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<small><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">January 10, 2011</span><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">; FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE...............................................................................<b>a
pdf poster is available upon request</b></span><span
style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";">CONTACT:<span
style=""> </span></span><i><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"; color: blue;">Candy
Eaton, Program Director<br>
Downeast Children's Council, a program of Downeast Health
Services Inc.<br>
52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605</span></i><br>
<i><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"; color: blue;">207-667-5304,
ext.
261; </span></i><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org"><i>children@downeasthealth.org</i></a></span></small>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align:
center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 4pt;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align:
center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 16pt;">“POSITIVE PARENTING during the
INCREDIBLE TODDLER years”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Downeast
Children’s Council and Maine Families: Washington County are
pleased to announce a new 8-week Tuesday series for parents and
guardians of toddlers beginning <u>February 8th at
5:30pm-7:30pm</u>.<span style=""> </span>If you are
interested in participating in this FREE series, please call
Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261 to reserve your place (maximum
of 12 parents or guardians).</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A joint
project of Downeast Health Services and the Down East Community
Hospital, <i style="">“Positive Parenting during the Incredible
Toddler years”</i> will show some of the ways that parents can
nurture, teach and respond to their toddlers in sensitive ways
that bring about their optimal social, emotional, physical and
intellectual development.<span style=""> </span>At one year of
age, as babies change from infants to toddlers, there is a shift
in the way they interact with their parents.<span style=""> </span>Suddenly,
your baby becomes aware of himself as an individual as well as
aware of other fascinating and irresistible objects in his
environment such as stuffed animals, rattles, dogs and toys.<span
style=""> </span>This stage is alternately endearing,
entertaining, exhausting, and exasperating for parents.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Each week, we
will provide participants with an opportunity to discuss and
learn from each other about a specific topic specific to “The
Incredible Years for Toddlers (1-3 years – The Age of
Exploration)”.<span style=""> </span>Linda Levesque, parent
educator, will facilitate conversations about the following
topics:<span style=""> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">February 8<sup>th</sup>:<span
style=""> </span>“Child-Directed Play Promotes Positive
Relationships”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">February
15<sup>th</sup>:<span style=""> </span>“Promoting Toddlers’
Language With Child-Directed Coaching”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">February
22<sup>nd</sup>:<span style=""> </span>“Coaching Toddlers’
Social and Emotional Competence”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">March 1<sup>st</sup>:<span
style=""> </span>“Art of Effective Praise and Encouragement”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">March 8<sup>th</sup>:<span
style=""> </span>“Spontaneous Incentives for Toddlers”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">March 15<sup>th</sup>:<span
style=""> </span>“Handling Separation and Reunions With
Toddlers”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">March 22<sup>nd</sup>:<span
style=""> </span>“Positive Discipline and Effective Limit
Setting”</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent:
-0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span
style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">March 29<sup>th</sup>:<span
style=""> </span>“Positive Discipline – Handling
Misbehavior”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"; color: black;">This
course is based on well-established behavioral / social-learning
and child development principles that describe how behaviors are
learned and how they can be changed.<span style=""> </span>At
the core of this approach is the simple idea that people change
as a result of the interactions they have on a daily basis with
one another.<span style=""> </span>In the first lesson,
parents and other adults will learn how to play with a child.<span
style=""> </span>This seems like such an easy and
straightforward task that most adults overlook the importance of
developing good play skills.<span style=""> </span>These
skills, however, are some of the most important of all for
fostering positive interactions with children and reducing
behavior problems.<span style=""> </span>Moreover, play is a
time when adults can respond to children in ways that build a
good self-concept and encourage social, emotional, and cognitive
growth.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Downeast
Children’s Council, a program of Downeast Health Services Inc.
seeks to provide all families with parent education and support.<span
style=""> </span>You learned how to parent an infant.<span
style=""> </span>Now, you need to “upgrade” your skills to
parent a toddler.<span style=""> </span>This is so that you
can do a more difficult job equally well and feel good about
doing it!<span style=""> </span>Please call 667-5304 ext. 261,
email <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org">children@downeasthealth.org</a>
or visit our website at <span style="color: black;"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.downeasthealth.org">www.downeasthealth.org</a>
</span>for additional information on parenting classes, support
groups and family resources available in Downeast Maine.<span
style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Maine
Families: Washington County, a program of Down East Community
Hospital, understands that all parents want the best for their
babies.<span style=""> </span>Their caring and professional
home visitors will partner with you to access the information
and resources that can support the physical and emotional health
of your baby and entire family.<span style=""> </span>A strong
foundation increases the chances of a bright and healthy future.<span
style=""> </span>FMI, call 255-0438 or visit <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.mainefamilies.org">www.mainefamilies.org</a>
to learn more.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This series is
funded by the Maine Children's Trust. For additional
information, visit their website at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.mechildrenstrust.org">www.mechildrenstrust.org</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
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