CE/Mesa - Fall 2013 Helen Greenbergs, Ph.D.
Parenting the Two-Year-Old hegreenb@sdccd.edu
Wednesday 9:15am-12:15pm, CRN 3715J cell phone: 619-518-4810
Website: Teacherhelen.educatorpages.com
Welcome to class!! What an amazing gift you are giving your child and yourself by being here!
Course Description (expanded from SDCCD website): Adults and children learn together how to make the transition from babyhood to childhood. Focus on the language-learning, play, exploration, and behavior management that are part of overall development and become the groundwork for intellectual and social growth in the two-year old.
Student Learning Outcomes: The goal of this course is for you to achieve these outcomes.
1. Students will demonstrate improved knowledge regarding normal child development, in multiple areas including physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.
2. Students will demonstrate improved understanding of strategies to nurture and enrich child development, especially in children 24-36 months of age.
3. Students will report increased knowledge of strategies to manage challenging behaviors, including crying, whining, tantrums, aggression, and disobedience.
NOTE: All students are encouraged to complete a class journal – taking simple notes at discussion time – and to earn a certificate of completion for the course.
Our Daily Schedule
9:00 Sign-in, Nametags, Set up, Craft
9:20 Circle time, Questions/Sharing
9:40 Discussion Group I
10:20 Discussion Group II
11:00 Snack TIme
11:15 Transition and Clean Up
11:30 Music and Movement
11:45 Closing Circle
How to Get the Most Out of Class
1. Attend class every week – unless you or your child are sick
2. Sign in everyday – and sign out if you leave early -- Our attendance sheet is a legal document from which we verify attendance and generate the funding to support our program. Please make sure it is accurate.
3. Participate fully – learn names, play with kids, contribute to discussion, help, clean, bring in ideas.
4. Avoid using your phones as much as possible during class. In the interest of safety for the children and to improve our interaction as adults, please keep your attention on the children and adults during class time. If you need to take calls/texts/emails during class time, please take your child and step outside the room.
5. Avoid all physical discipline of any children, including your own.
7. Respect our site. Please take care of our classroom, equipment and materials. Please eat and drink (and offer children food or drink) only in the lobby or outside areas. Observe our no-smoking policy. Be prepared for a surprise cleaning day.
8. Understand that two-year-olds can be aggressive. This is normal, and not indicative of a “mean” personality or bad parenting. It is the responsibility of all adults in the class to carefully supervise in order to prevent children from being hit, bitten, pushed, etc. Use a gentle, firm voice and manner to redirect children if you see aggressive behavior begin. Remember - treat each child as you would like your own to be treated.
9. Keep your sense of humor and perspective. We all have different styles and can learn the most from eachother if we keep open minds and respect differences.
10. Please speak with me directly if you have any concerns, problems, or suggestions. I am always working to improve my classes.
11. Come prepared to have a good time and learn something new each week. I do!!!
Sept 4 Orientations and Registration
Craft/Activity: All About Me
Sept 11 Orientation Part II (competency #19)
Craft/Activity: Leaves
Sept 18 Terrific Two’s – Development (competencies #1-5)
Craft/Activity: Butterflies
Sept 25 Positive Discipline (competencies #7 & 8)
Craft/Activity: Finger Painting
Oct 2 Potty Training (competency #1 again)
Craft/Activity: Noise makers
PLEASE BRING two toilet paper rolls (empty – after paper has been used)
Oct 9 FAMILY EVENING FIELDTRIP – Van Ommering’s Dairy and Pumpkin Patch,
Lakeside - MEET AT 4:30PM (or as early as possible), hayride at 6:00pm
Bring the whole family to share in this class activity!
