|
API's mission is to educate and support all parents in raising secure, joyful, and empathic children in order to strengthen families and create a more compassionate world. | |
|
|
Happy Mother's Day from API!
Dear Mommy,
Thank you for learning all about me and loving me just because. Thanks for giving up your smooth skin for some stretch marks and making choices that were best for both of us. Thank you for welcoming me and showing me I could depend on you. Thank you for the snuggles at night and the warm breath and steady beat of your heart. Thanks for all the mommy milk! Thank you for giving me a great view of the world nestled close to your body, and for all the kisses and loving words. Thanks for giving me your understanding when I wasn't happy or content. Thank you for being patient with me when I wanted to read, try, do it myself...just one more time. Thank you for nurturing concern and compassion for others and everything around me. Thank you for taking care of yourself and surrounding yourself with wise support. Thank you forgiving yourself when it's not easy. Because of you, I'm growing into a strong person -- confident about who I am and my place in this world.
Thank you, though I don't know to say these things, and for delighting in all the small ways that I do show you that I love you.
Forever,
Your securely attached child |
A Perspective on Universal Preschool
By Diane Flynn Keith
Editor's Note: API understands that families find themselves in circumstances that require the need to enroll their child in preschool. AP families don't make this decision lightly, but weigh that the attachment needs of their child are met and that the care their children receive is consistent and loving. API does not take a position on preschool and trusts parents' to make informed, personal decisions for their children. This guest article represents the opinion of the author. In the notes following, please find links to the referenced bills and acts, and alternate views.
Universal preschool refers to an effort to create government funded preschool for all four-year-olds regardless of want or need. While universal pre-k is being introduced as voluntary, it has the potential to become a mandatory program, similar to kindergarten programs in many states. There are even designs to extend the program to children as young as 2 years of age. Young children in these public preschool programs will be institutionalized for 3-4 hours a day, five days a week. They will be programmed with standardized curriculum in reading, writing, math, science and social sciences - and tested!
Despite the fact that leading experts in the field of child development point to research (see the PACE study by U.C. Berkeley and Stanford University) that shows young children are harmed intellectually, emotionally, and socially from too early separation from their parents and too early academics, the U.S. government wants to quarantine little kids and indoctrinate them with a course of study that could prove to be toxic. The Alliance For Childhood, whose members include renowned pediatric physicians, psychologists, and brain researchers, has issued a report calling for a return to play and an end to the emphasis on developmentally inappropriate studies that can lead to long-term learning disabilities and behavioral problems in young children.
Parents should be aware of the universal preschool movement as its establishment would affect and potentially influence parents' choice about the early critical years of child attachment and development.
Additionally, the effect of universal preschool extends beyond the issue of "readiness." Universal Preschool programs will jeopardize funding for the already deteriorating K-12 public schools. A state-run preschool monopoly will put private preschools out of business. Replacing thriving businesses that are mainly owned and operated by women and minorities will eliminate jobs and tax revenue and reduce educational and childcare options for all families - especially for the poor and middle class. Most states and the federal government already spend billions of dollars each year to provide preschool/daycare for families who are truly in need. Universal preschool extends that taxpayer-funded subsidy to the middle class and rich who don't need it.
Regardless of these objections, universal preschool is spreading. Parents are being exposed to daily viral media about the so-called "benefits" of universal preschool. Corporations, unions, and government special interests stand to gain from universal pre-k programs. Money and social engineering are the motivators behind universal preschool - not what is in the best interests of young children.
To learn more about "universal preschool" along with resources to empower parents to teach their little ones at home and/or with the thoughtful use of privately funded preschool programs visit www.universalpreschool.com.
What can AP parents do? Be informed and inform others, write letters to the editor, and raise awareness about the research on the issue. What else can parents do? Some parents may choose to officially homeschool these early years. You'll find fun, educational activities to do in May with your preschooler here.
