Playgroups and Parent Support Groups

Enrollment for Session 1 groups starts Tuesday, September 13 at 9:00a.m.

Enrollment Link

If you need language support to enroll, please call 617-625-6600 x6992

Session 1 Groups run from October 3-December 16, 2022. The Session 1 enrollment period starts September 13 at 9:00a.m. and lasts until end of day September 14. Families who enroll during that time will receive priority for placements registrations. Email questions to sfn@k12.somerville.ma.us.

Read the flyer in English, Spanish, or Portuguese

Session 1 Playgroups and Parent Support Calendar

Indoor playgroups: Registration Required

Location: Edgerly Building, 8 Bonair Street, Somerville, MA 02145

Outdoor Playgroups: Drop in / Registration is not Required

Location: Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143

Virtual Playgroups and Resources / Registration is not Required

Please visit facebook.com/SFLCplaygroups for information about multilingual playgroups, story times, and resources.

Parent Support Groups (Virtual or in-person): Registration Required

More about playgroups

We welcome all Somerville families with children birth to five years old to enroll in one group per week. Playgroups are a place to meet other parents and caregivers with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Children have an opportunity to play together in an educationally-rich environment. All groups focus on a variety of experiences that support children's development in literacy, math, science, music, art, large motor, fine motor, and social-emotional skills.

SFLC Playgroups, Parent Support Groups, Parent Education, and ASQ Developmental Screening are funded by the MA Department of Early Education and Care's CFCE Grant. Information on the CFCE ParentChild+ Program can be found here. SFLC Programs are available to Somerville residents only unless otherwise specified.

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ASQ Developmental Screening

Learn more about your child's development with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)!
If your child is between 2 months and 5 years old, you can complete the ASQ-3 (general screening) and/or the ASQ:SE-2 (social-emotional screening).
Once completed, you will hear back from an SFLC staff member with the results, along with activities you can do to continue supporting your child's development.
Click below to complete the screening(s):

English: https://www.asqonline.com/family/4da2f1
Español: https://www.asqonline.com/family/4ba1af

If you have any questions, please feel free to email sfn@k12.somerville.ma.us or call us at (617) 625-6600 x6990.

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Choosing Child Care

Are you looking for child care for your birth-5 year old? Visit the SPS Early Education & Care webpage for information and resources.

View slides from the January 2022 Choosing Child Care Workshop here.

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Toilet Training

Are you wondering if your child is ready to start toilet training? These readiness checklists may help: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Nepali

For more tips & information, check out these videos: English, Spanish

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Resource Sheets for Somerville Families

Including Somerville Public Schools, City of Somerville, and community supports.

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole

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Mental Health Supports

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole

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Additional Resources

Anti-Bias / Anti-Racism  
Early Learning is Crucial

• Thoughts on Very Young Children and Race by Amy Bamforth and Janet Lane    English
• Thoughts on Very Young Children and Race by Amy Bamforth and Janet Lane   Spanish
• Thoughts on Very Young Children and Race by Amy Bamforth and Janet Lane    Portuguese
• Thoughts on Very Young Children and Race by Amy Bamforth and Janet Lane    Haitian Creole

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• Looking for children’s books with dynamic Black characters? Boston University’s Center on the Ecology of Early Development developed a list of Racially Affirming Books for Black Children -- “books featuring the full humanity of children of color, as main characters who show a wide range of emotions, ideas, and identities, who are learning about how their stories connect with others’, who are active agents in the fight toward justice.” See the list here: https://www.bu-ceed.org/uploads/1/3/3/0/133043669/tps_booklist.pdf
• Looking for anti-bias books for your child/ren? Explore the extensive Children’s Peace Education & Anti-Bias Library and find books based on age, topic, and representation. http://www.childpeacebooks.org/cpb/Protect/search.php 
• Help your child become more thoughtful, informed, and brave about race: www.embracerace.org/resources/16-ways-to-help-children-become-thoughtful-informed-and-brave-about-race 
• Finding the words to talk about race with your child isn’t always easy. Here are 100 examples of explicit, proactive language around identity and difference, organized by topic: http://www.raceconscious.org/2016/06/100-race-conscious-things-to-say-to-your-child-to-advance-racial-justice/
• They're not too young to talk about race- infographic
• Talking Race with Young Children. NPR Podcast
• "We Are All Alike... We Are All Different" by the Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergarteners. Starting the Conversation: Recorded Storytime and Follow-Up Questions/Activity
• Why resistance must be part of any discussion of oppression. Lift Up the Freedom Fighters
• WHCIS Students: We Shall Overcome       
• Black Lives Matter: Instructional Library  
• Beverly Daniel Tatum video (“Is My Skin Brown Because I Drank Chocolate Milk?”)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_TFaS3KW6s&  
• How To Talk About Race And Protests With Your Kids, Explained By A Child Psychologist | Here & Now   7/14
• Panel Discussion on Structural Racism with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, DA Rachael Rollins, Mayor Joe Curtatone and other community leaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMlcU6IY1wM 