DIRECTIONS: Highway 67 N to Mapleview right – to El Monte Rd. left (by 7-11) – 2.3
miles to dairy on left OR I-8 E to Lake Jennings exit left – to El Monte Rd. right (at 7-11) – 2.3 miles to the dairy on the left
COST for pumpkin patch: $7/child (age 1+) for all activities, hayride and pumpkin;
1 free adult per paying child; additional adults $3
Pictures are OPTIONAL and a price list will be available at class
PLEASE BRING: picnic dinner, hats, sunscreen, camera
Oct 16 NO CLASS
Oct 23 Health and Safety (competencies #15-18)
Craft/Activity: Car Painting
Oct 30 Costumes Party! (please no masks)
Coping with Fears (competency #5 again)
Craft/Activity: Pumpkins
Nov 6 Parenting with Your Partner
Craft/Activity: Rainbow
Nov 13 Two’s and their Peer Relationships (competency #12)
Craft/Activity: Handprint painting
PLEASE BRING a t-shirt, pillow case, tote bag, or other item to paint AND a piece of
cardboard
Nov 20 Nurturing Gratitude
Craft/Activity: Class Thankful Tree
Friendly Feast Potluck – bring a dish to share
Nov 27 NO CLASSES – Happy Thanksgiving
Dec 4 Favorite Holiday Traditions (competencies #13 & 14)
Holiday Potluck – bring a holiday food to share from your family’s cultural tradition
Craft/Activity: Trees and Menorahs
Dec 11 FIELDTRIP – Toby Wells YMCA gymnastics class - MEET AT 9:30am
DIRECTIONS: I-15 to Clairemont Mesa Blvd W -- to Ruffin Rd left – to Lightwave
right – driveway will be on your right just before Overland Dr.
COST: $5/child (participating in gymnastics class), Adults are free
For Photos – see order forms
Please dress your child in comfortable clothing without buttons/zippers/snaps
Dec 18-Jan 1 NO CLASSES – District Holiday
Jan 8 Pre Literacy Skills (competency #1 & 2 again)
Craft/Activity: Ziploc bag books
Jan 15 Time Management
Craft/Activity: Fish
Jan 22 Kids and the Media (competency #21)
Craft/Activity: Spiders
*** Spring semester begins Wednesday, January 29
Other competency topics to be covered during discussion/gripes and brags
Self esteem
Routines and schedules
Attachment and separation
Stress and anger management
Other competencies to be completed individually
Plan and facilitate a craft activity
Help manage children in the classroom (for instance, supervising and interacting when not at discussion)
Lead a small-group activity (for instance a literacy activity, a music activity, etc.)
Parenting 24-36 months
HMDV
By successfully completing this Course, the student has demonstrated the following competencies:
Development
- Demonstrate understanding of realistic expectations for normal 2-year-old development, including language and toilet training
- Demonstrate understanding of strategies to create an environment which enriches normal 2-year-old development, especially literacy and social activities
- Demonstrate understanding of warning signs indicative of abnormal 2-year-old development
- Articulate resources which may help families concerned with problems related to 2-year-old development
- Articulate the normal impact of emotional development and regulation on 2-year-old behavior
- Describe parenting strategies to nurture healthy self esteem in 2-year-olds
Behavior Management
- Describe common behavioral challenges with 2-year-olds, especially related to normal increases in the need for independence and autonomy
- Demonstrate understanding of positive discipline techniques for 2-year-olds, especially to increase compliance and manage tantrums
- Describe the benefits of routines and schedules for 2-year-old behavior
Social Skills
- Articulate the processes of attachment and separation, the role of parenting behaviors in creating these experiences, and the impact of these experiences on 2-year-old development
- Describe strategies to facilitate healthy, brief separation as a child grows
- Demonstrate understanding of normal 2-year-old peer interactions, including struggles to share, and
articulate strategies to intervene as needed to model skills in negotiation and conflict resolution
- Describe strategies to nurture a sense of culture and tradition in one’s family
- Describe the benefits of exposing children to other cultures and traditions
Health and Wellness
- Describe common safety risks for 2-year-olds, and important strategies to child-proof a home or childcare area while still allowing age-appropriate exploration
- Describe current recommendations regarding car seat safety for 2-year-olds
- Demonstrate understanding of common health problems in 2-year-olds, appropriate comfort measures, and when to seek professional medical care
- Describe current recommendations regarding 2-year-old and family nutrition
- Demonstrate understanding of child abuse laws and strategies to prevent child abuse
- Describe effective stress and anger management strategies especially as related to parenting and childcare
- Articulate current recommendations regarding 2-year-old development and media (including television viewing and computer use)
Classroom Management
- Successfully plan and facilitate an age appropriate craft activity.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively interact with and manage students and children in a classroom
- Successfully lead a developmentally appropriate and stimulating activity for a small group of children