Family Focus | July 2019 news & updates
FUN IN THE SUN 2019 EDITION
The long line of highway traffic heading north on a sunny Saturday is a sure sign that summer has arrived ... and that we live in a very special place.

We have so many options right in our own backyard--visiting a wildlife refuge, riding the waves, and taking a hike are just the beginning.

Take a look at this BIG LIST of places and ideas for summer fun and get inspired to plan your next family outing.
UPCOMING PARENTING PROGRAMS
Summer + Reading = Happiness
(and learning!)
Summer is a great season for heading outdoors, exploring interests and trying new things. Connect summer experiences with books to give kids the opportunity to read for pleasure and learn more about their world.  Reading during the summer months helps prevent "summer reading loss" and it is a great way to spend time together. Visit the Reading Rockets website for learning activities, age-specific book lists and more!

And join us on Tuesday, June 25th for Summer Reading Success to learn strategies to spark your child's interest in reading this summer. Facilitated by Maureen Donnelly, M.Ed, Curriculum Manager, TobiiDynavox.
This summer, we also invite adults to crack a book with us, as we discuss No-Drama Discipline (Tuesday evenings in Portsmouth) and No Bad Kids (Thursday evenings in Somersworth). Read along with us each week, or just come to the discussion. More info at left and below.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
Soon the night sky will be filled with all the best displays the Seacoast communities have to offer. Take your blanket, bug spray, maybe some earplugs, and sit back and enjoy the show.

DON'T LET A LITTLE TICK BECOME A BIG PROBLEM!
Visit tickfreeNH.org for important information about protecting yourself and your children from tick bites and tick-borne disease.
ARE YOU RETURNING YOUR CHILD'S 'SERVES'?
Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back and forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called  “serve and return,”  and it takes two to play!  Read or watch this short video and learn how to have a “conversation” with your baby that helps build her brain!