Beginning Years Family Network 13 Providence Road | Sutton MA 01590 508-865-5920 | www.byfn.org Serving the towns of Auburn, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Sutton and Upton BYFN Family Update BYFN is happy to enclose the Spring 2015 schedule of events, which includes parent/child Play & Learn groups at BYFN Family Center in Sutton, music groups at Millbury Library and parent workshops at the YMCA, Boroughs Branch, 4 Valente Drive (across from the Christmas Tree Shop on Route 20) in Westborough. Registration for Spring I programs is now available at www.byfn.org and will remain open until 8:00 am on Thursday, April 2nd. At this time, we are registering families for Spring Session I only. Families will receive an email in May for Spring Session II registration. Spring 2015 Next Council Meeting To be announced at the BYFN Family Center and mailed to Council members BYFN Online Registration Please visit www.byfn.org and click “Spring I Registration” which will bring you to an online registration form. Complete this form to register for all parent/child groups (by priority) and parent workshops. Families will be entered into ONE parent/child group (Play & Learn or Tots & Tunes) by electronic lottery or be placed on a waitlist. You will receive an email by Friday, April 3rd confirming your group. Families who are placed on a waitlist will receive an email indicating any groups with openings. These slots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Please call BYFN at 508-865-5920 if you are unable to register online Please note: Any family who is new to BYFN or who did not participate in a Winter Session II parent/child group will have first priority for a Spring I parent/child group and their registration form will be processed before the lottery (on a first come, first served basis). Families who participated in a Winter II parent/child group will be entered into the lottery. Join BYFN If you are new to BYFN and would like to receive BYFN email newsletters (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) and announcements about registration dates, parent workshops and other information, please visit www.byfn.org and click “Join BYFN” to register your family. Thank you! Thank you to all families and community agencies for your support of BYFN. A special thank you for all donated supplies! Happy Spring! Beginning Years Family Network is funded by the MA Department of Early Education & Care and administered by the YMCA of Central MA, Boroughs Branch. All of the programs are free of charge with childcare offered for parent workshops. Inside This Issue Parent/Child Groups 2 Parent Workshops 3 A Look Ahead 4 Play & Learn Group Guidelines 5 Spring 2015 PLAY & LEARN GROUPS Groups held at BYFN, 13 Providence Road, Sutton MA Play & Learn Groups provide the opportunity for parents and children to interact with each other in a safe, developmentally appropriate environment. Children learn to play, share, develop listening skills, communicate and build social skills. A facilitator will introduce literacy, music, art, science, math and movement activities during free play, circle and story time. Parents/caregivers are able to share ideas, develop relationships and expand their support system. A lending library and resources are available. Please register online for ONE Play & Learn Group or ONE Tots & Tunes group, and parent workshops at www.byfn.org. Call 508-865-5920 if you are unable to register online. Spring Session I: April 6 – May 15 Spring Session II: May 18 – June 19 Registration will remain open until 8:00 am on Thursday, April 2nd No group Monday, May 25 Registration will open May 4 and remain open until 8:00 am on May 14 *PLEASE NOTE: Due to allergies, bring your own snack and drink for your child to playgroup. Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri at 9:15-10:30, Play & Learn Groups, all ages Includes free-play, art, science, math & movement activities, story time, songs and snack Mon, Tues & Thurs at 10:45-12:00, Play & Learn Groups, all ages Includes free-play, art, science, math & movement activities, story time, songs and snack Tuesday at 1:00-3:30, Afternoon Free Play Come meet other families to socialize and play. No facilitator at this time — parents/caregivers are responsible for cleanup please. No registration required. Wednesday at 9:30-11:00, Toddler Group, ages infant to 2 years For parents with children, infant to 2 years, to enjoy free-play, stories, songs, snack and movement fun Tots & Tunes at Millbury Public Library, 128 Elm St., Millbury MA Spring Session I: April 10 – May 15 (NO class on April 24) Spring Session II: May 22 – June 19 Friday at 10:15-11:00, Tots & Tunes, all ages, at Millbury Library Friday at 11:15-12:00, Tots & Tunes, all ages, at Millbury Library Come join Miss Ingrid from Apple Tree Arts for a joyful music and movement experience for young children with parent/caregiver. She will introduce musical instruments, songs, rhymes and dance. Spring 2015 PARENT WORKSHOPS Workshops are held at the YMCA Boroughs Branch, 4 Valente Drive in Westborough (across from Christmas Tree Shops on Route 20). An email reminder for each parent workshop will be sent with information to register for free childcare. *“Play: Unifying the Mind, Body & Spirit” on Tues, March 24 at 6:30 to 8:00 Children haven’t changed, childhood has. Children no longer have the freedom to explore fields and woods, or find special places. Informal games on the playground have turned into structured leagues by age 4. We now have programs with scripted teaching, computerized learning, standardized assessment, and decreased time for recess on playgrounds that have been determined to present too much risk to safety. All of these trivialize and undermine children’s natural capacities for meaningful lessons learned through play. This session examines this one feature of childhood – play. “Behavior Fundamentals” on Tues, April 28 at 6:30 to 8:30 A child’s behavior is not the problem to be fixed, nor is the child. Behavior is a symptom of an unsolved problem and a form of communication. Get ready to examine the principles that govern behaviors and strategies of positive guidance from prevention to crisis intervention. The ultimate goal of any system of discipline is to solve the problems when possible, not to coerce through quick fixes. This workshop will be facilitated by Erin Fournier, a Certified Human Behavior Consultant and Specialist, and daughter of Jeanine