1. Newsletter
2...........3 Tips to Reduce Your
Child’s Stress and Anxiety
3...........Teach Tolerance
4...........Ready, Set, Goal!
5...........Celebrate the
National Park Service
6...........Accidental Poisonings –
What You Need to Know
to Protect Your Children
8...........Knowledge and Support
Key for Breastfeeding
9...........As Moms, We All Need
an Extra Hand From Time
To Time!
10.........Water Safety Read-Alouds
10.........Kids’ Classes at Memorial
11.........Area Summer Camps Now
Registering Participants
Parent UniversityParent
Vol.20, No. 2
Spring 2016
Increasing awareness of central Illinois community
resources that promote healthy families.
A publication of Memorial Health System
Read to a Dog
By Danielle Adams, Children’s Librarian, Lincoln Library, the Public Library of Springfield
Learning to read is a huge deal for young children. It’s fun and exciting
because it’s something that adults or older siblings can do, and now
they can, too! However, because it’s something that everyone else
already can do, sometimes it may be a bit overwhelming and intimi-
dating. It’s just not as easy as it looks, which can deflate young egos.
Helping young children learn to read is a struggle, too. It can be
frustrating when they just don’t seem to grasp it fast enough. Or when
we’re strapped for time listening to them read might take too long. We
sometimes tell them the words instead of letting our children sound
them out themselves, even though we know that is important. Kids
pick up on our frustration, even if we don’t notice it at the time.
That is where Certified Therapy Dogs come in. Once a month, therapy
dogs visit Lincoln Library and children read out loud to them.
(continued on page 11)

2. 2
3 Tips to Reduce Your Child’s
Stress and Anxiety
By Bethann Whitford, MSW, Children’s MOSAIC Project, a program of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois
Every child has fears, but how do you know when those fears might
be triggering something more serious—like feelings of anxiety? Signs
of anxiety in children often include impulsive behavior, becoming
overly emotional, nervous, having irrational fears, changes in weight,
not sleeping well or having nightmares and being fidgety. Anxiety is
very common for children, but sometimes they might pretend they’re
fine and ignore their fears rather than actually telling a parent and
working through their issues.
What you can do to help reduce your child’s fears and anxiety:
 Talk openly. Anxiety usually consists of fears they cannot
control. Listening and guiding a child to think rationally helps
tremendously. Sometimes, all a child needs is to talk it out.
 Help your child clear their head. Draw your child
away from dwelling on whatever is making them anxious.
Anxious children may “get stuck in their heads” and can’t
stop worrying about their fears. Encourage your child to
go for a walk, turn on some music or watch a movie.
 Get them moving. There are so many things you can
do to help your child release stress! A few activities to
decrease anxiety include coloring, painting, taking deep
breaths, going for a walk, writing in a journal and listening
to music.
The activities listed above can help reduce anxiety and stress
in children. However, sometimes speaking with a professional
is needed. If you feel like you’ve tried everything to help your
child cope with anxiety, it may be time to ask your primary care
provider about seeing a therapist.
The Children’s MOSAIC Project is funded by the Illinois
Children’s Healthcare Foundation and is a community-wide
collaboration led by Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois
(MHCCI), an affiliate of Memorial Health System. At MHCCI, we
understand how emotional or behavioral health issues can affect
your child’s life. That’s why our caring team is ready to provide
your child support. For more information, go to MHCCI.org.
Individualpicturedisamodelandusedforillustrativepurposesonly.

