Monthly Archive for April, 2010

EEC Wants to Hear About Your Preschool Experience!

The Mass. Dept. of Early Education and Care (the source of NECN’s grant funding) has created an online survey to help them better meet the childcare and preschool needs of Massachusetts families.   Families who complete the survey will aut0matically be entered in a prize drawing.

Read the EEC flyer here, or visit http://survey.pcgus.com/MA-ECC.html to share your opinions through this quick, confidential survey.

Thank you!

Family Event Saturday May 1!

May 1, 2010
10:00 amto12:00 pm

This Saturday morning,  gather the kids for some FREE family fun! 

Natick Early Childhood Network’s Day in the Life of a Preschooler is a free family event this Saturday, for families with children from toddler to age 6!    Younger children will get a taste of the types of activities and play that happen at preschool, and older kids will enjoy activities such as finger knitting, planting seeds, visit some live worms, exploring the Morse Institute’s Bookmobile, and experimenting with magnets! 

Even if your kids are already in preschool…or even Kindergarten…come to enjoy music, hands-on crafts and science activities, a Spanish-language puppet show, and a performance of excerpts from the Sleeping Beauty ballet by the Community Dance Academy of Walnut Hill School.

Saturday, May 1, 10am – noon 

Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School “cafetorium”

22 E. Evergreen Rd., Natick

FREE!

Call NECN at (508) 655-2557 if you have any questions, or to register your family to attend.  Walk-ins are also welcome! 

Ben-Hem will be having their yard sale on the same day starting at 9am; you can shop for children’s equipment, toys, clothing, etc. before our event begins at 10!

May & June 2010 Programs and Activities!

Happy spring!   The May/June Connections newsletter is available to read on our website, along with the descriptions of all of our activities and programs for the next two months. 

Don’t miss our 10th anniversary merriment at Family Appreciation Night on June 16th!   We welcome all of our past Natick Family Network families to attend to help us celebrate our 10 years of serving Natick families.  We’d love to see some of our “graduates”!

Please remember that Open Gym has ended for the season, but be sure to check our calendar for Drop-In play times in our playroom for May and June.

May/June Connections newsletter

Programs and Activities

May and June calendars

Playgroup Especially for Caregivers & Kids on 4/13/10

April 13, 2010
9:30 amto11:00 am

A special playgroup with Miss Judy, just for caregivers & kids…with their grandparents, other family members, friends, neighbors, nannies, babysitters…all are welcome to register!

This monthly chat and play group is facilitated by NECN Program Coordinator Judy Dixon.  Formerly a playgroup just for grandparent-caregivers with their grandchildren, the group is now expanding to include all children birth thru PreK age with their family, friend, or neighbor caregiver, or their nanny or babysitter.

The Caregivers Playgroup will run on April 13, from 9:30am – 11:00am in our playroom at the Cole Center.   Groups will also be held on May 11 and June 8; you can register for one or all 3!

The group will include adult discussion, free play, crafts, snack and circle time with stories and songs.  The caregiver can either live in Natick, or care for a child who lives in Natick.  To register, call (508) 655-2557.

Correction to Fresh City Restaurant of the Month Information

Correction:

The Restaurant of the Month fundraiser at Fresh City is for all purchases between 5pm and 9pm (not all day as previously posted.)  No coupon is necessary.

We apologize for the confusion!

April Highlights at Natick Early Childhood Network!

Restaurant of the Month:  The wonderful warm weather makes us want to pack away the winter crockpot and eat some lighter, fresher food…maybe a turkey club sandwich with avocado?   

How timely that our Restaurant of the Month fundraiser for April is being held at Fresh City in Natick.   The restaurant is located on Rte. 9 eastbound, next to the new Michaels.  Join other NECN families to help us while you dine, anytime on Wednesday, April 14

Click here for a coupon that you can print out and share with your friends.  NECN will receive 15% of all of your purchases at Fresh City in Natick on that day!

 

Pushing?  Hitting?  Grabbing?  Hoarding toys?  Don’t feel embarrassed if this describes how your kids play with others…you’re not alone!   As parents, we often don’t know what to do.  We tell our children to “share” and “take turns”, but our attempts to intervene don’t help, and negative behaviors continue.  Sound familiar?

Our parenting workshop, Child’s Play: Why Can’t We Just All Get Along? will address children’s social development as they learn to play alongside and, eventually, with other children.   The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 15 from 7 – 8:30pm at the Cole Center.

This workshop, facilitated by Jill Vetstein, Social Worker and Developmental Specialist, will help you to teach your children the skills that lead to cooperative play, including how to share and take turns.  Parents, caregivers and playgroup facilitators are encouraged to attend!  You’ll walk away from this workshop with a clearer concept of how to best support children aged 15 months through 5 years in social settings.

Call NECN at (508) 655-2557 to register, or if you have any questions about the workshop.   Space is still available in our complimentary childcare during the workshop!