Editor's note:
For more background on federal bills/acts:
HR 702, The PRE-K Act
HR 555, The Universal Prekindergarten Act (to give states grants to develop UP programs)
HR 2184, Prepare All Kids Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)
S.839.IS, Prepare All Kids Act of 2009 (Introduced in Senate)
For state initiatives, visit your state government's website.
For alternate views: http://www.preknow.org/ and http://www.momsrising.org/manifesto/chapter6
|
Mother's Day Membership Special continues
|
 API Reads - the AP Book Club - now featuring Attached at the Heart
Attached at the Heart by our co-founders Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker is the book that we've started discussing for the months of April and May. You are invited to join the discussion -- free to all members of API! Not a member? Consider joining now, in time for the API Forum chat with Lysa and Barbara, June 15-26.
Love to read and love to share your thoughts? Help keep the API Reads discussions active on the forum! Contact Stephanie. |
 Kathleen Kendall-Tackett on API Live! - May 18 at 9 pm EST
Listen in on Monday, May 18, at 9 PM EST as API Co-Founder and co-author of Attached at the Heart Barbara Nicholson and former NBC anchor Lu Hanessian discuss parenting with Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist whose work involves helping people cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life...at home and in the office. A Research Associate Professor of Psychology at the Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, she is also a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett is widely published in the fields of family violence, maternal depression, perinatal health, and disability. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a board-certified lactation consultant, La Leche League leader, La Leche League Area Professional Liaison for Maine and New Hampshire, chair of the New Hampshire Breastfeeding Taskforce, and is a member of the La Leche League Board of Directors and the API Editorial Review Board.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett is author or editor of 12 books including Breastfeeding Made Simple, The Well-Ordered Home, The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood, Child Victimization and Treating the Lifetime Health Effects of Childhood Victimization, The Health Consequences of Abuse in the Family, and Depression in New Mothers. Register Now - API LIVE! May 18th 9 pm ETListen by telephone in comfort. You will also receive an mp3 of the teleseminar to enjoy at your convenience. API Members always attend at a special rate of only $9. Check out the May API membership special. |
Join API now and r eceive three extra publications this year!
Join now and receive three special publications in addition to the four regular issues of The Attached Family Magazine and access to TheAttachedFamily.com online magazine: The special 15th Anniversary obvervation June edition of The Attached Family Magazine, the new scientific Journal of API this fall, and the special 15th Anniversary Commemorative December edition of The Attached Family Magazine. | |
 API Celebrates 15 Years!
Save the date - API 15th Anniversary Gathering in Nashville, TN - August 29 & 30 -Learn more and check back for updates!
In honor of API's 15 years, API is offering a special membership rate of 15% of memberships for its month of incorporation, June. This applies for new members and those who are renewing. Look for more information on the API website and upcoming issues of this e-newsletter. |
|
A special Happy Mother's Day tribute to these Mothers:
- Lysa Parker
- Barbara Nicholson
- Janet Jendron
- Jo Wicker (Grammy)
- Nancy Nance (Oma)
- Laurie, Susan, and Alissa (Leaders)
- API's wonderful leaders
- Renee Besecker
- Tabitha Clements
- Jenny Besecker
- Lori Newsom
- Camelia del Valle
- Deborah Gooch
- Katina Hester
- API of North Fulton community members!
You can still purchase a Mother's Day dedication and give an API gift membership, teleseminar or tribute here through May 31st. Take a look at our tributes so far. |
API Reports... and comments
Caring for infants means being vigilant for their safety, from how they sleep, bathe, and are carried to how they ride in a car, what they are fed, and more. We are glad that Consumer Reports works to give consumers additional information about products on the market, but we ask them to not throw the baby out with the bath water in their recommendations.
Particular products may have safety issues, like the massive recent crib recall, and we are grateful to be alerted. Consumer Reports stating that all slings and all cosleeping beds are unsafe, however, denies the ability of parents to take trustworthy information and make informed decisions for their families.