3. 3
Teach Tolerance
By Gail Gauen, RN, Facilitator, Parent Help Line at HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital
One of a parent’s most difficult challenges is
to prepare their child to live, work and socialize
with people who are different. Our country and
communities are diverse. Every day, children
encounter people who:
 Have different beliefs, religion and skin color
 Come from various countries and cultures
 Have physical abilities and disabilities
 Speak a foreign language or dialect
 Dress differently
 May have intellectual challenges
If they are to succeed in school and beyond,
children will need special skills and attitudes that
enable them to work with all people.
The core social value of tolerance takes away the
fear that often comes from the unknown. It conveys
an acceptance of others for “who they are.” People
who are tolerant show respect for these differences.
They practice the Golden Rule, treating others as
they would like to be treated. Differences become a
conduit for learning, not a way to stop progress.
Tolerance is not about accepting bad behaviors.
Bullying, fighting and prejudice must never be
tolerated. On no occasion is it ever all right to hurt
someone—physically or emotionally.
Prejudice and tolerance are learned behaviors.
Without knowing, parents teach these attitudes
through daily words and actions. Children learn
from what they see and hear. What do your words
and actions teach?
Lessons on tolerance can be taught daily:
 Appreciate differences within your own family.
Accept each member’s interests, styles and
abilities.
 Adopt the Golden Rule—for your family and for
others. Live it daily. Speak it often.
 Reflect on your own attitudes, biases and words.
Take note of how you treat others. Be sensitive
to cultural stereotypes. Refrain from hurtful jokes
and comments.
 Challenge yourself to make positive changes.
Your willingness to change sends a powerful
message to your child.
 Talk with your child about what you see and hear
on TV, in social media and from others. Answer
questions. Be open and honest with your
answers. Use words your child understands.
 Point out comments that hurt and reflect
prejudice. Teach your child words that are positive
and convey respect.
 Take part in events where diversity is present—
community fairs and ethnic festivals. Choose
sports teams, camps and day cares that reflect
diversity. Visit places of worship, schools and
universities that value differences.
 Celebrate your family’s culture and traditions.
Show pictures. Tell stories about your ancestors.
 Use books, movies and magazines as a resource
for learning and discussion.
People who are tolerant will have a greater chance
for success in work, relationships and life.
For more tips on tolerance, visit ParentHelpline.org.
Find our Raising Kids with a Global Mindset and
Wintertime Holiday Fun with Dad parent tip sheets.
You also can call Parent Help Line at HSHS St. John’s
Children’s Hospital at 544–5808 or 888–727–5889
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week for
support, tips and referrals.

4. 4
Ready, Set, Goal!
By Edwina Frazier, Sangamon County Department of Public Health
Parents have the most challenging job on earth—
late nights, early mornings and everything in
between. One way to stay on top of things is to
start setting goals with your child. While some
people may think it’s too early, others think it’s the
prime time. Setting goals can start as early as 1 year
old, and parents can make goals for themselves as
well. Believe it or not, kids are great observers!
Consider for the following goals based on your
child’s development:
6 MONTHS—1 YEAR OLD
 Bottle holding: The only way to tell if your baby
can hold their own bottle is to hand them one and
watch what happens. Be sure your baby doesn’t
fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth, because
the formula or breast milk can lead to tooth decay.
 Small words: It may start off as babbling, but
within months your baby may imitate the sounds
they hear you say like “dada” or “ma.”
 Responding to their name: Babies usually start
responding to their name by 7 months old. Try to
use their name frequently when you talk to them
and encourage their response.
1—3 YEAR OLDS
 Shapes and colors: There are a lot of fun ways to
introduce shapes and colors to a child. This is also
a great time to start introducing animals to your
child.
 Hand washing: Repeating the proper steps of
hand washing is very important. It’s the best way
to prevent germs from spreading and to keep your
child from getting sick.
 Counting: Count objects as a part of your daily
routines. As you count, get your child to count
with you.
3—5 YEAR OLDS
 Learning their phone number: Children love toys,
and many toy stores have play cell phones. Prac-
tice dialing your number on the play phone daily.
 Learning their address: Learning addresses can
be difficult. Playing games like post office can
make it easier for the child to learn their address.
 Spelling their name: Introducing the alphabet to
your child is a great way to begin teaching them
how to spell their name.
Effective goal setting includes setting a timeframe
to have the goal completed and taking it one small
step at a time. All children learn at a different pace,
so make these activities fun and a part of your
daily routine. Reading to your child regularly
promotes a longer attention span that will benefit in
achieving any goal. Remember, compliments and
acknowledgements are keys to your child’s success.
Information used in this article provided by Kids Health.
For additional information, contact Sangamon County Department of Public Health at 217–535–3100.

5. 5
Celebrate the National Park Service
By SpringfieldMoms.org
You are invited to celebrate the National Park Service! Thanks to Springfield Moms contributor Lisa Whelpley
for tracking down the details of this year’s 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service.
Be sure to visit our local national park site, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site (NHS). While there, you
and your kids can earn badges and become official National Park Service Junior Rangers. After completion
of the required activities, your child will receive a Lincoln Home Junior Ranger badge and be sworn in by a
National Park Service Park Ranger.
An added bonus is the Every Kid in a Park campaign. The goal is to connect the next generation of travelers
and their families to the federal parks, forests, lands and waters of America. The Every Kid in a Park
Interagency Pass is the next chapter of the America the Beautiful—Federal Recreation Passes. If you are the
parent or guardian of a fourth grader or 10-year-old, direct the child to EveryKidinaPark.gov. There they will
do a short activity to receive their pass voucher. Then, take your child to the Lincoln Home NHS to receive
their pass. The pass will grant the child and three family members free or discounted access to all federal
recreation areas in the country, such as national parks, national forests, etc.
As you plan your 2016 family vacations, be sure to check out FindYourPark.com. This site was launched
by the National Park Foundation to aid in locating city, state and national parks/recreation areas, providing
direct links to the parks you choose so you can begin planning your trips.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It is closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving Day
and Dec. 25. Free tours for the Lincoln Home are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free tickets must be acquired in
the Visitor Center. Find out more at nps.gov/liho.

