Courtesy

We are revamping the Gretchens's House website to make resource sections for staff and parents. Fun project! Please e-mail us any requests or suggestions for things/info/links that you'd find useful.

During the information-gathering process, I came across one of our newer Purple Pages*, the one on Courtesy. The subject of courtesy is particularly relevant as we head into the holiday season--a time filled with family meals, parties, and gift exchanges...and stressful situations. Courtesy is a wide range of civilized bevahiors that children learn over time as they observe us interact with friends, families, and strangers every single day. Remember: our kids mind our manners even when we don't! Check the newsletter out and let us know what you think.

-- H.V.

*Purple Pages* are coffee-break-sized newsletters on developmental topics, family living issues, and group care concerns. We have a large library of topics available in hard copies at our centers. Parents of currently enrolled children have online access to printable versions of the entire collection. Visitors can preview a few of the subjects here (the highlighted titles on that page are links to actual Purple Pages).

Sleep Solutions

Feeling tired and grumpy? You're not alone. Sleep issues are one of the most popular searches in online parenting forums.

At our centers, we have had so many conversations about sleep with new and experienced parents alike that we made a summary of our sleep suggestions. You can download a printable copy of our purple page on the topic here. Purple Pages are our coffee break-sized newsletters about various developmental and family challenges. We're up to more than forty different topics by now! Parents and visitors can pick up hard copies at any of the centers. Parents of currently enrolled children can download printable pdf files of all the purple pages plus other original material from our website, on the Child Development tab.

We recently received a mailing from parent educator Elizabeth Pantley introducing her No-Cry books and website. You can download her helpful suggestions at the links below:

• Newborn Babies and Sleep
• 8 Sleep Tips for Every Child
• Moving from Crib to Bed
• Solving Naptime Problems

Ms. Pantley is holding two sleep-related contests on her website. The deadline is Feb. 29th; four inners will have their choice of an autographed No-Cry book.

My own contribution to better bedtimes is a picture book called Hillside Lullaby. It's a story about a "wild little child" lulled to sleep by the sounds of the animals outside her window. You can download a free MP3 file of the song that goes with the book from my website.

Sleep tight!

-- H.V.