FYI Beaumont Sept 2016 newsletter

FYI BEAUMONT

| September 2016

www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss

Main Feature

Routines: Why They Matter and How to Get Started One of the most important things that you can do to make your young child feel safe is to establish as much routine in their life as possible. Children (and adults) feel the most secure when their lives are predictable. When adults provide environments that feel safe, children learn that they can trust others to take care of them and meet their needs, so they become free to relax and explore their world.

Young children do not yet fully understand the concept of time, so they do not order their lives by hours and minutes, but rather by the events that happen. When events happen in the same order every day, children have a better understanding of their world, and therefore feel more secure.

A regular schedule gives children a way to order and organize their lives.

When young children know what to

in both themselves and the world

expect, they become more confident

routine helps kids practice making

around them. They know they will not be confronted with unfamiliar tasks that they are for which they are unprepared.

A young child’s brain is still undergoing major development, especially the part of the brain that is able to plan ahead and make predictions about the future. A

CALENDAR LOCAL EVENT Movie in the Park “Sure Shot Dombrowski, the Early Years” – See included poster!

SEPTEMBER September 8 International Literacy Day September 9 International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day; Internal; FASD Awareness Day September 10 World Suicide Prevention Day; International Association for Suicide Prevention

September 11 National Grandparents’ Day Terry Fox Run; Terry Fox Foundation September 21 World Alzheimer’s Day; Alzheimer Society

OCTOBER National Autism Awareness Month Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Child Abuse Awareness Month; National; Canadian Red Cross

Healthy Workplace Month; National; Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month First Week Mental Illness Awareness Week; National; Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health First Week National Family Week; National; Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP Canada) Second Week Fire Prevention Week; National; Fire Prevention Canada

Third Week Foster Family Week; National; Canadian Foster Family Association October 1 International Day for Older Persons; International; UN October 10 World Mental Health Day; International; World Health Organization October 18 Persons Day; National; Status of Women Canada

FYI BEAUMONT

| September 2016

www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss

Continued:

Routines: Why They Matter and How to Get Started these simple predictions, as well as

1. Plan at least one meal per day that

orientation, and language skills, but

understand concepts such as “before

you have together as a family. This

it also shows them that you care

and after.” Routines also help children

meal does not have to be dinner;

about what they did that day.

develop self-control because they

even a 15-minute breakfast where

know they have to wait until a certain

everyone gets to share their plans

time to do a particular activity. A

for the day can be effective. Turn off

regular schedule fosters responsibility

the television and do not answer

and independence because children

the phone during your family

will be able to perform more activities

time. This is a great way to start a

on their own if they have done the

routine that allows children to take

same activities many times before in

responsibility, even for something

the same environment.

small, such as carrying the

silverware to the table.

A routine is especially important during particularly difficult times

2. Have a bedtime ritual, which will

of day, such as bedtime or getting

help children slowly calm down,

dressed in the morning. When

and allow them to associate

there is a routine in place, there

certain activities with getting

can be little argument because the

sleepy. Think about what calms

expectations for behavior are taken

your child. Is it taking a bath?

for granted. Therefore, a major benefit

Reading a story? Listening to

of establishing routines is that you

soft music? Always do the bedtime

will cut down on stress for yourself.

preparation in the same order,

Keeping to a routine may sound

and ask your child questions such

like an impossible task when you

as, “What do we do after we put on

are overwhelmed with balancing a

our pajamas?” A great item to

constantly changing schedule for

include in the bedtime ritual is that

multiple members of your household.

of talking about your day. Let your

However, even implementing the

child tell you what he did that day,

smallest routine can make a big

and prompt him if he forgets.

difference. Here are 5 ideas for starting

This part of the routine not only

a routine in your home:

helps children with memory, time

FYI Beaumont | September 2016

3. Include preparation for transitions

in the routine. For example, say, “We

have 10 minutes left before we start

getting ready for bed. When the big

hand gets to the 12, it will be time to

put on your pajamas.”

4. Work together to make pictures

that indicate each step of the

routine, put the pictures in order

on a colorful sheet of paper,

and hang the finished product in

your child’s room. You will not only

be helping build creativity in your

child, but you will also promote

self-sufficiency, as your child will be

able to look at the pictures to

identify what step comes next.

5. Although routine is very important

for young children, do not be

too rigid. Children do need to learn

how be flexible and deal with

minor changes. If there is an

interruption to the routine, tell

your child, “I know we usually do

x, but today we are going to do y

because (reason). Tomorrow we

will go back to our usual schedule.”

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FYI BEAUMONT

| September 2016

www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss

Continued:

Routines: Why They Matter and How to Get Started

If most of their day is predictable,

try something new. Here is our new

The earlier that you begin to order

young children will be able to deal

schedule.” While you should definitely

your child’s life, the easier it will be.

with small changes, especially if

be open to the fact that the schedule

When you stick to a routine, you teach

they are prepared for the changes

may need some adjustment, you also

your child how to arrange her time in

and see you modeling calm

need to be firm in sticking to the new

a manner that is efficient, productive,

behavior as you deal with problems

routine. At first, your child will try

and cuts down on stress. This sense of

that occur.

to get you to break the routine, but

order is not only important for making

do not give in to old habits. Young

your young child feel secure at this

children need both consistency and

moment, but it will also allow your

limits. Know ahead of time that your

child to internalize an automatic sense

child will have difficulty adjusting, and

of how to organize her own life as she

be prepared with how you will handle

grows up.

It is never too late to start a routine.

You set a good example for your child when you tell her, “The way that we have been doing things has not been working. We are going to

this resistance.

Senior’s Corner Often the idea of transitioning from your

1. The need to significantly downsize,

your new residence can ease the tense

home to a senior’s complex or assisted

often from a home to a more

of walking past ‘strangers’ in your

living can be a little daunting for seniors

moderately sized apartment.

own building; also adding a sense of

as well as their loved ones; but it can be helpful to focus on this change in their lives as a new beginning rather than an ending. Seniors will best adjust to their new home with some encouragement and support from family members during the senior’s first days and weeks at the assisted living community. The key, Dr. Stote says, is that seniors who are relocating: “Need positive reassurance that they are moving into a new chapter of their lives, rather than ending the life they have always known.”

There are a few aspects that come up when people are thinking about this transition:

FYI Beaumont | September 2016

2. Having to adjust into a new routine.

3. Resentment about having to live

with others.

4. Feelings of abandonment.

5. Frustration surrounding a perceived

loss of independence.

Some of these concerns can be alleviated with simple gestures or actions. By bringing personal items from home into the senior’s complex you can duplicate aspects of your old home in your new living space.

belonging to this new community.

Deepening that sense of community can help to create a smooth transition; volunteers that take on roles at the community such as answering phones, managing the library or sponsoring a club. When residents feel useful and as though they have a purpose, it can improve their outlook and help immensely with the transition. And lastly reach out; let your family and friends know that you need some support, more phone calls, or visits; and stay connected by reaching out to your community supports.

Participation in activities put on in

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FYI BEAUMONT

| September 2016

www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss

Monthly Seniors Calendar:

Monthly Seniors Calendar

FYI Beaumont | September 2016

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FYI BEAUMONT

| September 2016

www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss

Youth Centre

FYI Beaumont | September 2016

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FYI BEAUMONT

| September 2016

www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss

Youth Centre

CONTACT FCSS Kim Williston FCSS Director 780-929-1006

The Beaumont Asset Building Committee Presents…

MOVIE IN THE PARK

featuring the world premiere of the filmed in Beaumont movie

Brodie Stenhouse Community Development Coordinator 780-929-1006 Kaylene McKinney Community Development Coordinator 780-929-1006

LOCATION: Four Season’s Park, Diamond #2 TIME: Friday, September 9th from 5-11PM 5-8 PM: Food trucks, red carpet photos, activities and games for the whole family 8 PM: Chantal Bérubé Memorial Fund Youth of the Year Award 8:10 PM: Movie introduction Sunset: Sure Shot Dombrowski: The Early Years

Please join us for food, games, activities and the ‘come as you are’ red carpet event For event information and updates please like us on facebook at www.facebook.com/beaumontab

Carey Cameron Community Development Coordinator 780-929-1006 Linda Mix-Kondratski Youth Outreach Coordinator 780-504-5969 Sarah Fodchuk Youth Centre Supervisor Chantal Bérubé Youth Centre (CBYC) 780-929-5155 Margaret Munchrath Administrative Support 780-929-1006

FYI Beaumont | September 2016

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