How to Help Your Child Make Friends | |
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Get involved and take action without overstepping
There's nothing sweeter than watching your child make his first friend, or best friend. Observing them share a giggle or show tenderness or support for another child fills parents with a sense of grace that lets them believe that all will be well with their child even when parents are not around. On the flip side, watching a child struggle to make friends, seeing them sit alone at playtime, or face hostile peers is about as heartbreaking as it gets. It's enough to make a parent stand up and demand other children to be friends with their child. But, of course, that is not how it works - unless you are looking for your child to be further outcast.
Making friends can be very difficult for some children and watching them struggle can make parents suffer alongside of them. Although there are ways to help them along the way to building friendships, there is a balance parents must navigate – talking them through what friendships are and mean, while also letting them into the world to find their own friends.
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Confident, Well Dressed and Clothed with Kindness | |
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Learning to dress themselves and what to wear helps kids develop
By Priscilla Greear
Choosing between a favorite Heat jersey and tyrannosaurus rex t-shirt. Pulling up those kiddy cargos and snapping the button independently. Proudly sporting --on day five-- a lively combo of pink tutu, stripy leggings, flower shirt and sparkly high tops. Parents can joyfully guide and support their young children through the developmental journey of learning to get dressed and shape a healthy mindset towards sartorial self-expression, physical appearance and sensible clothes selection.
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New, “Cool” Locations for this Year’s Family Expo | |
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All new venues offer refreshing atmosphere and same great resources and fun
By now, parents around Miami-Dade County know that summertime means the annual return of The Children’s Trust Family Expo, the largest, free, family resource events in our community. For the past several years, they’ve also come to realize just how hot an outdoor summer event can feel. But this year, the Family Expo events are getting cooler!
That’s because this year, the Family Expo is heading indoors. All three events will be held partly indoors, with exhibitors housed in air-conditioned venues to keep children and families cool in the summer heat. Don’t worry, many of the fun-filled activities children and families have come to expect will still be outdoors to take advantage of South Florida’s energizing sunshine.
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Winners Crowned at 13th Annual Young Talent Big Dreams Competition | |
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Nicole Becker and Emma Van Assche take home grand prize
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, together with presenting sponsor The Children’s Trust, are proud to announce the 2023 winners of Young Talent Big Dreams, the most widespread, local FREE youth talent competition in Miami-Dade County. Nicole Becker, 14, from Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer and Emma Van Assche, 13, from International Studies Charter School, were the Overall Grant Prize Winners. They took home $500 in cash provided by Actors’ Playhouse, and four tickets to Universal Orlando along with a hotel stay for two nights courtesy of WSVN 7News.
A marathon of preliminary and semifinal competitions for student performers ages 8-17 culminated in the finals held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the Miracle Theatre. Prizes ranged from cash awards, master classes with industry professionals and performance opportunities to performing arts scholarships sponsored by SouthState Bank and the Coral Gables Rotary Club.
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Miami FC Celebrates The Trust’s 20th Anniversary with Special Game Night! | |
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Trust staff, children and providers on hand to take part in pre-game activities
The Miami FC soccer team helped celebrate The Children's Trust's 20th Anniversary on the evening of Saturday, May 27, in a match held at FIU Stadium against Orange County FC.
Trust staff, providers and their children received complementary tickets to attend the game and showed up en masse to support the local team, while also receiving recognition. As players and referees stepped onto the field, they were greeted by throngs of children wearing The Children’s Trust 20th Anniversary t-shirts.
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Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Children’s Commission Roadmap for Child Success Available for Download | |
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's Blue Ribbon Children Commission has released its Roadmap for Child Success, made in collaboration with The Children's Trust and based on recommendations from The Mayor's Children's Summit in 2022. The document is ready and available for download at the link below: | |
Book of the Month: Our Shed Shows How Memories Can be Built | | |
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Even in today’s digital-dominant world, it’s good to know that taking the time to build, fix or create something together with your children creates memories that they won’t soon forget. In his book, Our Shed, author Robert Broder tells the story of how a father and daughter build a shed together that while not quite perfect, and even a bit crooked, created loving memories that stood the test of time much like the shed endured the years and seasons that came after.
When the little girl grows up, she continues the tradition with her own child as they fix up the shed together building even more memories in the process. All children and parents can relate to the bonds made when doing activities together and if there is something built during the experience then it will serve as a symbol of quality time spent together.
Our Shed is one several books that give glimpses into how mothers and fathers show and experience love and unforgettable moments with their children featured in Miami-Dade Public Library’s Staff Picks. Learn more about the books at www.mdpls.org/staff-picks. To sign up for The Children’s Trust Book Club to receive a free monthly book for registered children from 0-5 years old, text “READ” to 786.460.CLUB (2582).
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Looking for a summer camp program for your child? The Children's Trust funds different programs that stress engaging, active and educational summer camp programs. | |
The Children’s Trust Parent Club offers FREE, countywide workshops on relevant topics about raising children that are successful, healthy, and happy. | | | | |
