September 2014 - Milford Public Schools

MILFORD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
PEGGY KELLY PROGRAM MANAGER
JUDY LOBDELL, EDITOR
Dates to
Remember
September
September 2014
Come Join us at Playgroups….for fun and so much more!
The Milford Family Resource Center at the Mathewson Elementary School will be starting their
weekly playgroups on September 15.
The mission of the Milford Family Resource Center is to provide the information, support, and
15th. Fall playgroups encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early
years of life.
begin
25th. Center Closed:
Rosh Hashanah .
November
8th. Preschool
Showcase (Pg. 5)
December
One way this information, support and encouragement is offered is through playgroup.
A key distinguishing feature of the Family Resource Center playgroups is their facilitation by
certified parent educators with qualifications and experience in early childhood and working
with families with children.
The playgroups create opportunities for relationships to be enhanced between parents and their
children, and parents with other parents. Parent educators will provide advice and information
on parenting issues using the Parents As Teachers research based on early childhood
information. Information about the Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards is
discussed and distributed to all parents. In addition referrals and information about Birth to
Three and the special education program of the Milford Public Schools are available, as well as
information about preparing children for preschool and how to access other sources of support
in the community.
6th. Holiday Concert
(pg. 4)
The playgroups are based on the age of the children.
Currently there are eight playgroups: one Infant Playgroup (Mondays), two Young Toddler
Playgroups (Tuesdays) two Toddler Playgroups (Wednesday), one Toddler Playgroup
(Thursday), and two Preschool Playgroups (Friday).
The Milford Family
Resource Center
@Mathewson School
466 West River Street
Milford, CT 06461
(203)783-3626
mfrc@milforded.org
Milford Family
Resource Center Staff::
Program Manager:
Peggy Kelly
Parent Educators:
Kathy Aspinwall
Judy Lobdell
Anne Mundy
The parent educators also provide parents the opportunity for personal visits to discuss the
specific development of their children. The personal visits often take place at the Family
Resource Center as well as at the family’s home.
During the years between birth and kindergarten there are important times when specific kinds of
learning must take place for children to develop to the fullest. The Milford Family Resource
Center can help you to capture those windows of opportunity so your child starts school ready to
learn. If you would like to join a playgroup or if you would like a personal visit, please feel
welcome to call us at 203-783-3626 or email at mfrc@milforded.org
The groups that still have openings are as follows:
Monday 9:30-10:30 Infants (up to 1 year)
Tuesday 9:30-10:30 or 10:45-11:45 Young Toddlers (1-2 year olds)
Wednesday 10:45-11:45 Toddlers (2-3 year olds)
Thursday 9:30-10:30 Toddlers (2-3 year olds)
Friday 10:45-11:45 Preschoolers (3-5)
Cognitive Skills of Preschoolers
In spite of their many advances, preschoolers can be “illogical, egocentric, and
one-dimensional in their thinking," observe Heather Tomlinson and Marilou Hyson
in Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving
Children from Birth through Age Eight. “Piaget referred to these years as a
'preoperational' stage of development, emphasizing that children ages 2 to 7 are less
capable in their thinking compared with older children. More recent research indicates
that preschoolers have greater cognitive abilities than has been sometimes assumed, at
least when children are in familiar situations and tasks are clearly explained to them."
"Preschool children can appear to know or understand more — or less — than they
actually do. At times they seem mature and relatively advanced in their thinking, and
then later seem limited and inflexible. As preschoolers move from and between
simpler to more complex thinking skills, it is helpful to remember that they are not
merely functioning less effectively than older children or adults; their narrow focus on
a limited amount of information at any given time is actually useful while they are
learning so many things so rapidly. That is, because they are just on the cusp of
grasping a variety of concepts, words, and skills at a new level, they learn best when
they can attend to just one thing at a time... rather than attending to multiple things."
Article from Everyday Exchange June 2014
A preschooler’s brain is more than
twice as active as an adult’s brain.
This allows them to process and
retain new information quickly.
(from CHDI.org)
If you are looking
*Silverman’s Farms
for some fun fall things
Easton, Ct.
to do, these orchards *Bishop’s Orchards
offer a variety of
Guilford, Ct.
fruits to pick.
*Lyman’s Orchards
Middlefield, Ct.
Cognition
Making sense of the world, staying with something
and working hard to solve problems
What adults can do...
Encourage
• Exploring
• Asking Questions and Making Choices
• Pretending and Having Fun
• Remembering
• Trying New and Difficult Things
Infants and Toddlers
Pretend with your child. Pretend a
banana is a phone or feed a doll.
Give your child choices. Let your child
choose a snack or what to wear.
Give your child lots of different
experiences. Explore your
neighborhood parks, libraries and
museums. Play with things that are
used in different ways (to make
sounds, build, etc.)
Preschoolers
Use everyday routines to notice patterns.
Point out familiar routines (first we
wash hands, then we eat).
Sort and categorize throughout the day.
Picking up toys and laundry are great
sorting activities.
Wonder with your child. “I wonder if it’s
going to rain today.” Encourage your
child to ask questions.
Show your baby how things work.
“Look at how the car rolls.”
Point out and use symbols. Encourage
your child to recognize and name signs
and symbols.
Play games that involve back-and-forth.
As your child gets older, help
them wait for a short time
Support your child to finish things they
start. Help them plan and stick with
things for longer periods of time.
Physical Health & Development
Learning to take care of yourself and to do things with your
body and hands so that you grow strong and healthy
What adults can do...
Encourage
• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Helping with Self-care
Infants and Toddlers
Preschoolers
Lay your baby on their tummy while
they are awake. “Tummy time”
helps build strong muscles.
Talk while you take care of them.
Have them be a part of healthy
routines such as waking up, eating
and dressing.
Encourage exploring objects with
their hands. Give them small, but
safe, items to use with their hands.
Make sure they are healthy. Children
who get enough rest and healthy
food learn better.
Find a time and place for your child to
run and play. Running, jumping and
climbing help build strong muscles and
bones.
Have your child take part in self-care.
Talk to them about why being clean
is important; show them how to use
buttons and zippers, etc.
Offer your child healthy food choices.
Talk about healthy food and eating a
variety of good things.
Make sure they get enough rest.
Preschoolers need 11-13 hours of sleep
each day to stay healthy and learn
for a Live Concert
featuring
Hosted by the Milford Family Resource Center
Saturday, December 6th, 2014 at
Mathewson Elementary School
TICKETS:
466 West River Street Milford, CT
$5.00
in
advance;
$6.00
at
.
the
door.
Call 783-3626 or visit the Milford Family Resource Center
at Mathewson Elementary School
Granting Christmas Wishes:
If you know of a family in need at Christmas, please
encourage the family to send a confidential email to:
pkelly@milforded.org
If you would like to assist a family in need at Christmas, please
email pkelly@milforded.org.
Kids Count of Milford
Peggy Kelly, Executive Director
September, 2014
sponsored by
Kids Count of Milford
Kids Count is pleased to announce that the Annual Preschool Showcase will be held:
Saturday, November 8 2014
from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at the
Milford Public Library on New Haven Avenue
Preschools from Milford will be there to share information about their programs which will
include the school’s philosophy, curriculum, registration information and fees.
Parents will have the opportunity to meet the staff and ask questions that will be helpful to
them as a beginning step in deciding which preschool they will enroll their child.
Kids Count of Milford will provide information on the importance of
preschool and how to choose a preschool
Staff from the Milford Family Resource Center will be on hand to discuss
how to prepare your child for preschool.
If you have questions about this event, please feel free to call
Peggy Kelly, Executive Director,
at 203-783-3627 or email at pkelly@milforded.org.
Children are welcome!!
The Kids Count of Milford Board Meeting is scheduled for
8:00 am, Wednesday, October 15 at the United Way of Milford.
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Milford Yacht Club—Kiwanis Holiday Gathering and
2014 Keeping Milford Warm Event.
This project of Keeping Milford Warm was started by Kevin McGrath and Betty Waterman two
years ago with the strong support and leadership of President Bob Joy, incoming President,
Bill Richards and the entire Kiwanis Club membership to help families desperately in need of
heating oil. If you would like to attend the Kiwanis Holiday Gathering or if you would like to
contribute to Keeping Milford Warm, visit:
www.keepingmilfordwarm.com
************************
Milford Parent Leadership Training Institute
is accepting applications for its annual 18 week class designed to teach parents how to find
their voice, become lifelong agents of change and make the Milford community the best it can
be for our children. The new session begins in January, 2015
This is a collaborative project by the Milford health Department,
the United Way of Milford and Kids Count of Milford.
Who Benefits from PLTI?
Parents, children and communities benefit from PLTI. Parents gain self-confidence
using their skills as change agents within the community.
Children benefit when parents participate more in their lives as
advocates and decision makers.
Communities benefit as parents use their tools to inform and advocate.
For more information, contact Lesley Darling at 203-783-3383
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