A guide to raising bilingual children

(Parenting) -- Simone's mom reads, sings and talks to him in French. In fact, Melissa Da, a French-American from Baltimore, only speaks her native language to the 2 1/2-year-old. The goal? To raise him to be bilingual. The number of U.S. residents age 5 and older who speak a language other than English at home has more than doubled in the past three decades. Parents like Da and Jennifer Ghurani of Hawthorne, California, are a small part of the reason why. "I want Delila to know where she's from and be able to interact with her extended family," says Ghurani, who's teaching her daughter to speak Arabic. If you've ever thought about raising your kid to be multilingual, now's the perfect time to start. "Babies are wired for language," says Naomi Steiner M.D., developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, and author of "7 Steps to Raising a Bilingual Child." Parenting: Teach your baby sign language "The earlier they're introduced to a second language, the easier it will be for them to pick it up." Knowing a second (or third!) language could one day give your child an edge in an increasingly global workforce. And that isn't the only plus, says Dr. Steiner. "When these children get to school age, they tend to have superior reading and writing skills in both languages, as well as better analytical and academic skills," she explains. Whether you already speak more than one language in your home or you want your baby to have some exposure to a second language but you don't know how to navigate the uncharted waters, here's a guide to cultivating a multilingual environment. Dip your toes in Start small by introducing books, games, music and DVDs in the second language. Until recently, scientists thought language acquisition relied on face-to-face communication. "That's still the gold standard, but less direct exposure is also beneficial," says Dr. Steiner, who recommends using age-appropriate language materials (find books and CDs at your local library for free!) and Internet streaming of foreign-language music on a regular basis. Teresa Benton (name changed due to pending divorce) of Yorba Linda, California, watches Spanish versions of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sesame Street on a local cable station with her toddler daughter Grace. Parenting: Meet Dora the Explorer's mom What you can expect: Basic comprehension. "Learning a language is a question of repeated high-quality exposure," says Dr. Steiner. "If a family reads a book to their child in Spanish as part of a bedtime routine, that's a lot of reading and a lot of learning over an extended period of time." If sustained, this type of exposure will help children learn to say some words and understand their meanings. Splash around In addition to using foreign language gear, hire a babysitter who speaks another tongue, secure bilingual daycare or arrange playdates with bilingual families. Benton's ex-husband worked in Spanish-speaking communities, so he asked clients for sitter recommendations. For other parents, finding bilingual childcare may require agency help. Ghurani's daughter attends a Montessori school that teaches basic Spanish. "Finding appropriate immersion programs depends on where you live," says Liane Comeau Ph.D., a child and language development expert in Montreal. In California, some English-speaking kids attend Spanish-English bilingual schools and leave fifth grade fluent in Spanish. Parenting: Maternal health around the world What you can expect: Results range from recognizing the language when it's spoken to being able to converse casually. The more time the child spends with the nanny or in bilingual daycare, the greater the proficiency. "It all depends on the amount and quality of the child's exposure," says Dr. Steiner. Go all the way by speaking only that language at home. For many families, in-home immersion translates to one parent speaking in the second language and the other parent speaking English. The back-and-forth banter doesn't trip up tots, says Comeau, who's raising her 16-month-old son to be bilingual. Da's son, Simon, for example, asks his mom for watermelon in French but addresses his dad in English. For extra support, reach out to relatives. Ghurani asks extended family to speak only in Arabic to Delila. What you can expect: A bilingual tot, in time. Don't worry if he doesn't speak either language as adeptly as his monolingual peers at first. If your child is exposed to both languages the same amount, he will be able to speak both equally well by the time he goes to school. http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/living/parenting-bilingual-children/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11

Do your money goals seem impossible? Ask us your financial questions!

HLN money expert Clark Howard is answering them weeknights on Evening Express 5 – 7 p.m. ET. http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/123127

Providing Focused Health Care. . .

