Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.
Family Times The Family Center 210 State Street PO Box 172 North Adams, MA 01247 413-664-4821 www.ccberkshire.org
April 2018 Published by The Family Center
April is Brain Building Month. Check out all of our Brain Building Activities TOUCH A TRUCK Wednesday, April 18 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Parking lot behind The Family Center (near the Steeplecats Field) in North Adams Touch a Truck Event is free fun for the whole family. Featuring big trucks to explore as well as vehicles to learn about community helpers such as a police car, fire truck and ambulance. And other vehicles such as a school bus, tractors and more.
Healthy Families
The Family Center 413-664-4821 Parent Child Home Program 413-663-6593 ext. 27
North Adams 413-664-6104 Pittsfield 413-445-4324
EVERY CHILD READY TO READ!
FOUR WEEKS of FUN Free Workshops for Parents (or grandparents) and Children together. Fridays April 13, 27 and May 4, 11 From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Adams Free Library For community families with children Ages 2‐5 years old. Learn how to help your child get ready to read with simple, fun, hands‐on ac vi es. A collabora on with the Adams Free Library. Each family who a ends the workshops will receive a The Family Center is closed “Ready to Read” tote bag Monday, April 16 for Patriots Day. filled with books and fun reading ac vi es There are no Family Center Call 413‐664‐4821 to register. playgroups the week of “Every Child Ready to Read” was developed by April 17‐20. The Associa on for Library Service to Children.
Mom’s Night Out! Fill your pot with spring me Monday, April 30 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. At The Family Center in North Adams Join us for a light meal and spring plan ng ac vity! Dress for plan ng! Free On‐site child care. Transporta on provided upon request Call 664‐4821 to register. Space is limited.
Explore, Create and Play At MASS MoCA Marshall Street, North Adams Explore Kidspace with The Family Center! Friday, April 6 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. We will Explore “Where the Wild Things Are” and the Kidspace Exhibit! Registered families will meet in the museum lobby at 9:45 a.m. Call 413‐664‐4821 to register. For families with children ages 2 to 5 years old.
Books, Balls, Beads and Blocks!
Dad and Family Bowling Night
An Ages and Stages Event
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A free, fun interac ve event providing developmental screening for children 12 months to 3 years old.
April 17 2018 4:30‐5:30 at Valley Park Bowling Curran highway, North Adams.
Wednesday, April 25 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. In The Family Center Playroom
So popular that we are doing it again! Dads, join us during school vaca on week Children will have fun at play centers, while parents for a fun filled early evening of bowling complete an Ages and Stages ques onnaire. Staff will answer ques ons, score and pizza! FREE for families and fathers the ques onnaire and share the results in a follow up mee ng with individual (or male caregiver) with children parents. Call 413‐664‐4821 to register. 8 years old and under. No Terrific Tots Playgroup on this date. Call to register, 413‐664‐4821. Space is limited! Check out the Brain Building Website h p://brainbuildinginprogress.org/
Celebrate Brain Building Week with The Family Center April 9th ‐13th
Every family who a ends a Family Center Preschool and Kindergarten Registra on/Screening playgroup this week will receive a Free Brain Building Bag filled with North Adams Public Schools. ~Recipes for Learning Kindergarten registra on for children who will be 5 by ~Brain Building is Fun Booklet Aug. 31 will be held in several loca ons at the following mes: ~ All About Me! Book * Thursday, April 5: 11:30 a.m.‐2 p.m. at Head Start for ~A New Children’s Book and those already enrolled in Head Start and 4 to 6 p.m. at a Brain Building Pin Brayton Elementary School. * Friday, April 6: 11:30 a.m.‐2 p.m. at Brayton Elemen‐ Family Center PAC Mee ng tary School April 27, 1:00 pm * Tuesday, April 10: Noon‐2 p.m. at the Uno Community Come to The Family Center’s Parent Center Advisory Council mee ng and learn about Parent leadership, Upcoming Ac vi es and Volunteer * Wednesday, April 11: 11:30‐2 p.m., Greylock Apart‐ Opportuni es. Light lunch. On‐site child care if needed. ments Transporta on upon request. * Thursday, April 12: 11:30 a.m.‐2 p.m., Mohawk Forest Call 413‐664‐4821 to register. Community Center. Parents should bring proof of residency , a copy of their child's birth cer ficate; a copy of the most recent physi‐ cal (which must be within 12 months) and a copy of their child’s immuniza on records to date; and any medical records regarding chronic condi ons or food allergies.
Want to Learn how to start a garden? Workshop for parents & caregivers UNO Center, 125 River Street North Adams Wednesday, April 25. 1:00‐2:00 pm
Preschool Screening April 2 and 3 for Brayton Elementary School. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug. 31, 2018. Informa on on how to grow your own garden! To schedule an appointment or for informa on for all Each person will receive a small pack of seedlings. schools call 413‐776‐1666.
Registra on –call The Family Place at 413‐663‐7588. Child care and transporta on available if needed.
