Here is a newsletter I did for RACCAP; a nonprofit organization which helps prevent child abuse and promotes positive parenting in the Fredericksburg area in Virginia.

1. Welcome to RACCAP
The Rappahannock Area Council for Children and Parents, has been
helping and supporting parents and children for over a decade, providing
educational and supportive services to the Fredericksburg Area
community. RACCAP began its efforts to educate parents about positive
parenting techniques in September 1989. In January 2006 RACCAP
changed the name of the organization to its current name - the
Rappahannock Area Council for Children and Parents - to reflect the
positive mission of the work of the organization. RACCAP works with
other local, state and national organizations to help families by
implementing new and innovative child abuse prevention and awareness
programs and provides the technical support needed to ensure our
programs continued success. Our motto - Cherish Our Children -
demonstrates our commitment to the children of our community.
IN THIS ISSUE - MARCH 2011 - ISSUE 1 - VOLUME 1
Adult Topics
Talk With Your Child About Drugs 2/28 - 3/3
Meal Times - Good Times 3/7 - 3/10
Fitness, Food and A Healthy Weight For Your Child 3/14 - 3/17
Children's Activities
Just say no to Drugs! 2/28 - 3/3
Healthy Habits 3/7 - 3/10
Saint Patrick's Day Craft 3/14 - 3/17
The Circle of Parents program offered through the Rappahannock Area Council
For Children and Parents (RACCAP) provides parent support services as listed
below. For directions to the group meeting place, click on the site name below to
access directions.

2. The Circle of Parents program is sponsored by Domino's Pizza of Caroline, Papa John's Pizza of Fredericksburg, Stafford,
and Spotsylvania, Danny's Pizza of Spotsylvania, WaWa Corporate Charities, VA Family & Children's Trust Fund, and the VA
Dept. of Social Services Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Program.
Circle of Parents groups meet from 6:30pm - 8:00pm unless otherwise stated below. A pizza
dinner and children's program is provided for free.

3. Caroline: Wright's Chapel U.M.C.; 8063 Ladysmith Rd.
Fredericksburg: Bragg Hill Family Life Center; 400 Bragg Dr., group conducted in Spanish.
Fredericksburg: Hazel Hill Community Center; 100 Princess Anne Street.
King George: Group is currently not scheduled.
Spotsylvania: (Courthouse Area) Christ Church; 8951 Courthouse Rd.
Stafford: Meets at 6:00pm - 7:30pm. Head Start Building; 610 Gayle Street.
Stafford: Regester Chapel U,M,C.; 85 Bells Hill Rd.
WaWa Salem Sposylvania; (Towne Centre Area) Salem Baptist Church; 4044 Plank Rd.
Talk With Your Kids
Talk with Your Child About
About Drugs
Drugs
Don't put off talking about alcohol and other drugs. As early as fourth
grade, kids worry about pressures to try drugs. School programs alone
aren't enough. Parents must become involved, but most parents aren't
sure how to tell their children about drugs. Open communication is one of
the most effective tools you can use in helping your child avoid drug use.
Talking freely and really listening shows children that they mean a great
deal to you.
Talking with your child about
drugs....Who has done it? How What do you say?
did the talk go? How did you
approach it? How do you feel  Tell them that you love them and you
about bringing up the topic? What want them to be healthy and happy.
positive, drug free alternatives do  Say you do not find alcohol and other
you do as a family? How do you illegal drugs use acceptable. Many parents never state this
simple principal.
talk about it? Is this difficult?
 Explain how this use hurts people. Physical harm - AIDS,
How do you as a parent deal with slowed growth, impaired coordination, accidents.
that question as to why it is okay Emotional harm - sense of not belonging, isolation,
for adults and young people to paranoia. Educational harm - difficulties remembering and
paying attention.
drink but not your child?
 Discuss the legal issues. A conviction for a drug offense
Making Meal can lead to time in prison or cost someone a job, driver's
license, or college loan.
Times More  Talk about positive, drug free alternatives, and how you
Pleasant can explore them together. Some ideas include sports,
reading, movies, bike rides, hikes, camping, cooking,
games, and concerts. Involve your kids friends.

4. Don't run a restaurant.
How do you say it?
Enjoyable conversation.
 Calmly and openly - don't exaggerate. The facts speak for
themselves.
 Face to face - exchange information and try to understand
each other's point of view. Be an active listener and let
What about manners? your child talk about fears and concerns. Don't interrupt or
preach.
 Through "teachable moments" - in contrast to a formal
lecture, use a variety of situations - TV dramas, books, etc.
 Establish an ongoing conversation rather than giving a one-
time speech.
 Remember that you set the example. Avoid contradictions
Are any of your children between your words and your actions. And don't use
illegal!
helping plan and prepare  Be creative! You and your child might act out various
meals? situations in which one person tries to pressure another to
take a drug. Figure out 2 or 3 ways to handle each
situation and talk about which works best.
Fitness, Food, Healthy  Exchange ideas with other parents.
Weight for your Child To learn more, please join us for our one of our
groups. All are welcome!! See Calendar for
days, times, and locations.
MAKING MEAL TIMES MORE
PLEASANT
Fitness and Nutrition are hot
topics with health providers,
educators and legislators
these days. Everyone is
making their
recommendations in regard
to the problem of childhood
obesity. Don't Run a Restaurant
Make one meal, but offer options on how to have it served (Do you
want your burger or on your plate?). When most of us were kids
Click here to we ate what was put in front of us. There was never any
ambivalence from our parents about any other options; therefore
participate in our we ate.
Make Dinner Conversation Enjoyable
survey This is not the time to admonish a child about her late homework
assignment or to question her current choice of friends. This is the
Contact Information: time to share ideas and share stories. This is an opportunity to
have that quality time we hear so much about but often don't have
RACCAP: time to pursue.
Our Location: Teach Good Table Manners at Home

5. 1320 Central Park Boulevard If you wouldn't think it funny to have your child display his mouth
full of food to your hosts at a dinner party, I suggest not letting him
Suite 263/264 get away with it at home.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Email: raccap@raccap.org
Relax your Attitude about Food
The more focus and attention you place on eating habits, the more
Phone: (540) 785 - 6217 of a battle ground food will become. Keep a few important points
Fax: (540) 785 - 1397 in mind: Kids needs to eat more often than 3 square meals. Kids
can thrive eating the same foods over and over and avoiding
Toll Free: (877) 785 - 6217 anything new and different. Kids are hungry when they walk in the
door after school, the routine of a healthy after school snack can
Mailing Address: ward off all kinds of battles. When healthy options are all that's
available, kids will eat healthy food. Mealtime can be enjoyable
P.O. Box 7402 when you serve the food, then simply take the time to enjoy it,
Fredericksburg, VA 22404 without monitoring everyone else's eating habits.
Encourage your Children to get
Website: www.raccap.org
Involved in Meal Planning and
Preparation
It will motivate to eat what's served and it will teach them valuable
skills that will enrich their lives. You will probably be pleased to
see that they actually enjoy helping in the kitchen.
To learn more, please join us for our one
of our groups. All are welcome!! See
Circle of Parents:
www.circleofparents.org Calendar for days, times, and locations.
Fitness, Food and A Healthy
Weight for Your Child
Prevent Child Abuse VA
www.preventchildabuseva.org
.
On a scale of 1 to 5 - with one being a big problem and
five being something that you are not concerned with in
regard to your child(ren)...how would you rate the issue
in regard to your family concerns?
See the following chart for some ideas of snack wise
examples for you children.
Prevent Child Abuse America
www.preventchildabuse.org
Snack - Wise
Plan healthy snacks for children
Fats And Sweets
Limit Choices
Rappahannock United Way Milk Group Meat Group
www.rappahannockunitedway.org Milk and fruit milkshake Hard cooked eggs

6. Apple wedges and cheese Peanut butter on
Mini yogurt cups crackers
Bean dip on crackers
Vegetable Group Fruit Group
Carrot, celery, green pepper Tangerine sections
or cucumber sticks Chunks of banana
Cherry tomatoes in small pieces or pineapple
Steamed broccoli or green beans Canned fruit
Grain Group
Cracker stacks - wheat crackers spread with cheese
spread
Ready to eat cereals
Ginger snaps or fig bars
Graham crackers