Strengthening Families Newsletter
Highlights from the Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham
Translate This Newsletter (Summer Edition)
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SUMMERTIME ADVENTURES CONTINUES WITH EXPLORE THE SEASHORE WITH JANE AND JEANETTE!
This week we travel with a friend to the seashore to explore the wonders of nature. At the beach we use all 5 senses. We take a walk on the beach, play by the water, touch the sand to build a sandcastle, listen to the waves, smell the saltwater air, taste the saltwater, touch a crab, hear the seagulls, and see the boats.
Here are some additional activities for you to try at home from children's stories and songs to fun activities:
- Songs: All the Little Fishes and the Waves in the Sea
- Children's Books: Octopus, Oyster, Hermit Crab, Snail: A Poem of the Sea by Sara Anderson; Hello Ocean Hola Mar by Pam Munoz Ryan; and, A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle. There are so many. Check out more at your local library. Call in and pick up curbside!
- Fun Activities: paper plate number octopus; 3 dimensional picture of the seashore; play sand, playdough, bread crumbs or brown sugar sand to hide pasta shells or other small creatures or rocks; cook mac and cheese with shell shape pasta; bathtime fun playing a float and sink guessing game where ahead of time you predict whether the object will float or sink.
Send us a note or a picture about your trip to the seashore or if you did any of the activities from our Live Zoom program. Lots of summertime fun inside or outside. Remember if you go to the seashore, to wear a hat, sunblock, sunglasses, water bottle, and your mask for extra protection from the sun and to prevent the COVID19 virus. Social distance 6 feet apart as the beach attracts many people. Safety first! Better to air on the cautious side!
Our last Live Zoom Summertime Adventures program is August 19th. If you plan to attend, sign up is required. We appreciate you completing the sign up AND registration form. If you have already signed up, no need to sign up again. A ZOOM invite to confirm your registration and attendance prior to each program will be sent to you via email. This program is also prerecorded to provide flexibility for families who are unable to ZOOM with us. Remember you can also visit our website to view any of our prerecorded signature "Play, Learn, and Grow Together" programs.
PLAY, LEARN, AND GROW TOGETHER: A VIRTUAL SUMMERTIME SERIES
If you missed one of the other Summertime Adventure programs, look no further as it's just a click on the link away!
- Summertime Adventures Week 1: A Visit to the Farm
- Summertime Adventures Week 2: Jamberry with Jane
- Summertime Adventures Week 3: Explore the Seashore with Jane and Jeanette
- Raising Emerging Bilinguals - Vamos A La Playa
PARENTCHILD+ NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS!
WHAT FAMILIES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHILD CARE REOPENING
If you are going back to an early education program and child care, learn more from the information provided by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) guidelines, "What Families Need To Know About Child Care Reopening". A children's story about Wearing Masks.
For the latest information from EEC, click here.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
We also want to make sure you are informed this summer and know where to go for emergency assistance during these uncertain times due to the pandemic. If you need additional community resources and information about guidance on COVID-19 related news, go to the City of Framingham, Framingham Public Schools, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and Center for Disease Control websites. In addition, the Resource Guide for Early Childhood published by the Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham (ECAF) is a useful reference with many community organizations and early education programs at your fingertips and included in the newsletter.
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For emergency food assistance call the Framingham Emergency Food Line (508-532-5479). For food or housing referrals, please contact the Family Resource Center (508-270-4313). If you or your child is having a mental health emergency, please call Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) at 508-872-3333 or call 911 or MASS 211 for assistance.
Se você precisa de ajuda emergencial para alimentação, ligue para a Linha de Emergência Alimentar de Framingham (508-532-5479). Se você precisar de assistência com encaminhamentos de alimentos ou moradia, entre em contato com o Centro de Recursos Familiares (Family Resource Center) que pode direcionar os recursos (508-270-4313). Se você ou seu filho estiverem tendo uma emergência de saúde mental, ligue para os Serviços de Emergência Psiquiátrica (PES) no 508-872-3333 ou ligue para 911 o MASS 211 para assistência.
Si necesita asistencia de alimentos urgente, llame a Framingham Emergency Food Line al 508-532-5479. Si necesita ayuda con respecto a vivienda o alimentos, por favor, comuníquese con el Centro de Recursos Familiares donde podrán referirlo a estos recursos (508-270-4313). .Si usted o su hijo tiene una emergencia de salud mental, por favor, llame a los Servicios de Emergencia Psiquiátrica de Advocates (PES) al 508-872-3333 o llame al 911 o MASS 211 para obtener ayuda.
FOOD SECURITY AND MORE RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
- 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)
- Framingham Public Library Children's Program - Sign up for ZOOM story times!
- Framingham Public Schools - Information for incoming Ks and new students and valuable resources to help with school transitions.
- Massachusetts Home Visiting Initiative Comprehensive list of resources
- Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care - learn more about the current status of early education child care program openings, COVID19 requirements, and more
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT THE SUMMER SLIDE?
IN KINDERGARTEN - A booklet to prepare you and your child for Kindergarten!
WGBH FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES AND MORE
WGBH has an array of learning resources for the 3-8 year old. Click below to enjoy these educational programs.
WGBH Family Fun Activities and More
FAMILY EDUCATION
BILINGUAL STORY TIME AND ACTIVITIES
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"
Virtual Program Hola Spanish! - All about the ABCs y La Letra B
Virtual Program Hola Spanish!, The Way I Feel, Así Me Siento Yo - a Story in Spanish
Virtual Program Hola Spanish! Capeza, Hombros, Piernas, y, Pies (Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)
Virtual Program Hola Spanish! La Oruga Muy Hambrienta (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)
Raising Emerging Bilinguals reads a classic bedtime story, "Buenas Noches Luna" Thank you Mae, Maya, and Mateo for sharing your bedtime routine with the ECAF family!
Raising Emerging Bilinguals vamos a la playa
Raising Emerging Bilinguals offers a story time as well as a blog written by a teacher and mother of two young children!
MORE LITERACY AND LEARNING RESOURCES
- 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
- The Coalition for Children - A variety of daily early learning curriculum themes
OUTDOOR RX
Resource Guide For Early Childhood 2020 Edition
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: 31 Flagg Drive or 49 Lexington St Framingham
Phone: (508)782-6932
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earlychildhoodallianceofframingham/
Twitter: @strongstart16