Resource of the week: The Basics Lebanon Valley
One of the greatest protective factors that prevents both victimization and perpetration is connection with a safe and caring adult. In our work, we often see that violence and trauma can passed from generation to generation. Interrupting the cycle is a major challenge and hurdle in our prevention work.
The good news is there is research now that shows the difference that five key components of parenting and caregiving can have on building healthy futures for children. Many of you who are parents or have kids in your lives who already identify with using some of the strategies will discuss below. What’s even more exciting is that trauma informed coalitions and community groups in both Lebanon Schuylkill County are exploring education around these opportunities and helping families to learning strategies to promote health your future for a young people.
“The Basics Principles are five science-based caregiving tenets of early childhood brain development, distilled from scientific literature with help from a national advisory committee of child development experts. The principles are:
- Maximize love, manage stress;
- Talk, sing, and point;
- Count, group, and compare;
- Explore through movement and play; and
- Read and discuss stories.”
If you are interested in seeing the basics and learning more in action with a young person in your life, community partners recently established The Basics learning trail at the Cleona Community Park in Lebanon County. Signs and explanations about the five basics are posted, and both English and Spanish.
Building safe and healthy connections with children, important factor in interrupting intergenerational, trauma, including sexual abuse, and other forms of family violence.