Alyce Desrosiers--Personal Nanny Placement Services--Newsletter

Vol. 2, Issue 2
October 2007


In this Issue

  • Welcome!

  • Your Nanny's Role After Preschool Begins

  • Coping with Separation Anxiety in the Preschool Years

  • What is a Successful School Experience? And Does Your Preschool Make or Break It?

  • Policy Spotlight: Democratic Presidential Candidates Positions on Children's Issues

     

  • Health Tip -- Concussions
    As toddlers turn into preschoolers, they become increasingly more adventurous on playground equipment. With more rigorous play comes increased risk of sustaining a head injury and concussion. The link below provides an overview of concussions from WebMD.
    Concussion Overview

     

    Featured Resources:
    Preschool Preview Night    
     

    San Francisco - Wed., Oct. 17th, 5:30 - 8 pm @ Hall of Flowers. Hosted by  Parents Place

    Marin - Wed., Nov. 7th, 7 - 8:30 pm @ Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael. Hosted by Marin Child Care Council

    East Bay - Sat., Jan 26th, 10 am - 1 pm @ Lake Merritt Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. Hosted by East Bay Moms

    Contra Costa Co. - Thur., Nov. 15th, 6:30 - 9 pm @ Oakwood Athletic Club in Lafayette. Hosted by Lamorinda Moms Club

    Other Resources

    Marin Child Care Council
    www.mc3.org

    Children's Council of San Francisco
    www.childrenscouncil.org

    Parents Place
    www.parentsplaceonline.org

    National Association of Educators of Young Children
    www.naeyc.org

    Zero to Three
    www.zerotothree.org

    Children's Defense Fund
    www.childrensdefense.org

     

    Contact Information
    Alyce Desrosiers, LCSW
    PO Box 1945
    Sausalito, CA 94966-1945
    415-331-NANI
    www.alycedes.com

    Welcome!


    Starting preschool is a significant milestone in the lives of young children and for their parents. For many it re-evokes the familiar feelings of separation anxiety and letting go as your little one marches off to become one among others that are not 'family'. For some families, it's also a time to think about how to reconfigure your nanny's role and responsibilities. Finally, most parents are looking to the future, expecting the preschool program they chose will prepare their child for future academic success in the elementary school years. In this issue we examine these transitions and the research on what makes a preschool successful.

    We also remind you of the annual Preschool Preview Night on October 17th at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park (see sidebar for more info.).

     

     

    Your Nanny's Role After Preschool Begins

    When children begin preschool parents often face the question whether they should continue to employ their nanny, reduce her hours or change her job description. If the decision is to reduce her hours, what is the best way to help her find another part time position and how flexible should parents be during this time? If she continues full-time, what additional responsibilities can she take on? What changes need to be made in the work agreement to reflect her change in status? Here is a link to an article addressing this complicated issue. As always, Alyce Desrosiers is available if you need further assistance in managing this challenging transition.

    Managing the Nanny Role When a Child Starts Preschool

     

     

    Coping with Separation Anxiety in the Preschool Years
    When you first hired a nanny, you and your child may have experienced some level of separation anxiety during those first few weeks or months of the new care arrangement. The bad news is that separation anxiety can strike the same place twice; the good news is that you have been there before and know you will get through it again. Here are two articles to refresh your memory on what separation anxiety can look like and ways to help your child and family through it. As always, Alyce is available to consult if you feel you would benefit from individualized assistance.

    Separation
    An excerpt from Becoming the Parent You Want To Be by Laura Davis and Janet Keyser.

    Mommy Don't Go: Handling Separation Anxiety

     

     

    What is a Successful School Experience? And Does Your Preschool Make or Break It? (Part I)


    For decades politicians have wrangled over how to ensure that public school education is "successful". Parents send their children to preschool hoping that it will provide a good foundation for later academic success. Yet the very definition of success in the school setting is a matter of much debate. There are researchers on both sides of the debate with studies that show a particular educational approach as effective. Those that measure success as a test score find academic programs better while those studies measuring success as a set of social/emotional indicators find programs that emphasis emotional development are more effective.

    This is the first of a series of discussions on what successful school experience looks like. The following article provides insight into the major research of early childhood education practices and their individual outcomes on a variety of measures. The conclusion of the writer is that there are risks and benefits to both child-centered programs (traditional preschool, Montessori, etc.) and those that use direct instruction to achieve academic goals. She suggests that educators break from the old dichotomy of child-centered vs. teacher-centered approaches and learn from the success of both.

    ERIC Digest: Instructional Models for Early Childhood Education

     

     

    Policy Spotlight: Democratic Presidential Candidates Positions on Children's Issues


    As presidential primaries loom ahead, it is time once again to wade through the mass of hopeful candidates to choose the one that represents your values and best wishes for your country. The following is designed to help you compare candidates' positions with respect to issues that effect children such as access to health care and quality education. In this issue we have selected the major democratic candidates. Republican candidates will be featured in the next issue. The following links are directly to the candidates' websites. 

    Joe Biden
    Health Care
    Education

    Hillary Clinton
    American Health Choices Plan
    Supporting Parents and Caring for Children

    Christopher Dodd
    Strengthening America's Schools, From Preschool to College
    Health Care for All

    John Edwards
    Health Care
    Strengthening Our Schools and Making College Affordable

    Dennis Kucinich
    Survival of the Middle Class
    A Healthy Nation

    Barack Obama
    Creating a Health Care System that Works
    Improving Our Schools
    Strengthening Families and Communities

    Bill Richardson
    Health Care
    A Champion for Quality Education

     

     


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    ©2005 Alyce Desrosiers, LCSW