The "Parenting Pot": Recent Episodes
Benita Thompson
Join our weekly podcast where we will discuss a variety of parenting topics on development, wellness, health, school readiness and attachment and bonding.
During May we both honor mothers and bring awareness to mental health. During this episode of The Parenting Pot, Benita discusses ways that we, as a village, can do both.
This episode and podcast, are brought to you by the Early Childhood Home Visiting programs at The Up Center.
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April was Child Abuse Prevention Month which brought up a lot of conversations about family support that we could benefit from continuing.
Instead of focusing on the stereotypical and assumed ways to prevent child abuse and neglect, Benita takes a look at some important aspects that contribute to families that experience abuse or neglect: Lack of support and connection. Protective factors are a thing, which means that the things that contribute to child maltreatment are much deeper than the idea that parents who abuse or neglect are inherently evil. The reality is that parents are human and experience overwhelm. Without adequate support, knowledge, and connection, their children are more likely to be affected.
So let's talk about some ways parents can be more intentional about building a village. Not just to "prevent child abuse" but simply because we ALL deserve to be around and loved on by OUR people.
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This episode we recognize that February is American Heart Month, so we discuss ways for parents to improve their heart health.
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In this episode, we're focusing on easy ways parents can incorporate self-care into their daily lives.
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On the Season 2 Intro episode, we're talking a little about setting realistic expectations for our young children. We also give some app recommendations to help you focus on meeting your child's needs during a time period that's full of so much growth and MANY transitions.
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Today we will discuss early life experiences and the ACE's!
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Your 24-36 month old child is growing everyday! Today, we will discuss the milestones and different activities that you can do with your child to help with their development.
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Every parent wants their child to sleep through the night. Sometimes your child may wake up frequently throughout the night for various reasons... let's talk about it!
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Setting goals not only helps to keep us on track but it also helps us to put things into perspective. Today, we will discuss SMART Goals and how they can help us reaching our goal.
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Mom and Dad, I know you are probably tired from chasing your toddler around the house or even dealing with the tantrums in the grocery store, but can I tell you that they are all part of the milestones for development! It may seem like a lot but there are many activities that can help your growing little one!
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Everything that a caregiver does has an impact on the brain development of their child! Responding to cues, showing affection, meeting needs and providing warmth are important in attachment! Let's take a deeper look :)
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Breastfeeding is a journey! Most lactating moms have some challenges and stop feeding when those challenges show up! Here are a few basic guidelines that can help with your breastfeeding journey and providing the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding to your baby!
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Parenting does not come with a manual, but knowing how to support your child in all levels of development is critical and makes a difference.
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3-6 month old babies are paying more attention to the world around them! In today's episode we will discuss milestones up to the end of 6 months and some activities to include in your daily routine :)
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A basic understanding of nutritional needs and a confident attitude about feeding their child is a tool for success for many parents. Meal times look different in each household, but knowing the nutritional guidelines can help in making sure that your child is getting the correct amount of nutrients daily.
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Did you know that 380,000 babies are born premature every year?
It is so important to educate the community on the risk factors of preterm births and the challenges that infants can have in the future.
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Beth Lynch with Minus 9 to 5 EVMS digs a little deeper into The Basics
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Join us as our special guest Beth Lynch from EVMS Minus 9 to 5 shares about the Basics and how we can utilize the concepts during routines with our children.
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One of the benefits of working in the community are the success stories that follow. Here is a testimonial from a family that has been in the program for five years and how the help and support of The Up Center and Parent Educator Kathi helped her to achieve goals and become a great mother for her children!
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Selfcare is not selfish! It is necessary to maintain balance and stability in our lives. Find something that you enjoy and add it on purpose to your daily routine.
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This episode may be a trigger warning for some viewers
As we close out Child Abuse Prevention month, we want to educate the community on the facts of child sexual abuse. This is a difficult topic but it has many trending statistics currently within society. If you would like more information on Child Sexual Abuse, please reach out to Jessica.simmons@theupcenter.org or Jaqueline.bailey@theupcenter.org.
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. We know that the topic of abuse is not the easiest to discuss, but we want to help educate the community on the different forms of abuse. If you have any questions or need to speak with someone about abuse, please reach out to Jessica. simmons@theupcenter.org or Jacqueline.bailey@theupcenter.
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Join us as we discuss the importance of Safe Sleep and the risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
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Crying is the way that our little one's communicate with us daily. They cry for many reasons and sometimes for longer periods than others. Nonetheless, as we continue to grow with them, we learn ways to cope with crying and how we can help our little ones too. Here are a few tips to check for when you hear crying :)
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Every month, the Prevention Team highlights national health and safety topics in the United States. This month we are discussing Birth Defects and steps that women can take to stay safe during pregnancy and also keeping their baby safe as well. While all Birth defect can not be prevented, there are safety measures that can be implemented during pregnancy.
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We are living in a virtual world... school, work, grocery shopping, entertainment and virtual medical appointments! We are glued to our computers, phones and television screens for a large portion of our day. Just imagine, if we are consumed by the screen, our children take in a large amount of screen time too. TOday, I will give some tips on how to reduce screen time for the family. Enjoy!
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As parents, taking time out for Self-Care is a task! Even though our schedules might not always allow us the time, we have to find time to allow balance and keep peace of mind!
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This week we will discuss Family Bonding and different ways to implement bonding time with your family!
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Routines are the repeated, predictable events that provide a foundation for the daily tasks in your baby's life. Routines help to maitain balance and structure for both children and caregivers.
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