By Christine Garrison | Project Leader
Children thrive when parents are able to actively promote their positive growth and development, and parents thrive when they have a caring community of support around them.
While there is no cost to enroll in the Acorn Childcare Center, parents do contribute what they can and they are required to volunteer and attend workshops throughout the school year. The workshops focus on parenting skills and child development and allow families learn from one another and talk about their experiences and feelings in a safe, supportive environment.
In May, we invited a professional nurse to come to the Center to talk with the parents about children’s health, especially the hazards of soft drinks and sweets. Guatemala has some of the worst rates of malnutrition child mortality in the region— nearly half of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition — which is why nutrition is one of the main components of care at the Center.
In June, the topic for parents was self-esteem and domestic violence. Children who experience domestic violence often suffer from low self-esteem as they internalize the negative messages they see and hear. Children who witness abuse can also develop low self-esteem, which in turn can lead to a cycle of abusive behavior that carries into future relationships. Recognizing the signs and breaking free from this cycle of abuse is crucial for the well-being of children and their family members.
July’s workshop will focus on the importance of quality time between parents and children. Quality time can involve activities that build relationships, such as reading, talking or eating together. It can also include simply creating a home environment of warmth and sensitivity towards children that allows for deeper conversations and questions.
With your ongoing generosity we are able to continue to offer these workshops each month, a critical support for caregivers which in turn benefits the whole family. Thank you!
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By Christine Garrison | Project Leader
By Christine Garrison | Project Leader
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