1. No category

March/April 2015
Tidbits for Tots
A Publication of Anne Carlsen Early Intervention Program
Experienced Parent Program
National Poison Prevention Week—March 15-21
Each year, approximately 2.4 million people—more than half under age 6—swallow or have contact with a
poisonous substance. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some important tips to prevent and to
treat exposures to poison.
To Poison Proof Your Home
Most poisonings occur when parents or caregivers are home but not paying attention. The most dangerous
potential poisons are medicines, cleaning products, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, pesticides, furniture
polish, gasoline, kerosene and lamp oil.
 Store medicine, cleaning and laundry products, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging
in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.
 Safety latches that automatically lock when you close a cabinet door can help keep children away from
dangerous products, but there is always a chance the device will malfunction. The safest place to store
poisonous products is somewhere a child can’t reach.
 Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps and keep out of reach of children. Discard
unused medication.
 Never refer to medicine as ‘candy’ or another appealing name.
 Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage. For liquid medicines, use
the dosing device that came with the medicine.
 Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.
 Keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order.
 Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
 Secure remote controls, key fobs, greeting cards, and musical children’s books. These and other devices
may contain small button-cell batteries that can cause injury if ingested.
Treatment
Contact Information:
Ramona Gunderson,
Director
775-8934 extension #5078
2016 South Washington Street
Grand, Forks ND 58201
Contents
If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If your child has come in contact with poison or
you suspect that your child may have swallowed a button-cell battery, and has mild or no symptoms, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Lecotek
2
Recipe for Bunny Bread
2
New Addition to Staff
3
New Addition to Staff
3
Experienced Parent
3
Child Abuse Prevention
4
4
Week of the Young Child
Anne Carlsen is Bringing
Lekotek® to Grand Forks
Play is the way kids learn, develop skills and reach milestones. The goal of Lekotek® by Anne Carlsen
is to make the world of play accessible to ALL children, especially those who have disabilities or special
needs. Toys and play empower children to reach their potential and increase inclusion within the family
and community.
The Lekotek® model, with it’s three components, provides:

Family Toy Lending Libraries include a large assortment of adapted toys and activities for individuals ranging in age from infancy to adulthood. Parents are given advice regarding toys and
games that coincide with their child’s skills and interests. In addition to gaining ideas for toys to buy
in the future, families enjoy easy access to equipment and technology that can be difficult to find and
expensive to buy.

Play Sessions are safe and welcoming play environments in which Lekotek® trained family
play specialists select toys and guide play sessions. Family play specialists are experts in analyzing
the needs and abilities of each child and are knowledgeable about traditional and specially-adapted
toys.

Family involvement is a cornerstone of the Lekotek® philosophy because the family unit has
a significant impact on the child. During the play sessions, parents, siblings, grandparents and family
friends learn how to engage with their loved one using toys, games and activities. The toys and materials go home with the family at the end of the play session, so the home can be an inclusive environment where every member of the family participates in play.
Lekotek® by Anne Carlsen is membership based and does not require a diagnosis to qualify for this program. Families pay a monthly or annual fee to become a member of Lekotek® by Anne Carlsen. With
the fee, the family receives one play session per month along with the toy lending program. Other special events or activities of Lekotek® by Anne Carlsen are included in the membership fee or are available to the member at a reduced cost. Families can choose to pay the annual fee or set up monthly payments of $30.00. The annual membership fee is $360. Sign up by May 1st, get a month free. Talk to
your Early Interventionist if you are interested.
Lekotek.org
Ingredients: bread dough and raisins for eyes
Make a large roll for the bunny tummy. Place on a greased cookie sheet.
Make a smaller ball for the head and place above the tummy section. Roll two
balls into ropes and loop ropes over to make bunny ears. Lay on top of bunny
head. For arms and legs use smaller balls and lay next to appropriate part of
body. Give the bunny two raisin eyes and two very small balls for a nose.
Cover with a cloth or plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes. Remove towel or
plastic wrap and brush beaten egg white over the top. Bake at 350 degrees
for 25-30 minutes.
http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com
Page 2
Bunny Bread
Tidbits for Tots — March/April 2015
New Addition to
Lekotek® Staff
Hello! My name is Amber Brown and
I'm so excited to be a member of the
Anne Carlsen team! I am currently
working on my Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy
and will be graduating from UND next May. This past
summer I completed my pediatric fieldwork rotation
with the Early Intervention staff and loved every minute
of it! I have been working as a healthcare professional for
several years; however, I have just recently begun working with children. I originally graduated with a B.S. in
Athletic Training and have my M.A. in Sport Management. I truly enjoyed working with athletes but after getting married and starting a family, I knew that traveling
for collegiate athletics and being away from home wasn’t
something I wanted. When looking into other healthcare
professions, I immediately fell in love with Occupational
Therapy and after doing an observation in pediatrics, I
was hooked! I am so excited to be a part of the Lekotek®
Pilot Program. Working with children and their families
on how to get the most out of play is a truly rewarding
experience. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you and your family!
New Addition to Staff
Hi! My name is Kristina Schuster and I am
very excited to be a part of the awesome Anne
Carlsen Early Intervention team! I graduated
from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in
2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and then
went on to graduate school to become an Occupational Therapist. I graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck with
my Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2013. I was
originally planning to become a nurse when I went to college,
but once I discovered pediatric therapy I was hooked! I am
originally from Minto, ND and moved back there after grad
school, but will soon be moving to Grafton, ND as I am recently engaged and planning to get married next December to my
fiancé, Andy. Although wedding planning is my main “hobby”
right now, I enjoy lake time, attempting to cook (keyword:
attempting), and recently have taken up yoga! Mainly, I am
most happy when spending time with my friends and family,
no matter where we are! Working in Early Intervention is the
perfect fit for me, as I hold such high value to working with
kids and families. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a
child grow and make gains through their first few years of life,
with their family members right there cheering them on with
love and support! I am lucky to be a part of the Anne Carlsen
family and am excited to meet and work with new families in
the future!
Experienced Parent—Mandi McPhail
Mandi McPhail is the Experienced Parent in Region IV which includes Nelson, Walsh, Pembina and
Grand Forks counties. Mandi will represent a parent perspective at a variety of meetings that occur in
our communities. She will network with hospitals to be available to new parents. If you are interested in
talking to another parent who has been through the early intervention experience, you can call 701-7953135. We certainly welcome Mandi to the Early Intervention Team in our region!!!
Tidbits for Tots — March/April 2015
Page 3
Child Abuse Prevention Month—April
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
To prevent child sexual abuse, it is important to keep the focus on adult responsibility, while teaching children
skills to help them protect themselves. Consider the following tips:










