The Learning Child

 

As caring adults in young children’s lives we play a major role in setting the stage for lifelong learning, discovery and success. Nebraska Extension is committed to providing research-based strategies to help you support the holistic development of the young child in your care.

Active in all 93 counties and at child.unl.edu

The Learning Child

The Learning Child

PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Stress and young children

Jackie Guzman, Extension Educator Scotts Bluff County

How are your children doing?

In recent months our state has experienced several natural disasters with flooding, storms causing hail damage to property and crops, and most recently the collapse of a tunnel in the irrigation canal serving Wyoming and Nebraska farmers impacting thousands of acres of farm land. Anyone who was not directly impacted by a disaster this year probably knows someone who has, teaching us that we are not immune to such events.

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FEATURE — Read for Resilience Program Helps Young Children Cope After a Disaster

EXTENSION CREATES READ FOR RESILIENCE PROGRAM In response to the March 13, 2019 disasters, Nebraska Extension’s The Learning Child team created the Read for Resilience program. The team identified nine children’s books to support their coping and understanding feelings after experiencing a disaster, loss and/or grief. Then team members developed reading guides to accompany the books to provide parents and caregivers with age-appropriate probing questions to explore children’s thoughts and feelings.
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PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: What’s the dirt on dirt? It’s OK for kids to get dirty

By Sarah Paulos, Nebraska Extension Educator

      “Don’t get dirty.”

      “Wash your hands!”

This has been the request of parents throughout the ages aimed at children coming in and out from outdoor play. But is this good advice? Can getting dirty and being exposed to germs actually benefit children? The answer is yes.

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PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Building strong families – making time for family

Jackie Guzman, Extension Educator
Scotts Bluff County

Now that children are home from school on summer break, parents can spend the next three months just keeping them busy, or else they can seize an opportunity to build a stronger family and maybe create new traditions.

Many families have their own traditions. As long as I can remember, every December my family’s tradition has been to make tamales together – a very labor intensive process.  Regardless, we all look forward to our annual family gathering.

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PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: Cultivating cultural competence in children

        If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships-the ability of all people, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

        The first step to cultivate human relationships starts at home. Children tend to exhibit the behaviors and attitudes that they observe at home.

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PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVES: The importance of play for children

      Play is a crucial part of your child’s development. It starts in infancy and should continue throughout his or her life. When you play with your child it not only helps you to build a positive relationship and strengthen your bond with your child, but has additional benefits as well.

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