North Suburban Child and Family Resource Network - Kathy's Korner

Warmer weather brings thoughts of outdoors. Spring's beautiful colors bloom all around us. Take advantage of the outdoors and the learning experiences it offers. We are fortunate to have the DCR trails, Babes in the Woods Hikes, The Stone and Franklin Park Zoos, Breakheart Reservation and so many more wonderful places to go that are low cost or not cost. What a great way to model exercise as a healthy part of life. "Spring" outside and explore, not just the scenery but most importantly, the pleasure of being together. Together we can make a difference. Peace, Kathy.

Parent & Infant Group (Ages 0 - 6 months)

Suggested Donation: $5 per class Drop-In
Mondays 11 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.

April 30, May 7, 14  and 21, June 4 and 11
Join other parents and caregivers of infants, newborn to 6 months, for support and information. Discuss the joys and challenges of being a new parent. Learn about growth and development, feeding patterns, soothing a fussy child, sleep habits, and other topics. Moms and dads welcome. Led by a Maternal Child Nurse.

Pre-Toddler Play and Learn Groups

 Suggested Donation: $5 per class Drop-In
Fridays, May 4 - June 8

Terrific Toddlers

(Ages 21 months - 47 months) Registration required

You may also register siblings 6-20 months with a terrific toddler age older sibling.
Please choose one six-week session at this time.  If you would like both sessions, check back with us Feb. 1 for availability.
    
Session 1:  Weeks of Jan. 9 through Feb. 13   
(Mondays – no class May 28 and last class is June 11)
    
Session 2:  Weeks of March 5 through April 9

  Group 1   Mondays, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
  Group 2   Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
  Group 3   Wednesdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
  Group 4   Wednesdays, 10:45–11:45 a.m.
  Group 5   Thursdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
  Group 6   Thursdays, 10:45-11:45 a.m.

Healthy Toddlers in Motion

(Ages 3 and 4 years old) Registration required.

Tuesdays, May 1 - June 5

10:45-11:45 a.m.

This six-week series is for children 3 and 4 years old and their caregivers. You will learn about appropriate eating habits for toddlers, strategies for getting them to eat and fun physicial activities to do with your toddler to help encourage a healthy lifestyle. Facilitated by staff members from Hallmark Health System's Rehabilitation and Nutrition Departments.

Woodland Nature Walks

(For 2 1/2 - 5 year olds) Registration required, call (781) 662-2722

Wednesday, April 25, 3-4 p.m., (Walkers - wooded trail)

Tuesday, May 15, 11 a.m. - 12 Noon (Walkers - wooded trail)

Join a DCR Park Ranger as we take a slow, half-mile walk on the trails of Breakheart Reservation. Along the way we will talk about the animals and plants that live there, how they benefit from each other, why they are important to people and what we can do to help protect our natural resources. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has many familiy activities. Go to http://www.mass.gov/dcr for more information. A special thanks goes otu to Mike Nelson and Mike Bruce from the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation for leading these hikes.

Hallmark Health System Education Programs

To register, please visit www.hallmarkhealth.org and click on the "Events Calendar" or call (781) 979-3615.

Shopping with Tots

(For toddlers 2-5 years old)

Tuesday, June 12, 9:30 a.m.

Are your shopping trips with your toddler stressful? Do you frantically run through the store and grab whatever you can before your toddler melts down? come join a Registered Dietitian from Hallmark Health System to learn successful strategies for a healther trip to the grocery store. Bring your toddler for a scavenger hunt through the store. We'll make food shopping fun with colors and numbers.

Parent Education

Trails in the Bathroom:  Successful Strategies for Toilet Training

Monday, May 7, 7-9 p.m. Registration required.

Perkins Lecture Hall, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital

Need some new ideas for toilet training? Are you unsure about the next step in this process? This workshop is for you. Parents, caregivers and teachers each play a role in supporting children through this important transition and this workshop will address strategies for both home and school. Please send any specific questions you have to kharlow@hallmarkhealth.org. Questions will be addressed at the workshop. Led by Megina Baker, who teaches early childhood education at Boston University and is a lead teach are BU's Early Childhood Learning Lab.

Sweet Dreams

Monday, June 4, 7-9 p.m. Registration is required.

Perkins Lecture Hall, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital

Is bedtime a challenge in your house? Do you dread naptime? You may know how important rest and relaxation are for health and well-being, but find that neither you or the children in your life are getting enough sleep. In this workshop for parents and caregivers of young children, we will talk about ways to ease bedtime and nap time routines so that everyone can feel rested. Please send any specific questions you have to kharlow@hallmarkhealth.org. Questions will be addressed at the workshop led by Megina Baker, who teaches in the Early Chilidhood Education department at Boston University and has been a toddler and preschool teacher for many years.

My Life, My Health

My Life, My Health is a six-session community workshop designed to give adults with chronic conditions (such as arthritie, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, etc.) and/or their caregivers the knowledge and skills needed to take a more active role in their healthcare. Subjects covered at the workshops include techniquies to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition and how to evaluate new treatments. The next session will be offered on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. at the Family Resource Network. For additioanl information or to register for this program, call Kathy Byrne at (781) 338-7572.

Moments with Molly:  Let's Talk Literacy

Did you know that the development of language and literacy begins at birth? Parents and caregivers are the key to every child's success in learning to read. You can help your child become an eager reader through simple conversations and reading together every day. It helps to talk daily about things that interest your child. You can trun everyday experiences such as waiting in lines, doing errands, talking about your child's ideas, observations and feelings into teaching moments that prepare your child for reading and writing. Every month, we post a "Lets Talk Literacy" information sheet on our website to help parents and caregivers learn more about the importance of early literacy. "Lit Kits" are also available at the Network for childern to take home. Lit Kits are designed to address specific subject areas and contain a fun variety of tools for learning including books, tapes, puzzles and dramatic play materials aimed at encouraging exploratory learning for young children. If you have any further questions or would like more materials on literacy, please ask a staff member at the Network. So have fun adn read, read, read.

Help Me Grow

Do you have concerns about your child's development physcially, socially or emotionally? The Family Resource Network can help. Through the Department of Early Education and Care, we have received access to the Ages and Stages Development and Social Emotional Grwoth questionnaire. You take the age appropriate questionnaire and answer the questions in the comfort of your own home. Once completed, you and a staff member of The Family Resource Network can meet to go over the form and see if there are any areas we can work on together. If you have any questions, please call our office at (781) 662-2272 and speak to a staff member.

Network News

Mothers Helping Mothers Free Clothing Store

Sponsored by the Family Resource Network Family Assistance Program and the North Suburban WIC Program. Available items include books, gently used maternity clothes, infant and children’s clothing (to size 10), diapers and baby essentials such as cribs, swings, strollers, bouncy seats and pack ‘n plays. If you are in need of a helping hand, call (781) 338-7579. If you would like to donate items, call (781) 338-7607 to arrange drop-off or pick-up. We appreciate your generosity, but please, no adult clothing, toys or car seats. We accept gently used children’s clothing, cribs or baby equipment. Diapers are always accepted, even opened packages of diapers.