Self Help Inc. CFCE

May 2023

Newsletter

IT'S SPRING!

HAPPY May!

Mark your calendars for CFCE's 10th Annual Brain Building in Progress Event! Families please register HERE!

If you are a community program and would like to join us and have a table....please click here for more information!!

Save the date for our Community Café

• Date: June 7th
• Time: 6:30-8:00pm
• Location: Live on Zoom
• Participants who register early will get a goodie bag mailed to them.
• participants who attend the Community Café will be eligible to win one of 3 raffle prizes!

Join us on Zoom for an evening of thoughtful discussion and reflection at our Community Café. The Café model is a method of facilitating meaningful, reflective conversations that promote parent leadership and collaboration. Parents and providers will have the opportunity to discuss relevant topics with other parents and providers in a round table style discussion.

During this Community Café we will be focusing on the topic of Social Emotional Wellness in children.

Does this sound like an interesting event that you would like to attend? Use this link to register now and save your space.

Register Here

Meet the Hunt family:

Tell us about your family: We are the Hunt family and we're a family of five. My name is Fabriana and my husband Joe and I have been married for 10 years. We have three children; Kailey who is 6 years old, and 23 month old twins, named Alexander and Olivia.

What are your favorite family traditions?  Our family's favorite tradition is having a big breakfast together on the weekends. My husband makes a delicious and filling morning spread, and as a family we sit down at the kitchen table together and eat. The kids really enjoy it.

What makes your family special? Our desire to do everything as a family is what makes us special. Some of our favorites include going on walks, playing at the park, playing board games, watching movies, and just spending time talking and laughing while eating. We also love spending time with our extended family and going to church. No matter what we do, as long as there is food and we are together- it's a great time.

How has the CFCE program been a part of your family? The CFCE program has been a blessing to our family. The activities, workshops, and resources have helped provide us with experiences and opportunities that we might not have had if it wasn't for the program. Whether it's encouragement, answering any concerns, or providing us with resources, the staff has always made us feel important and a sense of belonging to a community that feels like family.

We want to hear from you. If you are interested in sharing about your family, send us an email with a picture of your family and answer the questions above. We can’t wait to learn about your family! Email Marsha Wright mwright@selfhelpinc.org if you are interested in participating

For Parents Only!

New monthly Parent Talks group on Zoom

Monday, May 1st from 6:30-7:30pm

ON ZOOM

Join us on the first Monday of the month for an hour long discussion about life! This monthly parent group allows parents to connect and talk with each other about things that matter to you and your family.

Life can get complicated very fast especially when you are raising children! Join Ms. Gina, Ms. Marsha and the CFCE Family Ambassadors on the first Monday of the month for an hour long discussion group. Each month we will have an open discussion about things that matter to you and your family. We will create a safe space for people to share whatever is on their mind. 

This month we will be talking about connections. How do you connect as a family? Do you have any tips for connecting as a couple? Where is your favorite place to go as a family? We cannot wait to hear from you! Open discussion is welcome! We want to talk about what you think is important! 

Register here

Mother's Day is May 14th!

Little Free Library Project

The CFCE Family Ambassadors have been busy placing some very special books in Little Free Libraries throughout our area!

There are brand new Todd Parr Feeling Books and many other wonderful titles waiting to be found by you and your children. They are packed in plastic bags and include a QR code. Click on the code and let us know that you found our books! We will use your feedback to let us know when to restock the books! If you don't have a QR reader let us know and we can send you the link.

We can't wait to find out how much you love these wonderful books! Be sure to take the whole bag and add the new books to your home library!

Look below for a location closest to you!

Locations of Little Free Libraries:

Abington: 326 Plymouth St

Dedham: Lewis Playground @Barnes Memorial Park 150 Eastern Ave and 125 Allied Drive at the Dedham Corporate center commuter rail station across from the Jefferson Apartments.

East Bridgewater: 254 Central Street *it is across from the town Common in front of a large white house

Foxboro: Patriots Place adjacent to the Dean College Stage near Splitsville Bowling Alley and Dunkin

Franklin: 224 Oak street near the playground at the F.X O'Regan ECDC

Holbrook 8 East Division St

Middleboro: 112 Tiger Drive at the middle school

Norfolk: Next to the gazebo at the Norfolk Public Library

Rockland: 146 Hingham Street Hartstuff Park by the entrance to the playground

Randolph: 592 Main Street at Powers Farm

Sharon: Pond St next to the synagogue

Stoughton: 445 Central Street

Stoughton: 1258 West Street at Bradley Lessa Memorial Park

Whitman: 168 Whitman Ave in front of Head Start Building across from Whitman Park

If you have any questions or would like to participate in the Little Free Library Project please contact Marsha Wright at mwright@selfhelpinc.org.

Read aloud story for Mother's Day

These are just a few of the programs that are available in the month of May! Check the calendar at www.selfhelpcpc.org for other activities.

Music and Movement at

An Unlikely Story

10:30-11:15am

May 4th

Join Ms. Marsha in this magical place for Music and Movement. We will sing, dance, and have an instrument play. This is in person program is for young children and their caregivers. Space is limited. Registration is required!

REGISTER here to reserve your spot!

Books Before Bed

Pre recorded

May 14th

Books Before Bed ..Sweet Dreams & Rest your Heads: Once a month books will be pre-recorded by CFCE staff by various authors including an author, Emma Dodd. Her books are very uplifting and are referred to as “I love You” books. Families can listen to the recording with their children right before or around bedtime so their children can sleep with dreams about being LOVED!!! 

Use this link to watch and enjoy

Outdoor Fun in the Garden Space

May 10th

10:30-11:15am

Abington Public Library

Families with preschoolers- COME JOIN US outdoors at the Abington Public Library for some fresh air FUN!!! Time to play and socialize, sing songs, do movement activities, hear a story and create simple art!!! If it happens to rain- no worries- we will meet indoors!!! 

REGISTER with Carol at ccarver@selfhelpinc.org

Kindergarten Readiness 101

Rockland Public Library

5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/1 and 6/8/2023

Kindergarten Readiness 101: This is a six-week Kindergarten Readiness Literacy Playgroup. It is designed to empower families to support children who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall. The series will have a focus on literacy development, kindergarten readiness skills, phonemic awareness skills and writing skills. Children and parents will be actively engaged in books, songs, activities, hands-on materials and playgroup routines. Each family will go home with a different children's book every week to keep and add to their child's library for home and for the preparation of Kindergarten! 

Contact Carol Carver at ccarver@selfhelpinc.org to register

Spring Outdoor Story Time in two locations

10:30-11:15am

begins: May 1st (Norton Public Library) May 11th (Dedham Public Library Main Branch)

Grab a blanket and join Ms. Marsha outside for a multi week Spring story time series. Each week we will have stories and songs about Spring. We'll sing and dance and even go for a nature walk around the library. We will also have a simple craft. Register today and reserve your spot!

Register Here to reserve your spot for Dedham

Register here to reserve your spot for Norton

Recycling and Reusing Fun with Dad!

Pequitside Farm, Canton

Saturday, May 20th

10:30-11:50am

Reduce! Reuse! Repurpose! 

Preschool-age children (4-6), with their father, grandfather, or male role model, can learn how to have fun with recycled and found objects. Join guest presenter Ms. Alison to listen to a story about repurposing found objects and then have a chance to implement those ideas by making a robot out of recycled materials. 

Learn about recycling with fun sorting games and a scavenger hunt. Your preschoolers will leave feeling empowered, knowing which items should be trashed, recycled, or reused.

Please note we need a minimum of seven families registered to run this program.

Register here for this program

Nature Hike Series

Thursdays from 10:30-11:30am

Meet Ms. Gina and Ms. Jen for a Nature Science Hike. This program is geared towards 4 to 9-year-olds and their families. We will hike for 30+ minutes and have some outdoor play time. Come explore the outdoors and make a new friend. Younger siblings are welcome if they are able to do a 30-minute hike or are in carriers. Please register for each hike separately.

May 4th: Great Woods Conservation Area Mansfield

May 11th: Ames Nowell State Park Abington

May 18th: Moose Hill Sharon

May 25th: Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Norfolk

These hikes are weather permitting and will be cancelled if it is too cold or it is raining.

At Home Activity

Kid Friendly Kitchen Fun:

Ants on a Log

May 17th, 2023 All Day

Kid-Friendly Kitchen Fun: Every month we will be creating some simple, seasonal snacks with families through a pre-recorded video. During the time together we will recall the seasons/months of the year/days of the week through song and then get right to work in the kitchen with connections to the food pyramid! The activity will end with a reading from a related seasonal/holiday children’s book.



Ants on a Log

Ingredients: Celery, sunbutter with raisins and cream cheese with dried cranberries

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF FILE OF OUR

May PROGRAMS!

Diapers and Wipes available for those who need it.

CFCE has a diaper closet!

As a special service to our families we offer free diapers to those in need. As with everything right now the cost of diapers has skyrocketed and we would like to help those parents who need it. Please contact Gina McGarrigle at gmcgarrigle@selfhelpinc.org. Diapers and wipes can be picked up at programs you attend or at the Brockton office at 45 Pearl St Brockton. If you are in need of diapers please contact Gina at the above email.

Story Time at the Stoughton Library

Photos from our PC+ program

Pictures from Geology Rocks at the Norton Public Library

WE ARE CURRENTLY HOLDING SPOTS ON OUR WAITLIST FOR NEW FAMILIES!

The Self Help Inc Parent Child Plus program serves families from: *Randolph, Holbrook and Rockland

What is ParentChild+?

• It provides your child with a free high- quality book or educational toy each week -at least 46 new books and toys!
• A trained community-based Early Learning Specialist will visit your home twice a week for 30 minutes to help you get your child ready for school.
• You will learn creative ways to read and play with your child.
• It helps you prepare your child to be successful in school.
• This program is for families with a child ages 16 months-3 1/2 years old. Enrollment is a 2 program year commitment.

If you are interested in BEING PUT ON OUR WAITLIST for this AWESOME program and you reside in either *Holbrook, *Rockland or *Randolph (or one of the other CFCE communities) please contact: Gina McGarrigle at 508-559-1666 ext. 1814 or email at gmcgarrigle@selfhelpinc.org.

*priority enrollment given to families in Holbrook, Randolph and Rockland. Families who reside in other CFCE communities MAY also be eligible