The Cortez Journal

more MECC Cares for kids

• April is Month of the Young Child

April is the Month of the Young Child and the perfect time to share what our local early childhood council has been up to over the past 12 months.

We know that what happens to children in the first years of life affects their ability to learn and be successful in school and later in life. With this in mind, the Montelores Early Childhood...

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  Parenting with a hand's free approach

An art teacher asked first graders to draw pictures of their families. In many of the drawings the adults were holding rectangular objects that she thought were books, and were standing apart from the children. Recently my husband and I went out to dinner here in town and a mom with her two young children were seated next us. The children hardly...

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  Strong, healthy teeth begins in infancy

February is Dental Health Month and it's important to teach your child good oral hygiene habits early!

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  Providing quality preschool education is hard work

In July of 2012, the Cortez area preschools were selected to participate in the Colorado School Readiness Program. This project provides services that help the early learning facilities attain quality programs that promote academic success and social and emotional wellbeing. The preschools in Cortez recognize that the early years of a child's life...

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  Give your children the gift of character this season

Bullying, disrespectful behavior, cheating, tardiness, vandalism, profanity and drug abuse hinder child development, student achievement, school safety and public confidence. They can be traced to problems in the development of good character, and character development starts early, in the home. What is character? Character (good or bad) is what...

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  Educators attend conference

Close to 190 early care and education providers and presenters from SW Colorado and NW New Mexico gathered together on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Fort Lewis College in Durango to participate in the 2nd Annual SW District of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children Conference (CAEYC). The theme of the conference was “It’s all about...

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  Five ways to help your child cope with a bully

Childhood bullying is a problem most children will face at some point in their life. It is normal child behavior to occasionally tease, play fight and have disagreements with their peers. However, bullying is a far more serious behavior that can be a very frightening experience and damage your child’s self esteem. Our job is to prepare our kids...

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  Making friends — Assisting children’s early relationships

In 1935 the U.S. Congress proclaimed the first Sunday in August as National Friendship Day. This year it falls on Sunday, Aug. 5 and it will be celebrated and observed in many countries and cultures. As adults we understand the value of friendship. It’s not only important to us but is also very important to young children. Relationships and social...

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  Bullying prevention begins early

Almost weekly we are confronted with disturbing news about bullying, the most recent being the cruel and vicious physical and verbal abuse of a school bus monitor by middle schoolers, recorded on video with impunity by another child who then posted it on YouTube, thus herself engaging in cyber-bullying.

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  Teach your sprouts about healthy eating

Summer is here and so are many local and healthy foods for you and your family. Summer is a great time to introduce your family to new vegetables or reintroduce them to the ones they already know. The local farmers market is a great place to start. A trip to the local farmers market can be fun for you and the family, especially the children. Set a...