On Establishing a Level Foundation for Mental Health: Preventing small wobbles from becoming bigger

Chris finds this working paper from the Center on the Developing Child especially valuable. -gw

Sound mental health provides an essential foundation of stability that supports all other aspects of human development—from the formation of friendships and the ability to cope with adversity to the achievement of success in school, work, and community life. Similar to the way a wobbly table may not function well if the floor is uneven, the legs are not aligned, or the tabletop is not level, the destabilizing consequences of problems in mental health can be caused by many interdependent factors. Just as small “wobbles” in a table can become bigger and more difficult to fix over time, the effective management of mental health concerns in young children requires early identification of the causes and appropriate attention to their source, whether they reside in the environment, the child, or (most frequently) in both.

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/resources/reports_and_working_papers/working_papers/wp6/

On New Child Mental Health Resources: The Center on the Developing Child

[A] new two-page summary—part of the InBrief series—explains how experiences interact with genetic predispositions to shape an enduring foundation for mental health in early childhood and how interventions can treat or prevent disruptions.

 http://developingchild.harvard.edu

The website for the Center on the Developing Child is another marvelous onlilne resource. You can subscribe to their enewsletter. Thanks to Bill Marsh for the reminder. This Harvard-based center provided the keynote speaker for last year's early childhood conference in Tacoma. -gw

On the Most Amazing Research Finding: According to Daniel Siegel

According to Daniel Siegel, the most amazing research finding that informs psychotherapy is this... -gw

 

On Promoting Focus and Self-Control in Children: Mind in the Making

• Suggestion 1:  Help infants and toddlers learn to bring themselves under control. A. Observe in order to understand what helps your child maintain self control and focus.B. Use the technique that you know works best for your child. C. Acknowledge your baby’s successes.  

• Suggestion 2:  Weave these skills into everyday activities in fun and playful ways – no drills, “teaching” or expensive games or toys needed.

• Suggestion 3:  Promote focus - encourage your children to have “lemonade stands” (something they care a lot about).     

• Suggestion 4:  Promote focus – play games that require children to pay attention.   

• Suggestion 5.  Promote focus – read stories to children in ways  that encourage them to listen. A. Listening requirse focus and powerful inhibitory control. B. Ask your child to singsong the words of favorite refrains in books with you, or stop and ask them to finish the sentences. These everyday games involve children focusing and remembering. 

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Notes on the book Mind in the Making sent on by Ellen, from a synopsis compiled by Darlene. Ellen writes: "Prevention Works! Academic Success group just had a community discussion on the book."  -gw

On a Website for Clallam County Residents To Find Prevention Resources: Prevention Works!

For Clallam County, the go-to site is Prevention Works! -gw

A healthy community is built one child, one family, and one individual at a time.  Children are the most precious assets any community possesses.  When a young infant is neglected, when a first grade child is so out of control that he or she cannot learn, when a middle school child gives up on academic work, when a  high school student loses hope after being targeted by cyberbullying every one of us is  affected.  Children, who are neglected, abused, emotionally troubled, involved in violence, or drop out of school hurt deeply.  The community hurts also.   Prevention Works!  A Community Coalition of Clallam County presents to the community a Five Year Prevention Plan designed to increase healthy behaviors in our families and decrease child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, and violence by and among youth and increase academic success in our young citizens.  

 http://preventionworks.ning.com/

5-YEAR PREVENTION PLAN - 2011-2016 - CLALLAM COUNTY WASHINGTON

On a Musical Break in the Action: Bill sings "Scrimshaw Johnny"

It was good seeing Bill Marsh at the Fort Worden Early Childhood Conference in the port city (hence the Pacific Swift tall ship image) of Port Townsend. Bill and his wife Ellen are great promoters of Block Fest, which was a subject of one of the conference presentations. Participants in the Peninsulas Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Group know Bill not just as a math man, but as a spontaneous songster,too. Below is brief excerpt from his rendition of the song "Scrimshaw Johnny," for which he wrote the lyrics, although he will humbly tell you that Hank Cramer singing it, also below, is better. It's amazing some of the subjects we get on at group.-gw

Scrimshaw, Johnny, Scrimshaw.mp3 Listen on Posterous

On Recent PCIT Research: For Children with Asperger's & Callous-Unemotional Traits

A presentation on PCIT at the Peninsulas Early Childhood Mental Health group in Bremerton a few years back...
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Here are three research studies on Parent Child Interaction Therapy extended to some special populations of probable interest to readers here. -gw

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This case study presents the treatment of a 5-year-old boy with ASP and severe behavior problems using Parent–Child Interaction Therapy, an empirically supported behavioral parenting intervention developed for young children with disruptive behavior disorders. Findings from this case report documented (a) an improvement in behavioral functioning that was maintained at follow-up and (b) provided support for utilizing this evidenced-based treatment to improve functioning of young children with ASP and comorbid disruptive behavior disorders.

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Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for the Treatment of Asperger's Disorder in Early Childhood: A Case Study
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Children with conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits (i.e., lack of empathy, guilt, and lack of caring behaviors)(CP + CU) show poor response to empirically supported interventions for treating disruptive behaviors. Children with CP + CU are specifically less responsive to discipline com...

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Adapting Parent-Child Interaction Therapy to Treat Severe Conduct Problems With Callous-Unemotional Traits: A Case Study

Persistent high levels of aggressive, oppositional and impulsive behaviours, in the early lives of children, are significant risk factors for adolescent and adult antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. If the disruptive behavioural problems of young children could be prevented or significant...

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Parent-Child interaction therapy for preschool children with disruptive behaviour problems in the Netherlands