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May E-News from Connections For Children - News You Can Use!
May E-News from Connections For Children - News You Can Use!
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May 2015
Your Monthly Connections For Children E-Update
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Dear  Friend,
Our MAY issue is full of news you can use!
  • This month, Ready for School is all about supporting children's language development.
  • May is National Mental Health Month. Our Columnist, Joey Lamberti, highlights ways you can support your children's emotional development in The First Step.
  • This month our Program Spotlight features resources for parents seeking child care.
  • Join us to Take a Stand for Children and raise our voices for child care! June 6th, Exposition Park!
Ready for School Building Blocks for Kindergarten
Use your words. The third Building Block for Kindergarten is that simple. Help your child develop strong language skills.
READ  ·  TALK  ·  SING
Three vital words that nurture language development: 
  • Read to your child everyday - engaging her in conversation about what the pictures in the book illustrate, what might happen next in the story, and what she thinks about it.
  • Talk with you child about what he sees when you are taking a walk, shopping, driving in the car. Make time to talk to your children about what they need, want, and feel. Using words in conversation with children is one of the key ways to build readiness for school.
  • And sing - songs from your childhood, songs you make up, silly songs. The rhythm and rhyme of singing is a great way to build language and vocabulary. This month, Ready for School focuses on Healthy Habits - Self Care, Physical Well-being, and Motor Skills.
The research is clear that the number of words that children hear during the first three years of life has a very significant impact on later school success. Now is the time to read, talk, and sing. And listen. Listen carefully when your child is talking. Ask questions and show you care about what he/she is saying. 
You can find more tips to support children's language development in the Santa Monica Cradle to Career Building Blocks for Kindergarten 
For those with younger children, check out More Than Baby Talk, a parents' and teachers' guide with 10 great ways to promote the language and communication skills of infants and todders. 
The First Step
by Joey Lamberti
No parent is ever ready to hear that their child may suffer from a mental health or developmental disorder. But, from personal experience, I can attest to the importance of early intervention.
All children develop differently. Within their first eighteen months, some children are mimicking facial expressions and sounds, talking up a storm, and transitioning from crawling to walking. Essentially, they become walking, talking miniature tornadoes. However, this is not universal among all growing children. You may notice that your child is not developing quickly, or perhaps, exhibiting signs that highlight the need to take action. It takes a lot of courage to say, “There is something wrong with my child.” It’s even harder to make a call to your primary care physician or pediatrician and ask for help. In lieu of May being Mental Health Month, the goal of this article is to discuss the hints your child is giving that warrants the need for early intervention, and how you may be able to obtain the appropriate care.
Read More
Your gift today will help ensure that all children enter school healthy, happy and ready to learn and thrive!
Click to Make a Gift
For questions about how you can make a difference today,
please contact Patti Oblath by e-mail or phone at (310) 452-3325 Ext. 212.
Resources for Finding Child Care
Connections For Children supports parents in balancing the challenges of work and home life. Our free information and resources on child development, parenting, and high quality child care, include:

  • Child care referrals
  • Education about child development
  • Community resources
  • Consumer education
  • Resources for children with special needs
Connections For Children helps parents find quality child care that best suits their individual needs. In addition, we can help find financial assistance specifically for low income parents who need child care while working, continuing their education, searching for employment, or who meet other defined criteria. 
Learn More

Stand for Children
Join Connections For Children and Community Voices for the second annual Los Angeles County Stand for Children Day on Saturday, June 6 at Exposition Park. Parents, providers and other child care advocates will gather to collectively raise awareness about the importance of funding child care and its impact on the millions of families in California who rely on this service. Join us as we Take a Stand for Children and raise our voices for child care!

For more information or to register for this FREE, family friendly event, contact Julia Morales at (310) 452-3325 or juliam@cfc-ca.org.
Connections For Children
2701 Ocean Pk. Blvd. Ste. 253
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone (310)452-3325
E-mail info@cfc-ca.org
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