From her decades on the child care front lines, Mary L. Reed learned that, while any child under the age of 5 is susceptible to the achievement gap, children from low-income families are the most vulnerable.

Furthermore, she saw that underpaid and undereducated providers reduce the likelihood that preschool enrichment will reach these kids.

At least now, thanks to Reed and the Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children, children in the state voucher system no longer bounce in and out of care – another factor contributing to the achievement gap.

And soon, because of this same advocacy, these children – all children, really – could receive quality care because of better early childhood teacher pay and education.

For entire article, link here.

Press Association

The number of fathers who give up work to look after their children has soared tenfold during the past decade, research suggests. Around 6% of fathers, or 600,000, now consider themselves to be their child’s primary carer, said insurance firm Aviva.

Eighteen percent of couples said they shared childcare responsibilities equally.

The main reason families gave for men looking after the children was that the woman was the higher earner. The woman is the main breadwinner in 16% of families with dependent children.

The study also found that in 85% of households with children one parent had reduced working hours or given up work to look after their offspring. A third said they had done so because of the cost of childcare.

But many women who are the main earner find the role reversal difficult, with 37% saying they felt guilty about leaving their children. Fifteen percent admitted they occasionally resented the fact that their partner did not work.

Men appeared to be happier with the arrangement than women, with 75% saying they felt lucky to be able to spend so much time with their children.

Nearly a third said that looking after their offspring was more rewarding than going to work, although 10% admitted that looking after children made them feel less like a man.

Louise Colley, head of protection marketing for Aviva, said: “While both roles are equally valuable, nowadays it’s quite likely that women will be heading off to the office while men are changing nappies and doing the school run.”

Here’s a link to the entire story.

Legal News for Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys. Two police officers have been suspended with pay after they allegedly tased an unruly 10-year-old boy at an Indiana day care center.

Indiana personal injury attorney alerts- Martinsville, Indiana police authorities used Taser on child.

Martinsville, IN—Two police officers were placed on administrative leave after they allegedly used a Taser to suppress an “out-of-control” child. The incident occurred at a Martinsville, Indiana day care center on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, according to information provide by TheIndyChannel.com.

The mayor’s office and Martinsville Police Department published a press release with regard to the Tuesday evening incident, in which two Martinsville police deputies were reportedly dispatched to Tender Teddies Day Care after receiving notification of an irrepressible 10-year-old. Upon arriving at the day care, the two unidentified police authorities reportedly found the child incessantly kicking and shouting. As a means of preventing the child from harming anyone, including himself, the officers reportedly slapped and then tased the young boy. Tuesday’s episode was not the first incident in which police were called to the day care concerning the same disorderly child.

The According to the news release, “While the department will not condone the unnecessary treatment of any subject, regardless of age, in any apprehension situation, additional comments will not be made pending results of the final investigation”, which was being conducted by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department. Heath Lancaster, owner of Tender Teddies Day Care, would not comment on the matter.

By Derrick Z. Jackson

BostonGlobe Columnist / March 30, 2010

IN THE days before the health care bill was passed, President Obama vowed it would “end the worst practices of insurance companies. . . insurance companies will be banned forever from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.’’

When the bill passed last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proclaimed, “We are hearing from families who are so thrilled because no longer will their children be denied coverage because they have a pre-existing condition. That starts this year.’’

Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa said, “You have a guarantee that your kids will be covered even if they have a pre-existing condition. . . These guarantees are not a promise. They are part of the law right now. And we are not going to let them take it away from the American people.’’

Here’s a link to the rest of the article.

MARCH 23, 2010 02:58

Probably because I’ve grown older, I agree more with a mother-in-law than a daughter-in-law when it comes to jokes about their relationship. One joke is the one about “the three mistaken women” – a woman who mistakenly considers her daughter-in-law her daughter; a woman who mistakenly thinks of her son-in-law as her son, and a woman who mistakenly thinks of her husband as her son. Another joke is not all about laughter: a mother-in-law in the affluent Gangnam area of Seoul who carries her grandson or granddaughter on her back, bragging that her daughter-in-law is a doctor or has a Ph.D.

The conflict between double-income couples who want their parents to perform childcare and older couples who shun caring for their grandchildren is more serious than thought. Grandmothers share information on how to make their daughters or daughters-in-law take care of their own children: chewing a spoonful of rice before giving it to their grandchildren, washing their grandchildren’s hair with laundry soap, or teaching the Korean alphabet using a dialect. Certain elderly couples have left Seoul for the provinces by the time their children get married and settle down in the capital. Newlyweds want to live near their parents to get their help.

Taking care of children is exhausting and time consuming. One saying goes that working in a field is preferable to taking care of children. A survey also shows that people who raise grandchildren grow old faster than those who do not. Grandmothers who bring up grandchildren are more likely to have spine problems because they have to carry them or take them on their backs. Since many senior citizens seek quality of life today, they do not welcome caring for their grandchildren, which speeds up aging. One elderly woman said, “Grandsons are really cute when they come, but cuter when they leave.” This means they welcome their grandchildren when they stay for a short time but would rather not take care of them.

Many grandfathers actively participate in a “pre-grandparent class” run by Guro Community Health Center in southwestern Seoul. When a “pre-grandmother class” opened last year, many wanted the same class for grandfathers, so the center decided to expand the scope of its students. Since grandmothers cannot care for their grandchildren alone, grandfathers want to help their wives. Senior citizens who carry baby dolls look awkward but are serious. They learn how to change diapers, prepare baby formula, and sterilize baby bottles. This is a new trend in a rapidly aging society with low birthrate that has no option other than having grandparents help in childcare.

