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The First 5 Amador office is currently CLOSED, and staff are working hard from home.
OR through our Facebook messenger. Please feel free to contact us at any time... we are here for you! For frequent and timely updates from us, please be sure that you have "liked" our Facebook page,
HERE... and check back often!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, April 14
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Registration required by April 8, for those who qualify.
For more information and to register, click on flyer above, and
here
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Children's Gardening To-Go Activity Kits
- Curbside Pick Up
Date and Time - TBA
(watch our Facebook page for announcement)
Ridge Road Garden Center, Pine Grove
Free gardening activity kits are available for Amador County children
aged 0-5
. Supplies are limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Available on this date only. For the safety of everyone, please adhere to local directives and maintain a 6-foot physical distance while picking up, and do not pick up if you are feeling ill.
Dad & Me To-Go Activity Kits - Curbside Pick Up
Friday, April 24
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Feed Barn, Sutter Creek
Free Dad & Me spring-themed activity kits are available for Amador County children
aged 0-5. Supplies are limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Available on this date only.
For the safety of everyone, please adhere to local directives and maintain a 6-foot physical distance while picking up, and do not pick up if you are feeling ill.
Thursday, April 23 and
Friday, April 24
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Deadline to register:
April 16 by 8:30am
Click on flyer above for information on how to register.
Wednesday, April 29 and
Thursday, April 30
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Deadline to register: April 23 by 8:30 am
Click on flyer above for information on how to register.
Wednesday, May 13
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Click on flyer above for information on how to register.
Kick-off to Kindergarten evenings
--
Cancelled
6 original dates in April
22nd Annual CELEBRATE OUR CHILDREN --
Cancelled
original date - Saturday, April 25
The Natural Play Yard workshop
--
Postponed
original date - Thursday, April 30
Program Updates
June 15 - July 2 --
dates are tentative
"Crossing the bridge to kindergarten!" Now taking sign-ups for this free program for children who may attend Kindergarten in the Fall of 2020, and could benefit from a summer transition program. Offered at every Amador County elementary school, this
program is for children whose 5th birthday is on or before September 1, 2020.
Children who have not attended preschool
or Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
will be given pr
iority
. Click on link above for enrollment form.
Since our Toddler Playgroups follow the ACUSD schedule, playgroups are currently on hold until further notice. However, our fantastic playgroup coordinators have put together some amazing activity to-go kits for local kids aged 0-5, for you to PICK UP, AND TAKE HOME.
Kits will only be available for pick up DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 4, and each kit contains 4 weeks' worth of activities. Please pick up your kit on the regularly scheduled days, times, and locations listed in the link above.
Supplies are limited, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One kit per child, aged 0-5. For the safety of everyone, please adhere to local directives and maintain a 6-foot physical distance while picking up, and do not pick up if you are feeling ill.
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Many local child care providers in Amador County are staying open during this pandemic, to provide care for the children of essential workers. Due to the lack of supplies available in stores, they need your help. If you, or your business, are able to donate any of the supplies listed below, please contact The Resource Connection at (209) 223-1624. Thank you!
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is
Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council has a coloring page for you - for both kids and adults!
There are many benefits to coloring, including reducing anxiety and stress. We could all use a little of that right now.
So print out the page, color it, then share your finished masterpiece on your Facebook page, and on ours
here!
When posting, be sure to use the hashtag
#pinwheelsforprevention
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Helpful Information for Families
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Early Literacy Update
Tune in every Thursday at 4:00 pm (PST)!
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is excited to present Dolly Parton's new weekly read-aloud video series called
"Goodnight with Dolly." The Book Lady sits down to read books from the Imagination Library to children and families.
"Goodnight with Dolly" launched on April 2. This 10-week series will focus on comforting and reassuring children during the shelter-in-place mandates. Dolly hopes these videos will provide a welcomed distraction during a time of unrest and also inspire a love of reading and books in the hearts of the children who see them. To tune in, click
here!
If you missed the first episode from April 2, you can still watch it here
.
Sign up your child for the
Imagination Library today and start receiving one free book every month (link is listed below)! This is a FREE program, paid for by First 5 Amador and donations from local individuals and service organizations. Books are 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 and to register online, click
HERE.
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Calling all Child Care Providers
& Preschool Teachers!
For participants of "Amador Quality for Kids," please see important updates below that have been developed due to the current shelter-in-place directives...