The Pinellas County Department of Health & Human Services has partnered with the Pinellas County Health Department and Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc. to provide prevention focused health care to eligible Pinellas County residents. Medical homes represent a model of care where each client has an ongoing relationship with a personal physician or primary care provider who leads a team that takes collective responsibility for patient care. The team is responsible for coordinating all the client's health care needs and, when needed, arranges for appropriate care with other qualified physicians or specialty providers. However, this approach also requires client participation and a willingness to work with the health care team to improve health status. A medical home also emphasizes personalized care through open scheduling, expanded service hours and improved communication between patients, providers and staff. As part of the Health Program, case managers are co-located in the medical homes and selected emergency rooms to help achieve the goals of care continuity, emergency room diversion, and improved health for the uninsured population. National Health Care for the Homeless This site contains a plethora of contacts, resources, pamphlets, videos and tools designed to educate and inform healthcare workers on their specific skills sets. Pinellas County Health Program Client Handbook The Pinellas County Health Program (PCHP) is a primary care and prevention focused health care program for eligible Pinellas County residents. Please Note: This is not a health insurance plan. Eligibility Policy (Updated 5/3/11) Eligibility Presentation (Updated 5/3/11) PCHP Application Form (Updated 5/3/11) Self-Employment Student Worksheet (Updated 4/1/10) Behavioral Health Screening (Updated 5/3/11) http://www.pinellascounty.org/humanservices/health_providers.htm Scoring Sheet for Behavioral Health Screening Form (Updated 5/3/11)

The secret life of my sixth grader By Wendy Sachs, Special to CNN

(CNN) -- My sixth grader has a secret life online. It wasn't so secret about a week ago when I discovered his public profile on Instagram, where he was posting dramatic photos and soulful "Versagrams" (graphical text messages), for all the world to see. One moment he was in love, the next full of despair. I was stunned. My 11-year-old son has never let on that he is remotely interested in girls. Not a word. And he's not exactly the middle school kid with swagger. He's a relatively shy guy. Yet, his Instagram avatar was boldly flirting with a girl, prolifically posting inside jokes about his crush and inviting commentary not only from his school friends, but also from a far-flung social network of kids from Connecticut to New Jersey who I am certain he's never met in person. His phone was beeping nonstop for three days, with a stream of frenzied text messages and Instagram posts. Something big was going on. My son wanted to ask a girl out. Did she like him, too? He wasn't sure, but from what I saw online, this was hardly confidential information. His plan for asking her out was getting circulated in cyberspace and he had several kids weighing in on both the strategy and his likelihood for success. He was fully exposed on multiple virtual platforms, and that was terrifying to me. He clearly didn't understand the full impact of online activity. What should I do? When my son was sleeping, I was checking the text messages and followed the Instagram updates -- after all, this wasn't really sneaking if my son maintained a public profile. But what could I say? Should I tell him that I am monitoring his moves? Was my looking at text messages the same as reading a diary? Was I violating my son's privacy and simply making too much of this? My husband told me to back off, that our son was merely a kid with a crush who needed to experience this rite of passage on his own, without a hovering mother. But I wasn't so sure. For more go to: http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/27/living/child-social-media/index.html?hpt=li_t3

