Trick-or-treating can be a fun chance for parents to spend time with their children. Here are five quick tips to consider before you head out on Halloween: 1. Make sure your child is being supervised by an adult. Make sure to stay with your child at all times. If you can’t be there, confirm […]
“When a child misbehaves, remember—kids are having a problem, they’re not being a problem.” At this week’s Allies in Prevention Coalition meeting, SCAN hosted 30 local child welfare professionals to hear from parenting expert Rachel Bailey as she shared insight from her work coaching parents in hundreds of local families. Why do children throw tantrums, hit a […]
As our work to prevent child sexual abuse pushes onward in our local communities, we are reminded of the mission of our national partner Darkness to Light: We empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. We believe that adults own the responsibility to prevent child sexual abuse. They need to play an integral role in […]
With kids heading back to school this season, families might be feeling overwhelmed by changing schedules, new demands and navigating complicated school systems. Here are five of our favorite school-related topics on SCAN’s Parent Resource Center that can help parents manage the challenges of the school year and stay connected to their kids through it […]
Earlier this summer, Leah Davidson from Arlington County Parent Infant Education Program led a very informative discussion about how professionals and parents can support an infant’s mental health at SCAN’s quarterly Allies in Prevention Coalition meeting. Representatives from DC Diaper Bank were also at the meeting and they shared exciting new partnership opportunities with members. […]
“Positive communication with your kids IS possible!” SCAN’s Parent Education team members often find themselves giving these words of encouragement to parents in our classes, support groups and workshops. Thanks to a great monthly email they send to parents, we’re sharing their thoughts here on the blog, too: Positive communication can reinforce good behavior, and help you understand and eliminate bad behavior. It can build […]
We’re excited to share this new interview about SCAN’s Operation Safe Babies program. It’s a great, simple way to share an overview of the program–and why it’s so important–with the parents and families in your community! SCAN’s Public Education Manager Tracy Leonard recently taped a segment on Comcast Newsmakers, sharing general guidelines when it comes to safe sleep for […]
“Our family is facing financial issues at home, discipline issues with our middle child at school, and an overwhelming schedule. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. What can I do?”* SCAN’s Parent Education team hears a lot of questions from local parents in our classes, support groups and workshops. They […]
Did you know that SCAN offers a free mobile app that allows parents on-the-go access to all of the information on our online Parent Resource Center? Now we also have a short, 1-minute video you can share with parents that explains how simple it is to download and use the app: Our goal is to make it easy for parents to learn more […]
Lots of parents are especially stressed in the final weeks of December. How can we help? Sometimes a simple suggestion is all it takes to give a parent the permission to hit the reset button on the holiday season: Simplify. Reduce the number of gifts you give. Don’t worry about sending cards this year. Cut […]
Report card season can be stressful for children and parents. Kids often want to please their parents, while parents might equate academic success with future well-being and happiness. When grades differ from expectations, it can be easy to respond in anger, disappointment or frustration. But parents should work to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children–not one […]
Providing a safe sleep environment for a baby is one of the first things you can do to protect and nurture a child. October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month (#safesleepawareness) — and there is no better time to share 5 simple things you can do today to make sure the parents you know have the information and resources […]
As children head back to school, some of their biggest concerns often involve making friends, “fitting in” and navigating relationships. But when a child has good, healthy friendships, the benefits can include increased self-esteem and appropriate emotional growth. So how can parents better understand social development and its impact on their children? There’s a fact sheet for that! Our “Making […]
As students prepare to head back to school, we’re excited to offer three educational opportunities for the adults working to support them. SCAN is hosting three exciting (and free!) workshops for parents and professionals and we’d love for you to join us: The Adolescent Brain: Understanding the “What” & “Why” August 17, 2017 | 2:30 – 4:30 PM […]
The national Safe to Sleep® Campaign published an excellent letter this month with a special focus on summer-related tips to help parents keep their babies safe while sleeping and traveling. For more safe sleep resources we invite you to visit the “Safe Sleep for Your Baby” page on the Parent Resource Center here. Dear Safe to Sleep Community: It’s […]
For those of us who work with children and families, summer can bring fun — but also a lot of season-specific challenges. Families are on unusual schedules, parents are juggling the demands of new childcare arrangements and children are spending more time alone / on-screen or online / with new adults / outdoors and in pools. This week, we’ve gathered […]
If you work with children and teens, you’ve probably heard about 13 Reasons Why, the Netflix Original series about a young girl who commits suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes explaining why she did it. The show’s main characters are young people, but it addresses–sometimes in graphic detail–some very heavy topics, ranging from mental illness to cyber […]
In recent months, we’ve been hearing more about the use of cardboard boxes as a replacement for bassinets. Our Operation Safe Babies partner, Cribs For Kids, has released a helpful response detailing why they do NOT endorse cardboard boxes as safe sleep environments and will continue to recommend only Pack-n-Plays. In a recent post (shared in part, […]
We know parents struggle with how to monitor their children’s use of technology. Limit screen time? Require shared passwords? Make some apps and games off-limits? And it’s about so much more than rules—how parents handle technology can affect everything from family communication to personal trust to physical safety. It’s a lot to think about! We often […]
For many parents, talking about race with children is a difficult concept. Adults often question how much children already know and how much information is appropriate to share, while balancing a need to protect children from the United States’ complicated (and often violent) racial history. We recently taped a Parenting Today segment on this topic […]
SCAN is pleased to be partnering with Smart Beginnings Prince William County to offer valuable Workshops on Safe Sleep to the Greater Prince William community. The first workshop will be offered on Tuesday, February 21st at 4 pm at the Hylton Education Center at Sentara Hospital. The FREE workshop is ideal for service providers, health care providers, […]
We know how critical it is that parents stay connected with their communities, especially when they are isolating themselves out of fear or frustration. Please share our newest Parent Connection Resource Guide with parents in your network. With more than 80 parenting classes, support groups, workshops and more for parents across Northern Virginia, it also includes a key to find programs offered […]
Ready to read in 2017? SCAN staff members are! We’ve come up with a fresh list of books to recommend for child welfare professionals, advocates and parents you know. What are you reading this winter? We’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below! “The Resilient Parent” by Mantu Joshi is a collection of essays […]
Although the exact cause of SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is unknown, we do know what risk factors can contribute to SIDS. The following may increase the risk of SIDS: • Sleeping on the stomach • Being around cigarette smoke while in the womb or after being born • Sleeping in the same […]
It’s December — are parents around you looking a little more frazzled? Stress is an issue for families all year long, but during the holidays it can reach a fevered pitch. Here are some of our favorite tips and resources to share with the families in your community: Make smart decisions about what you say […]