Parenting Archives - Patchogue-Medford Library

Children will Have a Successful School Year with Routines

September 8, 2017 By Elaine Perez

The yellow and orange leaves are gliding slowly to the ground and the evenings have become cooler and crisp. Yet the most noticeable change is that sunsets are coming earlier. Boys with new haircuts and girls with braided hairdos are looking happy. Before you know it, fall is coming. With that comes the return of school and establishing new daily routines for families and children. Students undergo a tremendous amount of stress in starting a new school year. They are apprehensive about what the school year will bring, such as a new teacher, new friendships and the stress of learning new skills.

There are several positive and influential ways of how we can improve old habits and instill new habits to assist our children.

Benefits of Routines

Routines “eliminate power struggles.” If children are told what they are expected to do on a daily basis, such as bathing and brushing their teeth every night, they will know what is expected to do each night without being told constantly.
Children learn how to cooperate and may assist the younger children to complete their day and evening activities. Parents may take turns reading to their children before wishing them good night. The children will sleep better and be prepared for the next morning’s activities.
Children become independent when they learn that they are responsible to take care of themselves with the help of their families.
Please keep in mind that sometimes routines have to be broken. A family may be celebrating a holiday or relatives could be visiting. Time must be made to enjoy those precious memories.

Wishing everyone a great school year! Have fun!

College and Career Counselor at the Carnegie Library

February 16, 2017 By Colleen

Attention High Schoolers and Parents:

Need help with college planning? Or do you need career counseling on what to do after high school? Planning for your future after high school can be a difficult and confusing process for many. Thinking about what college you’d like to apply to or what career field you should choose can be overwhelming, but we have some relief for you! Come meet with our College and Career Counselor at the Carnegie Library to help answer any questions you may have. The purpose of a college and career counselor is to help students make more informed decisions to better their futures in both educational and career choices. This can include guidance on choosing courses in high school to prepare for college or advice on occupational training opportunities.

College Access and Career Counselors are also a great resource who can help you with:

Finding the best-fit school for you
With personalized admission strategies
Applying for financial aid
Filling out college applications
Choosing high school courses that will work towards your intended major
Career training
And much more!

This service is geared towards students in grades 8-12, who want to know the necessary steps to take in each grade to be fully prepared for their college or career training. The earlier you make these decisions, the more prepared you’ll be for your future.

To make an appointment you can register online, by calling the Carnegie library at 631-438-3290 (2:30-8:30pm), or you can drop in to ask questions.

Upcoming dates include Tuesdays, February 28, March 7, and 21 from 6-8pm. Check our upcoming newsletter for more dates.

Holiday Season Toy Safety

December 13, 2016 By Jessica Oelcher

Did you know that injury is the leading cause of death for children in New York State? While preventable injury is not the most cheerful holiday subject, toy safety is an important consideration when thinking about children’s gifts.

Here are some important tips on toy safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, do not give young children (under age 10) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
Young children can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death – after swallowing button batteries or magnets. In addition to toys, button batteries are often found in musical greeting cards, remote controls, hearing aids, and other small electronics. Small, powerful magnets are present in many homes as part of building toy sets. Keep button batteries and magnets away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons; do not allow children under age 8 to play with them.
Remove tags, strings, and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy box, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children. Use a toy box with no lid or a lightweight, non-locking lid and ventilation holes.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a Recall Listing where you can search by keyword, specific hazard, or specific manufacturer. This is tool can help you ensure a product you have received or are considering purchasing is safe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also has a great article about Holiday Safety Tips and Mental Health Tips which covers everything from food safety to holiday visiting to trees, lights, and decorations. These tips can help keep everyone in the whole family happy and healthy this holiday season.

Of course, as a librarian, I recommend purchasing great age appropriate books for everyone on your shopping list. Need a suggestion on what to buy? Librarians are knowledgeable about current trends in books, are trained to match readers with books, and love talking about books. Ask a librarian!

Knowledge is Power

November 2, 2016 By Elaine Perez

Reading to children at an early age provides the foundation for reading at grade level, obtaining higher reading scores, and achieving academic success.

Patchogue-Medford Library's newest reading program is designed to give kids a jump-start into books. Photo courtesy of Kim Morales.

Patchogue-Medford Library’s newest reading program, Read Me In To Kindergarten is designed to give kids a jump-start into books. Photo courtesy of Kim Morales.

It’s important for children to see that their parents enjoy reading.
Reading to children daily is important for their emotional and intellectual development and can help them become good readers and prepare them to learn in school.

Father reading to baby on sofa Photo Credit: http://huffingtonpost.com

There are many effective ways a parent can read to a child. For example, if you are tired reading the same story, try reading two stories: your child’s favorite story and a new one. You could also read poems to a child. Children enjoy repetition. Another suggestion is to find a place that is comfortable to read, where the television is turned off and full attention can be focused on the book. Finally, HAVE FUN! When reading is animated and interactive, a child will be more engaged.

Photo Credit: http://mytoddlerisreading.com

Don’t forget a child’s age and state of development when selecting books to read to him or her. There are different types of books available according to the age and maturity of a child. If you need help in selecting the right book, consult your librarian.

The above information is part of the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, Session 5 entitled, “Let’s Continue Opening Doors – “Knowledge is Power.”