Parent education can decrease acting out behaviors in children

Research has shown that some parent education programs are beneficial and effective. In one study, investigators developed and tested a six-week program called, “Parenting the Strong-Willed Child (PSWC).” Seventy-one families with children ages 2 through 8 years who were enrolled in Head Start Centers participated in the free program. All children had high levels of acting out behaviors, including not following parents’ directions when they were disciplined.

At the end of the six-week PSWC program, parents reported several improvements.

• Their children reduced both the frequency and intensity of their behavioral problems.
• Parents saw a significant decrease in parenting stress
• Parents used fewer overly permissive parenting behaviors.
• Parents were less emotional reactive while disciplining their children.
• Improvements were maintained 6 months after the program ended.

Children who act out tend to make worse grades. These children also may cause disruptions that affect the quality of education for other students. This study demonstrates that targeted parent education programs can be helpful in decreasing child behavior problems, which can have positive effects not only on the children themselves, but also on their families and classmates.

Knox and Jackson Counties join forces to train child care providers

According to the 2002 U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP):

• 63 % of all children under age five are in some type of regular childcare arrangement.
• One-quarter of these children are cared for in organized facilities consisting of day care centers (13 %) and nursery or preschools (6 %).

To ensure that child care providers in these facilities are knowledgeable about proper childcare methods and developmental appropriate practices, all workers are state mandated to engage in twelve hours of training conducted by a certified provider.

Michelle Smith and Renata Farmer, the Jackson and Knox County Family and Consumer Sciences extension agents, both certified childcare providers, partnered to provide trainings to personnel from 20 different childcare organizations including in-home day cares, licensed day care organizations, and Family Resource Youth Service Centers. Ninety child care providers attended a minimum of six hours of training. In the past, most of these participants had to travel to neighboring counties for these trainings. Trainings focused on stress management, organizational skills, child abuse prevention, communication with parents, nutrition in the center, working with children with disabilities, implementing literacy and activities, child development and assessment, teaching self-control and approaching discipline. Eighty-five percent of participants reported an increase in knowledge and 75% reported that they planned to put this knowledge to use in their childcare facility.

Evaluations from the trainings revealed significant improvements in knowledge among participants.

• 90% gained new knowledge of child assessments, including the Dial 3.
• 80% engaged in learning activities focusing on modifying toys and activities for children with disabilities
• 65% learned new approaches to dealing with conflict between childcare staff and parents
• 75% were able to implement literacy strategies in other daily activities
• 50% acquired new knowledge on the 2005 dietary guidelines and were able to implement nutrition and physical activity into their centers.

The majority of parents with children under the age of five in the U.S. utilize child care services. Organizations that provide such services are mandated by the state to attend trainings that help ensure quality child care. Trainings have been shown to increase knowledge and help provide the information necessary for child care providers to implement beneficial strategies and procedures. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, and specifically the Jackson and Knox County offices have demonstrated a strong commitment to and record of excellence in helping child care providers fulfill their training requirements.

Stop Smoking, Start Gaining?

Many people who smoke say they are afraid to stop smoking for fear of gaining weight. However, new research suggests that reductions in smoking rates had less than a 1% effect on increased rates of obesity nationwide. Further, a forthcoming study shows that among weight-concerned smokers trying to quit, nicotine has only a small and temporary effect on weight maintenance.

What does contribute to weight gain? A social network analysis of over 12,000 people between 1971 and 2003 showed that friends and family are key. Specifically,

• Individuals were 57% more likely to become obese if a friend became obese
• 40% more likely if a sibling became obese.
• 37% more likely if a spouse became obese.
• Further, same sex friends and family members had more influence on weight gain than opposite sex friends and family members.

High rates of smoking and obesity are significant health issues facing the Commonwealth. Public policymakers can use research-based information to develop strategies for addressing these issues. Based on recent research, possible approaches might include smoking cessation programs that integrate nutrition and healthful eating curricula, family-based physical activity programs, and ad campaigns that dispel myths about the link between smoking cessation and obesity.

Obesity Linked to Lower Educational Attainment

A researcher at the University of Texas has discovered that obese girls in America are half as likely to attend college as non-obese girls. This finding is particularly troublesome when you live and work in a state with the fifth highest adult obesity rate in the nation (25.6%) and the third highest rate of overweight high school students (14.6%) that ranks 45th in the percent of adults over age 25 with a bachelor's degree or higher (21.3% compared to 27.2% nationwide). Clearly we need to be concerned about the negative health effects of obesity on the educational attainment of our youth.

Obviously, there isn't a simple solution to the problems of obesity or low educational attainment. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that schools are one venue for addressing these two critical issues facing the Commonwealth - perhaps even in an integrated fashion. If you saw the movie Akeelah and the Bee, you'll recall her jump rope spelling practice. Innovation such as integrated curriculum is key when working to tackle important issues.

Some of Kentucky's state senators and representatives agree. In the most recent general session, these lawmakers proposed legislation that would bring back physical education into the school day for grades pre-K through 8, including making physical activity a component of the three R's, a la' Akeelah. While this bill didn't reach the governor's desk in 2007, I will contact the author of the Senate legislation to see if she plans to refile.