Celebrate National Parents as Teachers Day

November 8 is National Parents as Teachers (PAT) Day, a time to honor parents as their child’s first and most important teacher and to recognize the programs and partners who support families every step of the way. In Howard County, our PAT team (pictured above) partners with families to promote positive parenting, strengthen protective factors and nurture early learning. Parent educators are committed to work with families to build bright futures together. Join us November 13 at 7 p.m. for “Ask the Parent Educator,” an opportunity to meet our team, ask questions about parenting and child development, and learn how PAT can support your family! Register now to attend.

Located at 9790 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, the Family Support Center (FSC) brings Howard County families together to learn and have fun. The FSC's community-based programs are designed for parents and caregivers of children from birth to age five. A variety of fun activities are featured below. View the full schedule of November programs (in English or Spanish) or email Ashton Sullivan for more information. If you are interested in a class and it is full, join the waiting list and we will contact you if we can add you to the registration.

Thankful for Tasty Treats: New Saturday Session! 

Session 1: November 15, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Register 

Session 2: November 15, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Register  

You asked for a Saturday program - and we listened! Get ready for pre-holiday fun! Children will make a healthy turkey-themed snack, enjoy a silly seasonal story, sing songs, and play with friends at the center. For children ages three to five.  

Mealtime Struggles to Mealtime Success

November 12, 7- 8 p.m. (Virtual) | Register

November 18, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (In person) | Register 

From a baby's first bites of solid foods to challenging mealtimes with preschoolers, explore how to achieve mealtime success! Learn ways to get your baby ready for solids, how to handle picky toddlers, and ways to handle mealtime challenges like throwing food, food refusal, and more! Get information about the nutritional needs of little ones from birth through preschool to optimize growth and development! 

Beyond the Thermostat:

Save money on your BGE bill!

November 13, 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. | Register 

Civic Works Energy Programs help Maryland residents make their homes more energy efficient, reducing monthly bills with FREE energy efficiency upgrades such as LED light bulbs, an advanced power strip, faucet aerators, and high-efficiency shower heads, installed during a complimentary home visit. Attend to learn more and sign up for this FREE program, plus get a chance to win a $25 gift card.


Drop-In Play Group

November 20, 10 – 11a.m. | Register  

Children and their families are invited to explore and play at our Family Support Center! Parents must stay with their children. This is a great opportunity for children to meet new friends and parents to network!

Make the most of Parent-Teacher conferences  

How do you make the most of your questions with only 15 minutes to discuss them? Understood, a resource that provides tools and resources to support those who learn and think differently, offers a podcast with advice on How to Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences. Prior to the meeting with the teacher, complete the Parent-Teacher Conference Worksheet to focus on which areas your child is doing well in or having trouble. Taking notes and following up are important steps to make the meeting a success.

Prepare your children for the time change

Remember, it's time to "fall back" on Sunday, November 2. Before you go to bed, set your clocks back one hour. It may be difficult to reset your sleep clocks with the time change - especially for children. Here are some tips from The Sleep Lady which may be helpful:

• Change bedtime gradually: Shift naps and bedtime 15–30 minutes later for a few days before the change.
• Adjust your schedule: Move meals, naps and bedtimes to align with the new clock.
• Get outside early: Morning sunshine (20–30 min) helps reset your baby’s circadian rhythm naturally.
• Try a “dramatic wake-up” at 6 a.m. Enter your baby’s room, open the curtains and greet the morning energetically to reinforce the new wake time.

Stay patient! It may take a few days for your child to fully adjust — consistency is key! For more sleep ideas, read: Sample Schedules: Sleep and Naps From 6 Months to Preschool - The Sleep Lady.

Tips for traveling with children this holiday season

The busiest time of year for travel is about to be upon us, Thanksgiving! Child Mind Institute provides a list of 24 ways to make flights and road trips easier for children with autism, anxiety and other challenges. Read up on ideas from doing a test run, packing favorite snacks to relaxing technology rules. Interested in more, view our videos:  Tips For Car Travel and Travel Flight Tips.  

Repair Café

November 8, 1 – 4 p.m. | Howard County Library Miller Branch 

Does your shirt have a hole? Is your lamp broken? Does something on your bike need to be repaired? Instead of throwing away broken items, bring them to be fixed! Bring your children to see the power of fixing vs. throwing away! Visit here for more information.

Four ways to make breakfast a great start to the day

With tight budgets and the demands of daily life, breakfast may not be a top priority for many families. With a little advance planning, it can be a quick, easy meal with ingredients that are nutrition-packed and still budget-friendly. Check out these Sesame Street recipes along with ways to use breakfast time as a way to reconnect. Watch Caring for My Brain: Brain Food with children to help explain how when we eat healthy food, we’re taking care of our brains as well as our bodies.

Public benefits one-stop shop 

Accessing public benefits in Maryland is now easier than ever. Through the new state benefits portal, you can apply for a range of essential programs including food and cash assistance, childcare support, healthcare services, job training, and energy relief. The portal also offers resources for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those providing care for children or vulnerable adults. To find out what you qualify for and apply online, visit https://benefits.maryland.gov/home.



HCLHIC food and nutrition resources

The Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition’s (HCLHIC) goal is to increase access to and awareness of culturally appropriate, accessible, affordable, and nutritious food to decrease food and nutrition insecurity among Howard County residents. Here are some helpful resources to find assistance:

• Howard County Food Connection Map
• Howard County Food Map Poster  
• Food and Nutrition Resource Guide - For Providers
• Healthy Snacking and Beverage Choices

Celebrate the season with cozy family-friendly activities

As we move into this season of thankfulness, include some seasonal activities to try as a family:

Nature walk treasures: Collect colorful leaves or pinecones for simple art projects.

Storytime gratitude: Read books about thankfulness and talk about what makes your family feel happy and loved.

Family recipe fun: Let little ones love to help stir, pour or mash ingredients during meal prep — it’s a great way to build fine motor skills and family memories.

Be grateful: Start a grateful journal and take some time out of each week to write down what your family is grateful for.

Start family traditions: Having traditions, whether big or small, gives us something to look forward to each year. Here are some ideas to start a family tradition.

For more ideas check out “500 Things to do with your Children Before They Grow Up" by Linda Williams Aber and Corey McKenzie Aber.