Baby U

Our eight week “Baby U” classes are modeled after the “Baby College” run by the Harlem Children’s Zone. Our course meets weekly for eight weeks, offering low-income mothers a series of parent-and-child classes on child development and sound parenting skills. These sessions also provide an opportunity to introduce the families to other community service agencies.

The class will be offered in Columbia and Centralia during the 2010-11 school year.

This program is made possible by funding from the Missouri Department of Social Services through direct funding and through a partnership with the Phelps County Community Partnership.

For more information, call 573-777-1815 ext. 204.

Here is the most recent syllabus.

First Chance for Children
BABY–U
2009-2010

Baby–U is an eight week intensive parent education class for parents with children ages birth thru one. Classes will be two to three hours in duration with meals provided. Twenty four total hours of instruction and networking will be provided through the Baby-U classes.

Class One - "Getting to Know your Baby" Birth to 6 months: Introduction to Touchpoints
Participants will learn:

Developmental milestones of children age birth through six months. (P)
How to anticipate baby’s moods by learning how to identify baby’s temperament style and types of cries. (SE)
View Never Shake a Baby video. (P)
Importance of early reading and literacy. (L)
How to make an infant book to share at home with baby. (L)

Class Two - "Getting Mobile" 6-12 months
Participant will learn:

Developmental milestones of children ages six months to one year. (P)
Importance of safeproofing a home for active infants. (P)
Why you can’t spoil a baby. (SE)
Anticipating the changes that come with pre-walkers. (P)
Shake, rattle and roll homemade toy activity. (SE)

Class Three - "Big Changes, Walking, Words, and Whining, What’s NEXT?" 12-18 months
Participants will learn:

Developmental milestones of children ages 12 to 18 months. (P)
Setting limits with toddlers. (SE)
Winning the tantrum war. (SE)
Anticipating the changes in sleep patterns. (P)
Feeding a picky eater right. (P)
How to make a lap-sit blanket for “story times” (L)

Class Four - "Exploring with a Purpose" 18 – 24 months
Participants will learn:

Developmental milestones of children ages 18- 24 months old. (P)
Why toddlers love to read the same book over and over again. (SE) (L)
Why toddlers need to be cuddled just as much as babies. (SE)
Why toddlers bite and what can be done about it. (S) (SE)
Homemade toddler book activity. (L)

Class Five "I'm Two and Want to be Just Like You” Two-year-olds
Participants will learn:

Developmental milestones of children ages 24 to 36 months. (P)
Language development of two’s. (P) (SE)
What the “ready signs” of “potty training” look like. (P) (SE)
Why two-year-olds need to feed themselves. (S) (P)
How to make a literacy kit to use at home. (L)

Class Six - "Looking Ahead" Three-year-olds
Participants will learn:

Why imagination and fantasy play are good. (SE)
Why fears and phobias are such a big thing at “3” (SE)
How television effects children. (S)
Why power struggles are a normal part of parenting. (SE)
How to complete an ASQ and ASQ-SE.

Class Seven - "Parents are the Experts on Their Children"
Participants will:

Share family milestones and personal parenting expertise.
Participate in community resource displays.
Listen to community service agencies explain available services. (P)
Make a resource folder to take home.

Class Eight - "Looks Like We Made It" Graduation and video slideshow of participants
Participants will reflect on their class experience and their last two months of parenting.

A special guest speaker with give an encouraging and affirming family friendly speech.
Cake and ice-cream will be served.
Family photos will be taken.

Missouri Early Learning Standards Index of Topics: M=mathematics, L=literacy, S=Science, P=physical development, SE=social emotional.