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For those who have been working towards their 25 hours of professional development through "Amador Quality for Kids" -- we want to be flexible and help you complete your hours to earn that $500.00 stipend! Since several local workshops have now been cancelled or postponed, we will allow your remaining professional development hours to be completed online, or in other ways. Like always, please save your certificates of completion (including from the online trainings) and turn those in with your completed Professional Development Tracking Sheet. This tracking sheet, along with proof of completed hours, are still due to First 5 Amador by June 15. Please feel free to turn this in sooner, if you complete your hours before that. If there is a cost to complete any of the online trainings, please turn in proof of payment to us, and we can reimburse you. Any appropriate child development or child care business-related online trainings (or similar learning opportunities) will be allowed. If you complete more than 25 hours, or achieve more learning in some way, we can offer an additional stipend to you! During this challenging time, we are flexible in helping you to make this work.
Please let us know if you have any questions, or need any help. Here are some links to a few good examples for these types of trainings, and other opportunities...
Child Care Education Institute (CCEI) -
Child Care Lounge -
The Care Courses School, Inc. -
Provider Self-Care Articles - Read all 4 articles and submit a two-paragraph summary. Will count as 2 professional development hours -
FREE Webinars - please request "CE Certificate" when registering, and save to turn in with your Quality for Kids paperwork -
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Mental Health Support for
Child Care Providers
Due to the current pandemic situation and challenges that this has created for child care providers, First 5 Amador and Amador Quality for Kids has extended the use of our contracted behavioral specialists, to include clinical support to providers who may need it.
This difficult situation will cause stress for just about everyone, but we want to help you maintain your mental health so that you can continue to provide quality care for your children. If you are feeling stress, anxiety, depression, overwhelmed, emotionally unstable, or distressed, please let us know.
We can connect you to the licensed Marriage and Family Therapists that we contract with, and they can provide you with support and emotional relief over the phone.
This service is
FREE. Please don't hesitate to reach out, if needed. Contact us at [email protected]
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How can you give kids the best start in life?
... by taking your children to well-child and dental check ups and also,
by doing an "ASQ."
The Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) is a way to make sure your child is "on track." The screening tools are 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.
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Free Online Course for Child Care Providers
Attention Child Care Providers & Preschool Teachers ~ take this
FREE 30-minute online course
to learn more about the latest recommendations for healthy beverages for children!
Save your certificate of completion, and count it towards your 'Amador Quality for Kids' professional development hours!
Click here
HERE
to access this free course.
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Child Care Provider
Tool Kit
for Supporting Breastfeeding Families
Click the link above for a helpful toolkit that is designed to help child care centers, family child care programs, and in-home caregivers support
breastfeeding families.
You can also count this tool kit towards your professional development hours! Simply read through the kit, write out a 2-3 paragraph summary and submit with your 'Amador Quality for Kids' paperwork!
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Healthy Snacks for Kids ~ April
Easter Nest Bagels
Ingredients
- 2 bagels
- 4 Tbs cream cheese or hummus
- 1 large carrot
- 1/2 cucumber
Instructions
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First split each of the bagels in half. Pop the bagel halves into the toaster and toast until golden brown.
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Spread your choice of hummus or cream cheese over the cut side of each bagel half.
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Grate the carrot, using a cheese grater.
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Arrange the carrot strips on top of each bagel half to form nest shapes. Depending on the size of your carrot, you may need to cut some of the strips in half to make this easier.
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Cut egg shapes from the cucumber slices using a small melon baller.
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Place three of the cucumber eggs into the center of each bagel nest.
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Serve immediately, enjoy!
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The
Amador Network of Care
community web site and community announcements page is a resource for individuals, families and agencies concerned with behavioral health. It provides information about behavioral health services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other features. Regardless of where you begin your search for assistance with community resources or behavioral health issues, the
Network of Care
helps you find what you need - it helps ensure that there is "No Wrong Door" for those who need services.
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One day, California's success
will be measured by the
well-being of its youngest children.
Click
HERE to check out the
California Parent Guide, from First 5 California! This Guide includes what you need to know to help your child grow up healthy and thrive.
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Calling all children 0 to 5 years of age.
Join Amador's favorite reading club!
Get free books for your children!
Over
800
Amador kids are receiving books each month!
Sign your child up today and start receiving one free book every
month from the Imagination Library! This is a free program, paid for by First 5 Amador and donations from local individuals and service organizations locally. Books are 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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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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