child care of the berkshires, inc. family times newsletter · child care of the berkshires, inc....
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Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.
Family Times Newsletter Published by the Family Resource Center
December 2013
Directory Family Resource Center
413 664-4821
Amy Hall ext. 15
Mary Jo Belanger ext. 18
Sandra King ext. 12
Chiara Noetzel ext.13
Claire LaMere ext. 11
Melissa Zepka ext. 16
Bethany Prince ext. 10
Healthy Families
North Adams: 664-6104
Becky Krysiak ext. 40
Kathy Rufo-Zdon ext. 33
Amanda Hart ext. 36
Ann Monti ext. 38
Alicianna Kocsis ext. 37
Pittsfield: 445-4324
Becky Krysiak ext. 15
Ann Monti ext. 20
Tujuna Powell ext.12
Aurelina Peguero ext. 21
Colleen Leitch ext. 14
Tiffany Sermini ext. 17
210 State Street PO Box 172 North Adams, MA 01247 www.ccberkshire.org
Lego Club in December
Tuesday, December 10, Time: 3:30‐4:30
Place: The basement level of the Adams Library (enter
through the main entrance).
Thank you to parent, Shannon Barrett, who volunteers to
facilitate this group. This group is for families with children ages 4 to 8 years old. It is a drop in group, no need
to register. The group will resume in
January 2014 on January 14th and 28th.
Stress Busters:
Taking Care of Ourselves
Thursday, December 12,
5:30‐6:30 at Haskins Center,
North Adams. Presented by Rachelle Aloha
Smith, MSW, a holistic, strengths‐based
Educator, Mentor & Healer, whose workshops
are designed to provide practical information,
tools and experiences that promote relaxation
and inner peace. As parents, we are always
taking care of others– this stress free workshop
will concentrate on ways to nurture ourselves to
live a healthy life. Learn simple ways to relieve
and reduce stress. Treat yourself and join us!
Everyone who attends will receive a surprise,
stress reducing gift.
Child care and transportation available if
needed. Call 664‐4821 to register.
Please join us Friday, December 20th to celebrate the Winter Solstice! Our celebration begins at 10:30 a.m.
There will be special winter activities, stories, songs, and snack. We will have a noisy parade with homemade instruments to scare the darkness away!
Space is limited. To register please call 664‐4821.
The FRC will be closed for the Holidays on December 24th and 25th. There are no Play and Learn Groups starting December 24 to
January 3rd.
The Family Resource Center
Clothing Exchange is in need
of gently used winter coats and winter clothing donations
in Sizes Birth to Size 10. Please drop off donations to the FRC at Child Care of the Berkshires, 210 State Street, North Adams- lower
level office. Thank You!
Culture Festival coming in 2014
The Family Resource Center is planning a Culture Festival: Our Big World
A celebration of our families’ diverse cultures and traditions. We are looking for individuals or families to share customs, games, toys, stories, songs or anything else that would help children learn about different cultures. Please call Sandra at
664‐4821 x 12 if you would like to be part of this event.
Useful Numbers: Berkshire Housing 1‐800‐248‐9002 Berkshire Works 413‐663‐1114
Domestic Violence Hotline 1‐800‐401‐2425
Mental Health Crisis 1‐800‐252‐0227
North Adams Housing Authority 663‐5379
Friendship Food Pantry 664‐0123
United Cerebral Palsy 413‐664‐9345
Berkshire Community Action 413‐663‐3014
The Salvation Army 413‐663‐7987
Parental Stress Hotline 1‐800‐632‐8188 Poison Control 1‐800‐222‐1222
Community Legal Aid 413‐664‐4531
N. B.Community Coalition 413‐663‐7588
ECU‐Health Care 413‐663‐8711
Berkshire Food Project 413‐664‐7378
Family Resource Center
Parent Recognition Award
Lynette Bond, a parent who has participated
in Family Resource Center programming for
the past five years, has been awarded a
Parent Recognition Award by the
Massachusetts Children’s Trust. Lynette was
nominated due to her dedication as a parent
and community member for making the
Northern Berkshire area a healthy place for children.
Lynette has been an active member of the FRC Parent
Advisory Committee, she has helped in the Clothing
Exchange and with the Family Times newsletter mailing.
She took the lead in advocating for the City of North
Adams to have smoke‐free playgrounds. Lynette accepted
the Parent Recognition Award from Suzin Bartley, the
Executive Director of the Children’s Trust at the View From
All Sides conference in Marlboro, MA on November 6th.
Looking for Help with a Community Resource?
Call Bethany at the Family Resource Center at
664‐4821 ext. 10.
Community Events Holiday Walk in Williamstown Saturday, December 7th
Starting on Spring Street at 3 pm, the Williamstown Holiday Walk is a family‐friendly
annual event for all ages. Santa will be there for the festivities and hot cocoa will be provided. Other
activities include raffles, horse‐drawn carriage rides and musical groups performing throughout the
evening.
No Smoking Campaign In the News On November 14 , The Family Resource Center, Parents, and local Tobacco
Education programs as well as Mayor Alcombright and City of North Adams
DPH officials gathered for a media event to celebrate the No Smoking in
Playgrounds Regulations and Signs. The event brought awareness to the new no smoking ban on city property,
playgrounds or at city events. Thank you to parents Lynette Ritland Bond, Shelley Daly, Michele Harris and Shannon Barrett for your participation
and support for this important issue.
PINE CONE BIRD FEEDERS:
1 Medium to large pine cone 10 inch piece of string/yarn 1 cup of cornmeal 1 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco) 1 cup of bird seed 1. Take string tie to the end of the pine cone 2. Mix cornmeal and shortening together in a bowl 3. Spread mixture over pine cone 4. Roll the coated pine cone in a pan of bird seed Until fully covered 5. Hang outside a window to feed and watch the birds!