6. 6
Accidental Poisonings – What You Need
to Know to Protect Your Children
By Memorial Medical Center
About 800,000 children visit an emergency room
each year because of an accidental poisoning. It’s
the second cause of unintentional injury death in
the country, according to the Consumer Product
Safety Commission.
An accidental poisoning can involve the
unintentional ingestion of medications, household
products or even items such as batteries or coins.
Dennis Danner has nearly 40 years of nursing
experience, the majority of which he spent in an
emergency or urgent-care setting for Memorial.
He provides some insight into how these accidental
ingestions may occur and what you need to know
if it happens to your child.
MEDICATIONS
In Danner’s experience, the most common reason
for an accidental poisoning in a child is ingestion of
a medication that is not prescribed to the child or an
overdose of their own medication or vitamins.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
statistics support Danner’s experience. Among
children, medication poisonings are twice as
common as poisonings from other household
products. A child may find medication in a parent
or grandparent’s purse or unsecured cabinet, or
overindulge in their own medications, such as
gummy vitamins, Danner said.
“If a child has too many vitamins, especially if they
contain iron, it can be very dangerous,” he said.
“Be sure children understand they only get the
allotted amount of vitamins each day from an adult,
and never tell kids that medication is candy to get
them to take it—that’s a big mistake.”
Medications that are particularly concerning if
ingested by a child include adult heart and blood
pressure medications, which can drop the heart rate
or blood pressure significantly, possibly causing the
child to lose consciousness, and the blood-thinning
medication Coumadin, which can be extremely
dangerous and cause hemorrhaging in a child.
Fortunately, if a child does try to eat an adult
medication, the taste usually keeps them from
taking too much, if any.
“A lot of times, you’re not sure there’s actually been
an ingestion,” Danner said. “Once a medication
begins to dissolve on the tongue, it tastes pretty
bad and the child spits it out, so chances of
ingestion are minimal.”
To figure out how many pills a child may have
swallowed, count how many pills are left. If you
aren’t sure, call Poison Control, which can help you
determine if a trip to the emergency department is
necessary. If you go to the emergency department
(ED) , take the pills with you. Sometimes, even
one pill can be dangerous to a small child. Your
child may need blood drawn to determine if any
medication is in his or her system.

7. 7
COINS AND ‘BUTTON’ BATTERIES
In some situations, swallowing a coin or button
battery (found in products like watches and digital
thermometers) can cause significant injury to the
stomach or poison the bloodstream. If a child
swallows a coin, Danner said, it’s likely they will
need an X-ray to determine its location, and parents
will need to monitor the child’s stools for the next
few days to see if it passes through their system.
“If the parents don’t see the coin pass, another
X-ray might be necessary,” Danner said. “It’s
important for it to leave the system, because coins
can leak nickel or other minerals into the blood.”
Batteries, if left too long in the body, can interact
with stomach acid and burn the stomach lining.
Sometimes, these need to be removed surgically
with a scope.
“These can be very dangerous,” Danner said.
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES
Most adults are pretty diligent in limiting access
to these products within the home, Danner said,
“but kids are going to get into what they are going
to get into.”
Like most medications, these products usually taste
so bad that if a child does get into something, he or
she won’t ingest much. The exception, Danner said,
is antifreeze, which looks like Kool-Aid and doesn’t
taste too terrible. Drinking too much of this can
cause kidney damage.
SUSPECT AN ACCIDENTAL INGESTION?
If you suspect a child has ingested something
they shouldn’t, one of the first steps you can
take is contacting the Poison Control Center at
800–222–1222. The hotline is staffed 24 hours
a day, and the operators have access to a large
database of possible scenarios and how to
address them. In some cases, they’ll tell parents
to monitor the child for a few hours. In other, more
serious, cases—which may depend on the type or
amount of a product that was consumed—they’ll
recommend a trip to the emergency department.
In the ED, Danner said staff will draw labs and
monitor vitals. In most cases, it’s not necessary
to pump the child’s stomach, which used to be
standard procedure. Today, most patients instead
drink activated charcoal, which binds to certain
poisons and prevents them from getting into the
bloodstream.
It is important, Danner noted, that parents take
children to the emergency department and not an
ExpressCare clinic if they suspect an accidental
poisoning, as emergency rooms are better equipped
to monitor children and provide the proper lab tests.
Poison Control Center Hotline
800–222–1222

