The Minnesota CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Prevention Force is a way for all Minnesotans to join together to support families and protect children. Members of the Minnesota CAN Prevention Force commit to take action to prevent child abuse and to share and learn from one another’s experiences in the process. The Minnesota CAN Prevention Force answers the question, “HOW CAN I help end child abuse?"
Here’s how in three steps:
1. Choose what you will do to prevent child abuse and neglect. See lots of ideas at www.pcamn.org.
2. Join the Minnesota CAN Prevention Force. All you have to do to join is say that you will do something to help prevent abuse and neglect.
3. Tell us what happened when you did what you chose to do to help prevent abuse. What was the outcome? Do you think it worked? Or not? We will learn from one another and share our experiences as we go. Post a comment to this blog and let us know what happened.
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8 comments:
I have often struggled with what to say to parents who bring their small children to really violent movies. Any ideas?
I've seen this happen too, and one time I mentioned it to the theatre manager. I suggested that she approach the situation as if it were a noise issue and not a parenting issue. I'm not sure how it turned out.
Talking to the theatre manager was a good idea but what should I do when I see a parent mistreating their child at Target or Cub when I am shopping?
There are a few things you can do depending on the situation. If the child is in immediate danger contact the store manager and/or the police. Otherwise, an exasperated parent may welcome help and support. Try distracting the child by asking a question or commenting on something nearby.
If the parent is approachable offer understanding saying you remember how difficult it can be to shop with little ones but how quickly they grow up. Try to find something good to say about the parent and their child; attractive child, patient parent, etc.
Parent's, use positive reinforcement to get good behaviors. Like bringing a bag of mini M&M’s to the store and giving your child a piece of candy while they stay with you. You can vary the amount and slowly begin to decrease the amount so this doesn’t go on forever.
I have a friend who has been asking me for advice on how to discipline her very challenging three year old son. She had mentioned a few times that she was at “the end of her rope” and thought about hitting her son or putting Tabasco sauce in his mouth when he misbehaves. Because I was blind to my bias, I continued to give her the same advice--put him in time out or ignore the misbehavior and focus on positive behaviors and so forth. Just today I realized how desperately she needs support and a break. But, because she lives in a nice house in the suburbs, is financially secure and has a husband I assumed she is not at risk of harming her child! She was reaching out for HELP and now I see that I cannot make assumptions about what kind of person harms their child!
Way cool you were able to break free from a stereotype! It sounds like your friend could really benefit from Circle of Parents® groups or Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs. Both groups offer parents support & information about parenting skills. Many groups even have a program for children at the same time. Circle of Parents® meets weekly using a shared leadership model with parent participants and provides non-judgmental support to parents as well as organized programming for children. For more info on Circle of Parents® go to www.pcamn.org website and follow the links Circle of Parents®. In addition, for more information on Early Childhood Family Education in Minneapolis call (612) 668-3927 or in St. Paul you can call (651) 793-5410.
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