CASY Family Newsletter

Monday, December 26th - Christmas Holiday

Friday, December 30th - New Year's Eve (observed)

CASY staff will be working remotely and available by phone or email:

Thursday, December 22nd

Tuesday, December 27th

Wednesday, December 28th

Thursday, December 29th

Now that the masks are taken off and the quarantines have ended, are we back to normal? COVID left a lasting mark on most of us, and our children are no different. Children born during this time or those that reached "toddlerhood" are showing signs of speech and language delays. Our pediatricians are the first line of defense, but they need your help! Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and risk factors that have been found to be indicative of a speech language disorder. If your child fits any of these concerns, then stay tuned for how to get timely evaluation and treatment as EARLY intervention is key! Many of our children missed opportunities and experiences that promote language and learning; so do not wait to get the help they need to get back on track! Hear from Jessica Downing, Speech Therapist and owner of Clarity Cognitive and Speech Therapy during this CASY family information session.

Register here.

On Nov. 23, 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall of Green Sprouts Stainless Steel Straw Bottles, Sippy Cups, and Sip & Straw Cups. The bottom base of the recalled stainless steel bottles and cups can break off, exposing a solder dot that contains lead and posing a lead poisoning hazard to the child.

As part of its mission to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products, CPSC obtains the recall of products and arranges for a repair, replacement, or refund for recalled products. Subscribe to stay up to date on CPSC recalls.

Your child has a stuffy nose, cough and fever. Is it a cold? The flu? Or are they symptoms of COVID? Some COVID, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and cold symptoms can be alike. But there are some clues that set each of these common viruses apart. Learn more here.

12 TIPS FOR GETTING SLEEPYHEADS OUT OF BED

When your child was just a little baby, you probably didn’t get a lot of sleep — so you’ve really hit a milestone now that it’s difficult getting them out of bed. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer in the fall and winter months, wake-up time can be even more challenging. And when daylight savings time makes us lose an hour in the spring, many family mornings get thrown for another loop.

Extra sleep is on the wish list of people everywhere. Sooner or later, all families figure out a morning routine that works for them. But sometimes the little learners in the house need additional supports. Click here to read more.

Sometimes normal teenage behavior may look like ADHD

Parenting teenage boys is always an adventure. As parents, we become particularly attuned to his behavior, looking for changes and anticipating difficulties before they turn into something more serious. As our sons get older, move into adolescence, and start to develop their own interests and behavior styles, we may see them act in ways that are confusing to us as parents. Read more here.

Even before your child can talk, he or she will show signs of hunger or fullness by using sounds and movements. Crying is often a late sign of hunger. Look for other signs of hunger listed below so you can put your child to the breast or bottle while he or she is still calm. As your child gets older, he or she will develop new signs for hunger and fullness. Understanding your child’s signs is important to help you know when and how often to feed your child.

Here are some examples of signs your child may show for hunger and fullness when he or she is a newborn to 5 months old and signs your child may start to show between 6 to 23 months old.

In the United States, the number of children with obesity has continued to rise over the past two decades. Obesity in childhood poses immediate and future health risks.

Parents, guardians, and teachers can help children maintain a healthy weight by helping them develop healthy eating habits and limiting calorie-rich temptations. You also want to help children be physically active, have reduced screen time, and get adequate sleep.

The goal for children who are overweight is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal growth and development. Children should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a health care provider.

Learn more here.

With special treats and family gatherings, the perfect time to teach your child about cooking and nutrition is during the holidays! Kids not only will get to try the new foods they prepare, but they also will get a big boost to their confidence when they see family and friends enjoying their creations. Most importantly, cooking with your children will promote future health by teaching them about nutrition and how to prepare healthy meals.

Read more here.

The holidays are one of the most magical times of year. Most of us wait for this time of year with anticipation. We watch as our children’s eyes light up at the sight of Santa, we help them create their list and send it off through the mail, and we see their joy Christmas morning when they see all the presents under the tree.

But maybe your child is getting to the age where they are beginning to question Santa. Or maybe they heard from a friend at school or in the neighborhood that Santa isn’t real. So how can you tell them that Santa doesn’t exist?

Here are four ways you can break the news of Santa to your kids without totally ruining the magic of Christmas.

Read more here.

In the "Alma's Way" episode “Alma’s Nochebuena,” Alma and Junior love their Christmas Eve tradition of making ornaments together. Even when things go awry (like a dog ruining their homemade star!), they still have the shared experience of creating something special together. Here are a few ideas for experiences and non-store-bought gifts.

New Year’s Eve celebrations are often adult-only events, but kids get excited about the big night as well. Because babysitters are scarce and restaurant prices are high on December 31, it makes more sense to celebrate with the kids. Many communities now host family-friendly First Night celebrations with fireworks, music and games, but you can also have lots of fun staying home.

Whether you decide to host a neighborhood party or just cozy up with your family, make it a New Year’s Eve to remember with these tips for a kid-friendly celebration.

Families, teachers and children are better together. That’s why the Child Care Resource and Referral Network is proud to serve as a navigator for families, expertly assisting them in finding high-quality child care and connecting them with additional opportunities to meet their needs.

For personalized support in finding a child care program that best meets your family's needs,

contact CASY, Child Care Resource and Referral, Family Engagement Specialists

at 800-886-3952 and choose option 2.

You can also complete the referral request form by clicking here.

Our Family Engagement Specialists will follow up with you by the next business day when you submit the online form.

Many Hoosier families have either lost jobs or left the workforce due to COVID-19. From the job search to the interview, it takes time to find a job, and it’s even more difficult to do it with children at home to care for. To help, Indiana is providing temporary child care assistance so Hoosier parents can spend their time focusing on getting back to work. Families who qualify for On My Way PreK or CCDF financial support are also eligible job searching, participating in job training programs, interviewing, completing employment requirements and getting settled in their new job.

• Want to learn more about temporary child care assistance for job-seeking Hoosier families? Click here!

• Ready to apply? Click here!

Email: admin@casyonline.org
Website: http://casyonline.org/
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Phone: 800-886-3952
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASY.Inc