​Looking for more resources on talking about racism and activism with kids of all ages? Visit https://somerville.k12.ma.us/talking-about-racism 

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At Home Activities

Learning, Playing, and Helping at Home: A message to families 

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Infants (Birth - 15 months)
Toddlers (15 months - 3 years)
Preschoolers (3 - 5 years)

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Infantes (Recién nacidos - 15 meses)
Niños Pequeños (15 meses - 3 años)
Preescolares (3-5 años)

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Bebês (Do Nascimento aos 15 meses) 
Crianças de (15 meses a 3 anos de idade)
Crianças em idade (pré-escolar de 3 a 5 anos)

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Tibebe (Nesans - 15 mwa)   
Timoun piti (15 mwa. - 3 zan)
Preskolè (3-5 an.)

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शिशुहरू (जन्म - १५ महिना)   
बच्चाहरु (१५ महिना- ३ वर्ष) 
प्रिस्कूलर्स ( ३ वर्ष- ५ वर्ष)

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• www.somervilleearlyed.com
• https://somervillehub.org/family-resources/support-families-during-coronavirus
• https://www.mass.gov/lists/early-childhood-education-resources-for-families
• City Scavenger Hunt (Young Children)
• City Scavenger Hunt (Readers)
• Action for Healthy Kids: Game on Activity Library 

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Social Stories 

• Gabi Says, “I’m Confused!” No School, No Friends! A Story about Social Distancing  By Amy Bamforth ~  Illustrations by Janet Lane  
• Gabi dice: "¡Estoy confundida!" ¡No Escuela, No Amigos! Una historia sobre distanciamiento social Por Amy Bamforth ~ Ilustrado por Janet Lane ~ Traducido en español por Flor Apolaya y Francia Reyes 
• Gabi Disse, “Eu estou confusa!” Sem escola, sem amigos! Uma história sobre distanciamento social By Amy Bamforth ~ Illustrations by Janet Lane ~ Translation by Maria Holz & Fernanda Villar (Portuguese) 
• 贝贝说,“我很苦恼!”  没有学校,没有朋友!  一个关于社交隔离的故事   作者 Amy Bamforth    绘者 JanetLane     Chewlee Lim
• 貝貝說,“我很苦惱!”   沒有學校,沒有朋友!   一個關於社交隔離的故事     作者 Amy Bamforth    繪者 JanetLane    Chewlee Lim

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We are Wearing Masks Written by Meredith Polsky    

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• Ronan is Confused By Amy Bamforth. Illustrated by Janet Lane
• Ronan está Confundido
• Ronan está confuso

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• What Nathan & His Friends Can Do A Social Story about Staying Healthy By Amy Bamforth MS(ED.) LICSW
• Lo que Nathan y sus amigos Pueden hacer
• O que o Nathan & seus Amigos Podem Fazer

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Noah Henry by Deana Sobel Lederman 

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Coronavirus Story 

• Hello
• Hola
• OLÁ!
• Arabic

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"When Things Feel Terrible: A Social Story to Help during Hard Times." by Amy Bamforth

English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k0afb607GXtoWAAsZedkrhB1087oXcIC/view?usp=sharing

Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CbSnShlVwisFf6ti8D6VtWQmweLo_Zb6/view?usp=sharing

Portuguese: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1doZMA0NBuKlb9mW0UulREPK2t0PrrbFa/view?usp=sharing

Haitian Creole: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x5gIKbAocZYBukPf9zbzRpZRGIuFx3pE/view?usp=sharing

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Social/Emotional Spotlight 

• Loss. Fear. Grief.
• Pérdida. Miedo. Dolor.

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• Mealtimes with Young Children  
• Las comidas con niños pequeños 
• Refeições com crianças pequenas 
• स-साना बालबाललकाहरू संग खाना खानेसमय 

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• “Serve and Return” Interactions  
• Interacciones "Servir y Devolver" 
• Interações "Ação e Reação"    
• "सेवा र फिर् अन्तफरा या     

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• The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation
• El Poder de la Conversación que Modifica el Cerebro
• O Poder da Conversa que Muda o Cérebro
• कु राकानीको मस्तिष्क-पररवर्तन गने शस्ति

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• Setting Limits
• Establecer límites
• Definindo limites
• सीमा निर्ाारित गर्दै

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• Responding to Challenging Behavior
• Respondiendo a comportamientos desafiantes  
• Respondendo a comportamentos desafiadores 
• चुनौतीपूर्णव्यवहार प्रततको प्रतततिया 

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• Responding to Children's Feelings 
• Respondiendo a los Sentimientos de los Niños 
• Respondendo aos sentimentos das crianças
•  बालबाललकाहरूको भावनाहरूमा प्रलिलिया लदिंद

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•  Playing with Young Children
•  Jugando con niños pequeños
•  Brincando com crianças pequenas
•  साना बालबाललकाहरूसँग खेल्दै

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GUIDANCE FOR SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH COVID-19

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Follow SFLC Playgroups on Facebook! www.facebook.com/SFLCplaygroups