October Calendar
- October 2, Fall Welcome - East
- October 2, Fall Welcome - South
- October 4, Media Focus Group
- October 17, Statutory Oversight Committee
- October 27, Parent Chat: One-Page Profiles
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Fall Welcome Parties
We had so much fun visiting with families at our fall welcome parties at Emerald and Washington Park. We still have two events coming up:
- October 2, 5-6:30 pm at Brattain Early Learning Center, 425 10th St., Springfield.
- October 2, 4:30-6:30 pm at Great Days, 403 N. River Rd., Cottage Grove.
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Dinner & Digital Focus Group
When: Thursday October 4, 5:30-7 pm
Where: 1500 W. 12th Ave., Eugene
Details: We're always looking for ways to improve our communication with you. Email? Facebook? Instagram? Text message? Printed fliers? Please join us for dinner and an opportunity to share your input on the best ways to communicate with parents of young children. Childcare provided. RSVP to our front desk, 541-346-2578 or [email protected].
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What is a One-Page Profile?
A One-Page Profile is a document that you can create to quickly share important information about your child with teachers, childcare providers, medical providers, and others who may benefit from that information. Many parents of children with disabilities view the one-page profile as an important advocacy tool. This document focuses on your child's strengths and likes, while also including details about things that don't work well for your child. Things to consider including in a one-page profile include:
- Hopes & Dreams — What are your hopes and dreams for your child's future?
- What works for your child? — What activities or strategies help your child function best?
- What doesn't work for your child? — What causes anxiety and frustration?
- What are your child's strengths and gifts?
- Medical diagnosis — If your child has a medically diagnosed disability, you may choose to share this information or not.
For more information on creating a one-page profile, come to our October 27 Parent Chat from 10-noon at the Early Childhood CARES office. See below for more details.
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Our Parent Chat & Playgroup will resume on
Saturday, October 27,
with a conversation on
Creating a One-Page Profile for Your Child,
presented by Laura Dahill from Arc Families Connected. This event will be held from 10-noon at our main office, 1500 W. 12th Ave., Eugene.
Free childcare, coffee, and light refreshments will be available. Parents need to register even if childcare is not needed. Register by calling our front desk at 541-346-2578, texting 541-393-7200, or by email to [email protected].
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We need your expertise!
Join our Statutory Oversight Committee for an opportunity to give your input on big-picture issues related to early childhood special education and early intervention. This committee includes service providers, community agencies, school district personnel and Early Childhood CARES families meeting to discuss fiscal issues and the delivery of services to children and their families. Meetings are quarterly from 9-10:30 am at Early Childhood CARES, 1500 W. 12th Ave., Eugene.
Childcare is not provided, however, parents may request a $25 stipend which may be used to pay for self-arranged childcare. Our next meeting is October 17. Contact Ursula at [email protected] for more information.
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Supporting young children's social-emotional development at home
by Natalya McComas and Jeanie Smith
Just like teaching children their letters and numbers, children can be taught to play with friends, express emotions in safe ways, understand emotions in others and solve problems. These types of skills are part of a child’s “social emotional development.”
As professionals working with families of young children, we know that a child’s social emotional development requires the same ingredients that go into teaching other skills.
Parents need to know what to teach, as well as the resources, strategies and activities that will provide their child with opportunities to practice these skills. When children are learning and practicing skills that foster their social development at home, it benefits them when they are in their child care, preschool or other community settings.
Fortunately, there are many simple things that parents can do at home to foster a child’s social emotional development.
Each child’s temperament is unique to them — and for some children, their personality can make it easier or harder to develop positive, warm and responsive relationships. These types of temperaments can be boosted with some simple approaches.
The key here is for parents to add activities to their day to enhance and build more positive and engaging interactions with their child:
- Blow bubbles.
- Play hide-and-seek.
- Sing and dance to your favorite music.
- Read relationship-building books such as “I’ll Love you Forever,” “The Kissing Hand,” “Baby Cakes,” “Guess How Much I Love You,” “You’re My Little Love Bug” and “Llama, Llama Misses Mama.”