8. 8
Knowledge and Support Key for Breastfeeding
By Memorial Medical Center
New breastfeeding moms typically have two big
questions during those first days after a baby’s birth,
according to Marlene Rahe, RNC-NIC, IBCLC, who
works in the Family Maternity Suites at Memorial
Medical Center.
1. How do I know if my baby is getting
enough milk?
2. When can I start pumping?
“There’s a fear of the unknown,” said Rahe. “You
can’t see what’s going into the baby each time, so
there’s some self-doubt. I encourage new moms to
concentrate on nursing frequently and monitoring
baby’s output.”
Plenty of wet and poopy diapers are a sure sign that
baby is well-fed. Once the milk volume increases,
mom should be able to hear the baby swallow and
recognize the breast softening as it empties during
feeding.
Often dads and grandparents are eager to help
give baby a bottle, but Rahe encourages new
breastfeeding moms to wait three weeks before
introducing the bottle.
“You want to allow time for the baby to learn how
to breastfeed,” said Rahe. “New moms can pump
at any point as long as it’s not a chore. My advice
is if you don’t have a need or a strong desire,
devote that time to taking a nap in the early days
rather than pumping. However, pumping for comfort
occasionally is perfectly acceptable.”
Memorial Medical Center offers a breastfeeding
class that provides parents with information
about breastfeeding and offers positive support
for new breastfeeding families. Fathers and
grandmothers are encouraged to attend to learn
what breastfeeding is about and what to expect.
Topics include:
 How breastfeeding is initiated in the hospital
 Correct and comfortable positioning of the
baby during breastfeeding
 How to assess adequate feeding:
Is baby getting enough?
 What to expect those first several weeks
after you go home
 Pumping and safe storage of breast milk
 Tips for breastfeeding after a return to work
These classes are free and open to the community,
regardless of which hospital a mother plans to
deliver her baby. For more information or to register
for an upcoming class, visit MemorialMedical.com,
click on the calendar of events; and select the
Breastfeeding Basics class.

9. 9
As Moms, We All Need an Extra Hand
From Time To Time!
By Ashley Earles, Community Engagement Specialist, Community Connection Point
Are you a mom? Maybe you’re a mom who is in need of a little—or a lot—of help? No matter if you are a
single mom, working mom, stay-at-home mom, co-parenting mom, or a mixture of the above, we all have our
moments when we could use some help.
Below you will find a list of agencies that provide services to moms and their children. Contact or visit the
agency’s websites to see which ones best fit you or your children’s needs. If the list doesn’t have what you
are looking for, you can also call 211 to find resources in Sangamon or Menard counties. This is a free service
sponsored by United Way of Central Illinois that will help you locate resources for your needs.
O R G A N I Z AT I O N P H O N E N U M B E R W E B S I T E
Community Connection Point 217–525–2805, ext. 8225 CCPoint.org
Carol Jo Vecchie Women Children's
Center at HSHS St. John's Hospital
217–744–2229 St-Johns.org
Catholic Charities 217– 523–4551 cc.dio.org
Child and Family Connections #18 E 217–535–3102 SCDPH.org
Community Action—Sangamon County
Community Resources
217–535–3288
co.sangamon.il.us/departments/
a-c/community-resources
Contact Ministries 217–753–3939 ContactMinistries.com
Elizabeth Ann Seton Program 217–757–6025 ElizabethAnnSetonProgram.org
Family Service Center 217–528–8406 Service2Families.com
Family Ties Network 217–544–5809 ftiesn@aol.com
Memorial Medical Center 217–788–3000 MemorialMedical.com
MERCY Communities 217–753–1358 MercyCommunities.org
Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery 217– 525–6800 MiniOBeirne.org
MOSAIC Moms 217–757–7700
MHCCI.org/Child-Mental-Health/
Childrens-Mosaic-Project.aspx
Parent Help Line 217–494–0055 ParentHelpline.org
Pregnancy Resource Center 217–528–6511 PregnancyResourceCenter.org
Sojourn 217–726–5100 SojournShelter.org
Springfield Urban League Head Start 217–528–0893 SpringfieldUL.org
The Parent Place 217–753–8730 TPPOS.org
The Pregnancy Care Center 217–525–5630 SpringfieldPregnancyCare.org
211—United Way Resources 211 211.org

