News
Message from the Director
By Coleen Turner, RCPC Executive Director
Nov 2, 2004, 16:00

Dear Friends,

Last time I briefly touched on the risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect. This time I would like to share with you an excerpt from Helping Little Kids Succeed Alaskan Style, written by and for Alaskans. This expert talks about protective factors and the Power of Five.

When you are five years old, you start kindergarten. Music is written on a scale of five lines. There are five starters on a basketball team, five animal kingdoms, five fingers on a helping hand, and five points on a star. Humans have five senses. We should eat five fruits and vegetables a day for better health.

And five is the key number of caring adults that every child needs in his or her life. This is The Power of Five that keeps showing up in research about what helps children grow into successful adults.

Sure every child can name five adults they know, but what every child needs is for those adults to be connected, committed, and genuinely concerned about her well-being.

So, who are these five caring adults? They are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, childcare providers, teachers, coaches, neighbors, employers, older siblings, religious leaders, friends, parents, or any adult. It is the caring relationship with the kids that matters.

When we genuinely connect with children, from the earliest days of their lives, simple acts return big rewards. Noticing them with a wink; offering a reassuring hug; asking about their new shoes; sharing a knock-knock joke. These are some ways young children come to know we are interested and care about them.

As they grow, we find new ways to connect. "Hello, Angie." "Nice game!" "How was your science test?" "I like your hair, Patrick. Who did it?" These are ways we adults bridge the gap between youth and us. When we make an effort to engage with young people, we help to improve the attitudes youth and adults have about each other. The positive connections between youth and adults form a powerful foundation for the future.

Connections...­ A newborn infant comes into the world with over 100 billion brain cells. Each brain cell is connected to thousands of other brain cells. Every experience this baby has every sight, sound, touch, taste or smellhelps make more connections and wire the brain. This wiring sets the stage for everything the child will do or respond to in life.

Coleen Turner,
RCPC Executive Director


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all rights reserved.

The Resource Center for Parents and Children
Family Services, Healthy Families, & Community Outreach
1401 Kellum Street, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Phone: (907) 456-2866   Fax: (907) 451-8125
Email: <rcpc@rcpcfairbanks.org Web Site: www.rcpcfairbanks.org