENTS (AND TEACHERS) NEED TO FILL A CHILD’S BUCKET OF SELF-ESTEEM SO HIGH THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD CAN’T POKE ENOUGH HOLES TO DRAIN IT DRY” - ALVIN PRICE

HOW DO YOU FILL A BUCKET? TUNE IN, TALK MORE, TAKE TURNS TUNE IN BUSY SCHEDULES: EVERY MOMENT COUNTS POSITIVE PHYSICAL, VERBAL AND EMOTIONAL INTERACTIONS Hugs and kisses, cuddling Reading daily Greetings, Pick-up and Drop-off Dancing and Singing, Playing Games Going to the Park Children need 7 positives to 1 negative to feel good about what they are doing. LIMIT TECHNOLOGY

Communication and Language TALK MORE HAVE RICH CONVERSATIONS (open-ended questions, comments about activities, etc.) AVOID A LOT OF DIRECTIONS Quality interactions where you build on what your child says; e.g. “What did you do at school today?” “Paint.” “Oh, did you use a paint brush or your fingers?” “Fingers.” “Your hands were wet with paint. What color did you use?” Parent-child verbal interaction is strongly associated with the development of children’s vocabulary and emergent literary skills as well as learning grammar and social rules.

TAKE MORE TIME TO TALK AND READ: DISCONNECT TO CONNECT According to a Cisco mobile data forecast, by the end of 2014, there will be more mobile devices than people on Earthforecast

TAKING MORE TIME: DISCONNECT TO CONNECT NEW RESEARCH: Parents' screen time is becoming a barrier to interactions with their children. In a recent study, half of the cases where caregivers were highly absorbed, children either entertained themselves or started to showcase limit-testing behaviors or bids for attention In another study, children whose parents are highly absorbed in screen time have lower language levels and more difficulty understanding social cues. This is due to the lack of eye contact and turn taking which is an important precursor for these skills.

MEAL TIMES  For many, scrolling through mobile devices is almost second nature. Child development experts urge parents to make rules for themselves and those who interact with their children, that mobile devices during meal times should be put away.

HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME?  Infants: No screen time  Toddlers: No more than 3 – 4 times per year, or never  Preschoolers:  Only for educational or physical activity purposes  No more than 30 minutes per week or never, while in your care  Work with families to ensure no more than hours per day

Reasons for Limiting Screen Time  Gets in the way of exploring, playing, and social interaction.  As kids get older, screen time can get in the way of being active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family.  Kids who spend more time watching TV are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Ways to Limit Screen Time Keep the TV/computer out of sight  Put it in rooms not used by children  Hide it with a blanket or sheet  Get rid of it Replace screen time with fun, interactive activities  Play outside  Turn on music and dance  Bring kids into the kitchen and let them help you set the table, cook, and clean up

When screen time is allowed:  Make it “quality programming” by choosing shows or computer games that are educational or get kids moving.  Track screen time with a simple scheduling sheet so you know how much screen time a child has and when they’ve reached their limit for the week.  Avoid watching while eating. Touch screen technology does NOT count as ‘active’ screen time. Watch the quality of children’s movement with active video games.

4K SONG: Turn your phones off, turn your phones off And TV’s, and TV’s Will you fill my bucket? And spend time with me? Disconnect Video: