PARENTS NIGHT OUT

ECED 260, Advocacy Project, 2013

[DECEMBER 5, 2013]
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Group Advocacy Project Summary

The Winter Wonderland event is going to allow parents to drop their children off so that they can be entertained by knowledgeable education students and staff while the parents will be able to enjoy the arts festivities at Muncies local downtown establishments. Parents will be able to enjoy an evening out without their children and know that they are safe. This event is important for both the parents and children. The event not only allows parents to have an evening without their children free of child care costs, but it also gives the children a safe place to do crafts, play games, watch a movie, and interact with other children and adults. Every week thousands of parents make decisions to leave children home alone while they go to work, run errands, or for social engagements. It is estimated over 40% of children are left home at some time, though rarely overnight, ("Home alone children," 2012). This event allows parents to drop their children off free of charge for the evening so that they do not have to make the decision to leave their children home alone while they attend the local event. According to the U.S. Census, about 7 million of the nation's 38 million children ages 5 to 14 are left home alone regularly. Among the reports key findings: 600,000 five- to eight-year-olds fend for themselves and 3.4 million children are under the care of siblings. The national average "home alone" time is six hours per week, and higher-income parents are more likely to leave kids unsupervised. Statistics also indicate that unsupervised kids are at greater risk of accident and of harm by strangers, siblings, or friends; and are more apt to commit crimes than those under the care of an adult, ("Home alone," 2008).

References Home alone. (2008, May 29). Retrieved from http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2008f/UR_186972_REGION1.html RetrievedOctober 7, 2013 Home alone children. (2012, November). Retrieved from http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Famil ies_Pages/Home_Alone_Children_46.aspx Retrieved October 7, 2013

Dear [Recipient Name]: The staff and students of Ivy Techs School of Education are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Parents Night Out during the Muncie First Thursday events on Thursday, December 5th. We have an exciting Winter Wonderland themed night planned at the downtown Fisher Building for children whose parents are attending the Downtown Muncie events. This event was created because we have a genuine concern for the availability of proper childcare during the First Thursday events. We also understand that many parents in the surrounding area could benefit from a fun night out, all while supporting the community. Leaving children unattended is an important issue that must be addressed. In fact, negligence is the most serious form of danger that the children of Delaware County face today. Proper childcare must be provided during the Muncie Art Walk. A recent U.S Census report showed that 7 million of the nations 38 million children ages 5 through 14 are left at home regularly. According to the National SAFE Campaign, nearly 4.5 children ages 14 and under are injured in the home every year and the vast majority of unintentional injuries occur in the evening hours when children are most likely out of school and unsupervised. The Family Development Resource Center reported that children are most likely to be victims of violent crimes by non-family members between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and that violent juvenile crimes triple between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Now that you understand how important proper child supervision is, help support our cause and make Parents Night Out a success by advertising this event in your business. The event will be hosted on December 5, 2013 at the Fisher Building from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Safe activities and a snack will be provided for children while their parents enjoy Muncies First Thursday festivities. Registration is open to the first 75 children ages 4-12. Please contact Erin Donovan at edonovan2@ivytech.edu for registration forms or for more information about the event. Thank you for considering the safety of the children in our community.

Sincerely, Ivy Techs School of Education

PENGUIN RACE!

TOLIET PAPER SNOWMEN

Working on fine motor skills- Picking up marshmallows with chopsticks and placing them into Chinese takeout containers.

Picking up Penne Noodles with a long spaghetti noodle.

Using our imaginationReenacting a snowball fight!

Math and balance-Testing how many dice can be balanced on a popsicle stick.

Time to watch Happy Feet and have a tasty snack!

Games and Activities

http://www.pinterest.com/edonovan2/parents-night-out-event/

Ivy
Some

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Tech
Low Cost Entertainment
Museum Of Art

Information for Parents

Resources for Parents
Delaware County Health Department 100 W. Main St. Rm 207 Muncie, IN 765-747-7721 Meridian Health

Services Ave. Open Door Health Services 905 S. Walnut St, Muncie, IN 47302 765-281-4263
Muncie Ballet Studio School Matinee

240 N. Tillotson Muncie, IN 765-288-1928 Inter-local Community Action Program Bill Assistance Program Muncie, IN 765-288-8732
Basic First Aid at kidshealth.org

2021 W. Riverside Ave. Ball State University Muncie, IN 47306 765-285-5242 Free Minnetrista The Anderson Center for the Arts
32 West 10th Street Anderson, IN 46016

118 S. Walnut Street 765-216-5472 Cost $3 per person AMC Sensory Friendly Films Information at

1200 North Minnetrista Parkway Muncie, IN 47303 765-282-4848 428-5887 $ 5 for non-members

Muncie Childrens Museum https://www.amctheatres.com/program 515 S. High Street s/sensory-friendly-films Muncie, IN

Parents Night Out

Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. Offers

Ball State