Wee Wisdom

Wee Wisdom is a series of educational programs for parents of children under five.  Topics range from childcare to discipline to how to keep your infant healthy.  Below are the class topics.  Sessions meet every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Family Resource Library located on the first floor of the MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center.  Participants are eligible for 1 approved credit from Bright from the Start: Department of Early Care and Learning.  Call (706) 721-KIDS (5437) for more information or to register for these free classes. 

Discipline: Teaching Limits with Love
August 13, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
This session provides information about why children want and need limits, techniques for setting effective limits from the beginning, and why the limits children learn in their first few years build a foundation for the rest of their lives.

Selecting Quality Child Care
August 20, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
Finding the right childcare can be a difficult task.  This session provides information about the components of quality childcare, questions to ask potential caregivers, and the importance of communicating specific information to child care providers.

Motor Skills:  The Differently-abled Child
August 27, Lynn Jaffe, MCG Department of Occupational Therapy
This session focuses on raising children who have physical challenges.  The presenter provides information about typical and atypical development, the treatment of childhood movement disorders, and ways to help children reach their full potential.

Child Care for Children with Disabilities and the ADA
September 3, Sheryl Irwin, Inclusion Coordinator, Child Care and Coordinating and Referral Service of East Georgia at Augusta
This presenter offers information about the Americans with Disabilities Act, explains what inclusive child care programs are, and provides tips how to find childcare for children with disabilities.

The First Years Last Forever
September 10, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
The relationship between caregiver and baby during the first few years of life is critical.  Parents and caregivers will learn how to help their children reach their full potential by learning about the importance of attachment, communication, discipline, self-esteem, and self-awareness.

Challenging Behaviors: A Focus on Children with ADHD, PDD, and/or Autism
September 17, Valarie Chapman, MCG Occupational Therapy Services
Parents and caregivers are given the opportunity to understand characteristics of children with attention deficit disorders, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and autism.  Strategies for enhancing the communication skills and social interactions of children will be discussed.

To Be a Father
September 24, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
This session focuses on the enormous impact fathers can have on children.  Today’s fathers are taking a very active role in their child’s development and it is paying off.  Learn how fathers can connect with their children from the start and how fathers can develop a close relationship with their children.

Encouraging Language for Children with Special Needs
October 1, Deana Hirata, Inclusion Coordinator, Child Care and Coordinating and Referral Service of East Georgia at Augusta
This presenter will discuss the development of typical and atypical speech sound acquisition and will offer effective and simple strategies for encouraging speech and language development.

Preparing for Parenthood
October 8, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
There are many things parents can do while awaiting the arrival of a child.  Discussion will focus on the importance of prenatal care, forming healthy habits, and where to get answers to your questions.

Caring for Your Newborn
October 15, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
New parents always have many questions.  This session allows parents to ask those questions and learn about feeding & bathing baby, baby safety, crying, cutting fingernails and more!

Your Healthy Baby
October 22, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
During this session, caregivers will be given strategies for helping children develop healthy habits, information on appropriate foods to feed baby, insight into the importance of exercise, and guidelines for when baby should visit the doctor.

Developing Coping Skills: The Tools for Healthy Living
October 29, Mariana D’Amico, MCG Department of Pediatrics
The development of coping skills is essential for strong emotional health as we face life as infants, children, adolescents and adults.  Learning these skills continues throughout life. Since people with healthy coping skills lead satisfying and healthier lives, it is important for parents to develop and teach their children these skills.

Ready to Learn
November 5, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
In this session, parents and caregivers will learn about communicating with baby, how to establish reading routines, activities to spark a child’s interest in learning to read and write, and incorporating literacy into every day activities.

Safe from the Start
November 12, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
Tips on preventing serious childhood injuries are presented.  Specific topics include car seats, feeding and food safety, bathroom and kitchen hazards, childproofing the home, safe toys, and outdoor safety.

The Parenting Principle
November 19, Nancy Webb, MCG Department of Pediatrics
This class offers information on the importance of providing time and love toward positive child outcomes.  The return on the investment will be not only for the child and parent but also for our society.