Note: Peanut Butter can be substituted for Crisco and corn meal.
The Berkshire Museum
Festival of Trees 2013
This year’s theme is “Yesterday, Today and
Tomorrow”.
The exhibit features rooms full of beautifully decorated trees by local
businesses and groups.
The Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South Street, (Route 7) Pittsfield , MA
Call The Family Resource Center at 413‐664‐4821 to borrow a museum pass for your trip.
10 Things Every Parent Should Know about Play
1. Children learn through their play. Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop: ~Cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store. ~Physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground. ~New vocabulary – like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs. ~Social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash. ~Literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant. 2. Play is healthy. Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today. 3. Play reduces stress. Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress. 4. Play is more than meets the eye. Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules-–to name just a few. Researchers study play’s many aspects: how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children’s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day. 5. Make time for play. As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development. 6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand. They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab. 7. Play outside. Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. Make sure your children create outdoor memories too. 8. There’s a lot to learn about play. There’s a lot written on children and play. Here is a link to some NAEYC articles and books about play. David Elkind’s The Power of Play (Da Capo, 2007 reprint) is also a great resource. http://www.naeyc.org/play
9. Trust your own playful instincts. Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity. 10. Play is a child’s context for learning. Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem. By Laurel Bongiorno, PhD, director of Champlain College’s graduate program in early childhood education in Burlington, Vermont. Reprint from: http://families.naeyc.org National Association for the Education of Young Children — Promoting excellence in early childhood education.
PLAY
Family Resource Center December 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 .
2 10:00
Williamstown Youth Center Play and Learn Group
5:30
Haskins Gym Group North Adams
3 10:00
Preschool Group 10:00
BNF Breastfeeding Group @ Haskins
5:30 Gabriel Abbott School Play and Learn Group
4
10:00 Toddler Play and Learn
Group @ Haskins Center
5
11:30-12:30 Haskins Gym Playgroup
11:30 Teen to 23
Group @ Haskins 5:30
Parent Café’ Call 663-7588 to register.
6 10:00
Baby Group at Williamstown Youth
Center 10:00
Lanesborough Playgroup @Lanesborough Town
Hall
7
8
9 10:00
Williamstown Youth Center Play and Learn Group
5:30
Haskins Gym Group North Adams
10:00 10 Preschool Group
10:00
BNF Breastfeeding Group @ Haskins 3:30-4:30
**Lego Club at Adams Library
5:30 Gabriel Abbott School Play and Learn Group
11
10:00 Toddler Play and Learn
Group @ Haskins Center
12 11:30-12:30
Haskins Gym Playgroup
11:30 Teen to 23
Group @ Haskins
5:30 Stress Buster Workshop Call 664-4821 to register.
13
10:00-11:00 Movers and Shakers @
Adams Youth Center
10:00 Lanesborough Playgroup @Lanesborough Town
Hall
14
15
16 10:00
Williamstown Youth Center Play and Learn Group
5:30
Haskins Gym Group North Adams
17 10:00
Preschool Group 10:00
BNF Breastfeeding Group @ Haskins
5:30 Gabriel Abbott School Play and Learn Group
18 10:00
Toddler Play and Learn Group
@ Haskins Center
19 11:30-12:30
Haskins Gym Playgroup
11:30 Teen to 23
Group @ Haskins
20 10:30
Winter Solstice Celebration.
Register 664-4821.
10:00 Lanesborough Playgroup @Lanesborough Town
Hall
21
22
23 10:00
Williamstown Youth Center Play and Learn Group
5:30 Haskins Gym Group
North Adams
24 FRC Closed
25 Merry Christmas
26 No FRC Playgroups
27 No FRC Playgroups
28
30 No FRC Playgroups
31 No FRC Playgroups
*Weather Cancellation Policy: Family Resource Center groups are cancelled if school is cancelled. Listen to local radio and television stations for closings or call us at 664-4821.
PARENT CAFEYou Are Invited To A:
DECEMBER 5, 20135:30 TO 7:30 PM
A Parent Cafe is a fungame of conversationwhere parents have theopportunity to talk withother parents about thejoys and challenges ofparenting and to learnfrom one another.ENJOY A FREECATERED MEAL,FREE CHILDCAREAND FREE TRANS-PORTATION!
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HASKINS COMMUNITYCENTER 210 STATE ST.NORTH ADAMSRSVP: DECEMBER 2AT: 413-663-7588
Non– Profit Standard
Permit #11
N. A. MA 01247
Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc. P.O. Box 172 North Adams, MA 01247 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Funding is provided by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the Massachusetts Children's Trust,
United Way, Williamstown Community Chest, The Family Place and by community contributions.
FREE Children’s Clothing and Book Exchange Newborn to Size 10 Clothing
Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 4:00 Fridays 9:00-3:00 At the FRC - Lower Level of Haskins Community Center 210 State Street, North Adams
Parent Resource Library
Borrow Parenting books, DVD’s and children’s books
Lower Level of Haskins Community Center, North Adams in the
The Family Resource Center Office
The Parent Child Home Program PCHP is an early education home visiting program that focuses on the parent and child playing, reading and learning to-
gether with books and toys. The family keeps the books and toys. This is a free program for eligible families with children
ages 16-36 months. Call 664-4821 for information.
Need information about another service or program? The Family Resource Center staff can help. Call or drop by and we can help you connect with the services that can meet your family’s needs. FRC staff can also place your family on the Early Education
and Care child care Wait List for child care subsidy. Call today at 664-4821.