• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ¡Se Habla Español!
  • About
  • Contact
  • 847.741.7370
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
Well Child Center

Well Child Center

Growing Health Families

Support Well Child Center!
We accept donations through PayPal

DONATE TODAY

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Dental Services
  • WIC Nutrition Services
  • Partnerships / Resources
  • Well Child Center Blog
  • Support/Donate

Child Development

Free Childbirth Education Classes

January 14, 2020

Well Child Center has partnered with Advocate Sherman Hospital to offer Childbirth Education classes. These classes are taught in 4-week sessions by certified instructors every month. Expectant mothers are provided with instruction and support to help navigate pregnancy through the postpartum period.

The class schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Week 1 – Labor & Delivery, Pre-Eclampsia, Diabetes and Pre-term Labor

Week 2 – Epidurals, Cesarean Section and Post-partum Depression

Week 3 – Breastfeeding: Latching, Positions and Practice

Week 4 – Newborn care: Diapering, Holding, Bathing and Nutrition

Normally you would pay $125 to take similar classes at the hospital, but our programmimg is free to WIC participants. Additionally, an infant car seat will be raffled at the end of each class series!

We are proud of our collaboration with Advocate Sherman Hospital to create an innovative curriculum to motive expecting mothers to breastfeed. The benefits of breastfeeding are abundant! Therefore, we are happy to share our knowledge and support mothers through their breastfeeding journey.

The class outcomes are undeniable for the 565 pregnant women who have attended:

  • 97% of mother attendees initiate breastfeeding at birth
  • 77% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 weeks
  • 64% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 12 weeks
  • 35% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 months
  • 26% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 12 months

If you or someone you know are interested in attending the Advocate Sherman Hospital and Well Child Center Childbirth Education classes, please call:

Well Child Center at (847) 741-7370 or

Chayo at (630) 391-0001

Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Child Development, Events, Nutrition, Well Child Center

No App Can Replace Your Lap

November 12, 2019

Life is always so go-go-go, it can be hard to make time to sit down and read to your child. However, the benefits of reading are undeniable and well worth the time amid hectic routines. Reading every day to young children starting in infancy can facilitate early development. This is because reading to children in the earliest months stimulates the brain allowing a child to build key language, literacy and social skills.

Here are 7 factors to consider when reading to your little one:

1. Reading sets children up to succeed. The more you ready to your child, the more knowledge they will absorb. Diverse books teach children about different topics.

2. Reading develops language skills. Everyday vocabulary is often repetitive. Reading books exposes a child to language on different topics, meaning they hear words and phrases they may not hear otherwise.

3. Reading enhances a child’s concentration. By consistently reading every day, your child will learn to concentrate and sit still for longer periods of time.

4. Reading develops a child’s imagination. When we engage in a book, we imagine the characters and the setting sparking creativity.

5. Reading books helps develop empathy. Children will begin to identify with characters and feel what they are feeling, thus beginning to understand and relate to emotions.

6. Books are free entertainment! With so many negative aspects of screen time, choosing a book that interests your child is a better option.

7. Reading together helps create a bond between parent and child. Spending time together while reading and talking can bring parents closer to children. For parents who work or live a busy lifestyle, reading is a simple way to enjoy each other’s time while relaxing and bonding.

So instead of saying “honey, I don’t have time,” make the effort to sit down and read. There is no app to replace your lap!

About Melinda Scheibe

Melinda received a B.S. in Nutrition from Illinois State University. Upon graduation, she joined Well Child Center and is actively working as a WIC Nutritionist and Development Associate. Melinda is committed to her career as a Nonprofit professional, empowering families to reach their maximum potential.

Filed Under: Child Development, Well Child Center

A Parent’s Guide to Screen Time

October 2, 2019

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth fighting with your child over the amount of time he or she spends in front of the TV, computer or another screen, the answer is a resounding YES. Research has shown that kids spend more time using electronic media devices than they do on any other activity – an average of 7 hours a day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Screens are everywhere and as a result, having control over a child’s screen time has become much harder on parents. Although some screen time can be educational, too much of it may have a negative effect on a child’s development and overall well-being. As your child grows, keep in mind that too much or poor-quality screen time has been linked to:

  • Obesity
  • Irregular sleep schedules and shorter duration of sleep
  • Behavioral problems
  • Loss of social skills
  • Violence
  • Less time for play

Monitoring screen time and media content is an absolute necessity. Although limiting screen time will not immediately lead to changes, over time there is a wide range of health and wellness benefits associated with less exposure.

Here are a few tips to help regulate screen time:

  • Children under the age of 2 should have zero screen time
  • Reduce screen time to only 2 hours a day
  • Create a “screen free” zone in the home
  • Remove screens from a child’s bedroom
  • Do not leave the TV on as background noise
  • Be a good role model

Experts also suggest that the quality of the screen content your child is viewing is more important than the platform or amount of time spent. Not all programs, online games and apps are created equal. To ensure quality screen time, consider these tips:

  • Preview programs, games and apps before allowing your child to play them
  • Seek out interactive options that include activity vs. sedentary entertainment
  • Use parental controls to block or filter internet content
  • Ensure your child is close by during screen time so that you can supervise media activities
  • Speak with your child regularly about what programs, games and apps he or she is using
  • When watching programming with your child, discuss what you’re watching and educate him or her about media content/advertising

Reserving more time for person-to-person interaction and offering activities that encourage creativity and socialization will limit screen time and promote a child’s healthy development. Remember: unstructured playtime is more valuable for a young child’s developing brain than an electronic device!

About Melinda Scheibe

Melinda received a B.S. in Nutrition from Illinois State University. Upon graduation, she joined Well Child Center and is actively working as a WIC Nutritionist and Development Associate. Melinda is committed to her career as a Nonprofit professional, empowering families to reach their maximum potential.

Filed Under: Child Development, Well Child Center

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • WIC Updates Program to EBT Card
  • Pediatric Dental Clinic Reopens!
  • Well Child Center’s Response to COVID-19
  • The Importance of the 2020 Census
  • March Food Demo: You’re Invited!

Archives

  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019

Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Child Development
  • Dental Health
  • Events
  • Nutrition
  • Well Child Center

Footer

Well Child Center

620 Wing Street,
Elgin, Illinois 60123

Phone: 847-741-7370
FAX: 847-741-2413

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Quick Links

  • Schedule a Visit
  • Dental Services
  • WIC Nutrition Services
  • Partnerships / Resources
  • Well Child Center Blog
  • Donate!

Support Well Child Center!

We accept donations through PayPal

DONATE TODAY

Serving Northern Kane County

  • ¡Se Habla Español!
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish

Copyright © 2021 · Well Child Center | Elgin · Carpentersville · Saint Charles | Website by Wolko Design Group, inc.