A Place of Our Own

Dear Elizabeth, I currently care for my 3-year-old niece & 4-year-old nephew. Are there things I can do to ensure their safety in my home while they're under my care?– Scarlet Rodriguez

To a certain extent, bumps, burns and bruises are part of growing up. There are, however, more serious injuries that can and should be prevented. According to the National Safety Council, the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and four is unintentional injury.

Dear Elizabeth, I currently care for my 3-year-old niece & 4-year-old nephew. Are there things I can do to ensure their safety in my home while they're under my care?– Scarlet Rodriguez

Conversations aren’t just for adults. Children can benefit just as much from a dialogue and an exchange of ideas. But knowing what questions to ask and how to ask them is essential to engaging children in an active dialogue. ...

Dear Elizabeth, I keep hearing about the importance of using open-ended questions. What are they, and how will they help my 3-year-old?– Lauren Bates

We know that rough-and-tumble play is a normal part of development and can provide a healthy outlet for physical and imaginative play. Today’s activity demonstrates how an indoor wrestling game can promote rough-and-tumble play, rather than aggression.

Dear Debi,I care for some very active kids. They do cartwheels and somersaults, and even play-wrestle. I’m always worried that they will end up hurting eachother. Am I being too overprotective? Should they be allowed to play this way?– Terry , Montebello, CA

Today’s activity is called Shaving Cream Art. It’s not only a great learning activity for kids, but also a project that kids can take home to show their parents. By bringing their work home, parents can learn what their kids are doing at the child care.

Dear Debi,I’ve had my own child care for a year now. I’ve had instances where parents expect me to teach their child how to read or write when clearly the child is too young. How can I keep learning age-appropriate, but still be able to meet parents’ expectations?– Elizabeth , Los Angeles, CA

Dear Debi,I care for a 3 ½-year-old who doesn’t speak English. This is his first group experience, and he seems intimidated. How do I help him communicate his needs to me and the other children?– Monica, Culver City, CA

Today’s activity is a family portrait book – a book where children can share similarities and differences in their families. The book contains drawings made by the children of their own families. It’s a great activity to share with children whose language may be different from yours.

Adoptive parents should talk openly and honestly with their kids about the fact that they’re adopted, but they should do so in an age-appropriate way. Children love hearing stories about themselves, and ...

Dear Debi, I want to adopt, but I don't know how to get started with the process. Where do I begin & what can I do to prepare?– Julia Noh