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Child Abuse
Domestic Violence
Parenting Education
Child Development and Child Related Issues
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Child Abuse

Child Abduction Prevention
GENERAL TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFER

1. Know where your children are at all times
2. Never leave children unattended in an automobile
3. Be involved in your children's activities
4. Listen to your children. Pay attention if they tell you they don't want to be with someone or go somewhere. That may be a clue that something is wrong.
5. Notice when someone shows your children a great deal of attention or gives them gifts.
6. Teach your children that they have the right to say NO to any unwelcome or uncomfortable touch or actions by others.
7. Be sensitive to changes in your children's behavior or attitude. Encourage open communication. Pay attention to clues that something may be troubling your children.
8. Practice safety skills with your children. Create experiences in which your children can practice using pay phones, using the restroom with a friend, and locating adults who can help them if they need assistance.
9. Remember that there is no substitute for your attention and supervision.

Source: www.state.ct.us/dcf/Child_Abduction/abduction_index.htm

For more information, contact 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or go to www.missingkids.com Source: www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC83.pdf

Facts About Abuse and Neglect

The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect defines child abuse and neglect as

• Any ...act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or
• An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm

The CT Department of Children and Families website describes abuse and neglect:

1. a non-accidental injury to a child which, regardless of motive, is inflicted or allowed to be inflicted by the person responsible for the child's care and
2. includes:

• any injury which is at variance with the history given
• maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment

Neglect is the failure, whether intentional or not, of the person responsible for the child's care to provide and maintain adequate food, clothing, medical care, supervision, and/or education. A child may be found neglected who:

1. has been abandoned
2. is being denied proper care and attention physically, educationally, emotionally, or morally
3. is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to his well-being
4. is being abused.

In Connecticut during fiscal year 2006, the CT Department of Children and Families accepted almost 29,000 cases of child abuse, neglect or other at-risk situations.

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Domestic Violence

www.dvsgnh.org

CT Office of Victim Services
www.jud.ct.gov/crimevictim/

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Parenting Education

www.ctparenting.com

www.take5parenting.com

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Child Development and Child Related Other Issues

Guidelines for Children’s Use of Electronic Media

According to the Parents as Teachers National Center too much television watching, regardless of its contents, is not good for young children. When a child is watching TV, she is not involved in other activities that are important for brain and body development. Young children need to move, manipulate, smell, touch, and repeat as they learn. Studies have found that watching television does not increase attention, promote social skills or foster creative play. Parents as Teachers recommend the following guidelines for children’s use of electronic media:

• Completely avoid shows, movies and games that have violent or sexual content
• Watch TV with your child and discuss the program
• Limit the time your child watches or uses electronic media every day
• Be a media role model by limiting your use of electronic media
• Watch shows with adult content when your child is not in the room
• Emphasize what your child could do besides use electronic media
• Remove Televisions and computers from your child’s bedroom to create a “media free zone”

Teach your child to look for the purpose and message in electronic media, and make good choices for himself/herself.

The Importance of Play in Child Development

Play has been described by some as the work of childhood. Experts agree that it is vitally important to healthy child development. Play helps children understand and gain mastery over their universe. Play helps build self-esteem, social skills, fosters language development, stimulates creativity and imagination and develops fine and large motor skills. According to the Parents as Teachers National Center (PAT) play also helps your child learn self-regulation.

Self-regulation refers to child’s ability to focus attention and control his behavior. By the time a child enters school he must understand what is asked of him in a given situation, monitor his own behavior to see if it matches, and maintain or change what he is doing based on his evaluation. Self-regulation allows a child to stay focused, pay attention to the teacher, and initiate productive activities.

Parents can help children develop self-regulation through play. Parents as Teachers state that playtime is an excellent opportunity to build your relationship with your child while helping him regulate his behavior. Since children have an innate desire to play they will be motivated to focus their attention and continue behaviors that allow the play to continue.

PAT encourage parents to model language for their child to use during playtime. Using words to describe what your child is doing helps him to make a connection between his actions and words. In time he will be using “self-talk” to help control his behavior. As language and emotional development progress you can encourage him to use his words to express feelings instead of acting on them.

According to PAT, when children begin to pretend they have very simple scripts. When you join in play with your child you can help him to extend his play by suggesting new roles or new uses for play materials. Role playing helps a child learn to conform his behavior to the role and increase his self-regulation. As your child progresses to playing board games or playground games, keep games rules simple, be patient as you model following the rules for your child and don’t be surprised if he wants to change the rules in his favor.

Playing with your child daily not only helps you bond with your child but it also teaches your child self-control, attention to task and helps to prepare him for success in school. PAT encourages all parents to play with your child daily and watch his self-regulation grow!

CCCC Parent Educators are trained PAT educators and will provide the PAT program to any parent of a child birth to five in the New Haven area.

Information for this article was adapted from the Parents As Teachers National Center, Inc. 2001 Newsletter

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Community Resources

www.uwgnh.org

www.communityservicesnetwork.org

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