Strengthening Families Newsletter
Highlights from the Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham
IT'S ALL ABOUT GROWTH AND METAMORPHOSIS!
LAST WEEK OF THIS SEASON OF PLAY, LEARN, AND GROW TOGETHER GROUPS
TUESDAY WITH GRACIE, 11:00 AND 1:00
WEDNESDAY WITH JEANETTE, 1:00
MOVE WITH EVE: YOGA+ FRIDAY AT 11:30
PLEASE COMPLETE END OF SEASON SATISFACTION SURVEY HERE. THANK YOU!
IN JULY OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS BEGIN AT FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH IN THE EARLY LEARNING ZONE. SIGN UP TODAY!
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ENGLISH: Need translation? On a computer/laptop, click "Translate" in the black box. On a mobile phone/tablet click the Accessibility Icon at the bottom of your phone screen and then click 'translate'.
MAY AND JUNE PROGRAMS REPRESENTED GROWTH
This week marks the end of another season of learning. Thanks to our master group facilitators, Jeanette and Gracie, for providing a high dosage of education in a one hour group. Thanks to the parents who engage fully in these activities with their children. The key to early learning ---- collaboration and meaningful interaction between parents, children, and new friends. Credit to the facilitators who guide tenderly the families along the early learning journey.
Planting seeds and the metamorphosis of a butterfly were central to the curriculum over the last several weeks. Gracie and Jeanette inspired the children and families through observation and hands on activities where they experienced the evolution of a butterfly and how a seed is nurtured into plant. Similar to how we tend to our families and grow our children....
Evidence based learning and pictures always tell the sorry!
SUMMER PROGRAMS!
SUMMERTIME ADVENTURES WITH JANE AND EVE
SUMMERTIME ADVENTURES RETURNS WITH JANE
DATES: WEDNESDAYS, JULY 6TH - AUGUST 10TH
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY, 49 LEXINGTON STREET
MOVE WITH EVE: YOGA+ DANCE, SONGS, AND MORE
(funded through the Framingham Cultural Council)
DATES: FRIDAYS, JULY 8TH - 29TH
TIME: 11:30 AM
BOTH GROUPS ARE HELD AT THE FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH IN THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT'S EARLY LEARNING ZONE!
COME GET COOL IN THE EARLY LEARNING ZONE!
DATE AND TIME SUBJECT TO CHANGE
CURIOUS TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT?
AGES & STAGES: The Building Blocks of Child Development
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a family friendly questionnaire that helps you learn more about your child’s development from 1 month to 5 ½ years of age. It looks at the five domains of development: 1) fine motor (the small muscles in the hands), 2) gross motor (the large body muscles), 3) communication (the expression and understanding of language), 4) cognition (early problem solving and relationship skills), and 5) social emotional development (social interaction and behaviors). Understanding your child's development can help you think about how to enhance their skills and anticipate what to watch for next.
This month we explore the building block of Social Emotional Learning. Social emotional development includes your child’s social interactions, regulation of emotions, sharing, turn taking, and so much more...
You may not realize it, but social emotional skills start early in infancy. Infants use different cries to communicate their needs, and learn to calm themselves with different supports like be spoken to or held. They become increasingly interested in looking at your face and other babies. They will respond differently to strangers and can express more emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, discomfort. Turn taking in infancy begins with taking turns with sounds and and imitating movements such as facial expressions, waving, and giving kisses.
Toddlers work on these skills in many different ways. They start to learn to calm themselves with adult support when they are upset. They are beginning to learn imitation, language, and movements to teach sharing and turn taking skills when playing with other children. They will also begin to engage in more pretend play such as pretending to talk on the phone or cook.
By preschool age, many children have mastered the early social emotional skills. They spend longer periods of time playing not only alongside peers (parallel play), but with them (reciprocal play). They can wait more patiently for a turn and begin to use their imagination to create stories during play. They express more emotions, can label them, and have more self control.
From these examples, you can see the building blocks of early social emotional learning. Do you want to learn about your child’s development? Are you looking for ideas to support a specific area of development? Click here to send your questions to us. Below you can increase your understanding of your child's development by completing the ASQ Questionnaire online.
A GLIMPSE AT THE PARENTCHILD+ HOME VISITING PROGRAM: GETTING SCHOOL READY
INTERESTED IN THE PARENTCHILD+ PROGRAM? CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION!
OPENINGS AVAILABLE STARTING IN SEPTEMBER!
Did you know Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham (ECAF) is the home for your local ParentChild+ program? Our program offers virtual visits for families with young children age 16 months to 36 months right here in Framingham for two years! The ParentChild+ Program will help your family in your role as your child's first and most important teacher. Our Early Learning Specialists share fun ways to help your child learn at home with free books and toys! We envision a world where every child enters school ready to succeed because every parent has the knowledge, skills, and resources to build school readiness where it starts: the home!
