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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County |
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Please forward this email to friends,
or invite them to sign up here:
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Inspirational Words to Incorporate in our Lives, from Martin Luther King: Love, Compassion, Non-violence, Community, Justice, Equality, Liberty, Peace, Freedom, Dream!
We see a lot of helpers all around the county. Some are professionals doing their jobs and some are volunteers. These are difficult times for all. Wave, offer a thumbs-up and shout out a "Thank you!" Better yet, check out volunteer opportunities at The Volunteer Center or help a neighbor. After today, the weather reports show at least a week of sunshine, a blessing for all!
For "a collection of climate- and drought-related information, including current U.S. Drought Monitor information as well as long-range forecast precipitation, temperature, and drought information", check out NOAA's California Nevada River Forecast Center. When you land on the page, just scroll down for outlooks 6-10 days, 8-14 days, 3-4 weeks, 30 days and 90 days.
Lastly, please read the three perspectives I sourced on teens and social media. They cover why to ban certain apps, why not to ban access and provide us with a larger picture!
Enjoy the sunshine and clean-up, Parmalee
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Make Time to Make and Maintain Friendships
with Friends and Family!
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A Welcome Message from Triple-P
"Raising children can take so much time out of your schedule that making and maintaining friendships can be a challenge, but it's worth the extra effort to create a network of people who care about you and your family!" For today's Positive Parenting Tip, we urge you to schedule time with friends or family..
Find tips on how to connect with others as a parent here. |
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For some people, making friends is easy. For others, it is more challenging. However, having friends that you enjoy and can count on is essential for you and for the strength of your family.
- Try something new: Volunteer, take a class, or attend an event to meet new people with common interests.
- Take a risk: Reach out and make the first move. Invite someone to hang out at a specific time and place.
- Don’t give up: Sometimes friendships don’t work out. Don’t take it personally. Keep trying with others.
- Stay close: Friends can slip away when you don’t stay in touch. Reach out regularly.
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Register for the 2023 Parenting Power Summit, a bilingual community event that will examine:
• How do we approach the mental health needs of our children?.
• How do we care for our own mental health?
• How do we change systems to prioritize mental health policies?
Join us to build a community and support families thriving. Childcare available to those who register: https://bit.ly/3HgRU2f
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For emergency information County-wide visit
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Emergency Response Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are still needed to play a critical role in providing general services ranging from post event clean-up to staffing phones. Check with the Volunteer Center: 831-427-5070, or Christina Thurston, connect@scvolunteercenter.org Details
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Three Perspectives on TikTok...
Ban or Do Not Ban
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My profound sympathies to parents navigating and mentoring safe choices among social media options.
Alarm bells are ringing loudly about TikTok, so I went on a search for reliable, bipartisan and current information. Would I believe everything TikTok says? Not after reading about their practices, but is there a place for TikTok in our children's lives?
More than a dozen states [...it's up to 30 states now] have banned Tiktok from government devices over security concerns. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr about the issues with the social media app. Listen/Read > > >
Next, I found an article against banning Tik Tok, not because of its dangerous aspects, but regarding freedom of choice/speech issues, here > > >
The most profound perspective on this topic comes from Kerry McDonald, "Granting young people more freedom and greater ability to direct their own lives and learning will make them happier, more resilient, and more successful in whatever paths they choose." Read > > >
So dear parents. Do your research. Pick your position. Involve the children in the reasons and include the older children in discussions and practices.
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And Just for the Fun of It... |
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Local parents shared a creative list of rainy day activities, many of which I had never heard of. They sound like so much fun. They are for all ages. Be sure to download the list for future rainy days and weekends! Download pdf> > >
BUT! First send them out to play, rain or shine!
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You're looking for a school that's just right for your child. Schools are looking for a good fit too. Visiting an open house is a good way to learn more about your choices. This goes for public, private, public-charter, homeschool-public, homeschool-private and parochial. Details
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Monterey Bay Aquarium Community Open House, Saturday & Sunday, January 21–29, 10am – 5pm, To show appreciation for our local community, we open our doors to residents of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties (valid identification required) during our annual Community Open House event. All offers are valid on-site only. Guests of local tri-county residents must pay regular admission prices. Details
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Tech Talks: Smartphone 101 Android, Thursday, January 19, 11am – 12pm, Know the basic features and settings to get the most from your device. Details
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The U.S. and the Holocaust, PBS Station KQED at 9pm on January 6, 13, and 20 and also will be available to stream on the PBS website now through February 3rd. At the January 26 Discussion event, we will watch a 40-minute screener from the series provided by PBS Books, which is supporting programming around the documentary for Libraries nation-wide. Details
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Triple P Workshop: Promoting Language Development, Thursday, January 19, 3:30 -5pm, Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: How children’s language skills develop between the ages of 1-2 years; How listening, talking & asking questions helps children develop language skills. Details
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Triple P Stepping Stones Workshop: Morning & Bedtime Routines (for families with children with special needs), Monday, January 23, 5 – 6:30pm, Details
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Practical Special Education Advocacy Tips for Parents, Thursday, January 19, 6pm, Join us for the 2nd workshop of our Special Education Workshop series taking place Wednesday, November 9th from 6pm-7:30pm. Jennifer Lucas will be presenting “Practical Special Education Advocacy Tips for Parents.” Details
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Saturdays in the Soil, Saturday, January 21, 10am – noon, This native plant garden requires general landscaping, occasional watering, weeding, and replanting. This program happens rain or shine, but we will cancel in the case of muddy conditions or inclement weather. All ages are welcome; children under 14 require adult supervision. Details
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Fall Creek After Fire: Exploring the CZU Burn Zone with State Parks, Saturday, January 21, 10am – noon, Join us for a series of guided tours of the burn zone in partnership with California State Parks and the Mountain Parks Foundation. We’ll explore how the landscape has responded to fire, from redwood trees to wildflowers, and banana slugs to birds, as well as share how community members can help monitor the fire’s impacts. Register > Details
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Dads Support Group, Wednesdays 7 – 8pm, Join us in this group of fathers where you will find a community to share the challenges and joys of being a father. The topics covered will be guided according to the needs and interests of the parents. The group will be relaxed, confidential, and facilitated by a dad who is a member of the community. Details
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Toddler Time Ocean Storytime and Crafts! Wednesdays 10 – 11am, Come join us at the Sanctuary Exploration Center across from the Santa Cruz Wharf each Wednesday morning to do some ocean-themed crafts, listen to a story, and explore the Exploration Center! Details
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Our high school production of "Mamma Mia!' will perform January 27-29. There's a lot of positive energy behind this, and this teen cast is having a lot of fun with the story, costume and music of ABBA! Tickets
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Parenting Workshops, These parent workshops offer outstanding skills, tips and support in our parenting path. We are fortunate to have these resources. Even if everything is going well, it's good to know what's available! January
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ALL Farmers Markets and farm activities! Details
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