The pathways from poverty that effect children’s development are pretty scary. The chart on pg. 66 pictures all the negative effects from health and nutrition to poor quality neighborhoods. Many of these kids don’t have a chance simply due to the fact that they were born into poor homes. As I write this today, our temperature hovers around 5 degrees. I grumble as I walk across campus that the cold freezes my eyeballs and gives me a headache. Yet I realize that many families today are huddled together under threadbare blankets trying to share body heat and wondering what to feed their children; children who are home from school today because school has been cancelled. Snow days always meant something fun at my house when I was growing up. Snow days for families in poverty mean one more meal to find for children who will not be feed a free meal at school today. The chapter brought out the lack of parenting that occurs in families of poverty. This often takes the shape of harsh discipline and slow child development. A creative solution that I recently learned about is called Toy Libraries. Actually,
Canada has led the way in this creative solution to both discipline problems and child development in families in poverty. A toy library is a place where parents can check out toys for their children. Each toy comes with “directions” on how to play with your children using the toy and how it helps in the child’s development. These are also centers that have classes for parental training. They make the contact with the parents and offer free classes for them. I love the idea and think we need to work on bringing these centers to all our cities. Check out this link to a center in
Canada. They even provide creative snacks in a café for parents and children.
John Durkee said,
February 6, 2007 at 7:37 pm
On days like today with bad weather, I rarely think of homeless people outside in it. It is rather dreadful to think about. I think that schools in areas with higher levels of poverty in the area should try to stay open as often as possible in order to prevent what you just descirbed.
I think that Toy Library is a great idea for kids, although the one you linked to isn’t open very long and I think if it were available for older children it could be helpful too.
I think if such a place was a private institution it might be even more helpful, as it wouldn’t cost the community anything and would be doing a good service.
Kristine Rucker said,
February 7, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I thought that the toy library is an excellent idea. Our society needs more centers for parents to have extra support. The toy library would need to make sure that the make contact with the community. A lot of parents that could really benefit from these services are not going to have connection to the internet, or know how to find stuff on the internet.
The internet site offered so much more than simply information about signing toys out. There was all kinds of advice for parents. There were tips about children’s sleeping habits, info about groups for moms to come and meet with each other while children play with each other. I think that a lot parents need extra help and need to be told how to play with their children so they can help their development better.
I had never heard of a toy library before now and I think that they are something that should begin to spread all over the United States.
Brittany Smart said,
February 7, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I called my dad this morning becasue i saw on TV that their school was cancelled for the second day in a row and him and my brother were elated to have another day off. Yet, at the same time, parents and children of a family in poverty are dissapointed as well as people who are homeless. The toy library was definitely a great idea. What a great, cheap way for kids and parents to bond with each other and the kids are able to learn at the same time. The parental classes are good because parents need to learn how to interact and play with their kids. The toy library should definitely promote themeslves so that everyone can benefit from this because a lot of people may not have access to a computer or internet.
Joe Dugan said,
February 11, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Your point is a very good one, Dr. Warner. I never thought about snow days (and other “days off from school”) in this light, but it makes sense–impoverished parents rely on the school system to help provide things they can’t offer their kids, including lunches and some educational supplies.
I like the idea of the toy library – at least in theory. I think it’s a cool way to integrate learning and fun, to promote constructive child-rearing instead of the destructive patterns some parents employ simply because they don’t know any better.
I do wonder how it works out in a practical sense. Even if instructions are provided with the toys, the parents have to actually utilize them–and in many cases, they won’t. Also, I know from personal experience that kids can easily “latch on” to toys, sometimes for reasons beyond all understanding. I wonder how a kid might feel about this trading system? Maybe it would teach good values of sharing and the like–or maybe it would create some conflict?
Still, overall, I think these toy libraries could be very beneficial for impoverished families and communities.