Throughout the 23 week school year, an Early Learning Specialist brings each week a gift of a high quality educational toy and book for your child to keep. Visits are 30 minutes long twice a week and can be scheduled at your convenience, day or early evening. You'll learn creative ways to read and play with your child and become actively involved in your child's education. We work together to ensure language isn't a barrier. There is NO COST!
So if you are a family who lives in Framingham with a child 16-36 months or know someone who you think may be interested, contact us at 508-782-6932 or email jdehaven@framingham.k12.ma.us for more information.
NEW! We now offer the ParentChild+ Family Child Care Educator Model for caregivers who take care of children in their home. Click Here to complete the Family Child Care Interest Form. To learn more about the ParentChild+ Family Child Care Model, click here.
To learn more about the internationally recognized home visitation program, CLICK HERE!
PLAY, LEARN, AND GROW TOGETHER WITH GRACIE - NEW AFTERNOON TIME TUESDAYS 11:00 AM and 1PM
LET'S GO TO KINDERGARTEN WITH JEANETTE - WEDNESDAYS AT 1:00
PJ FAMILY STORYTIME - 2ND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, 6:00 PM ON ZOOM
DADS & DISCOVERIES 1ST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH AT 10:00 AM
AND THERE IS MORE....
THE ECAF PARENTING JOURNEY SERIES: A PRERECORDED FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM
We will try to offer a road map stopping and exploring common grounds, celebrating developmental milestones, sharing inevitable pitfalls, and refueling with the energy that keeps us moving. These sources or tools advance our knowledge and provide us with more information allowing us to anticipate what may be ahead and plan our travels into Parenthood and Early Education accordingly. Let’s call it a guidebook that leads us through the parenting journey , not alone, but together as the journey can sometimes be lonely and it is always more fun when we have others join us, and, it’s easier to reach our destination safely. No matter how many stops or bumps along the way, we aim to ensure future opportunities for successful excursions.
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR 1ST STOP ON OUR ROADTRIP: DIALOGIC READING
BILINGUAL STORY TIME AND ACTIVITIES
Raising Emerging Bilinguals Thank you Mae, Maya, and Mateo for sharing stories and important conversations with the ECAF family!
- Storytime Bilingüe featuring “Baby Teeth/Dientes de bebe”
- Storytime Bilingüe featuring “This Bug Needs a Boat/Esta oruga necesita un barco”
- Storytime Bilingüe featuring “Los bebes aman/ Babies Love”
Storytime with Vera
- STORY TIME IN PORTUGUESE - "Vamos à caça de um Urso" (We're Going On a Bear Hunt)
- STORY TIME IN PORTUGUESE - "O Sapo Vai ao Médico"
FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS & MORE
WGBH FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES & MORE
WGBH Family Fun Activities and More
FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (FCSN)
OUTDOOR RX
Virtual Program 1: Bark Rubbing
Virtual Program 2: Nature Bracelets
More Comprehensive Resources.from Outdoor RX and the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Resource Guide For Early Childhood 2020 Edition
RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS INCLUDING FOOD SECURITY AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESOURCES
- City of Framingham Resources - click the link to access the City of Framingham website. There is helpful information and resources for residents as well as the latest updates on the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
WHAT FAMILIES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHILD CARE REOPENING Guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
Spanish - Portuguese - ChineseAn important creative and family friendly educational message about wearing masks
- Massachusetts Home Visiting Initiative Comprehensive list of resources
- MASS 211 need help call the multilingual hotline 24/7 to access resources at: 1-877-211-6277
- Social Story What Nathan and His Friends Can Do English Spanish Portuguese
- Hello I Am A Virus! A kid-friendly booklet about COVID-19. Author: Manuela Molina Cruz
English - Spanish - Portuguese - Arabic - Free From Audible Books - Children's Stories
ABOUT THE VIRTUAL HOME
The Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham (ECAF) has created virtual Play, Learn, and Grow Together programs for you to enjoy at home. Each week we will focus on a theme and create a Play, Learn, and Grow Together experience over the course of 2 - 3 videos. In addition, we will share other familiar programs that will include: PJ Family Story Hour. Let's Go to Kindergarten, Baby Talk, and more. We hope these videos will provide your family with ways to come together through literacy.
We will also share other links to programs, resources, and tips to help you navigate your daily routine. You can access the videos and resources in the following places:
- ECAF Email Communications
- ECAF Strengthening Families E-Newsletter
- ECAF Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham Facebook Page
- ECAF Live with The Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham Facebook Group
- ECAF website
- ECAF Twitter
Contact Us
Email: jdehaven@framingham.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/domain/72
Location: 19 Flagg Drive or 49 Lexington St Framingham
Phone: (508)782-6932
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earlychildhoodallianceofframingham/
Twitter: @strongstart16