10. 10
Water Safety Read-Alouds
By SpringfieldMoms.org
Introducing children to the water is an important safety activity,
especially with summer just around the corner. Learning to swim in a
safe environment can be a fun experience and also a necessary one
to protect your child from drowning accidents. Some kids jump in
without a fear in the world, while other children experience great
anxiety about the water. Here are some book titles to introduce your
little ones to the water in a relaxed reading environment.
INFANT TO PRESCHOOL
 Come on Baby Duck by Nick Ward: A baby duck overcomes his
fear of water after his favorite teddy falls in the neighborhood pond.
AGES 3–8
 D.W. All Wet by Marc Brown: D.W. learns about beach life and
overcomes her reluctance to swim.
 Katie Catz Makes a Splash by Anne Rockwell: Katie’s fear of water
leads her to take swim lessons in order to be ready for an upcoming
pool party.
 Olvina Swims by Grace Lin: This Olvina adventure takes place in
Hawaii where she is overcome by her fear of water. Her friend Hailey
helps her learn how to swim.
 Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim by Kim and Stew Leonard, Jr.,
and Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro: This book and interactive CD teaches
youngsters water safety rules and how to safely learn to swim.
Kids’ Classes
at Memorial
All classes sponsored by
Friends of Memorial
Free Babysitting
Clinic
Free Babysitting Clinics
are offered to girls and boys
11 years and older. They
will learn from a nurse and
representatives from
Memorial Child Care and
Springfield’s fire and police
departments about how to
care for a baby and what to
do in an emergency. For dates
and registration information,
visit MemorialMedical.com
or call 217–788–3333.
New Baby
in the Family
Friends of Memorial offers
free classes to help children
understand what it will mean
to have a new baby join
their family. For dates and
registration information, call
217–788–3352.

11. 11
The dogs are specially trained and evaluated for their
volunteer work and are non-judgmental listeners
who won’t laugh or get frustrated when kids make
mistakes reading. Instead, they’ll just give a puppy-
dog smile and wag their tails in encouragement.
This type of support helps children feel more
comfortable reading aloud and may encourage them
to attempt more difficult books. This is a great
opportunity for both new and struggling readers
ages 5 to 10 years old to practice reading in an
environment where they will feel safe.
Only six slots will be open monthly, per dog
availability, and preregistration is required by
phone or in person at the Youth Services desk.
Have questions? Stop by Lincoln Library or call
217–753–4900 ext. 5612.
Area Summer Camps
Now Registering Participants
By SpringfieldMoms.org
Camps are filling up already, and SpringfieldMoms.org has the inside scoop. Be sure to visit our regularly
updated Summer Camp and Activity Directory to find details on summer programs including: academics,
art, ceramics, dance, golf, scuba, scouting, sports, swimming and more. There is information on fee-based
programs, but the site also provides details about library activities and vacation Bible schools throughout the
surrounding communities.
Read to a Dog (continued from page 1)

12. Editorial Board
Ashley Earles,
Community Connection Point
Paula Gramley,
Memorial Medical Center
Susan Helm,
Friends of Memorial
Gloria Jordan,
Baby TALK
Tonya Sandstrom,
Sangamon County Department of Public Health
Doris Turner,
Springfield City Council Member
This newsletter is a compilation of articles
submitted by organizations interested in sharing
information and ideas. This publication is free of
copyright and may be reprinted. Please credit
source in any reproduction and send a copy to
the Parent University Newsletter.
Parent University Newsletter is made possible
through the generous support of Friends of
Memorial and Memorial Medical Center.
For more information, call 217–788–7014.
Name: ______________________________________________________
Organization, if applicable: ____________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________
City: ________________________________________________________
State: ____________________________ ZIP Code: _________________
Email Address: _______________________________________________
The current issue of Parent University Newsletter is available on Memorial Medical Center’s
website: MemorialMedical.com
FREESubscription!
Newsletter
Parent UniversityParent

Free Subscription Request
If you would like to subscribe to Parent University
Newsletter, please fill out the following information,
clip and mail it to: Parent University Newsletter,
701 N. First St., Springfield, IL 62781 OR you may email the
information to Memorial Medical Center at: webmaster@mhsil.com
(please indicate Parent University Newsletter in the subject line).
If you currently receive the newsletter in the mail and would prefer
to receive it online, please indicate that you are changing from
mail to online.
YES! Please send me Parent University Newsletter (check one)
 by mail  by email  change from mail to email
Parent University
Memorial Medical Center
701 N. First St.
Springfield, IL 62781-0001
Return Service Requested