Summer 2018

www.RenewalUnlimited.net

Inside...2 Family Resource Center Information2 Family Nights!3 DIY Sponge Ball Fun!3 Special Kids Play Group4 Family Resource Center Calendar5 Now Accepting Enrollment Apps!5 Join us for Play Groups!6 Spotlight on a local resource7 Super Summer Schedule

Columbia County Learning Center

Community Kidsas you don’t want your baby to be able to fit them in their mouth.

Take your indoor activities outside: Bring books or toys outside and enjoy them on a blanket. Using push toys outside also allows your little one to explore walking and moving on different surfaces. This helps develop balance and coordination.

ToddlersToddlers love to explore and are “hand on” learners. Wa-

ter adds instant fun to any outdoor activity. Add a few drops of baby shampoo for tear-free suds, throw in some sponges and have a trike cleaning station. To top it off have a trike and bike parade around the block. Another way to explore and use their sensory driven minds would be to grow a mini garden. Introducing your little one to the wonders of na-ture is a wonderful way to stimulate their curiosity about the world. This can also develop their sense of pride as your toddler or preschooler’s plants begin to grow.

PreschoolersPreschoolers love to dress up and build their imagination.

By bringing dramatic play outside, they can pretend to cook on a rock that magically turns into a store or using a stick as a wand. Going outside can create a whole new world and experiences to build their creativeness. As always a simple activity as running through the sprinkler or drawing with chalk can be a ton of fun for your preschooler.

Enjoy your time outdoors with your little ones!

by Kristen KowalkeParent Educator Supervisor, Adams & Juneau Counties

With warmer weather finally here we have some awesome ideas that can help with finding safe and developmentally appropriate activities for each age while enjoying the beau-tiful outdoors!

Birth to 1Create a garden treasure box: Babies need sensory ex-

periences and the outdoors is a great place to learn and explore even at such a young age. Place your baby on a mat or even just in the grass (think sensory!) and allow them to play with a pinecone or smooth rock vs rough rock or a twig. Just remember to have them not too small

Outdoor Activities For Young Children!

2 Community Kids • Columbia County • Summer 2018

Services Available At Family Resource CenterThe Family Resource Center provides free services to all Columbia County

families who have children ages 0-5. Those services include:

We serve all families with young children!We invite you to visit our wonderful facility and meet our staff today!

Newsletter: Contains our most recent schedules and other family information. It is distributed quarterly to interested parties. Call if you’d like to be added to the mailing list. Please provide your name, address, phone number, and e-mail.

Field trips: Educational experiences out in our local community

Toy & Resource Library: Filled with toys, games, books, and videos to borrow and take home

Special Family Events: Fun activities that bring families together

Drop-In Play: Join us! (Please call ahead.)

Play Groups: Mondays, 9 – 11 a.m. A loosely structured interaction time for families with children Birth – Age 5. Snack is provided. No registration required. See our calendar for dates/times.

Parent Trainings: A free training for local parents about different topics relating to parenting. They are open to the public. Please call the Family Resource Center to register.

Home Visiting: Programs available for income eligible families using the Parents as Teachers curriculum and format.

Community Resources & Referral: Staff trained to connect you with services like medical clinics, housing assistance, food pantries and more

Open to all families with young children!

All programming is FREE!Open Monday through Friday

from 8 a.m. to 4:30* p.m.

*Planning on dropping in after 12:30? Please call ahead to make sure

building is open and staff is available!

Columbia County Family Resource Center

2946 Red Fox Run Portage, WI 53901

608-742-8482

Meet Our Staff...Maureen Maly Parent Educator Jennifer Dickson Family Aide

Linda Garris Parent EducatorDeb Hubble Parent Educator

Amy J. Luebke Parent Educator Supervisor

If you are interested in receiving the newsletter via mail or email, you can submit your request online at: http://www.renewalunlimited.net. Please re-submit any request to

receive your newsletter. Due to staff turnover, you may no longer be receiving it.

The Family Resource Center is a project of

and is funded in part by

for enrolled Head Start families (center & home based)

Main entree will be served, feel free to bring a dish to pass

Tues., June 19, 5-7 p.m. Tues., July 17, 5-7 p.m.

Columbia County Family Resource Center 2946 Red Fox Run, Portage

Family Nights

Summer 2018 • Columbia County • Community Kids 3

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5!DIY Sponge Balls!

What you need: Sponges, zip ties, and scissors!

1. Cut sponges into approx. 1″ strips (you will have A LOT of strips)

2. Set up an area to do the craft & let the kids pick out 9 strips (in this case, 3 cellulose and 6 other the other) and line them up.

3. Gather up all the sponge strips and place a zip tie in the center. Pull tie as tight as it will go, then cut off the excess.

