Gear up for November 4
With less than 50 days until the election, it’s time to remind our local candidates about the importance of investing in early childhood care and education. When you see candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives at forums or debates, or when they show up at your doorstep to ask for your support, or if you run into them in your community, be sure to ask them to invest in early childhood care and education if they’re elected.
Ready 4 K has lots of information to help engage and educate both candidates and voters alike about early childhood issues.
• For a detailed overview of early care and education issues, take a look at Ready 4 K’s Guide for Policy Makers.
• Use their Tips for Asking Candidates Questions to raise candidates’ awareness of early childhood issues.
Tip: Print and share these with family and friends!
• Learn seven tips to help Get Out the Vote for kids this year.
[This is important because rumor has it only one in 10 parents of young children are registered to vote. To gear
up and get serious about voter registration efforts, visit the Minnesota Participation Project!]
Additional Resources
Visit the League of Women Voters to find your polling site and what will be on your ballot (candidates and more).
Or go to the source for Minnesota voting information: The Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State tells you what to bring for same-day registration, maintains a Polling Place Finder (to tell you where to go), and much, much more!
Finally, remember to vote for kids November 4, 2008!
Adapted from Gearing Up for Election 2008 in the September 2008 issue of Milestones, Ready 4 K’s online newsletter. Subscribe today!
The Importance of Routines
Fall is here! Fall means cooler weather, warm sweatshirts, hot soup or cocoa and back to a regular routine for parents and children. For many adults, routine can be boring and predictable; but for young children, routines are eagerly anticipated and comforting. Children feel more secure and in control when they know what to expect at different times of their day. Routines can help toddlers with transition times. They are less likely to resist switching gears as they go from playtime to lunch or clean-up to bed. Parents can also benefit from keeping routines. They can eliminate time-consuming planning, cut down on last minute panic and can make busy days run more smoothly.
Routines are most effective when they are tailor-made to fit each family. However, some guidelines will work for any family:
First, begin slowly. The process may go more easily if taken one step at a time, such as picking up the day’s toys together before choosing a bedtime story.
Offer choices when possible. When preparing dinner, let children choose the vegetable or fruit. Toddlers have developed independence and asking them for input makes them feel important.
Set limits with your routines. Parents need to set rules and stick with them, such as a specific time for bed and how many stories will be read.
Last of all, have fun with your daily routines. The goal of routines is to make daily tasks less of a chore and more of an opportunity to share time with young children and teach some valuable life skills.