We want to share a story with you from USA TODAY - here - that references the recent American Academy of Pediatrics report on the impact of emotional abuse on children and includes a quote from Prevent Child Abuse America President & CEO James M.
Hmurovich on the need to not only make emotional abuse a "national issue," but the need for all adults witnessing abuse to step in to "break the moment."
Stories
on the importance of children's scores on standardized tests have
dominated the discussion of healthy child development in recent years.
But to engage in a balanced discussion of how we enhance a child's
future success requires us to highlight how we support a child's
social-emotional health as well. Recognizing this, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released a brief titled "Tips to Promote Social-Emotional Health Among Young Children," that addresses an array of tips, including everything from "Catch your
child being good" for parents and "Look for each child's strengths," for
early education and child care providers, to "Discuss the importance of
a support system and appropriate coping strategies when parents feel
tired, overwhelmed, or frustrated," for pediatricians. We
hope you will spend some time familiarizing yourself with the tips and then letting us know how you think this
information can enhance the lives of the children and their families in your home states and communities.
One of the many themes that arose in the Town Hall meetings held by the Movement during the past summer and fall was the importance of brain development on the subsequent academic success of children as well as their transition to adulthood. We wanted to share this today after reading the recent Policy Statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding "Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Role of the Pediatrician: Translating Developmental Science into Lifelong Health," and the statement that "AAP is committed to leveraging science to inform the development of innovative strategies to reduce...toxic stress in young children and to mitigate their negative effects on the course of development..." Reading this our questions for you include: What role can we play in reducing the toxic stress that children are exposed to in our neighborhoods and communities? What innovative strategies to reduce toxic stress are being implemented where you live? And what strategies might be added? Please come to the National Movement for America's Children site to share your thoughts with us and others members from your state and if you're not sure what role you, your neighborhood or the Movement can play, please let us know so we can talk about that as well. Have a great week.
