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Enriched
parent-toddler interaction helps break cycle of aggression: Hyde Tammy Hyde of the Five Counties Children's Centre says she never thought of the parent-toddler program she facilitates as a form of 'violence prevention.' "When they asked us to do this workshop on the program [for the Peaceful Communities Forum] we were, like, well, but how does this fit?" says Tammy. After researching early childhood development and its effects on the development of violent tendencies, however, Tammy and her co-facilitator, Bridget Leslie say they began to realize that their program, called You Make the Difference, does have an impact on violence prevention, though that may not be its direct purpose. A growing body of evidence shows that supporting
healthy early childhood development is an essential element in preventing
violence. Bridget agrees. "When [parents] improve their responses to the young children with," and she lists the behaviours that the program focuses on, "contingent responses, warm affects, sensitive input, developmentally appropriate and interactive responses," that will make a difference in the child's violent and peaceful tendencies later on. Bridget is a co-ordinator for the Infant and Toddler Development Program, Peterborough CC Health Unit. You Make the Difference is a Canada-wide program, just new to the Peterborough area this year. Bridget and Tammy have facilitated two nine-week sessions, along with Michelle Erridge of Five Counties. The program, developed through the Hanen Centre, is designed to help language-delayed children in economically disadvantaged areas. "You Make the Difference focuses on the fact that parents play a key role in a child's overall development," says Bridget. "So we're stressing positive parent-child interactions." The idea is that as parents learn to use more language with their children, then their interactions are increased. With increased language, there is increased learning and as a result all areas of development in the child's life improve. You Make the Difference is offered in the Peterborough area through the sponsorship of the Early Years Centre, the Infant Toddler Development Program, Five Counties Children's Centre and Brighter Futures.
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