For Release:  March 29, 2001
Contact: Donna Jones
Adair County Health Department
918/696-7292

Health Workshops Foster Positive Early Childhood Development

Childcare workers, preschool faculty, teachers and parents of children up to age 6 years are encouraged to attend a one day mini-conference April 28 on early childhood development. Workshops will be presented on a variety of topics.

The Oklahoma Family Resource Coalition and Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) are sponsoring the conference, entitled “Sharing Childhood Discoveries,” from 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. on April 28 in the University Center Building at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

The keynote speaker, Patricia Kelly, M.Ed. with the OSDH, will speak on the topic “Ever Feel Like a Fire Hydrant & All Your Friends are Dogs?”

Session 1 choices:

• Baby Signs 101 – Learn to communicate with infants and toddlers with creative sign language.
• Positive Strategies for Preventing Challenging Behaviors in Young Children ages 3 to 6 years – Assessment and intervention techniques.
• Sharing Ideas for Leftovers – Make games of leftover materials like folders, stickers, borders and note pads for children 3 to 6 years old.
• Kindermusik for ages birth to 6 years – Learn the positive effects of music on children.
• Polaroid Education Program Presents A Child’s Eye View – Learn how children communicate with instant photos.
• Dealing with Difficult People – Learn how to work with people who drive you crazy.

Session 2 choices:

• Fostering Creativity in Young Children – Learn appropriate creative activities and guidelines.
• Playground Fun- Not Just for Kids – Learn how to make the playground safe, stimulating, challenging and fun geared to children ages 3 to 6 years.
• Polaroid Education Program – Repeat session.
• Communication Development for ages 3 to 5 years – Learn typical development and ways to stimulate speech and language skills in preschoolers.
• Inclusion in Daycare – Focus on how to include special needs children ages birth to 6 years in daycare setting and when to refer children to programs outside their facility.
• Why Do Children Bite? – Discover why children bite, what to do when biting occurs and how to prevent biting.

Session 3 choices:

• Disaster Planning for Childcare Centers & Homes – Learn how to evacuate children of all ages from your center or home.
• Polaroid Education Program – Repeat session.
• Books for Babies ages birth to 2 years – Learn to create inexpensive books that infants and toddlers will enjoy.
• Winter, Spring & Fall Make’n Take – Learn seasonal activities for children ages 3 to 6 years.
• Communication Development – Discuss child development and ways to stimulate speech and language in children 2 years and under.

Registration is $20 per person and CEUs are available. For more information, or to register, contact Donna Jones at 918/696-7292.

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