Parents As Teachers
Lee's Summit R7 School District
December 2016
Email: kerry.boehm@lsr7.net
Website: http://pat.lsr7.org/
Location: 905 Bluestem, Lee's Summit, MO, United States
Phone: (816) 986-2480
Thankful, Gratitude, Happiness, or Blessings Jar - A wonderful tradition to start!
With the coming of a new year, how about a new tradition!
I was on a visit the other day and as I was leaving my little Grayson wanted to put my name in their family blessings jar. I was curious. What is a blessings jar? Why do you do it? Mom explained that as a family they place important events that they feel impact them in a positive way. No specific time frame, just as they occur. They put many different items in the jar: a successful grade card, a great baseball game, or someone that has touched them in a meaningful way. Wait, what? I was overwhelmed with emotion! When I regained my composure, that little pumpkin then asked to fill my bucket - he gave me the biggest and best bear hug I could have asked for - yep, the tears came again. I think sometimes we just don't understand the impact of a kind word or gesture. That kiddo filled MY bucket.
Traditions are behaviors and actions that you engage in again and again. They can be done at the same time each year or in the same way. They can be big or small, but they do differ from regular routines and habits because they are done with a specific purpose in mind and require specific thought and intent.
Traditions are important in the growth and development of our children. They help instill a strong sense of pride and identity. They strengthen the family bond, offer security, connect generations and make lasting memories.
Think about a blessings, gratitude, happiness or thankful jar for your family. You may want to start it with the new year. Open them next Thanksgiving or New Year's eve. What a wonderful tradition.
Leave the light on please!
What Happens If School Closes Due to Inclement Weather
If the LSR-7 school district cancels school due to inclement weather, you can go to the following areas to confirm this information:
Snow days are shared via R-7 social media, including on R-7 Facebook, found by searching for “Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.” and on Twitter, found via
@LSR7.
Information is shared in the district’s electronic newsletter. To subscribe, visit http://www.lsr7.org/signup.
The information is posted on the district’s website at www.lsr7.org.
School closings are included on the district’s information telephone line at (816) 986-1001.
Local media are provided information about school closings. Listen or watch for “Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.”
What happens at Parents As Teachers if school is closed?
The Parents As Teacher’s office will be closed.
If we are having a Group Activity that day for our families, it will be cancelled.
If you have an appointment for a Developmental Screening, it will be cancelled and it will need to be rescheduled.
If you have a home visit scheduled for that day, you will hear from your Parent Educator regarding your home visit appointment.
If your child has T.A.L.K. Group on a day that school is cancelled, it will also be cancelled.
From Our Health Room
Surviving the Cold and Flu Season
1. Wash Your Hands
Soap 'em up often and scrub well. You pick up germs on your fingers and can get them in your mouth or eyes. Many viruses spread that way.
2. Get Your Flu Shot
You may think of the flu as only a minor problem, but it can be very serious. The flu can even be dangerous, especially for young children, older adults, and pregnant women. It’s a myth that the flu vaccine can give you the flu.
3. Pay Attention to Symptoms
Cold or flu? There's no surefire way to tell the symptoms apart. Even your doctor may not be sure which one you have without testing. Usually, colds are milder. You might have a runny or stuffy nose. The flu is usually more severe and comes on suddenly. Fever, body aches, and exhaustion are more common with it.
4. Stay Home if You're Sick
Keep your child home if they are sick. Your cold could last longer, and you could also spread germs to other people.
From our Speech and Language Pathologist
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Every day, we experience sound in our environment, such as the sounds from television and radio, household appliances, and traffic. Normally, we hear these sounds at safe levels that do not affect our hearing. However, when we are exposed to harmful noise- sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time- sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged. This causes permanent hearing loss that can not be restored. Ear infections, allergies, and congestion due to colds are other causes of temporary hearing losses.
It is estimated that seven out of every 1,000 school-age children have a permanent hearing loss, but those numbers are on the rise. These hearing losses are often mistaken for learning or behavior problems. A temporary or permanent hearing loss can have serious effects on a child’s speech and language development. Many parents and teachers fail to notice that a child may have difficulty hearing. Many adults do not know the signs to look for. The following are signs which may indicate a hearing loss. No one sign positively indicates hearing loss, but if your child shows one or more of the following signs, it may be a good idea to seek professional help.
Signs which may indicate a hearing loss:
1. Child strains to watch a speaker or seems to hear better when watching the speaker’s face.
2. Doesn’t pay attention when spoken to.
3. Gives the wrong answer to simple questions.
4. Frequently asks for you to repeat what you have said.
5. Often confuses consonant sounds.
6. Pronounces some speech sounds incorrectly.
7. Has frequent earaches, colds, allergies, or upper respiratory infections.
8. Has behavior problems at home or preschool.
9. Seems withdrawn and moody.
10. Seems to function below potential.
Upcoming Activities
Please come and support us!
Ginormous Gingerbread House Party
Friday, Dec 2, 2016, 04:00 PM
Paradise Park, Northeast Colbern Road, Lee's Summit, MO, United States
Infant Massage-Dec. 7th 10 a.m.
From our Librarian
December Book Ideas
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
Spot’s Christmas by Eric Hill
Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer
Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman
Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson