Resources for families
1. Bites
Click here to watch our video with psychologist Alejandra Luna and Laia Tur, Owner of the Petits centers.
In this talk, we will discuss the reasons, origin, or cause, of what we should do and what we should avoid doing or saying.
KISSES AND BITES
Emotions move us to make life easier. Fear makes us run away from what we fear or helps us prepare and be alert to a dangerous situation. Anger is the emotion we have when we feel frustrated, when we think our limits are being crossed. Anger leads us to attack to defend ourselves. What we have developed over the years are other alternative responses: we say no, we leave, we complain,... to learn, however, we need time, an environment that teaches us, a maturation of our nervous system.
While this happens in our brains, grade after grade and in all preschools, around the year, children bite. In fact they bite, eat with their hands, or barely with a spoon and pee in their diapers. When they have learned other skills they will put them into practice. But, as long as this is not the case, educators will find themselves in the difficult situation of explaining to that parent what the bite that marked the child's face was like. Or tell parents that their son or daughter has been biting for a few days.
They know very well what to do. They know their children's learning mechanisms perfectly. Some will say "no" in an affectionate but firm tone, and remove the child from where he is. Others will explain that it hurts. Or maybe they will turn him away without looking directly at him and thus prevent that attempt to attract attention from being successful. They will teach him to claim it in another way. In many cases they will be able to avoid this by distracting him with songs or games. In some school they will have worried about having those objects that will allow them to discharge that tension accumulated by everything that lives so intensely. In many teams they will calm down by sharing it with their colleagues and then they will observe, as if by magic, that this "anxiolytic" also has an effect on the child's behavior. And so, with the effort and dedication of each day, those children who used to bite so often, when the next school year arrives, will have changed the bite to a still more "it's mine!" They still have a lot to learn.
A bite on the cheek or the arm of a son or daughter generates all kinds of emotions: grief, anger, fear... it's normal and adaptive. What we do with these emotions, however, will also serve as a model for our sons and daughters.
Socializing means being in contact with viruses, having to wait for your turn to eat, sleeping with other noises, having the possibility of being bitten...but it also means having a good immune system, knowing how to wait, tolerate, share, face frustrations and develop emotional mechanisms necessary to survive in our current world.
Imma Riu
Psychologist (published in In-fàn-ci-a magazine, nº 40, Sep/Oct 2009)
2.BREAKFASTS WITHOUT SLEEP
We will talk about infant sleep, a key topic for the well-being of the entire family. 👶💤
You can find the video of the talk on both Spotify and Instagram.
Podcast on Spotify: Esmorzars sense son
Instagram Direct: Esmorzars sense son
🗣️ Who will be there?
Marta Minguet (@mellowbabynights): Doctor in cardiology and certified infant sleep consultant, offering a unique perspective on the importance of rest for family health. Marta helps families establish routines and healthy habits so babies can learn to sleep independently. 🌙✨
Laia Tur (@escolabressolpetits): Teacher in Early Childhood and Primary Education. Director of international childcare centers (Petits) and specialist in educational projects that prioritize respectful support for children and their families. Specialist in HCC, pediatric nutrition, literacy, and foreign languages.
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💡 What will we talk about?
We’ll explore practical tips, answer common questions, and share tools to improve family nights.
The importance of infant sleep: Highlighting how adequate rest is essential for children's physical and emotional development, as well as for the well-being of the whole family.
Routines and healthy habits: Emphasizing the need to establish consistent bedtime routines, such as relaxing baths, story reading, or lullabies, to help children associate these activities with sleep time.
Sleep autonomy: Discussing the importance of children learning to fall asleep on their own, without relying on external aids like breastfeeding, holding, or bottles, to help them connect their sleep cycles independently.
Sleep regressions: Addressing sleep regressions, especially around 24 months, and recommending patience and maintaining established routines to help children navigate these phases.
Sleep hormones: Explaining the role of melatonin and cortisol in sleep regulation, and how factors like light and stress can affect these hormone levels.
Practical advice: Offering tips to improve the quality of infant sleep, such as ensuring a proper sleep environment, limiting screen exposure before bed, and promoting healthy eating habits.
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3. First Aid
This podcast is an essential guide to first aid, designed to equip you with basic and practical knowledge that can make a difference in emergency situations. Through clear explanations and real-life examples, you will learn how to act quickly and confidently in situations that require an immediate response. Whether you are an education professional or a parent concerned about the well-being of the little ones, this content will help you feel more prepared to protect and assist others when they need it the most.
Click here to watch it: Breakfasting Safely
4- Oral hygiene
😁Take care of your Petits smiles from the beginning! 😁
🦷🪥In early childhood, dental care is crucial for healthy growth. 🦷🪥
Here we share some key tips:
👄Remember, good dental health in childhood sets the foundation for a radiant smile in the future. 👄
😊🦷Let's take care of those smiles from a young age! 😊🦷
You will find all the information on our Instagram
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5.SCREEN USAGE
We want to join the initiative regarding not giving mobile phones before the age of 16. We know that you still have many years ahead, but you should know that we are very involved in NO technology during the 0 to 3 stage, and we want to share some details with you.
We understand that we live in the digital age, and it's undeniable that technology and electronic devices play a significant role in the daily lives of families. However, it's essential to be aware of the risks associated with excessive screen exposure, especially in younger children.
Numerous studies and experts in child development have pointed out that excessive screen time in young children can have negative impacts on their health and well-being. Here are some reasons to be cautious:
Neuromuscular problems resulting from the sedentary nature of screen use.
Impaired brain development: The brains of young children are still in the process of development, and overexposure to screens can interfere with this process. It can hinder the acquisition of communication, concentration, and problem-solving skills.
Sedentary lifestyle and obesity: Screen time often involves sitting still, contributing to health issues like childhood obesity.
Social interaction: Excessive screen time can limit opportunities for children to interact with others and develop essential social skills.
Inappropriate content: While there are apps and content designed specifically for children, there's also inappropriate and violent material online that children may stumble upon.
Delayed vocabulary acquisition: Children don't need to make an effort to communicate while using screens, which can affect their vocabulary acquisition.
We understand that in today's society, it's challenging to completely avoid screen usage. However, it's crucial to establish limits and supervise the time children spend in front of electronic devices. Here are some recommendations:
- Limit daily screen time in accordance with guidelines recommended by pediatric experts.
- Encourage outdoor play, reading, and other activities that promote physical and mental development in your children.
As parents and caregivers, you play a vital role in the healthy development of your children. We are here to support you in the challenging task of balancing technology in your children's lives with other important experiences.
Together, we can help our little ones grow in a healthy and balanced manner.
On the other hand, several countries with advanced educational systems have stepped back from the use of technology as the primary method of learning, opting to return to the use of physical books and handwritten notes. Countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, China, and the United Kingdom have implemented restrictions on the use of electronic devices in schools due to concerns about negative effects on concentration and academic performance.
The Platform for a Healthy and Regulated Digitization is carrying out a campaign to raise awareness about the negative effects of excessive technology use in schools, especially the use of smartphones and other technological tools by students. They seek collaboration to disseminate visual materials with the aim of discouraging the purchase of smartphones for children and adolescents. Additionally, they emphasize the need to discuss the imperative of eliminating smartphones from primary and secondary schools.
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6. TOYS BY AGE: