March 2020 A publication of the Howard County Office of Children and Families Family Institute

“ If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves." Carl Jung

The Howard County Family Institute Click to see our calendar of events . More family workshops are scheduled onsite than what is listed on our calendar. Consider hosting a workshop at your school or organization. Contact us today .

Read Across America Day Monday, March 2 In Honor of Dr. Seuss' Birthday Reading is fun and has many benefits. Some reading recommendations from fatherhood.gov : Read aloud to your children every night. Help them discover their favorite things and find books about those interests. Remove distractions like televisions, phones and iPads. Set an example: let them see you reading around the house. Talk about the material with them. Put on a play or show in which children dress up and reenact the events of a book. Have your child write their own story, or write a different ending to a story they’ve read. To read the entire fatherhood.gov article, click .

Looking for fun ideas on engaging ways to read with your child? Watch this video from ReadyRosie, click . Don't have Ready Rosie yet? Click here to get free access.

Parenting for Resilience and Inclusion Wednesdays: March 18; April 1, 15, 29; May 6, 20; June 3 6:30 - 8:45 pm; light dinner 6:00 p.m. (Child care on request) Kittamaqundi Community Church, 5410 Leaf Treader Way, Columbia 21044 Are you a parent or someone instrumental in raising children, teens or young adults and would like to know how to help them grow more resilient, inclusive and have a greater sense of belonging? This seven-part series will feature experienced facilitators who will lead the group through difficult topics that are current in your young person’s life, and will help draw out the expert in you. Kittamaqundi Community Church is sponsoring this non-religious group as a service to the community. All are welcome and fully included. FREE. Application , click here . Deadline: March 9. Contact Ken Katzen:  kkatzen01@gmail.com .

Confident Child Summit FREE: Online March 3 - 6 This summit, s ponsored by www.gozen.com, hosts over 20 speakers that are experts and world leaders in confidence, resilience, education, and psychology. Topics discussed will cover tested methods to boost confidence and decrease anxiety so that your child may build their self esteem and thrive in social situations. Register for the Confident Child Summit here .

Bright & Quirky Child Summit 2020 FREE: Online March 12 - 16 A "bright and quirky" kid is also called twice exceptional or "2e" because they have both advanced abilities and lagging abilities at the same time. This online summit is available for parents to l earn tools and strategies and includes topics such as parenting a twice exceptional child; navigating your child's education; helping with their stress and anxiety; and developing executive function skills. C lick here to register and t o see the psychologists, educators and child development experts that will be presenting.

Parent of Students Receiving Special Education MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. YOUR OPINION MATTERS! Parents and guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the MD State Dept. of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services. The survey may also be completed online by May 18. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in HCPSS. Your voice can make a difference for your child and many other children. To learn more, visit www.mdparentsurvey.com . ANNUAL MEETING WITH HCPSS DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION Thursday, March 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. NonProfit Collaborative of Howard County 9770 Patuxent Woods Dr., Columbia 21046 Terri Savage, Department of Special Education (DSE) Executive Director, and other members of DSE and Student Services from HCPSS will present at the annual open meeting and discuss the Special Education Strategic Plan. Smaller groups will allow for participants to ask questions and provide feedback to the staff. Sponsored by the Howard County Autism Society   and open to any family of a student with an IEP or IFSP. Admission is free.

The Parent Power Group by Therapeutic Connections An Introduction into Mindful Parenting. March 19, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Understanding My Child(ren)’s Needs. April 1, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Roger Carter Center, 3000 Milltowne Dr. Ellicott City, 20143 FREE! Dinner provided, space is limited. For more details and to r egister, click here .

Recreation and Parks 2020 Spring/Summer Activity Guide Now available online . With two seasons worth of programs, classes, special events and sports leagues to choose from, there's something for everyone. Online registration for Howard County residents begins Wednesday, March 4 at 6:00 p.m.

Too Small to Fail Spotify Playlists Listening to music and singing with your little one can play a powerful role in helping to support his/her early brain and language development. Music introduces children to new words, sound patterns and  more , which helps develop listening and comprehension skills. These skills help build the necessary foundation for  learning how to read. Also, s inging and dancing with your baby is a great way to have fun while you bond. Look at Too Small To Fail's Spotify list to find songs to sing with your child!

‌ Super STEAM Saturday March 7, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. North Laurel Community Center Children enjoy special hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math activities from special guests including Abrakadoodle, Bricks4Kidz, Chess Wizards, Club Sci Kidz, Little Medical School and more! Pre-registration is not required, but encouraged. Click to purchase tickets $5.

CARE Line C hild and A dolescent R esources and E ducation 410-313-CARE (2273) (voice/ relay) or children@howardcountymd.gov Howard County provides a FREE information and referral service for people who have questions about children in Howard County. The CARE line staff works with families to identify their needs and help find solutions. Topics include: county resources, behavior issues, finding child care, school age programs and camps, child care assistance, special needs, parenting classes, health/mental health concerns, grandparent support, financial assistance, support groups, and adolescent resources.

HoCo Counts, 2020 Census Children under the age of five had the highest undercount of any age group in the 2010 Census (nearly 1 million children.) When young children are not counted, support for programs such as health insurance, hospitals, child care, food assistance, schools, and early childhood development, is impacted because the more children there are, the greater the need. This is why it is so critical that all children are counted. To learn more information about young children, click . To get fliers in other languages, click. To learn more, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/2020census.

Howard County Library System Click to Register CAREAPP: March 5, 2:00 p.m., Elkridge Branch. Learn more about available health and other social services available to Howard County residents. Human Trafficking Awareness March 11, 7: 00- 8:00 p.m., Central Branch Ukulele Jam Session March 17, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Elkridge Branch Paying for College or Technical School: March 23, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., East Columbia I'm Going to Be a Big Brother/ Sister: March 28, 2:00 p.m., Miller Branch

Welcome to The PLAY Project ™ Tuesday, March 3, 10:30-12:30 p.m. Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd. Ellicott City, MD 21042 Parents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and early childhood professionals (therapists, educators and paraprofessionals) are invited to attend this video workshop. Learn practical tips to help the young child with ASD throughout their life. Watch video case studies of PLAY Autism Intervention in action. Participate in interactive activities that will help you learn how to understand a child’s unique profile, including their social-emotional development and sensory needs, and how to use the power of play and grow through joyful relationships. For more information, click on the flier . To register , email Lori Ann Madhok at loriannmadhok@outcamethesun.com.

Free Tax Preparation Individuals or families with an income of $56,000 or less can receive free tax preparation with the assistance of the MakingChange Center, a Howard County nonprofit. Tax preparation services are located at t he MultiService Center in North Laurel and the NonProfit Collaborative in Columbia. To learn more and make an appointment, visit the MakingChange Center or call 410-234-8008.

Howard County Physical Activity Organized Youth Sports Guide Looking for places to help your child get exercise? The Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (HCLHIC) created a guide of the resources available in Howard County that connect to physical activity. Click here.

Physical Activity Guidelines Last published in 2008, the Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) provides science-based guidance to help people ages three years and older improve their health through participation in regular physical activity. These guidelines reflect the proven benefits of physical activity and outline the types of exercise recommended for different ages and populations. Specifically, chapter 3 focuses on: preschool-aged children (ages 3 through 5 years) should be physically active throughout the day to enhance growth and development. Children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 should do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. For more information, refer to the Complete Guide or Guideline Summary.

Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City Monday, March 30, 7:00 p.m., Atholton HS Auditorium Monday, April 27, 7:00 p.m., Howard HS Auditorium Free, and o pen to the public, this program is for students and parents/adults. Ocean City Police and a former member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol (and a current HCPSS administrator) will speak about things to be aware of and concerns to put on your radar.

Searching for Spring Saturday, March 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Columbia Sports Park. Children ages 2 to 8 will enjoy crafts, an egg hunt and entertainment from Daisy the Clown. Open to residents of CA-assessed property only. The event is free but advance tickets are required. Co-sponsored by the Villages of Columbia, t ickets available at each village office . Bring proof of address when picking up tickets. Questions, call 410-730-7327.

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