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Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) Program for

Natick Families Funded by the MA Dept. of Early Education &

Care and Administered by ACCEPT Education Collaborative

ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS FREE OF CHARGE

How to Find Family Resources of Natick:

Visit The Cole Center, 179 Boden Lane, Natick, MA

Our website at www.natickfamilies.org

Click on CALENDAR link to see programs

“Subscribe” on our home page to receive program schedules and updates!

www.facebook.com/natickfamilies

Call 508-655-2557

Family Resources of Natick

Supporting all Natick families with children up to age 8 in the areas of child development, literacy and school readiness, family engagement and networking, and community resources!

Parent-child play-to-learn groups

Drop-In Play Times

Resources for new parents and transitions to school

“Welcome Baby” gift bags

Parent Resource lending library

Parenting workshops

Support and connections for childcare/preschools

Natick Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2019

If your child will be age 5 by August 31, 2019, you should hear from Natick Public Schools in early January about registration for kindergarten for 2019-2020.

If you are a new Natick resident, you are welcome to call Natick Public Schools at 508-647-6500 to make sure they have your correct contact information. The typical

process includes creating an online account (if this is your first NPS student), completing registration forms and family surveys, an ELL assessment for children who speak

languages other than English, parent orientation in March, student screening visits in April, orientation visits in May and classroom assignments in July.

We Appreciate Your Support of Family Resources of Natick! Before you shop on amazon.com, go to www.natickfamilies.org and click on the amazon logo...or the logo below if you’re reading this newsletter online! You’ll end up on the amazon page to do your shopping, and we will earn a generous 4%-10% of whatever you spend! The percentage earned is much higher than the amazon smile program that many organizations use, so you’re supporting a non-profit with the most “bang for the buck.” We are able to use the credits we receive for supplies and books that we would not otherwise be able to purchase. (Don’t worry, our earnings are anonymous and we can’t see who you are.) THANK YOU!

Diapers for Metrowest Families in Need

The Diaper Project is a regional emergency diaper bank for the Metrowest area. Eligible families can get a 2-week supply of diapers every 60 days. You can donate new or

open-package diapers by dropping at their location at the rear of 99 Hartford Street, Natick. The Diaper Project urgently needs size 5 and 6 diapers!

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Screen Time for Young Children?

Now that holiday season is over for many, your family might have added technology for the kids to your household. Are you wondering how to best handle technology with young children...and what limits to set? The Zero to Three website is a great resource for parents in deciding how to use screens in the best way with their young children! Studies have shown that screen time is not a substitute for human interaction, especially for the youngest children.

One of the most impactful ways to share screens with toddlers and preschoolers is similar to how we share books using“dialogic” reading...talking about the pictures, the rhymes and sounds, what the story is about, what you think will happen...all a part of the “back and forth” interaction between adult and child that builds brains! Check the website at www.zerotothree.org under “resources”, and for reviews of children’s videos and apps, many parents like www.commonsensemedia.org.

From the Program Director... The cold weather is here, so it’s a great time to talk about safe sleep for young infants. Baby stores are filled with

adorable, fluffy blankets and sweet crib sets with crib bumpers. As a new parent, I remember wanting to fill my daughter’s new nursery with all of the cuteness! When we were waiting for her and painting the room, I remembered that I had heard some advice about crib bumpers being a bad idea for young infants, but that didn’t keep me from wandering through stores and paging through magazines, dreaming of how adorable my child’s crib would look in the nursery. Fast forward 17 (!) years, and here I am at Family Resources of Natick, sharing information on child development with Natick families and child care providers. A few years ago I attended a state-wide meeting with my colleagues at which I heard a presentation called, “The Gift of Safe Sleep.” The meeting provided me with a refresher course on safe sleep recommendations from the MA Dept. of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and I want to make sure that every new parent of an infant, as well as grandparents, relatives and friends of a family with an infant, make sure that the littlest ones are sleeping safely, at night, for naps, and even during travel or visits to family and friends.

I was curious to see if the kids’ retail industry has reacted to current safety recommendations: with a quick Google search for “nursery decorating”, my first few hits were a popular TV decorating channel and an upscale children’s store, both showing pictures of cribs adorned with bumpers, pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals. Adorable, yes! But not safe for sleeping for a young infant. Are they OK to purchase? Sure!...but you need to remove these items from the crib during all sleep times until an infant is older.

Here’s a photo of what a safe crib looks like for an infant, and tips from the AAP for safe sleep for your baby:

always put baby to sleep on his or her back use crib and firm mattress that meet safety standards infants should sleep in their own sleep space infants should sleep near a caregiver use only a tight fitted sheet in the crib no soft bumper, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or sheepskins dress baby in a sleep sack or footie pajamas don’t overheat your baby -- the room should be a comfortable

temperature for grownups every sleep should be safe; avoid napping on sofas, beds, or chairs don’t forget supervised, awake tummy time! don’t smoke around an infant, or ideally in the house at all

go to safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/safesleepbasics/faq

for complete information

Even though young infants should be put to sleep on their backs until their first birthday, we always want to remember “tummy time.” Placing babies on their stomachs

when they are awake and someone is watching helps their head, neck and shoulder muscles to get stronger...a first step toward eventual sitting and crawling! Here’s a

great explanation of tummy time starting with very young infants: pathways.org/topics-of-development/tummy-time-2/

Click on the “abilities” tab for details by age.

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Mondays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Jan 7 - March 25 (NO GROUP ON 1/21 OR 2/18)

Drop-In Play

(children birth to age 5 (PreK) with parent or caregiver)

Held in the FRN Playroom. Drop-in play time is a great way to meet and make new friends with other families. You are welcome to bring a snack or lunch to be eaten at the table -- no nuts, please. Natick Families Only due to space limitations.

Tuesdays 9:30 - 11:00 am

Jan 8 - March 26 (NO GROUP ON 2/19)

Registration Required!

Mandarin Chat & Play

(children birth - PreK with an adult)

Held in the FRN Playroom. This 11-week playgroup includes free play, craft, snack brought from home (no nuts) and a circle time with stories and songs in Mandarin. Non-English-speaking caregivers are welcome. Please note the time change! Facilitated by a bilingual Natick parent in Mandarin Chinese.

Tuesdays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Jan 22 - March 19 (NO GROUP ON 2/19)

Registration Required!

Babies and Books

(children birth - 18 mos. with an adult)

You are never too young to enjoy a good book! Come join us

for this 8-week group as we share some tried-and-true favorite

titles and share tips to keep even the youngest of readers

engaged. We will even sing a few songs! While there won't be

a designated eating time, please bring a peanut/tree nut free

snack or lunch to eat while you are here. Facilitated by Miss

Linsey.

Wednesdays 9:30 - 11:00 am Jan 9 - Feb 13

Registration Required!

I’m a Big Kid Now! Playgroup

(2- and 3-year-olds with an adult)

Held in the FRN Playroom. A 6-week play-to-learn group

for 2s and 3s; will include free play, circle time with songs,

activities and time to enjoy a snack brought from home (no

nuts, please!) Facilitated by Natick parent Kissy Rakhlin.

Wednesdays 12:00 - 1:30 pm Jan 23 - Feb 13

Registration Required!

Winter Wonderland Playgroup

(ages 2-PreK with an adult)

Held in the FRN Playroom. Come in for some winter fun!

We’ll celebrate and learn about snow and ice in this 4-week

play-to-learn group for ages 2-PreK. Free play, circle time with

songs, winter-themed activities and time to enjoy a lunch

brought from home (no nuts, please!) Facilitated by Miss Pam.

Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 am

Jan 3 - March 28 (NO GROUP ON 2/21)

Registration Required!

In Collaboration with

Criterion-Middlesex Early Intervention

Integrated Playgroup (children 18 - 30 months

who are NOT currently receiving Early Intervention services from any provider,

with an adult)

Held in the FRN Playroom. For Natick children who are typically-developing and not receiving Early Intervention services, an 12-week play experience together with EI client children. Includes free play, snack (provided), circle time and other directed activities to promote fine and gross motor skills, language, and socialization. (Since snack is provided, please advise staff of food allergies when submitting registration.) Facilitated by Amanda Martin, developmental specialist.

Fridays 9:15-10:15am

Jan 4 - March 29 (NO OPEN GYM ON 2/22)

Open Gym

(sturdy walkers up to PreK with an adult)

Held in the Cole Center Gym. A weekly free play time for Natick children who are sturdy walkers with a parent or adult caregiver at their side, to climb, crawl, run and jump. A great place to get the wiggles out when it’s cold outside. NO food, beverages or wet boots in the gym; sneakers or rubber soled shoes are best. Natick families only due to space limitations.

Fridays 10:00 am - 12:00 noon

Jan 4 - March 29 (NO GROUP ON 2/22)

No Registration Required

Baby & Me...and More!

(babies 0-12 mos. with parent or caregiver; toddler siblings welcome!)

Held in the FRN Playroom. A special time for infants and

their parents/primary caregivers, but now welcoming an older

sibling (1s, 2s and 3s) as needed in order for parents to attend

with baby! Come meet other families with infants and chat

while enjoying our playroom and learning about other

resources in Natick. We'll have a baby scale available for

parents, and special visitors!