Fairness needed for pregnant workers By Arjun Sethi, Special to CNN

Editor's note: Arjun Sethi is a lawyer in Washington and a frequent commentator on civil rights and social justice-related issues. He collaborated on this essay with the National Women's Law Center. (CNN) -- Peggy Young just wanted to support her family. As an employee at United Parcel Services, she delivered letters and packages, a job that sometimes required heavy lifting. When she became pregnant, she asked for a lighter assignment. UPS denied the request. Although they routinely granted accommodations to other employees, Young wasn't eligible. Throughout America, pregnant women in physically demanding jobs face an unconscionable choice: protect their health or keep their job. In Kansas, Heather Wiseman was fired for carrying a water bottle to remain hydrated; in New York, Patricia Leahy was terminated for refusing to "perform heavy lifting, climbing ladders and other strenuous movements." In Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama, women were fired, just like Young, because they couldn't lift heavy objects. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 requires employers to treat pregnant women the same way they treat other employees with similar limitations. If a moving company permits a worker to sit at a desk because of a temporary back condition then a pregnant woman with a lifting restriction must be extended the same accommodation. Congress' message was clear: pregnancy and work are compatible. Employers, however, routinely ignore this mandate, and are forcing pregnant women out of the workplace. In each of the cases just described, the pregnant woman lost in court because she could not prove discrimination. The courts explained that the refusal to provide accommodations was based on gender-neutral and pregnancy-blind policies that were legal, albeit unfair. Wiseman's termination for carrying water, for example, was upheld because all employees were prohibited from carrying water on the sales floor. Gender-neutral? Yes. Fair? No. Not every employee has a medical need to carry water to remain hydrated and prevent infection. Link between autism and infections during pregnancy explored This reasoning has also led to shocking inconsistencies and has permitted employers to treat pregnant workers worse than other employees. Consider Young's case. UPS had a policy of accommodating employees who were involved in a car accident or lost their driver's license due to drunk driving but fired Young after she requested a lighter assignment. In another case, the New York City Transit Authority accommodated workers who were injured while exercising but forced a pregnant worker out. A consortium of public-interest groups led by the ACLU is now helping Young appeal her case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. To be sure, some courts have come out the other way. These judges are ensuring that pregnant workers enjoy the same opportunities as other employees and are not penalized by unfair policies that employers defend as gender-neutral. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is also combating the problem and has designated pregnancy discrimination an enforcement priority for the next four years. These efforts, however, aren't enough. Not every pregnant employee who is wronged can find a lawyer nor can the budget-constrained EEOC prosecute every case. And many courts have shown a disturbing willingness to turn back these claims and open gaping loopholes in the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The problem, meanwhile, is vast. Many women are the breadwinners of their family and can't afford unpaid leave. Others will lose seniority or get passed over for promotions when they return to the job. For those who are fired, they face the daunting challenge of securing employment in a still flailing economy that penalizes the unemployed, not to mention mothers, who are less likely to be hired and promoted. Why dads gain pregnancy weight If pregnant, weigh antidepressant risks New legislation championed by the National Women's Law Center, and recently introduced in both the House and Senate, would close many of these loopholes. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would require employers to offer pregnant employees the same kinds of accommodations they offer the disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Make no mistake: pregnancy is not a disability. It's a joyous part of life. But by elevating it to the same level of protection as disabilities, the rule would be clear: employers could not fire or force pregnant employees out of the workplace just because they request a reasonable accommodation. Fair allowances -- the right to carry a water bottle, a chair, intermittent breaks, a lifting restriction -- would have to be respected. The first piece of legislation President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Ledbetter had worked tirelessly for Goodyear for nearly two decades only to learn that she had been denied equal pay. She later brought suit against her employer but lost after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that she had waited too long to bring her case. In an important joint effort, Congress and the president passed legislation allowing claims like Ledbetter's to proceed. Pregnant workers need protection, too. All they seek is fair treatment. Is that too much to ask? http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/25/opinion/sethi-pregnant-workers/index.html?hpt=li_c2

PASCO HOLIDAYS OF HOPE

http://www.metromin.org/page.aspx?pid=583

Beating Holiday Stress It is possible to survive the holiday frenzy without feeling frantic -- if you know how. Here are top tips from some of the nation's leading stress experts.

WebMD Feature The holidays really are the best of times and the worst of times. Our tidings of comfort and joy can so easily be devoured by the insatiable stress to do it all, be it all, and buy it all. And that stress is nothing to ho, ho, ho about, either. It increases your risk of illness and even death. One study, published in the Oct. 12, 1999, issue of the journal Circulation, suggested holiday stress and overindulgence help explain the soaring rate of fatal heart attacks in December and January. http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/beating-holiday-stress