Raising Yuma

Raising Yuma: Focus on reading

In this edition

BY ROXANNE MOLENAR

Reading is magical, for a variety of reasons. It opens doors to worlds of adventure and imagination, while at the same time, it's a skill that is essential to one's success as an adult. Reading to our kids at every stage – from in utero on &n... Full story

'Toys' great tools for early readers

Dad's Column

BY EDWARD CARIFIO

In an issue devoted to reading, of course there is an article devoted to technology and how it helps children in learning the first, and most fundamental, of the three Rs.Well, this column is going to go a step further. That article focuses on smart ... Full story

Programs help foster love of reading in kids

BY SARAH WOMER - @YSSARAHWOMER

Yuma County is full of programs and resources to get kids excited about reading. Thanks to a grant from First Things First, Yuma libraries are expected to receive multiple AWE (Advanced Workstations in Education) ELS (Early Literacy Stations), filled... Full story

Reading perks

Experts note benefits, even before birth

MARA KNAUB

During a recent Babytime at the Yuma Main Library, Marina Torres cuddled with her 14-month-old son, Esteban, as she read him the rhyming children's book, “Find the Bird.”Reading together is a special time for mother and toddler. Torres ha... Full story

Tips for getting your children ready for kindergarten

Learning begins at birth, and parents use the basic principles of reading, talking to and nurturing their child to help them start getting kids ready for school. In addition to the tips below, parents are encouraged to check libraries, newspapers, we... Full story

Yuma libraries provide more than books

CHRIS MCDANIEL - @YS_CMCDANIEL

With the end of the school year rapidly approaching for many students, parents may be wondering where they can take their children during the summer to participate in fun and educational activities. The answer? Your local library.There are eight publ... Full story

New standards put focus on reading

BY SARAH WOMER

With Arizona third-grade students required to meet reading standards at the end of the 2013-2014 before moving up a grade level, local elementary schools have ramped up their focus on literacy.As part of the “Move on When Reading” initiat... Full story

Hot off the shelf!

BY HILLARY DAVIS

Emily Scherrer, the youth services manager at the Yuma County Library, knows what the youngest bookworms like. Check out some of her suggestions for the little ones, whether they can read on their own yet or not.BABIES & TODDLERS (3 and younger)B... Full story

iRead eBooks: Today's toddlers growing up with technology

BY MARA KNAUB

Two-year-old Micah Blackburn is an expert at using his mom's iPad and iPhone. Without any help, he swipes his little finger across the screen, finds the e-book app he wants and presses and picks his way around the interactive story.“I play them... Full story

Five Questions with Dr. Nader Haddad and Dr. Dania Sweidan

Husband and wife team Dr. Nader Haddad and Dr. Dania Sweidan operate Yuma Women Clinic, which focuses on obstetrics and gynecology services. Their goal is to provide good communication and personalized care with their patients. In fact, their web sit... Full story

Financial literacy key to future success

Tom Rush

On the heels of the Great Recession, one might consider adding financial literacy to the list of skills student lack.In his recent State of the Union address, President Barack Obama spoke of seeing a “Sputnik moment” for the nation's educ... Full story

Teaching kids not to play with fire

BY CHRIS McDANIEL - @YS_CMCDANIEL

Teaching fire safety to children is critical, especially to kids aged four and younger.According to the United States Fire Administration's National Fire Incident Reporting System, children in that age group account for about 52 percent of all child ... Full story

Car seats make 'astronomical difference'

Free inspections Saturday

BY JOYCE LOBECK @YSJoyceLobeck

Forever seared in the mind and heart of Clay Lawson is the memory of a 20-month-old girl killed in a vehicular rollover accident near Quartzsite in 2006 in which the child was ejected from the vehicle. He was with her when she died while being airli... Full story

A little refresher on protecting our children

BY ROXANNE MOLENAR

As parents, we spend most of our waking hours protecting our children in some way or another, often without even realizing it.As the mother of a six-year-old, I find myself changing the channel on the television when there's something violent, rather... Full story

Literacy on the go

Tips, ideas, activities for families

By Emily Scherrer

Libraries and schools aren't the only places your child can “brush up” on their brain-building skills. There are plenty of activities that you can engage in with children at home, in the car, or yes (!) even on vacation.The National Resea... Full story

Kids ... so smart, and yet, not

BY EDWARD CARIFIO

Outlet plugs. Toilet locks. Cabinet latches. Door locks. Hard plastic utensils. Specifically textured foods. Small, tiny pieces.Smoothed playground edges. No exposed bolts. Soft rubber floors.There is no end to what we do to keep our children safe. P... Full story

Program works to get families reading

BY Irene Garza/Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read Arizona (RORAZ), a program of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP) and the Reach Out and Read National Center, seeks to improve the lives of families by making early literacy a standard part of pediatri... Full story

From a ‘little’ perspective ...

SARAH WOMER

When baby-proofing a home, it's a good idea for parents to actually get down on all fours to a baby or a young child's level to see what potential dangers exist. While unfortunately no environment can be 100 percent safe, many precautions can be take... Full story

‘Water’ you waiting for: Learn how to prevent drowning

BY HILLARY DAVIS

From the river for a cool dip on a hot day to the bath tub for more practical matters, water is all around us.It can also be a hazard for young children. Ryan Butcher, injury prevention coordinator for the Yuma County Health Department and a member o... Full story

Parents reminded to take steps to protect children around parked cars

BY JOYCE LOBECK

The possibility of being injured in a vehicular accident isn't the only risk small children face from cars.Even a parked vehicle could be a hazard, whether a child is forgotten or accidentally locked in the vehicle, warned Mike Erfert, administrative... Full story

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