Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- November 18, 2008

Adults can help children cope with the excitement of the holidays (:48)

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Suggested Intro:

AS ANTICIPATION BUILDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS, A PENN STATE EXTENSION CHILD CARE EXPERT SAYS LITTLE CHILDREN OFTEN NEED ADULT HELP IN COPING WITH THE STIMULATION OF THE SEASON. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:

Story:

(:18) WITH HOLIDAY EXCITEMENT CRACKLING IN THE AIR, YOUNG CHILDREN ARE INFLUENCED BY THE FESTIVE MOOD BUT AREN'T ALWAYS MATURE ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND CORRECTLY. NANCY WILSON, AN EARLY LEARNING SPECIALIST WITH PENN STATE EXTENSION'S BETTER KID CARE PROGRAM, SAYS CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM ACTIVITIES THAT LET THEM BURN OFF THE EXTRA ENERGY AND QUIET THEMSELVES:

Wilson Actuality:
(:17) "I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR THE ADULTS IN CHILDREN'S LIVES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE REAL PLAY TIMES DURING THE DAY; TIMES TO RELAX AND HAVE WHAT WE CALL QUIET TIMES, WHERE THEY CAN JUST THINK AND USE THEIR IMAGINATION AND CALM DOWN A LITTLE BIT."

(:14) WILSON SAYS PARENTS CAN LIMIT THE MEDIA BOMBARDMENT THAT BUILDS THROUGH THE SEASON. SENSORY-PLAY ACTIVITIES LIKE PLAY DOUGH AND FINGER-PAINTING ARE GREAT STRESS RELIEVERS, AND PARENTS SHOULD TALK WITH KIDS ABOUT THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE HOLIDAY. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

Building Strong Families: "Make Holiday Times Special Times" (College of Agricultural Sciences publication in PDF format -- Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

 

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