Jan-Feb-March 2019 Multi-Week Groups (see next page for single-session)

REGISTRATION ONLINE at natickfamilies.org by 9am on Jan 2!

new time!

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Wednesdays 10:45-11:30am

Jan 16 walker-24 mos. Feb 13 24-36 mos. Mar 13 24-36 mos.

Registration Required!

In Collaboration with

Energy Fitness & Gymnastics

E-Tots Gymnastics

(Energy’s waiver form will be emailed to

registered participants before each program)

Held at Energy Fitness and Gymnastics, 1 HF Brown Way,

Natick. Three special sessions of Energy’s E-Tots program for

FRN families! Please check ages for each session at left and

request the appropriate date. Energy Fitness requires one adult

helper per child for this class. Adult helpers are active

participants! Children will build gross motor skills, balance and

coordination with age-appropriate gymnastics equipment,

parachute and music!

Friday 11:00am - 12:oo pm

Jan 25

Registration Required!

BabyFit Stroller Class

(ages birth - toddler with an adult)

Held at the Cole Center Gym. Join us for a fun, 1-hour workout using the stroller, bands, and mini bands. Some form of cardio (walking, power walking, or running) will be incorporated into each workout. (It is recommended that moms wait to sign up until after their 6-week visit.) This is a family friendly class, double strollers and toddlers welcome. Limited to 15 families. Facilitated by Maureen McHugh.

Wednesday, March 27 Tuesday, April 23 Thursday, May 23

All from 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Save the Dates: Free Parent Workshops with

Jeanine Fitzgerald!

Workshop topics to be announced: online and phone registration will

open in January for all 3

Held at the Cole Center. Jeanine Fitzgerald draws on more than 35 years of professional experience as a certified teacher and Human Behavior Consultant and Specialist. FRN is proud to bring Jeanine to Natick for 3 parent workshops this spring! All will focus on your children’s emotional health, to help parents understand the promise of every child as well as the diversity of their needs. So that you can get excited while we wait for March 27, here’s a brief interview with Jeanine on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHqCD7PCXkg

Jan-Feb-March 2019 Single-Session Groups (see previous page for multi-week)

REGISTRATION ONLINE at natickfamilies.org by 9am on Jan 2!

Family Resources of Natick (FRN) is funded by the MA Dept. of Early Education & Care to provide free resources and programming to

all Natick families with young children.

You can be involved in supporting Natick children and families by joining us on the

FRN Community Council! Our next CFCE Community Council meeting will take place on

Friday, January 18 from 11:30am - 12:30pm at the Cole Center, 179 Boden Lane, Natick

For more information, please contact

Pam Koskovich, Program Director pam@natickfamilies.org or 508-655-2557

STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) Series for Preschool-Age Children

Wednesdays

9:30 - 11:00 am (See Below for Dates)

Registration Required! Sign up for any or all

of the dates below

Family Exploration Workshops

(children ages 3, 4 and 5 with adult)

Children are natural scientists, full of questions and excited to learn. This series of 4 workshops is for parents and kids together, to explore, learn, and bring home activities to continue the discoveries! You may register for any or all of the workshops. Group will include snack brought from home (no nuts) and a circle time! Facilitated by Molly Leitao, Natick parent & early childhood professional

Session 1: Science February 27 9:30-11am

This science workshop will include explorations of air and wind, bubbles, and shadow play as we guide parents to feel more confident engaging their children in science, by inviting them to observe, problem-solve and experiment together as a family.

Session 2: Technology

March 6 9:30-11am

Technology isn’t just computers and smart phones — for children it can be as simple as using a sand shovel or a spoon while developing fine motor skills. Join us to cut, pour and scoop with tools to explore technology together!

Session 3: Engineering

March 13 9:30-11am

Playing with blocks and other building materials helps children to learn about gravity, balance, shapes and problem solving. Join us for house building and brain building!

Session 4: Math

March 20 9:30-11am

Young children can notice patterns, shapes and categories — all of this is early math, a building block of later academic success for kids. Join us to sort, count, categorize, and measure our way to fun with math!

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Community Resources

ACCEPT Education Collaborative

www.accept.org

508-653-6776

Regional non-profit educational organization: special education

programs for students with moderate to severe needs, specialized

transportation, home-based services, behavioral and educational

consultation, professional development and technology services.

Call2Talk

www.uwotc.org/Call2Talk

508-532-CALL (2255)

Confidential mental health/emotional support call line for individuals

and families, 7 days/week, 24 hours/day, part of United Way.