4. Have fun with your new DIY Sponge Balls!

4 Community Kids • Columbia County • Summer 2018

June

July

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ust

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Ants & Bees

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme:Mosquitoes & Flies

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Caterpillars & Butterflies

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Lady Bugs & Dragonflies

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Ducks & Chickens

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Horses & Cows

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Pigs & Goats

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Sheep & Dogs

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Field Trip to MacKenzie

Center 10-12:00

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Monkeys & Apes

Play Group 9-11 a.m.Theme: Elephants & Kangaroos

Play Group 9-11 a.m.: Theme: Giraffes &

ZebrasPlay Group 9-11 a.m. Theme: Lions & Tigers

Columbia County Resource Center 2946 Red Fox Run • Portage, WI 53901

608-742-8482

Open Monday — Friday:8 a.m. – 4:30* p.m.

*Planning on dropping in? Please call ahead to make sure that staff are there and available.

Car seat safety checks! Available by appointment by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Call: 608-742-8482

Head Start Family Night

for enrolled HS families (center & home based)

@ the Family Resource Center, 5-7 p.m.

Head Start Family Night

for enrolled HS families (center & home based)

@ the Family Resource Center, 5-7 p.m.

Head Start Family Night

for enrolled HS families (center & home based)

@ the Family Resource Center, 5-7 p.m.

Summer 2018 • Columbia County • Community Kids 5

June

July

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ust

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

We just love kids! Let us help you get them ready for school by providing school readiness learning activi-ties. Even babies are ready to learn through play and specially-designed lessons to meet your child’s individual needs.

All services are free to income eligible families. Please call your local Parent Resource Place or Head Start Learning Center for applica-tions. No transportation? We’ll come to you! We even have a Spanish translator avail-able!

Apply soon, spots are filling quickly. Our main administration office is located at 2900 Red Fox Run in Portage WI. They can be reached at 608-742-5329.

All of the counties we serve are seeking enroll-

ment applications for our Center and Homebased

Head Start programs. We serve pregnant mothers

and children 0-5. Whether you are seeking full-day

3K or 4K, Center based learning opportunities, or

Home Based Visiting Services, we are here to help.

Now Accepting

Applications For Enrollm

ent!

Be sure to join us for...

Play Groups

For more information, call (608) 742-8482.

Mondays 9-11 aMA loosely structured interaction time

for families with children Birth - Kindergarten. No registration required.

(Please see calendar for dates & times)

Child interaction • Activities

Healthy Snack

Come check out our Family Resource Center.

6 Community Kids • Columbia County • Summer 2018

Spotlight on a Local Resource...Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based, nurse home vis-iting program that improves the health, well-being and self-suf-ficiency of low-income, first-time parents and their children. Nurse-Family Partnership Nurse Home Visitors work with their cli-ents to achieve three important goals:® Improve pregnancy outcomes by helping women engage in good

preventive health practices, including obtaining thorough prena-tal care from their healthcare providers, improving their diet, and reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal substances

® Improve child health and development by helping parents pro-vide responsible and competent care

® Improve the economic self-sufficiency of the family by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future preg-nancies, continue their education and find work.

Nurse-Family Partnership is FREE to all eligible women!Any woman who:® Is pregnant with her first child

® Is less than 28 weeks (7 months) pregnant

® Is living in Sauk, Adams, Juneau and Columbia

® Meets identified low income requirements

What do NFP Home Visitors do?The Nurse Home Visitor will work with the pregnant woman to:

® Have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby

® Become a better parent

® Build a strong network of support for her and her baby

® Make the home a safe place for the baby to live and play

® Obtain referrals for healthcare, childcare, job training and other

support services available in the community

® Find ways to continue her education and develop job skills

® Set goals for her family’s future and find ways to help her reach

them

Please feel free to contact Michelle Krantz to find the nearest NFP office in your area!

Michelle Krantz, RN BSN CLCPublic Health Nurse, NFP Coordinator

Phone: 608-355-4321 Fax: 608-355-4329

Summer 2018 • Columbia County • Community Kids 7

SUPERSummerSCHEDULE

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Math MondayPractice counting everyday items in your home! Find something new to count each week! Count the change in your purse or the pictures hanging on your wall, use your imagination!

Tell a story Tuesday Take a trip to the library or find your favorite book at home to read! Let your child pretend to read the book to you after you read it to them!

What’s cooking WednesdayLet your child help you in the kitchen! Try a new recipe or make a family favorite. Be creative and let your child help choose the recipe!

Take a walk ThursdayGo outside and enjoy the outdoors! Walk somewhere new every week. Let your child help you decide where to walk!

Friendly Friday Do something nice to help somebody you know! Encourage your child to do something to make somebody smile.

Columbia County Family Resource Centerc/o Renewal Unlimited2900 Red Fox RunPortage, WI 53901

Have you checked out our ...

FREE Lending Library?

Toys!Books! Baby Equipment!