Children must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug. 31, 2018
3) How does a parent know if their child is "free playing" correctly‐‐what Play is how children learn, but are parents doing it right? should it look like? 1) Why is free play important? There is no wrong way to free play! As Whether you use the term "free play", "child‐led play", long as your child is leading the play, "child‐directed play", or something else, the underlying you're doing it correctly. And just be‐ concept is simple‐‐it's about le ng children PLAY! cause your child is engaging in free The term "free," when used in rela on to play, seems to play does not mean you cannot join in. spark in my mind that a child has reign over her play. That As adults, we can certainly assist our children, but let is, she chooses her materials or ac ons, she chooses who to play with (and that may be no one), and she chooses them come to you with ques ons or ask for help; don't when to begin and end her play. This type of play has pos‐ assume they need help at the first sign of struggle. Work‐ i ve benefits for social, emo onal, cogni ve, and physical ing through struggles, fears, and frustra ons are all part development in children. It gives children an opportunity of play. 4) Why might a parent be resistant to free play? Are to engage in healthy risks, to learn to work with others, and to resolve their own problems. Unfortunately, what there ways to overcome? we see a lot of today is not freedom, but "teacher/parent Today's societal norms seem to pressure parents into ‐directed play." This type of play is o en less messy and enrolling children into organized lessons, ac vi es and other programs, leaving very li le, if any, me for play. o en has an end goal that makes sense to the teacher, caregiver, or parent. While s ll considered play, it o en Some parents may think their child is ge ng enough play limits a child's crea vity, problem‐solving skills, and coop‐ in school or that play is "just for fun". While play is absolutely fun, it is so much more than that. era ve skills. Is has been described as "the work of a child." One 2) Is parent‐directed play or play that has a specific sugges on for overcoming this type of thinking is to outcome bad? spend uninterrupted me together as a family doing No, it is not always bad. But I think that parents (and something enjoyable together that the child picks. caregivers, as I am not yet a parent) need to Another way to overcome resistance to free play is to remember what the purpose of play really is. It's how give it a try. I can't tell you how many "ah‐ha" moments children learn; not just one of the ways, I've seen from parents as they watch their child engage at but THE way. When we look at play that way, it doesn't play events . It doesn't take long to no ce the actual make a whole lot of sense to have parents or caregivers learning that is taking place during this type of play, so I direc ng a child's play. It makes much more sense for a encourage you to give it a try! child to explore, experiment, manipulate, build, teardown, etc. at his/her own will. A simple box, a roll of By Bethany Marcello, Mar 6, 2018. Reprinted with Permission Read More at h ps://berkshires.macaronikid.com/ tape, some markers, and bo le lids can give a child the ar cles/5a9f023dd80e0d2c2230a3d8/why‐boxes‐and‐tape‐are‐ opportunity to learn something new! the‐best‐toys
Why Boxes and Tape Are the Best Toys
Resources for Families at The Family Center FREE Diapers
Family Center Book Bags To Go
10 Books to a bag Families can come to The Family Center to ~10 bags=100 books! Books pick up a pack of for Infants, Preschoolers & School Age Children. 10 diapers up to twice per month. Stop by The Family Center and pick up a bag to go and A collabora on with The Berkshire Diaper Project. you have 10 storybooks ready to read! Children’s Clothing Exchange Bags can be borrowed for 3 weeks. Free Gently used Children’s Clothing and Coats in Sizes Birth‐10. And Free Children’s Books. Drop in to The Family Center at 210, State Street, North Adams‐lower level offices, playroom and Clothing Exchange.
April 2018 Sun
1Caterpillars
8 Brain Building Week FREE Activity bags
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Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
2Busy Bees
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4Terrific Tots
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610:00‐11:00
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10:00 Playgroup at Williamstown Youth Center
Families at The Family Center
10:00 Family Center Playroom
group @ WYC
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10:00 Playgroup at Williamstown Youth Center
Families at The Family Center
10:00 Berkshire Nursing
1:00 Preschool Pals Family Center Playroom 6:30‐7:30 OOEY GOOEY NIGHT at WYC
16Patriots Day Holiday 17
10:00 Berkshire Nursing
Families at The Family Center
Family Center Closed
22 Butterflies
3:30 Adams Library LEGO Group
9Busy Bees
Grow Bean Sprouts
No Family Center Playgroups this week
10:00 Berkshire Nursing
4:30 DADS & Family Bowling call 413-664-4821 to register
23Busy Bees
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10:00 Playgroup at Williamstown Youth Center
Nursing Families at The Family Center
10:00 Berkshire
1:00 Preschool Pals Family Center Playroom
10:00 Playgroup at Williamstown Youth CTR. 6:00‐7:30 MOMS Night Out 413‐664‐4821 to Register
11:30 Teen to 23 @ Family Ctr.
3:00 Drop in Baby & Me Ɵme in the Family Center
11Terrific Tots 10:00 Family Center Playroom 3:00 Drop in Baby & Me
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10:00-12 Touch a Truck
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11:30 Jumping Bean Playgroup @ WYC 11:30 Teen to 23 Group at The Family Center 6:00 North Adams Library LEGO group
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11:30 Teen to 23 Group at The Family Center
Parking lot Behind Haskins
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10:00 BOOKS, BLOCKS, BALLS & BEADS. Register 413‐664‐4821 3:00 Drop in Baby & Me Ɵme at the Family Center 1:00‐2:00 Gardening at UNO 663-7588 to register.
29 Flower Power 30Busy Bees
11:30 Jumping Beans Play-
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11:30 Jumping Beans Playgroup @ WYC 11:30 Teen to 23 Group at The Family Center 6:00 North Adams Library LEGO group
Mass MoCA Kidspace REGISTER 413-664-4821 10:00-12:00 Drop- in PlayƟme at The Family Center
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10:00-12:00 Drop- in PlayƟme at The Family Center 11:00‐12:00 Every Child Ready to Read in Adams Register at 413-664-4821 10:00-12:00 Drop- in PlayƟme at The Family Center Playroom
10:00-12:00 Parent Volunteer Time at The Playroom. 11:00‐12:00 Every Child Ready to Read in Adams 1:00 PAC Mee ng Register 413-664-4821
The Family Center 210 State Street North Adams, MA 413-664-4821
Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc. P.O. Box 172 North Adams, MA 01247
Non– Profit Standard Permit #11 N. A. MA 01247
These programs are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care through a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant, The Massachusetts Children’s Trust., Massachusetts Department of Public Health, United Way, Williamstown Community Chest, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and by community contributions.
