MissouriFamilies eNewsletter
http://missourifamilies.org
Outreach & Extension, University of Missouri & Lincoln University
January 27, 2003

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.  William Jennings Bryan

PARENTING TIP
Deborah B. Smith, Ph.D., Sociology, Family Studies Program,
University of Missouri-Kansas City

Does your child ever make unreasonable requests like asking if she can wear a sundress to preschool when it is 20 degrees outside? It is often hard to say no to your child when he or she makes these kinds of requests. One way to be able to say “yes” often is to only give choices that are acceptable. A key phrase to remember as a parent is “freedom within limits.” Instead of asking your child, “What do you want to wear today?” you might ask, “Do you want to wear your green sweater or your purple shirt to preschool today?” You are allowing the child to choose what to wear, but you define the range of permissible choices. Using this strategy consistently throughout childhood for topics from clothing and food choices to deciding which extracurricular activities to pursue can make both you and your child happy.

For more parenting tips see http://missourifamilies.org/parenting/index.htm.

PROMOTING YOUNG CHILDREN'S EARLY LITERACY
Sara Gable, Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia

To promote young children's delight in talking, listening, reading, and writing, adults need to provide a variety of interesting language experiences. Children who have reading difficulties in the primary grades often had limited early literacy learning experiences.

To Promote Early Literacy: Be a model of literate behavior for your children: write notes, keep a calendar and daily planner, post lists of food and household needs and children's responsibilities, introduce new vocabulary words during routine conversation and book reading, and subscribe to a local newspaper and magazines the entire family will enjoy.

Sing songs, make up silly rhymes, read books, and play with words and sounds every day. Discuss printed text, words, and sounds as "objects" that can be thought about, manipulated, altered, and explored. Help children build and use their ever-growing vocabulary.

Provide children with the tools of literate behavior (pens, pencils, markers, paper, envelopes, a stapler, paperclips, stamps, a dictionary, an atlas, telephone books, magazines, catalogues, newspapers, junk mail) and engage in daily literacy activities with your children (write thank you notes, mail birthday cards, look up phone numbers, find exotic destinations in an atlas, write lists, read books, visit the library).

For further information on Children’s Early Literacy, see http://missourifamilies.org/features/childcarearticles/childcare3.htm.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about health, nutrition, human development, finances, and housing see: http://missourifamilies.org or contact your local University of Missouri or Lincoln University Outreach & Extension Center. You can find them at: http://outreach.missouri.edu/regions/.

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