Infants And Toddlers

Baltimore Dec. 5-6 Maryland Technology Showcase exhibit, Baltimore Convention Center, Pratt and Howard streets. Estimated attendance: 2,000-plus. Dec. 5-8 Infants and Toddlers Conference, Convention Center. Estimated attendance: 800.

As a Baltimore City teacher of infants and toddlers, I was appalled, frustrated and disappointed after reading your article regarding the recent financial audit of the city school system ("Schools get 'F' in finance control," Oct. 7). Providers of early intervention services to children under 3, our most vulnerable population, were recently told that there is no money for field trips this year. This will force us to charge at least $20 for a trip to the pumpkin farm in a few weeks.

As a Baltimore City teacher of infants and toddlers, I was appalled, frustrated and disappointed after reading your article regarding the recent financial audit of the city school system ("Schools get 'F' in finance control," Oct. 7). Providers of early intervention services to children under 3, our most vulnerable population, were recently told that there is no money for field trips this year. This will force us to charge at least $20 for a trip to the pumpkin farm in a few weeks.

Children under 6 will no longer be served at McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pa.  The new policy takes effect Sunday. Restaurant owner Mike Vuick said there's "nothing wrong with babies, but the fact is you can't control their volume. " He said all that screaming and crying disturbs many of his customers.  Children have to be this many at Monroeville restaurant.

Program on prereading set for library branch NORTH POINT - An information session on the Baltimore County Public Library's Baby Boosters reading readiness program will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Point branch, 1716 Merritt Blvd. Participants in the half-hour program will hear about resources the library has to nurture prereading readiness in young children. Those who take part will also receive a book kit for infants and toddlers.

The Carroll County council that serves infants and toddlers with disabilities plans to ask for a state grant that would enable therapists to spend less time on the road and more time working with children.The Infants and Toddlers Interagency Coordinating Council gave a consensus endorsement yesterday to the three-year, $471,000 proposal drafted by Harry T. Fogle, the county school system's supervisor of special education.No formal vote could be taken because attendance at the meeting fell short of a quorum.

Editor's note: In her biweekly column, Jerdine Nolen today provides suggestions on how to prepare infants and toddlers to read, listen and write.Infants and toddlers enjoy:* Joining in and being a part of the reading experience* Hearing nursery rhymes and verses* Pointing to objects in large, colorful pictures* Seeing babies pictured in books* Reading shape and plastic books* Reading the same book over and over* Being introduced to new books* Repeating short...

Tenure and the future of a state support group will top the agenda when officials from the Carroll County Children's Council meet Tuesday with Commissioner Donald I. Dell.Council President Linda Ebersole and Secretary Emily Ferren said at a meeting last week that they want to continue the efforts of the council."There is a possibility that the State Advisory Council, which is an umbrella agency for children's councils throughout the state, may disband," Ms. Ferren said. "But we have the choice to continue at the local level."

The Baltimore County school board unanimously approved a $2.5 million contract Tuesday night for special-education services for children from birth to age 5. The five-year contract, to be funded with federal stimulus money, will provide behavioral consultation, and assessment and support services for children with developmental delays or disabilities. "The first five years of life, we're providing the foundation for learning for the rest of that child's career in school," said Paula Boykin, the district's birth-to-5 supervisor, who also directs the Infants and Toddlers Program.

"Good girl!" 20-month-old Mya Ellis exclaimed, cherry Popsicle in hand, echoing her physical therapist, Fran Leibowitz. The therapist had praised Mya after the child walked up and down the stairs of Ellis' Reisterstown home. Leibowitz, a therapist for 27 years, works for the Baltimore County Infants and Toddlers Program, which provides free services such as physical and speech therapy for children ages 3 and younger who have developmental disabilities. Many are children who were very premature babies.

The Baltimore County school board unanimously approved a $2.5 million contract Tuesday night for special-education services for children from birth to age 5. The five-year contract, to be funded with federal stimulus money, will provide behavioral consultation, and assessment and support services for children with developmental delays or disabilities. "The first five years of life, we're providing the foundation for learning for the rest of that child's career in school," said Paula Boykin, the district's birth-to-5 supervisor, who also directs the Infants and Toddlers Program.

Past time to fix juvenile justice My memory is that Maryland has been "reforming" its juvenile justice system for the past 20 years - e.g., privatizing the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School and then bringing it back under state control, doing the same thing with the Victor Cullen Center, addressing the abuse at juvenile boot camps and closing the Bowling Brook Preparatory School. And now we see recurring issues at the Baltimore Juvenile Justice Center ("Violence at juvenile center up again," March 28)

A special advisory committee of the federal Food and Drug Administration meets today and tomorrow to discuss whether over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medicines are safe and effective for young children. The FDA has already recommended that common cough and cold medicines should not be given to infants and toddlers and that children under age 6 should not be given antihistamines. Now the agency should go further, following the advice of a group of prominent Baltimore pediatricians, and insist that no cold medicines be given to any child under 6. Many manufacturers of cough and cold medicines include labels on their products warning parents not to give them to children under age 2 without consulting a doctor.

Guidance offered for those 16, older People age 16 and older who want to learn about high school diploma options and other programs, and have their math and reading skills evaluated, can attend a free "First Steps" orientation. Introductory programs will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday and Friday at Business and Employment Resource Center, 224 N. Center St., Westminster. Information: 410-751-3680. School board to meet Wednesday The Carroll County Board of Education will hold an administrative meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Room 007 of the board offices, 125 N. Court St., Westminster.

"Good girl!" 20-month-old Mya Ellis exclaimed, cherry Popsicle in hand, echoing her physical therapist, Fran Leibowitz. The therapist had praised Mya after the child walked up and down the stairs of Ellis' Reisterstown home. Leibowitz, a therapist for 27 years, works for the Baltimore County Infants and Toddlers Program, which provides free services such as physical and speech therapy for children ages 3 and younger who have developmental disabilities. Many are children who were very premature babies.

Baltimore Dec. 5-6 Maryland Technology Showcase exhibit, Baltimore Convention Center, Pratt and Howard streets. Estimated attendance: 2,000-plus. Dec. 5-8 Infants and Toddlers Conference, Convention Center. Estimated attendance: 800.

Educators from developing countries around the world visited staff members at Woodside Elementary School yesterday to share ideas on how to include disabled children in regular classes and provide them with needed help."

With a few pieces of wood, some screws and a sander, Matt Cooper helped Dustin Grager to stand.Mr. Cooper fashioned a platform with an adjustable upright board and tray on which 2-year-old Dustin, who has cerebral palsy, can lean. Yesterday, Mr. Cooper and four other students at the Center of Applied Technology North, saw the prone stander and other equipment they crafted for physically disabled children put to use.Dustin and 11-month-old Ron Howard III, who also has cerebral palsy, visited the vocational school to try out the equipment built for the county Infants and Toddlers program.

If you're looking for high-tech toys to make sure your baby gets off to a fast start in the digital age, here are some Web sites to browse: BabyToons.com: Download an evaluation version that teaches concepts such as cause and effect, big and little, up-and-down. The full version is $14.95. Geniusbabies.com: If it beeps or bonks, you'll probably find it here, along with a wide variety of more traditional baby toys. There's even a department called "embryonics," with prenatal entertainment for babies-in-waiting.

Program on prereading set for library branch NORTH POINT - An information session on the Baltimore County Public Library's Baby Boosters reading readiness program will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Point branch, 1716 Merritt Blvd. Participants in the half-hour program will hear about resources the library has to nurture prereading readiness in young children. Those who take part will also receive a book kit for infants and toddlers.