Creating Together Blog

Understanding and Preventing Misbehaviour in Your Children

June 20, 2019 by Melanie

Children are not born knowing how to be well behaved, so some help and guidance from parents and caregivers is needed. At the same time, it’s not always an easy job. To help support parents and caregivers in this, we held an information session on June 10th to talk about some behaviour strategies.

Why do children misbehave?

Kids use their behavior to show their feelings and thoughts, often when they have a hard time finding words for them. Responding appropriately requires understanding the underlying cause. Here are a few examples:

Feeling left out / craving attention
Copying behaviour seen by others / from a show
Testing limits
Lacking problem-solving skills
Wanting independence
Having unmet needs (tired, hungry, etc)

How do I prevent misbehaviour?

One great place to start, is to work on preventing misbehaviour in the first place. Here are some tips for preventing misbehaviour in children:

Anticipate a problem before it happens (carry snacks and feed them before they act out, set reasonable limits for play before they begin)
Set up your home and play areas so children are free to play comfortably and safely for their age.
Be clear about what you want and expect from children.
Make a few important rules that you can enforce.
State them in advance.
Listen to your child. Look for signs that show your children’s mood. Recognize feelings.
Repeat the limits you set. Help children remember with reminders such as notes and pictures. Point out choices.
Be a good example.
Be consistent.

And remember, the staff of Creating Together are here to help – if you’d like some support in this, please come to a staff member and we’d be happy to help you navigate your child’s misbehaviour, and support you with some strategies. You are not alone!

Delicious Blueberry Oatmeal Squares

June 13, 2019 by Melanie

We made some delicious blueberry oatmeal squares this week – always a hit with the kiddies. But apart from being delicious, here are some pretty surprising health benefits of blueberries:

Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all the popular fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids appear to be the berries’ antioxidant with the greatest impact.
Several studies suggest that blueberries and blueberry juice reduce DNA damage, which is a leading driver of aging and cancer.
The antioxidants in blueberries have been shown to reduce a predominant risk factor for heart disease by preventing oxidative damage to “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Regular blueberry intake is tied to lower blood pressure in numerous studies.
The antioxidants in blueberries seem to benefit your brain by aiding brain function and delaying mental decline.

Source: healthline.com

Looking for an easy way to incorporate some blueberries into your family life?

Try out our recipe below, at home.

And, if you’d like to learn more, don’t forget to join us on June 19th for our monthly Toddler Food Prep workshop with Marcella from Foodshare, at 10am!

Learning More About Autism Spectrum Disorder

June 5, 2019 by Melanie

Last month, Creating Together Staff held 2 information sessions on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to better equip parents and caregivers with information and resources to better support the children of our communities.

We know ASD is on the rise, and knowledge is key. So, here is some more information from aboutkidshealth.ca, especially for those who were not able to make it to the Information Sessions last month. Should you require any further support or if you’d like to learn more, please reach out to the staff at Creating Together and they would be happy to connect you with resources and support.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a specific set of behavioural and developmental problems and challenges, affecting a child’s communication, social and play skills.

“Spectrum” is used because every child is unique and has their own combination of characteristics that combine to make their own unique profile. As your child grows, the expression of these challenges will change – and usually they have these social / behavioural differences for life.

Characteristics of ASD

Here are a few:

Shows little response when you call their name, especially if in preschool.
May not respond when others try to talk or play with them.
Shows little interest in getting attention from others.
Doesn’t point with index finger to show what they are interested in.
Shows a lack of interest in toys or plays with toys in an unusual way.
May seem moody, irritable, or passive.
May suddenly change from being very passive to very irritable in a short period of time.
May have difficulty using eye gaze appropriately in social situations.

Prevalence of ASD

ASD is the most common developmental condition, with one in four people having ASD and four out of five of those being male. It affects people from all parts of the world, every social economic background and race.

Possible causes of ASD

There are no specific known causes of ASD, however current studies suggest it may be related to differences in how the brain develops before birth and during the first few years of life.

In some families, there seems to be a pattern of ASD in more than one member of the family. This suggests there is a genetic basis to ASD. At this time, some specific genes have been directly linked to ASD. In most people, ASD is most likely a result of a complex interaction of several genes. These vary among families, and research is ongoing. We do know:

ASD is not a mental illness.
Children with ASD are not unruly kids who choose to misbehave.
Bad parenting does not cause ASD.

What to do if you think your child has ASD?

If you suspect your child has ASD, book an appointment with the family doctor. They may refer your child to a child psychologist who specializes in the diagnosis of ASD.

Diagnosis of ASD

Diagnosing a child with ASD is complex, because the characteristics change over time as your child develops. Best practices for determining whether a child has ASD include:

Observing the child.
Talking to the parents.
Using standardized assessment tools to document development and behaviour.

There are no lab tests for diagnosing ASD, however some lab tests can be helpful to detect other issues such as low iron (causing anemia). Some children may develop seizures and need an EEG to document brain electrical activity before starting seizure treatment.

Treating ASD

There is no medical cure for ASD. However, we are finding ways to help people deal with different characteristics of ASD. With the right treatment, some of the behaviour can be changed. Some medicine can help with low iron levels, with others can reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Children respond well to highly structured, specialized education programs that meet the specific needs of the child. They work best one-on-one or in a small group setting. An effective program would be flexible, and able to change over time while teaching the social communication skills the child needs at each stage of their development. Some examples may include:

Behavioural teaching
Communication therapy
Training in social skills development
Sensory motor therapy

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Canada is on the Rise

May 22, 2019 by Melanie

A report released last year by the Public Health Agency of Canada was the first “Canadian-made” report to look at the prevalence of Autism Spectrum in our country. It reveals that approximately 1 in 66 children and youth are diagnosed with ASD in Canada. Across participating provinces and territories, for every 1 female diagnosed with ASD, there were 4-5 males diagnosed, and these numbers are on the rise.

Earlier this month, Creating Together staff held an information session on Autism Spectrum Disorder, to shed some light on ASD, share some resources, and offer support for parents and caregivers.

Key topics at the information session include:

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Characteristics of ASD
Prevalence of ASD
Possible causes of ASD
What to do if you think your child has ASD
Diagnosis of ASD
Treating ASD
Resources for ASD

If you weren’t able to make it on May 9th, please come to the session on May 31st at 10am. Hope to see you there!

Modelling Reading for Your Child

May 14, 2019 by Melanie

Children never really stop watching you – they see how you walk, talk, laugh, stress…and they see you when you read. In addition to picking great books for your child(ren) to read, it’s equally important to create a culture of reading in your home, and be a role model reader. Here are a few tips from Scholastic Parents to get you started with being a reading role model for children aged 3-5.

Reading belongs in your life, as a regular part of every day. Don’t limit it to libraries and classrooms. By making the written word a part of your living space, you encourage reading as a lifelong event. Ensure books, magazines, and newspapers are all readily available.

When you are explaining an interesting fact or story, let your child know which booked helped you. Our knowledge is largely shaped by the things we read, and reading gives us something to connect with eachother around.

If you choose to visit a library, bookstore, or browse through the magazines at the drugstore, bring your child along and make it an event! Even if you aren’t looking for anything in particular, model excitement as you browse and admire.

If you’re getting into a really great article or book, remember to share your process. Motivate reluctant readers by opening up conversation and showing early readers that it’s not only a solitary experience. You might pause to share that you’re unfamiliar with a new word, or read an interesting fact aloud.

Reading can be fun (not just work), so show them! Evening cuddles with a good book, books that share songs and manipulative play – it shows your little one that reading is one of the many highlights of the day!