Fitzgerald. *“No Senseless Behavior” on Tues, May 26 at 6:30 to 8:00 Challenging behaviors are not just a reflection of some emotional or social disturbance in a child. They are a symptom of an unsolved problem, often related to unmet needs or a lack of skills and resources. Therefore, we must focus on what a child needs, instead of what an adult or system demands. It is time we move beyond tradition and see challenging behavior as an opportunity to teach alternative ways to gets authentic needs met. This session helps us do just that. *“Raising a Happy Child” on Tues, June 16 at 6:30 to 8:00 Happiness is a gift we gift ourselves and our children. Too often we hope it finds us or we pursue it in places or ways it will never be found. Together, we will be introduced to the pursuit of happiness for our children: defining it, examining attributes that lead to it and applying ways to behave that achieve it. *These workshops will be facilitated by Jeanine Fitzgerald, a certified Human Behavior Specialist, author, speaker, consultant, master trainer and owner of The Fitzgerald Institute of Lifelong Learning. With experience as a certified teacher, mental health professional and mother of three grown children, she understands the promise of every child, as well as the diversity of their needs. To learn more about Jeannine and her work, please click here to visit her website. (www.thefitzgeraldinstitute.com) Beginning Years Family Network 13 Providence Road Sutton, MA 01590 A network of activities, support, education and community resources for families with children prenatal through age 8. Beginning Years Family Network is a grant program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and administered by the YMCA of Central MA/Boroughs Branch. Brain Building in Progress Free Family Event at the YMCA* on Wednesday, April 15th at 10:30 – 12:00 Animal Story time at 10:30 am with music & movement ANIMAL ADVENTURES at 11:00 am – Enjoy a memorable learning experience with gentle mammals, reptiles, amphibians, bugs and a surprise guest! Children will have lots of petting time and personalized interaction. Safety and cleanliness are top priority. Registration is NOT required. All families are welcome! Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA* on Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 – 12:00 Come join the fun with Mr. Vic from Music Together, Family Story Walk, vendors, games, crafts, face painting and much more! Registration in NOT required. All families are welcome! BYFN Summer Schedule at BYFN Family Center in Sutton BYFN will be offering morning Drop-in playgroups Monday—Thursday at 9:30-11:00 am with parent facilitators and a simple craft/science activity, snack time, story, songs & movement. No registration is required for summer groups. Dates for programs will be available in the summer newsletter (pending grant approval). YMCA* Summer Camp at Boroughs Family Branch Sunshine Kids Camp (ages 3-5), Camp Boroughs (ages 6-11) and Adventure Camp (ages 7-12) For information: www.ymcaofcm.org or contact Joe Bertone at 508-870-1320, X316 or [email protected] *YMCA is located at 4 Valente Drive in Westborough (across from Christmas Tree Shops on Route 20) Beginning Years Family Network Play & Learn Group Guidelines Parents/caregivers are responsible for supervising and helping their child(ren) at all times. Sick children should not attend playgroup to prevent illnesses from spreading. If your child has a fever, severe cold (thick runny nose) or a contagious illness, we ask that he/she remain at home for as long as the symptoms exist. Please wait 24 hours after a fever to return to group. The playgroup experience is intended to give parents an opportunity to play with their child(ren) in the company of other parents. Parents should play along with their child during free play and are encouraged to participate in music and story time. If toddlers see parents sitting quietly during story time they will, in time, sit and listen. Participation in all aspects of the playgroup is encouraged yet optional since toddlers are independent thinkers who like to explore on their own. Parents are always encouraged to share a story, music, art/science/math activity, parenting article or resource at playgroup. Please do not bring toys from home to playgroup since it is difficult to share these toys. Parents should encourage and assist their child(ren) in putting toys away. Please place any toys that your child has put in his/her mouth in the bucket labeled “toys to be washed”. Please bring a drink in a non-spill cup and a snack for your child to playgroup. Please eat and drink at the table only during snack time. Children do not have to participate in snack time but they should not eat anywhere else. Parents need to help their child with snack and clean up. Donations of napkins, paper towels and cleaning materials are greatly appreciated. Since toddlers are only beginning to develop their socialization skills, many of them will exhibit aggressive behavior towards another child. This is normal behavior for children at this age and should be expected. If your child is being aggressive, please physically remove him/her from the situation. Use calm, simple language to explain to your child what happened. Try to redirect the children in play. Some children need actual physical space apart from others in order to regain their emotional balance. You can take your child to a quiet corner or into the next room to give him/her a chance to calm down. Stay with your child until he/she is ready to return to the group. If your child is unable to return to the group, don’t despair and try again next week. This is common toddler behavior. Please bring a change of clothes in case a child has a bathroom accident and wets or soils their clothes. If a child has a bathroom accident and dry clothes are not available, a child will not be able to stay at playgroup. Please have children wear play clothes to playgroup. Please leave promptly after playgroup so the room can be set up for the next group. If you are unable to attend a playgroup, there is no need to call BYFN. If you are absent from three consecutive playgroups, you will be contacted if there is a waitlist to determine if you are still interested in attending this playgroup. You will not lose your spot due to absences. Please call BYFN at 508-865-5920 if your schedule changes and you are no longer able to attend a group.
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