Century Health Systems

www.centuryhealth.org

508-651-1786

Health education & wellness for Metrowest and beyond. Staff includes

Registered Nurses, Health Educators, Registered Dietitian and an

EMT Director. Curricula/courses for ages from preschool to seniors.

Child Care Resources www.sevenhills.org/affiliates/childrens-aid-family-services/child-care-resources-2/

508-956-7930

Assistance in locating local childcare, maintains state financial

assistance waiting list for childcare.

Criterion-Middlesex Early Intervention

www.criterionchild.com/ei_mid.html 508-620-1442

South Bay Mental Health

www.southbaymentalhealth.com 508-834-3100

Development evaluations, therapies, and playgroups for children up to

age 3. Parents can call directly without referral.

Family Promise Metrowest

www.familypromisemetrowest.org

508-318-4820

A cooperative, interfaith partnership offering hope to homeless

families with children through safe transitional shelter, meals, and

supportive case management as they seek permanent housing.

Framingham WIC Program

www.smoc.org

508-620-1445 WICmobile 781-775-5867

Provides nutrition/health education & healthy food free of charge to

Mass. families who qualify based on income guidelines. Electronic

card to buy food/formula, referrals for medical and other services.

Healthy Families http://www.criterionchild.com/index.php/programs/newborn-home-visiting

508-620-6587 Support and education for first-time parents under age 21.

Mass 2-1-1

www.mass211.org

Dial 2-1-1 on Touchtone phone

Link to state financial assistance program for child care and

preschool. Connects callers to information about critical health and

human services in their community including government benefits &

services, nonprofits, support groups and volunteer opportunities.

Natick Family Child Care Association

http://www.natickfamilychildcareassociation.com/ Network of family childcare providers, information about availability.

Natick Human Services Dept. (part of Community Services Dept.)

www.natickma.gov/community-services

508-647-6519

Information and referral, support accessing services, crisis

intervention, family counseling, and emergency financial assistance.

Natick Police Department (Car Seat Safety)

www.natickma.gov/police-department/pages/child-passenger-safety

508-647-9500

NPD has 3 certified safety officers who can check your car seat for safe

installation, by appointment twice/month.

Natick Public Schools

www.natickps.org

508-647-6500

Integrated preschool and full-day kindergarten through grade 12.

Serves children with special needs beginning at age 3 and provides

transitional support for incoming kindergarteners.

Natick SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee)

www.natickps.org/Districtinfo/sepac/main.cfm

NatickSEPAC@gmail.com

Dedicated to providing information, recommendations and

friendships to families in Natick looking for some connections.

Natick Service Council

www.natickservicecouncil.org

508-655-1791

Services include: food pantry, thrift shop, eviction prevention, utility

aid, crisis counseling, dental and mental health programs, and career

development.

Natick Together For Youth (NTY)

natickhighwebdesign.com/youthtaskforce/index.html

508-647-6623

A non-profit coalition comprised of parents, community members and

various Natick organizations which strives to improve the health and

safety of our town’s youth.

Natick VNA (Visiting Nurse Association)

www.natickvna.org

508-653-3081

Provides health care services to patients in their home (nursing,

therapy, social work, palliative care, telehealth.) Prescription drug

assistance available for those who are un- or underinsured.

Parents Helping Parents

www.parentshelpingparents.org

617-926-5008 x102 HOTLINE 800-632-8188

Parenting support groups (local group meets in Framingham) and

crisis hotline.

A Place to Turn/The Diaper Project

www.aplacetoturn-natick.org www.aplacetoturn-natick.org.diaper-project

508-872-7125

Emergency food and clothing for Metrowest area families. The Diaper

Project provides area needy families with emergency supplies of

diapers.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC)

www.smoc.org

Services include: childcare/Head Start, housing assistance, counseling,

resource and referral, shelters, among other

supportive services.

SPARK Kindness

www.sparkkindness.org

Supports parents, children and community; resources & videos for

parents. Initiatives include Natick/Metrowest Anti-Bullying Coalition,

parent programs, and a community kindness campaign.

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179 Boden Lane

Natick, MA 01760

Family Resources of Natick

Family Resources of Natick (FRN) is funded by the MA Dept. of Early Education & Care to provide free resources and programming to all Natick families with young children. The

grant is called the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant.

You can be involved in supporting Natick children and families by joining us on the

FRN Community Council! Our next CFCE Community Council meeting

will take place on Thursday, September 20 from 10:00 - 11:30am

at the Cole Center, 179 Boden Lane, Natick

For more information, please contact Pam Koskovich, Program Director

pam@natickfamilies.org or 508-655-2557