Family Connections: The Goal is Not to Protect Them from the World, but to Prepare Them for It

The following is the first in a series of columns you will see from Debra Gaetano, the Director of Glencoe Junior Kindergarten and Nursery School on raising children. Family Connections will touch on a number of topics and offer tips for parents.

Welcome to Family Connections. My name is Debra Gaetano and I am the Director of Glencoe Junior Kindergarten and Nursery School. I have my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. I have worked with children and families for more than 20 years. I am excited to have the opportunity to share with the community a wide variety of topics on raising children.

My goal is to provide my readers with knowledge that will help with parenting and raising children. Let’s face it...it’s not always easy. Whether it is raising a resilient child, sleeping through the night, welcoming a new sibling or setting limits - we are all balancing the challenges that come with parenting. There are also many wonderful ways to celebrate our children and to enjoy the wonders of watching them grow and learn. I will share my knowledge and experiences, offer book and article suggestions, share tips and tricks of parenting, and answer questions that you may have. This section is for YOU, the reader, the parent.

Watch for Family Connections and feel free to email me with your questions or suggestions. Your questions are probably the same ones that many other parents have as well. My philosophy about raising children is: Our goal is not to protect them from the world, but to prepare them for it! I look forward to beginning this adventure with you. I can be reached at familyconnections4all@gmail.com.

Our goal is not to protect them from the world, but to prepare them for it!