Welcome summer! Summer provides kids with a much-needed break from daily school schedules, assignments and grades. But it doesn't have to mean taking a break from learning. Keeping kids engaged and active when they're not in school has many benefits, and can help them retain core reading and math skills. This issue of the Parent Pages is full of ideas to support continued learning over the summer, plus information for parents to deal with the added stress of keeping their kids engaged, safe and happy!

June 2023 Parent Workshops View the full descriptions of the June workshops online. Strengthen your child’s coping skills June 5, 7 to 8 p.m. / Free virtual workshop / Register Learn strategies to help your child prepare, regulate and deal with life transitions, overwhelming emotions, worry, disappointment, sadness, and more.   Parenting apart: A path to cooperative co-parenting in divorce and beyond June 12, 7 p.m. / Free virtual workshop / Register Individuals facing divorce and separation can learn to create a plan that minimizes conflict and promotes a positive co-parenting relationship.   Managing parenting anger and frustration June 20, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. / Free virtual workshop / Register Parenting can be challenging when children don’t listen or have meltdowns. This workshop provides tools to navigate a child’s anger and frustration and coping strategies for you as well.  _________________________________ "Positive Solutions for Families made so much of a difference in my life! I'm hoping my word-of-mouth will help others. Thank you!" – Tiara

Is your child ready for kindergarten? Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) kindergarten starts August 28 for children who turn five by September 1. If you haven’t already, register your child now so that the school can plan accordingly. To learn about the process, view the HCPSS registration information. Find tips to help your child be ready for the first day of school in the June issue of the Kindergarten Readiness newsletter.

Presented by the Office of the Local Children's Board (OLCB) and Turn Around, Inc., this free online workshop will help increase teens' awareness about common myths and misconceptions related to behavioral health on social media. Attendance can: Empower teens to identify signs of misleading behavioral health information online and learn how to critically evaluate social media content. Encourage teens to seek professional help and support when they or someone they know are experiencing behavioral health issues or are at risk of human trafficking. Equip teens with accurate resources for behavioral health support and human trafficking prevention. No registration required; log on to Webex to view the presentation on June 8 at 6 p.m.

Community Resource Fair June 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Laurel Woods Elementary School 9250 N. Laurel Road, Laurel 20723 Join the OLCB for a fun-filled family event to build community connections while sharing important resources. Planned activities include: Recreation, games, face painting, magic shows, music & more 30 to 40 onsite vendors and service/resource providerse focused on health, human/family services, economic support, employment, and housing opportunities Free health screenings Free fresh grocery box of food (one per family) Food truck onsite to purchase meals For more information, contact Ben Barnwell at the OLCB, 410-313-0221 (voice/relay) or email bbarnwell@howardcountymd.gov.

Don't miss our community baby shower! June 24, 10 a.m. to noon / Free 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia 21046 / Register by June 14 Are you a Howard County resident and expecting a baby? The Howard County Office of Children and Families (OCF) is hosting a community baby shower with you in mind! Join us and our community partners to learn about maintaining a healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, infant safety, fatherhood, and more. Attendees will receive vital supplies to give their baby a strong start in life.

Keep your kids active, safe and healthy this summer

Outdoor games help kids solve power struggles “Mom! He's being mean to me.” When it seems like your children are trying to outbid each other to get your attention, or you hear that siblings or friends who are normally close are falling out and excluding one another, power plays are taking hold. No matter how many fun activities you have planned, how full you stock your craft cupboard, or how many ice cream treats you have on hand, there will be times when battles break out. Whenever a rebalance is needed, try one of these 12 games from Hand in Hand Parenting to get kids back in sync with one another.

Water safety tips With the start of the summer pool season, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) reminds parents and guardians to always keep an eye on kids in and around bodies of water. Drowning is a leading cause of death for children. For water safety tips, check out the American Red Cross' “Water Safety” website. HCPSS free summer meal program begins June 21 To help feed hungry children and families in Howard County over the summer months, HCPSS will offer free meals on weekdays, from June 21 through August 4. Meals will be served on days schools are open (no meal service Tuesday, July 4). There are no applications, enrollment or fees to participate, but children must be present to receive free meals. Meals will be provided at no cost to any HCPSS students, as well as any children aged 18 and under. For a list of participating sites, visit HCPSS' summer meals website.

The Basics helps children cope with summer stress Kick off summer with one of the pillars of The Basics: Maximizing Love, Managing Stress. Making summer plans for your kids while juggling other life responsibilities can be stressful. Staying emotionally present for your child will increase their overall happiness, strengthen emotional health and build self-control skills. Children thrive when they feel safe and loved, so after a busy day, spend quiet time with your child to create stress-free memories that will last a lifetime. For weekly suggestions based on your child’s age and developmental stage, sign up for free Basics Insights text messages here (in English or Spanish; designed for ages 0 to 5).

Summer reading offers fun and learning The American Library Association says summer reading programs benefit kids by encouraging a lifelong reading habit, drawing in reluctant readers with engaging activities and keeping skills up during summer break. To learn more, explore 12 Creative Ways to Enjoy Reading This Summer from PBS Kids. Or, choose your own adventures as you read, explore and experiment this summer with the Howard County Library System's (HCLS) Summer Reading program. Learn more in the current issue of HCLS' Source magazine.   Get moving while enjoying new books! Families are welcome to join Move & Groove, a fun, free summer class at HCLS' Elkridge branch, June 1 to August 31 on Thursdays at 10 a.m. During the 30-minute class, children of all ages can enjoy a variety of music, dance, movement and interactive stories with their grownups. Free tickets available 15 minutes before class at the Children's Desk. Find more classes and information here. StoryWalk® presents another opportunity for families to enjoy books together on the move! During National Pollinator Week (June 17-25) visit the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (5795 Trotter Road in Clarksville), to explore Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara Levine, illustrated by Masha D’yans. StoryWalk® deconstructs a children’s book into signs placed along a trail where visitors can stroll and follow the story from page to page.

Track your child’s development Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones as they learn to play, speak, act, and move. As a parent, it is important to track how your child is progressing through these milestones. To help you keep up with each stage, view the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Developmental Milestones checklist. Or, try the CDC’s Milestone Tracker App. Download it free today on iOS and Android devices in English and Spanish! If you are concerned about your child’s development, the Howard County Infants and Toddlers Program can help. "Exploring your Child’s Developmental Milestones" will be held at the Glenwood Library, 2350 MD-97 in Cooksville, on June 6 & 8 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information about the program, call 410-313-7017, email earlyinterventionservices@hcpss.org. or visit the website. 2023 "End of the school year" interview Older kids can "track" their milestones, too! As the school year comes to a close, encourage your child to reflect on their academic, social and emotional growth by using the Big Life Journal handout to reflect on things they are proud of and skills they learned.

Farmers’ markets are back Craving red, ripe strawberries? Five farmers' markets are now open across Howard County, bursting with fresh-picked fruits and vegetables, herbs, baked goods and more. Take this opportunity to make healthy food choices with your children and support local farms and businesses by visiting one of the markets this season. For schedules, locations and more information, visit the Howard County farmer's markets website.

Howard County's Family Support Center opens soon Construction of the County's Family Support Center (FSC)* is underway, and, weather permitting, will open in August. The FSC is designed to assist parents and caregivers by offering free comprehensive, family-centered, community-based preventive programs for children from birth to age five. To learn more, contact OCF at 410-313-1940 or children@howardcountymd.gov. *A Family Support Center is not a child care center.

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