After two decades working with families of young children, Southwest Human Development's Alison Steier, Ph.D., offers this advice to all new parents: Know that parenting is hard and you don’t have to do it alone. Steier directs the Birth to Five Helpline, a free service open to all Arizona families and...
The Safeway Foundation, part of the Albertsons Companies and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, recently donated a $35,000 community grant to Southwest Human Development at the grand opening of its brand-new Queen Creek Safeway store located at 40950 N. Ironwood Drive. As part of the...
How parents and caregivers can work to counter stereotyping and discrimination — starting in early childhood Despite gains in gender equality, ingrained biases about males and females still exist — and can have grave consequences. Stubborn beliefs cultivated from an early age such as “girls are bad at math,” “girls are...
Thunderbirds Charities grant to assist in developmental evaluations and treatment Southwest Human Development received a $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to purchase audio-visual equipment for its Children’s Developmental Center and Good Fit Counseling Center programs. “This funding from Thunderbirds Charities will allow us to upgrade our technology solutions in three of our...
Cultural awareness and tradition play important roles in helping young children develop a positive sense of identity and build self-esteem. Studies show that cultural appreciation and awareness contribute to building a positive self image. Developing a strong foundation of belonging and acceptance through cultural celebration and education helps children to create...
Even the youngest children can pick up on the stress that parents or caregivers feel as a result of the economy and personal financial anxiety. Southwest Human Development early childhood professionals recommend using simple, clear terms to explain financial situations in a sensitive manner when necessary. Talking to Children about Financial...
Families invited to enjoy a full day of storytelling and cultural activities at Festival of Tales Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) and Southwest Human Development are proud to partner in hosting the Winter Festival of Tales, a free community literacy event offering storytelling and cultural activities for children and families from...
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 27, and will...
How a predictable structure can help families gain quality time and reduce end-of-day frenzy. The word “structure” can evoke less than positive associations. It suggests constraints, which are never a good thing, right? Wrong. It turns out that everyone benefits from a certain amount of daily structure, so long as that structure...
“Time-out” is an age-old disciplinary method that most parents know of, and may have even experienced themselves in their own childhood. The method has been passed down through generations and often used by parents, teachers and caregivers in present day. The goal of time-out is to modify a child’s behavior by...