Take an active role in your children’s lives.
Watch for ‘grooming’ behaviors in adults who spend time with your child. Warning signs may include
someone ignoring your child’s need for privacy, giving gifts for no reason, finding ways to be alone with
your child.
Ensure groups your children are involved with minimize one-on-one time between adults and children.
Make sure your children know that they can talk to you about anything that bothers or confuses them.
Teach children accurate names of private body parts and the difference between ‘okay’ and ‘not okay’
touches.
Teach children to take care of their own bodies so that they do not need to rely on an adult.
Educate children about the difference between good secrets (birthday surprises) and bad secrets.
Monitor children’s use of technology such as cell phones, social networking sites and messaging.
Trust your instincts!
If your child tells you that he or she has been abused, stay calm and listen. Do not blame them.
Signs of Possible Sexual Abuse








Unexplained pain, itching, redness or bleeding in the genital area
Increased nightmares or bedwetting
Withdrawn behavior or appearing to be in a trance
Angry outbursts or sudden mood swings
Loss of appetite or difficulty swallowing
Anxiety or depression
Sudden, unexplained avoidance of certain people or places
Sexual knowledge, language, or behavior that is unusual for the child’s age
http://www.childabuseqc.org/#!child-abuse-prevention-month/c4d5
naeyc® Celebrates the Week of the Young Child—April 12-18
10 Prop Boxes for Learning: Bringing the Spirit of Learning Centers Home by Laura J. Colker
Bring the spirit of learning centers into your home with prop boxes—plastic bins or cardboard shoe boxes you fill with
materials and props related to one topic. Here are 10 ideas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Blocks—Store proportional wooden blocks or colorful pattern blocks in plastic tubs.
Pretend Play—Fill a box with clothes such as dresses, shirts, suit jackets, hats, scarves, bags and jewelry.
Art—Keep a box handy with different types of paper and drawing/painting materials.
Math—Include board games and puzzles. Add empty, clean egg cartons or ice cube trays for sorting buttons, old
bottle tops or pennies.
Reading—Store fiction and nonfiction books and magazines your child will enjoy in a basket to be moved around
the house and outside.
Writing—Fill a basket with paper, markers, notebooks, pens, envelopes and notecards for children to write.
Water Play—Place a plastic tub on a towel. Fill with sponges, basters, tongs, strainers and water.
Cooking—Store a child-size apron, recipes, plastic bowls and utensils. Invite your children to join you in cooking.
Music—Use oatmeal containers, old yogurt cups, and other materials to make homemade instruments.
Science—Make science a routine activity by filling a box with a few investigation tools, such as magnets, prisms, a
magnifying glass, etc. Take a walk to collect natural things for them to investigate using the tools.
http://www.naeyc.org/woyc
Page 4
Tidbits for Tots — March/April 2015
The Kids’ Corner Playgroup is held at the Anne Carlsen building located at 2016 So Washington Street,
Grand Forks. The playgr ou p m eets on W ednesdays from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Please u se
the front entrance and you will be directed downstairs to the playgroup room.
March 4
A Person’s a Person Handprint
April 1
Easter Egg Pom Pom Painting
March 11
Green Pepper Painting Shamrocks
April 8
No Playgroup-Holiday Week
March 18
Fruit Loop Necklaces
April 15
Coffee Filter Umbrella
March 25
Streamer Rainbows
April 22
Contact Paper Kite
April 29
Ziploc Sensory Butterfly
©PreKinders.com
Five little bunny rabbits standing by the door,
One hopped away and then there were four.
Four little bunny rabbits sitting near a tree,
One hopped away and then there were three.
Three little bunny rabbits looking at you,
One hopped away and then there were two.
Two little bunny rabbits enjoying the sun,
One hopped away and then there was one.
One little bunny rabbit sitting all alone,
He hopped away and then there were none!
No more bunny rabbits!
THE END
For any questions, please call Nicole or Reesa at 775-8934.