Ashley Morgan said,
February 11, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I was hoping that the snow storm scheduled for Monday to Tuesday would pack a lot of punch. I never thought about the impact of a storm like this would have upon poverty-striken family. My brother was off from school all week long. They closed down businesses, and my dad’s work even closed down for a day. My dad and brother stayed home, had fun with their snow blower, at popcorn and watched guy movies all day. One fact I saw on the news keeps coming back to me. This past Monday night, it hit below 20 degrees below 0. If one is outside in that temperature, frostbite or hypothermia ensues after 5 minutes. How many children were hurt in the Miami Valley Monday night because they didn’t have a place to go? With this predicted snow storm, how many families will not have anything to eat because they can’t get to the store, let alone stock up on unplanned food needs?
I enjoyed exploring the Toy library website. One thing that struck me about their sincereity and dedication to what they are trying to do was the quality of staff. The Northlands Park Neighborhood has a dentist, a nurse, a whole administrative staff, a speech and language doctor, a home-visiting lady, a consultant for new mothers, a nutritionist, two social work consultants, a midwife, and many more competant workers. I know some public schools that do not even have their own nurse, let alone a speech doctor! The information and assistance available to families is impressive, and I believe, an effective way to reach poverty striken families in the areas they need help in.
Anna Reiskytl said,
February 12, 2007 at 12:43 am
In my home community, we have a toy library attached to our main public library, with toys suited for preschool and early elementary school. While I agree that toy libraries can be a good thing, part of the trouble we have at home is that very few of the people who could make the most use of the toy library are aware of it. I liked the fact that the toy library in the article was connected with a community center; the poor are more likely to connect with a community center than to go to the imposing public library for assistance. I also liked the fact that the center could use the toy library as a “draw” in order to introduce parents to the other services available through the center. Although it would be nice if it were a private institution, the fact is that there is very little incentive for people to fund non-profit organizations for the good of the poor community. Few people with means are really aware of the problems faced by the poor of their own cities; consequently, it is difficult to motivate people to act.
And as for the snow days… I only experienced one snow day in five years, and I lived in Wisconsin. I think most school administrations could do more to cut down on the number of snow days taken, in order to prevent interruptions in learning as well as to assist poor children as much as possible.
Heidi Charlton said,
February 12, 2007 at 1:50 am
I can really relate this pattern of parenting – this harsh discipline and slow child development. Each Sunday evening I volunteer at a nursery in Springfield, and almost every week I see impoverished kids that are sorely underdeveloped. And then I see the way the parents interact with their kids, and it’s no wonder.
Recently we’ve tried to encourage parents to volunteer in the nursery, so that eventually, they can staff from within the congregation. Generally in suburban churches, there is no shortage of volunteers to work with children, but things are different in the city. Often I find myself having to babysit the parents just as much as the kids because they really have no idea what it means to be good parents. And the most unfortunate thing is that this behavior creates a pattern. If children aren’t shown what good parenting is, they’re not going to know how to implement it when they have children.
I really like the idea of a toy library though. And while I can understand Joe’s concern about children being willing to give up their toys, I can’t imagine that it would create too much turmoil. Children tend to get bored with their toys after a while, so I think the availability of new toys would be really exciting for them. And they could always renew the toys anyway, if these libraries work the same way that book libraries do.
Brendon Bayley said,
February 12, 2007 at 4:27 am
The toy library sounds like a great idea. I wonder if parents can check out toys for themselves. I know I would. Anyways, this Toy Library reminds me of a discussion in Social Problems that centered around the HeadStart program’s shortcommings. One issue we covered in class was the separation of the child from the parent, which often proves too much of an issue for the parent, so they decide to withdraw their children from the program. This Toy Library is another idea, besides the solution we discussed in class, to incorporate parents into the educational and developmental process. I think of days when the parents guided the education and development of the child at home, even though they attended a school elsewhere. Guided, educational play, and “chores” were a part of important development and educational practices in the home. Because of the changing structure of the family, and the roles that their members play, these developmental and educational needs are being filled elsewhere. The Toy Library, for children AND their parents, would be a great way to bring the parents and children back together again. Also, regarding Heidi’s comment, I agree, children do eventually get tired of their toys, so a rotating toy lineup, coupled with parental engagement, would in my opinion provide a more fulfilling playing experience for the children, that has educational and developmental pluses, besides being fun.