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Upcoming Events
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Self-Empowerment Workshops
Friday, May 11, 9:00am - 12:00pm.
RSVP at (209) 223-6315
Wednesday, May 16,
2:00 - 6:00pm Open House
Interfaith Food Bank
Let's visit Upcountry Farms! S
aturday, May 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm.
RSVP to save your spot! (209) 257-1092.
Wellness Fair
Tuesday, May 29, 9:30am - 12:30pm
975 Broadway, Jacson
Saturday, June 9, 10:00am - 3:00pm
975 Broadway, Jackson
RSVP required, please call Juline at (530) 642-5659
Learning Community
Bringing Us Together: Using the ACES Connection On-line Platform to Support Efficient Collaboration Across Sectors and Communities
Thursday, June 14, 10:00am - 2:30pm
975 Broadway, Jackson
See the flyer to register.
Second Wednesday of each month.
9:30-11:30am
Call for location, 223-1624, x204.
Third Wednesday each month,
6:00-7:30pm.
Sophia's Well, 270 A Hanford Street, Sutter Creek.
Call 256-3691 or 257-1092 for more information.
All Playgroups run from 9:30-11:30am on the following weekdays at the given locations:
Mondays - Camanche
Tuesdays - Jackson
First 5 Amador
, 975 Broadway
Wednesdays - Ione
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
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With more than 1 in 5 moms developing a mental illness during pregnancy or in the year that follows it is becoming increasingly important that we raise awareness of maternal mental health and encourage those who are struggling with their emotions to speak out and get the support they need.
Pregnancy is rife with emotional and hormonal changes and these can really affect the way you feel on a daily basis. This can mean one day you are really excited, but the next you are left anxious and worried. Although this is completely normal, particularly in the first trimester as pregnancy hormones are changing and increasing it can be really difficult to deal with. These changes can be more challenging for first time moms who have never experienced pregnancy before and aren't aware of what to expect. The extreme mood swings that couple these changes can also be damaging to your relationships with those closest to you and this in turn can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
This year join us in changing the perception of postpartum depression and anxiety. This years theme is about getting real about motherhood.
#
realmotherhood
#noshame
Getting real about motherhood is healthy for everyone, especially the 1 in 5 women who will suffer from a maternal mental health (MMH) disorder like postpartum depression. For many women, there are unspoken and spoken ideals of motherhood, unrealistic myths, that crowd the mind and keep women judging themselves through an unrealistic lens. It is especially hard for women who are suffering from an MMH disorder who may choose to suffer silently because they feel there must be something terribly wrong with them for feeling something so different than those expectations.
Motherhood myths like:
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To be a good mom you have to love being a mom all the time.
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Moms never need help.
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I wasn't a good mom, because I couldn't breastfeed.
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I am not a good mom because my baby's birth didn't go well - or my body failed.
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I had to go back to work too early and that makes me a bad mom.
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I had to take an antidepressant after I had my baby and that makes me a bad mom.
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And the biggest myth of all, "Other mothers are better moms because they look like they have it all together."
These myths aren't doing mother's any favors and this year through the collective effort made by you and all of our partners we will help challenge these unrealistic expectations of motherhood to remind everyone that motherhood is hard, and to not be afraid to talk about #RealMotherhood moments.
Join the
Blue Dot movement this month and share your #realmotherhood moments to end the stigma!
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May is Mental Health Matters Month
Each Mind Matters
Say This Not That
Each Mind Matters: California's Mental Health Movement encourages everyone to check in with loved ones on their mental health. Talking openly and honestly about mental health lets those we care about know that we support them. The following phrases can be used to create meaningful conversation with someone experiencing a mental health challenge. Before starting a conversation with someone you are concerned about be sure to have resources on hand, including local county mental health department numbers and suicide crisis resources.
Print this infographic here.
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Celebrate being a dad (or uncle, or grandpa...) every month at
our D
ad and Me outings, held at fun venues around the county!
This month join us at Upcountry Farms for a farm tour! Enjoy a snack, story-time and a free book to bring home.
Saturday, May 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm.
See the
FLYER with all the information.
Save the fourth Saturday of every month for more outings held at fun venues around the county. Story time, a snack and a free book are provided each month!