Fortunately, many Attachment Parenting families are weighing in to counter and affect the direction of the community discussion, causing Consumer Reports' to respond to the unusual amount of feedback in "Readers respond to advice on unsafe baby products." Consider adding your voice to the discussion at these Consumer Reports' articles, or join us on the API Forum to chat. |
| This Week in API Publications
API Speaks - Running on Empty and Who's the Boss?
|
|
New API Leaders and Support Groups
API welcomes these new API Leaders...
- Mary King, API Circle of Santa Monica/West LA, California
- Katarina Oberg, API of Upper Montgomery County, Maryland
- Clemma Muller, Twin Cities API, Minnesota
...and these new API Support Groups:
- API Circle of Santa Monica/West LA, California
- API of Upper Montgomery County, Maryland
|
|
Our Sponsor:
 Attachment-compatible couples therapy and workshops based on the best-selling book Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix. See our ad in API's upcoming The Attached Family Magazine for a special offer. |
API Membership Promotion - Father's Day Special and Photo Contest
 There is one time every year when we can honor all of the special fathers in our lives, whether our own fathers or our brother, uncle, and friends. On Father's Day, we thank them for their love and support. We honor them for just being themselves. We honor them for their presence in our time of need. We honor them to say we're thankful that they are in our lives.
What better way to bestow this honor than giving them public recognition, and providing them with an API membership and a FREE teleseminar. Don't miss out on the unique opportunity that API is offering this Father's Day. Click here.
Father's Day Photo Contest
Winning entries will be featured on the cover of The Attached Family Magazine, on the API website, and in other API publications. Deadline to submit photos is June 30. Non-winning entries to the 2008 AP Month Photo Contest are eligible. |
Advertising Special Through May 22
Spread the word about your product or service with one of API's targeted advertising options, and support API's mission at the same time. Your contributions will go toward ensuring that more families and professionals become aware of the importance of Attachment Parenting through special campaigns, and encouraging them through API's local support and professional groups; educational materials like the new Feeding with Love and Respect and Practicing Positive Discipline brochures; and special Attached at the Heart and 15th Anniversary Commemorative editions of The Attached Family Magazine; events assembling authorities on Attachment Parenting like the 15th Anniversary Celebration and AP Month; and vital online information related to API's Eight Principles of Parenting. In return for your contribution, you'll receive advertising space in a variety of electronic and print publications disseminated to our ever-growing AP community. Click here to learn more, or contact Kit Dulin. |
API Professional Membership Special
Calling all Professional API Members! We have an amazing referral program to offer for you. For every professional member YOU refer who becomes an API Professional member, you will receive a FREE gift family membership. This membership can be used for you to give as a gift and help promote API in your network. Contact Latoshia for more information. |
Writers Wanted!
API invites you to submit articles and personal stories relating to the API Principle of Practicing Positive Discipline with children ages five years and older for the Fall 2009 annual Growing Child issue of The Attached Family Magazine. Word count is 1,000 words. Deadline is July 11. For more information, contact Rita Brhel. | |
|
API News Comes to You!
You just need to sign up for RSS
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and allows website viewers to subscribe to a website's updates (also known as feeds) through a program like Google Reader or the RSS Subscription section of Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and other email programs. API has several different RSS feeds to which you can subscribe to stay up-to-date with API News and Events through your email. Main API RSS Feed
Subscribe to API Speaks by Email Subscribe to Attachment Parenting Month by Email |
Closing Thoughts...
Dear Reader,
Thank you for following the activities at API. We hope we have moved you to join in the mission to share the benefits of practicing Attachment Parenting. Certainly, letting people know about API's Eight Principles of Parenting is something that we will all benefit from, from knowing we are helping our children to both making and experiencing a difference in our communities. You can start by sharing this API Links enewsletter with those in your circles. You can join API, start an API Support Group in your community, volunteer for projects, and make an investment with your donation that will reap the greatest dividends: a more compassionate world. Contact us soon, and let us know how we can get you started!
http://www.attachmentparenting.org
Attachment Parenting International
P.O. Box 4615
Alpharetta, Georgia 30032
(800) 850-8320 - phone and fax
|
|
|
