Pictured above: Office of Children & Families staff try out the new Language Assistant translation device to better connect and serve our families at the FSC.

Happy 1st birthday to the Howard County FSC

We’re so grateful to all the families and community partners who have made the Family Support Center's first year a success! The community's support helped us create a welcoming space where we’ve been able to provide fatherhood-focused programs, drop-in social playgroups, healthy parent and child cooking classes, and so much more. In our first year, we received a 2024 award from the National Association of Counties for best practice in the human services category! Thank you for being a part of this journey!

Explore through movement and play:

Infants and toddlers are highly curious of the world around them. Young children learn about their environment through play. The Basics Howard County offers tips for parents to help their babies navigate the world around them:

• Let them move around! Give your baby time and space to explore by rolling, scooting and crawling. Just keep an eye out to make sure they’re safe!
• Practice reaching. Hold a toy just out of an infant’s reach to encourage movement.
• Discover on and off (with supervision). Help your older baby turn buttons, switches and faucets on and off. Talk to your child about what they did and what happened.

Learn more about parent-child activities to help your child to build their interests and see where their curiosity will take them. Want more Basics Insights? To receive weekly suggestions based on your child’s developmental stage, sign up for free Basics Insights text messages (available in English or Spanish, designed for children birth to age five).

Parents as Teachers is enrolling new families!

Parents as Teachers is a home visiting program available to any parent in Howard County with a child from birth to age five. PAT's mission is to promote the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging parents. This free and voluntary program provides personal home visits by a certified Parent Educator to explore child development topics. Learn more and register.

“Having a supportive person to talk to about developmental topics - who provided helpful tips, helped me to find answers and shared their own similar experiences - was helpful in so many ways. PAT should be expanded in our community since so many families and children need a little extra support." - A PAT Parent

Concerned about your child’s development?

Howard County Early Intervention Services can help!

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will offer free developmental consultations for parents of children (birth to age five) on October 24, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way in Columbia 21045. To learn more about early intervention programs, visit the HCPSS website, call 410-313-7017 (voice/relay) or email: earlyinterventionservices@hcpss.org

Happy Hayride

Sundays, October 20 & 27, 2 to 4 p.m. | Ages two to seven+

Cost: $5 at the gate (cash only)

Cute, kid-friendly and not so scary, Recreation & Parks’ Happy Haunted Hayride offers a Halloween hayride full of fun, not fright.

Truck or Treat

Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., | Gary J. Arthur Community Center | 2400 MD-97, Cooksville, 21723 | Cost: $5/child, $2/aduIt | Register in advance

Celebrate Halloween with a “wheely fun” day outdoor event for all ages! Dress in costume to trick-or-treat at trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, and more, while meeting hometown heroes.

Fall on the Farm festivities:

• Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City | through November 3
• Gaver Farm Fall Fun Festival, 5501 Detrick Road, Mt Airy | through November 5

Howard County Fall Festival

October 5, noon to 4 p.m. | North Laurel Community Center | 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel | Cost $5/person age 4 years+ | Register

Enjoy an afternoon of music, games, entertainment, food trucks, and more. This outdoor family-friendly event has something for everyone. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Find more family fun activites like the Floating Pumpkin Patch; Marvel, Chicken & Waffles; and Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees, in the Howard County Recreation and Parks Fall Activity Guide on page six.

Get active during Walktober

Did you know that walking is Maryland's official exercise? In October, join the Howard County Local Health Improvement Coalition (LHIC) and local partners for Walktober, a month of walk and move events. Let's get moving together!  

Healthy fall snacks to make with your kids

Busy back-to-school schedules often leads to snacking on the go. Healthy fall snacks are just what families need to keep going while enjoying all those fall activities. Try these four healthy and fun snacks with your little ones this season: Fall Leaves Snack; Spider Sandwich; Tangerine Pumpkins; and Toasted Coconut Granola. For more ideas, visit 24 Healthy Fall Snacks for Kids - Fantastic Fun & Learning..

Need winter coats or other cold weather gear for your family? The Howard County MultiService Center has you covered! Free cold weather gear for all, available at the North Laurel Community Center, while supplies last. For more information, view the flier in English or Spanish, contact Valerie Mathis at 410-313-0242 (voice/relay) or email vmathis@howardcountymd.gov.