This is excerpted from a longer two-part column that was published in the Register-Guard in August. We will publish an excerpt from Part 2 in the November newsletter. For the full articles, follow these links:
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Sensory Storytime at Downtown Eugene Public Library
Registration for the Downtown Eugene Public Library’s next Sensory Storytime begins on Sunday September 23. The storytime session starts October 6
at 3 pm and runs all four Saturdays in October. Storytime is a 30-40 minute program including 20 minutes of early literacy based activities followed by time to explore interactive materials and browse selected books available for check out. Sensory Storytime is designed for children ages 2-8 that experience sensory needs, have developmental delays, or are on the autism spectrum. You may register starting Sunday Sept. 23 by sending an email to
[email protected]
with your child’s name and age. There is limited space in this storytime to help create a supportive, interactive environment, so please register early if interested.
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Find new-to-you costumes at Willamalane's annual Great Costume Swap on October 6.
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October Community Events
- Okto-fur-fest, October 13, 11:30 am - 3 pm. Florence Events Center. Family fun, music, and dachsund races. $2 admission; children 5 and under free.
- The Great Costume Swap, October 6, 10:30-11:30 am, Bob Keefer Center, Springfield. Swap your gently-used costume for a new-to-you costume. Free.
- Haunted Hike, October 20, 5:30-9 pm, Alton Baker Park, Eugene. Family-friendly night-hike along a pumpkin-lit trail through the woods. Folks will encounter costumed creatures, including a gigantic bat and sneaky spider. $5/person. Pre-registration required through Nearby Nature, 541-687-9699.
- Dorris Ranch Haunted Hayride, October 22-24, 5:45-8:45 pm, Springfield. Family-friendly; not too scary. Historic figures emerge from the filbert orchards. $8-$10/person. Tickets will sell out quickly — sales begin at 8 am on October 1. Only available online or in person at participating Willamalane facilities.
- Mount Pisgah Arboretum Mushroom Festival, October 28, 10 am - 5 pm, Eugene. Mushroom display, nature walks, scarecrow contest, live music, children's activities, hayrides. Free parking on event day. $8/adult; children 12 and under free.
- All Hallow's Eugene, October 31, 4-7 pm, downtown Eugene. Family-friendly trick-or-treating, pet parade, costume contest, and free activities.
- Halloween Carnival, October 31, 5-7 pm, Bob Keefer Center, Springfield. Sports with a Halloween twist, carnival games, crafts, and sweet treats. $3/child, adults free.
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Sign up for text message reminders
If you would like to receive text message reminders about upcoming events, including our monthly parent chat & playgroup, visit this link to sign up today:
remind.com/join/eccares
You can also sign up by texting @eccares to the number 81010.
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Support our Program with eScrip
Using eScrip is even easier now with the new Benefits app for iPhone and Androids.
Click here
for more info or to get the app.
Sign up for eScrip to raise money for Early Childhood CARES when you shop at Market of Choice and other partner organizations. You can designate up to three schools to receive funds when you shop. Signing up is quick and easy at
escrip.com.
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Your Family's Resource for Connecting with the Community!
- Informative parenting articles.
- Monthly calendar of activities to do with your kids.
- Connect with resources across Lane County.
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Early Childhood CARES Resource Guide 2018-2019
Our annual Resource Guide lists relevant community resources for young families including library storytimes, play groups, childcare options, and more. If you would like a copy of the 2018-2019 Resource Guide — updated in August 2018 — visit our
website
to download it. If you need a paper copy, contact your service coordinator or Carla at [email protected].
Free Screening for Siblings
Parents of children receiving services from Early Childhood CARES may request a free developmental screening for younger siblings. Simply call 541-346-2578. Spanish speaking families can call 541-346-0742.
Imagination Library
Families who live in the Eugene library district, you can sign your child up to receive a free book by mail every month from birth until he or she turns 5. Details available at the
Eugene Public Library website here.
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Early Childhood CARES
provides early intervention and early childhood special education to infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children in Lane County. Services are individually designed to address the needs of the young child with developmental delays or disabilities. All services are free of charge to eligible children.
Early Childhood CARES
541-346-2578
800-925-8694
1500 West 12th Ave Eugene OR 97402
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