We talk a lot about reading aloud! We all know how important it is. So we try. Let’s examine a few possible story times that we’ve all had at one time! Story Time #1: It’s quiet. You are sitting calmly with all your children beside you. You’re slowly reading a bedtime story-complete with fantastic voices and incredible sound effects. Your children “oooo” and “aaa” at all the right places and clap when the story ends. Story Time #2: It’s chaos. You are reading aloud to one child-who is near you on the couch. There is one chasing the dog. The other could be building a dinosaur or it could be a r ..read more

While Child Abuse Prevention Month has come to an end, the work continues at One Place. We’re working to end child abuse and neglect every month. Keep reading for a quick roundup of different resources on how you can support our efforts to end child abuse and neglect for good. 1. Preventing Child Abuse Through Safe, Nurturing Child-Adult Relationships Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or simply an adult in the life of a child, understanding and recognizing the signs of child abuse and neglect is critical. By gaining knowledge of how child maltreatment can manifest in the lives of a child or ..read more

Books! We’ve shared a few messages now about books-reading aloud with your child, building a home library, using conversation to develop language…. All of those benefits seem to only affect early literacy skills. Right? Don’t judge a book by its cover:) All of those simple, loving interactions are also creating strong bonds between you and your child. Research shows that the most important factor in a child’s ability to grow and flourish is a stable, strong relationship with an adult. The times you spend book sharing give your child one-on-one time, space to talk, and YOU. Bondi ..read more

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month—and throughout the month, we’re sharing insights on different ways to help prevent child abuse and neglect. Today, we’re highlighting the role of early childhood educators when preventing child abuse and neglect.  As an educator, you’re not only responsible for nurturing a child’s academic growth—but you also play a crucial role in ensuring their safety and emotional well-being. By understanding the signs of abuse and fostering healthy relationships, early childhood educators can become powerful advocates in the prevention of child abuse.  Recogn ..read more

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month—and as part of our mission to end child abuse in Onslow County, we’re sharing tips and education on the many factors that play a role in child abuse and neglect.  Child abuse is a preventable problem. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or simply an adult in the life of a child, understanding and recognizing the signs of child abuse and neglect is critical. By gaining knowledge of how child maltreatment can manifest in the lives of a child or adult, you can step in and help.  Recognizing Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect Despite the prevalence of ..read more

It’s been a fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and the community with hands-on collaborative activities encouraging movement and healthy lifestyles through music, food, and art. We’re so thankful for everyone who joined us! We wrap up Week of the Young Child 2024 today with Family Friday, a day to honor families—children’s first and most important teachers. So today we encourage you to spend time with your family and we’ve put together a list of activities (based on the WOYC themes) to encourage engagement, interaction, and fun for the whole f ..read more

The future of North Carolina depends on the healthy development of the next generation. Our state—and our neighborhoods—will thrive when we invest in fostering safe, strong, and nurturing communities where children reach their full potential.  Child maltreatment is a consistent obstacle preventing children from thriving, impacting 1 in 7 children across the United States. Abuse and neglect don’t discriminate and can impact all socioeconomic classes and races, causing a severe impact on communities.  Historically, child welfare programs have focused on responding to incidents of child ..read more

It’s Week of the Young Child from April 6th through the 12th and we’re here to share some fun family activities that you can do at home to celebrate!  What’s Week of the Young Child?  Sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Week of the Young Child is a fun-filled week in celebration of early learning, teachers, families, and communities.  A Week of Family Fun  Kickoff Saturday  On Saturday, April 6th, spend some time looking over the next few days of activities and determining if you need to purchase any supplies. From craftin ..read more

Resilience has become a “hot button” element of ensuring survival, well-being, and success in many spheres of modern life—individuals and families, business and industry, faith, personal finance, education, sports, religion, health care; it’s a long list. There are few realms, however, in which building resilience at personal and societal levels is viewed as more essential than in the nurturing and protection of our most precious resource: children. Resilience involves both the ability to cope with the stresses of everyday life and the ability to recover from trauma. It is considered as the ke ..read more

Brains are built, not born. What happens in children’s early years sets the foundation for all the years that follow. Child development is a dynamic, interactive process that is not predetermined. It occurs in the context of relationships, experiences and environments. That’s because as Harvard University pediatrician Jack Shonkoff says, “brains are built not born.” Understanding this concept is ensuring that each child has the opportunity to realize his or her potential. The brain is one of the only organs not fully developed at birth. Most of the cells are there, but the connections- the wir ..read more