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Provider Appreciation Day this year is May 11,
a special day to recognize child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children everywhere. Started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey,
Provider Appreciation Day
is appropriately celebrated each year on the Friday before Mother's Day. We would like to take this moment to give a huge shout out to everyone working with and caring for our youngest children ~ giving them a great start in life! Thank you for all you do!
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Thank you to everyone participating and learning more about ASQ's (Ages & Stages Questionnaire) ! We've had a great response and feel that this tool is one way of helping families understand where their children are at developmentally and will give them the best start in life. If you'd like to learn more about ASQ's, give us a call! 257-1092
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How can you give kids the best start in life?
One of the most important factors for early intervention services, is the
early
and accurate identification of infants and young
children who may have developmental delays or disabilities.
The Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) are screening tools designed
to be completed by parents or primary caregivers, that encourage parent-caregiver involvement. Each questionnaire can be completed in 10-20 minutes, and is divided into five areas: Communication, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Problem Solving, and Personal-Social. The benefit for all children and families is so that parents/caregivers know which areas they can focus on at home with their children.
For more information,
please call First 5 Amador at 257-1092.
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Get Involved!
Would you like to improve the quality of care you offer to children in your family child care home, preschool setting, or other early learning environment?
Give us a call at First 5 and find out about the many resources (and incentives!) available to you, (209) 257-1092.
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Download the Enrollment Form, HERE or in Spanish, HERE.
Priority enrollment deadline is May 11.
Print the flyer HERE, or in Spanish, HERE. |
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Print this info-graphic to share!
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Healthy QUICK TIPS of the MONTH
Easy Healthy Berry Smoothies
This is an easy recipe if you're on the go. Be creative and try different types of berries.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1/3 cup skim milk
Utensils
- blender (you'll need help from your adult assistant)
- measuring cup
Step-by-step
- Put all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Divide between two glasses.
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One day, California's success
will be measured by the
well-being of its youngest children.
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Calling all children 0 to 5 years of age.
Join Amador's favorite reading club!
Over 800 Amador kids and counting! Get free books for your children! Sign your child up today and start receiving one free book every month from the Imagination Library! This is a free program,
available to all Amador County children aged 0-4
(from birth until their 5th birthday).
All you have to do is read to your child!
For more information click
here.
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Talk...
with your baby from the start.
So ... what should you talk about?
Anything and everything. Describe the pattern of circles on a blanket. Count the number of blocks on the floor. Listen to the noisy garbage truck outside. Talk about the whirring sound of the blender. What did you do at work today? What will you have for dinner tonight? Engage in conversation. Look into your baby's eyes and watch his reactions as you talk. Remember, it really doesn't matter what you talk about - and it also doesn't matter if your baby is too young to understand. His brain is developing with every word.
Knowing more than one language offers countless benefits for your kids - including expanding their future career opportunities. You don't have to speak a language perfectly. The most important thing is to introduce them to it.
Read...
them a book, it's very smart.
What is one of the most powerful things you can do with your baby? Read! Start early, and read every day from birth onward to establish a rewarding habit early in life. A great tip to keep in mind is to read WITH your child. Use funny voices, point out and describe pictures, and ask questions as you go along. These simple actions not only will help hold your child's interest, but it'll spark imagination and curiosity - even at a very young age.
Don't have enough hours in the day to read? We get it. Just a few minutes a day can have an impact. Reading shopping lists, recipes, road signs, and labels together all count, too. You're doing your best, and your child will thank you for it later.
Sing...
them a song, it's a wonderful start.
Music is a great way to help babies learn new words, boost language comprehension, and establish rhythm and rhyme. When you sing to your baby, you're forming a special bond together just by the sound of your voice. Singing is also a great activity for the whole family. Sing old favorites and new tunes together, and help build deeper family bonds between older siblings and grandparents too. Remember, it doesn't matter if you can't carry a tune. In your baby's eyes, you are a singing superstar.
Sneak in songs during breakfast, in the car, or during bath time. From nursery rhymes to your own favorite playlist, turn up the volume and sing together. It's one of the greatest expressions of your love!
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It's Our Job as Adults to Keep Kids Safe
Stay up to date on all the news and information about keeping our kids safe from abuse and neglect. Sign up for the
Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council's monthly e-newsletter
HERE!
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PO Box 815 / 975 Broadway | Jackson, CA 95642
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First 5 Amador supports and designs programs for children 0-5 years old and their Families.
For more information call us at (209) 257-1092, visit our website,
and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
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