Editorial Writer Chung Sung-hee (shchung@donga.com)

But, just to be on the safe side, however [where there's smoke, often times there's fire], I would highly recommend never leaving your child alone with any one you won’t trust beyond doubt, and no alone time with any man  in a dress, or an “outfit.”  It’s akin to having Col. Sanders babysit your chickens. After all, thousands of rotten eggs, do ruin the barrel.

I’ll even take it one step farther [or further, if you prefer]. In light of what we’ve learned about the wide spread practice of [shall I say?]  “questionable frolicking”  at the Roman Catholic Church,  parents should be held complicit if their child is abused by a Clergy-person… Don’t shoot the messenger, knowledge is power. With that in mind, here’s yet another story:

Protect your children. Keep them out of harm’s way [harm pictured bellow].

By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer                                                
Published: 3/14/2010  3:31 AM
Last Modified: 3/14/2010  5:34 AM

A woman who operated a day care in her Broken Arrow home has been acquitted of charges that she abused two small children there.

Tulsa County jurors on Friday found Sherry Yvonne Smith, 43, not guilty of two felony counts of child abuse by injury.

She was charged with abusing Zachary Sprick — then almost 11 months old — on Nov. 14, 2008, at her home child care business in the 1500 block of North Yellowood Avenue.

Investigators received information that resulted in Smith subsequently being charged with abusing Evan England — then 6 months old — at her child care in June 2008.

Defense lawyer William Lunn said expert witnesses supported his contention that there was no evidence that Smith “did anything to those children that caused their injuries.”

There are other explanations, not involving Smith, for the boys’ medical conditions, he said.

Assistant District Attorney John Lackey maintained that Smith inflicted brain injuries to both boys by shaking them. Lackey theorized that the boys had been “crying and wouldn’t be quiet.”

Both boys were detected with bleeding on the brain. Smith admitted that she “purposely shook” Zachary, the prosecutor said.

A report released in 2009 by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, which described this as a “near death” episode, said Smith indicated that Zachary had a seizure during a diaper change on Nov. 14, 2008.

Smith, who called 911 and the baby’s mother, told a doctor
that she shook the boy five to six times in an effort to get him to respond, according to that report.

Lunn said Smith shook Zachary “mildly” and that didn’t cause his injuries and wasn’t “consistent with a genuine shaken-baby case.”

There’s one benefit to having children besides the joy they can bring you: tax breaks.

CCH, a provider of tax information and services, released a list this week of ten ways the tax code benefits parents by helping to defray the costs of raising and educating children. Here’s the list from CCH below.

1.) Personal Exemption: A reduction of taxable income of $3,650 in 2010 for each dependent child under age 19 or, if the dependent is a full-time student, under age 24. For divorced parents filing separately, the exemption generally goes to the parent who has custody for the greater part of the year.

2.) Child Credit: A reduction of tax of $1,000 per child, which begins to phase out when adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 for single filers and $110,000 for joint filers. This credit may also be partly refundable depending on the filer’s income.

3.) Child Care Tax Credit: A credit based on child care expenses for children up to age 13, or older children if they are physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves. The credit would be taken against maximum qualifying expenses of $3,000 for one qualifying dependent and $6,000 for two or more. It also equals 35 percent of qualifying expenses for taxpayers with adjusted gross income up to $15,000 and decreases to 20 percent of allowable expenses for adjusted gross income levels of $43,000 or more.

4.) Adoption Credit: A maximum credit of $12,150 for a regular adoption, with credit amounts phased out at incomes between $182,180 and $222,180 for both single filers and joint filers. For a special-needs adoption, the credit is figured without regard to the actual expenses paid or incurred in the year the adoption becomes final.

5.) Earned Income Tax Credit: Amounts increase for eligible taxpayers with children. Size of increase depends on income level and number of children.

6.) Coverdell Education Savings Accounts: Contributions to these accounts are limited to $2,000 per year and earnings in the accounts grow tax-free. Withdrawals also are tax-free if used to pay for qualified educational expenses and can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment from kindergarten to post-secondary school.

7.) Qualified Tuition Programs (529 Plans): Investment earnings in these plans are not taxed if withdrawals are used for qualified expenses. Contributions to state-sponsored programs are partially or fully deductible on some state tax returns. Contribution limits for the plans are set by the state or educational institutions sponsoring the plan and may be in excess of $300,000, but a contribution in excess of $65,000 by any individual ($130,000 for joint filers) in one year could restrict those persons’ ability to make additional contributions in further years without being subject to gift tax.

8.) Bond Interest: For 2009, interest on proceeds of qualified savings bonds (specifically, Series I bonds or qualified Series EE bonds issued after 1989) cashed to pay education expenses is tax free for joint filers with less than $104,900 in adjusted gross income and is partially tax free for those with adjusted gross income of $104,900 to $134,900. The comparable income limits for single filers are $69,950 to $84,950. For 2010 returns, the phase out ranges are $105,100 to $135,100 for joint returns and $70,100-$85,100 for single filers.

9.) Higher Education Tuition Deduction: An above the line deduction for qualifying educational expenses of up to $4,000 at an accredited post-secondary institution. The deduction is reduced to $2,000 at adjusted gross income above $65,000 ($130,000 for joint filers) and is not available if adjusted gross income exceeds $80,000 ($160,000 for joint filers). This must be coordinated with other educational exclusions and cannot be used for anyone for whom the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit is claimed.

10.) American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits: For 2009 and 2010, the American Opportunity Credit pretty much replaces the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits for undergraduate expenses. It provides a credit of up to $2,500 per student per year for the first four years of post-secondary qualified tuition and expenses. Up to 40 percent of the credit is refundable, depending on income. Residents of certain states who are in the “Midwestern Disaster Area” may do better choosing the Hope Credit for 2009 expenses.