
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 Playgroups and Support Groups
Session 2: March 7 - June 17
Schedule: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Session 2 Registration Information:
- Registration opens January 3.
- Registrations received by January 9 will be included in the first round of group placements.
- Registration is ongoing throughout the session until all groups are fully enrolled.
- To Register: Use the links below or call 617-625-6600 x6990
English: https://bit.ly/SFLCspring22
Spanish: https://bit.ly/SFLCsesión2
Portuguese: https://bit.ly/SFLCsessão2
Due to fewer group offerings this session, we may have a longer waitlist than usual. Please know that we will do our best to accommodate as many families as possible. Thank you for your patience!
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Support Groups
IN-PERSON New Parent Support Group
Fridays 1:00-2:30pm at the Edgerly Building (8 Bonair Street)
Connecting with other parents is important whenever people become parents. Talking with others who are going through similar experiences, and hearing specific ideas to solve problems can feel wonderful.
As one participant said, "This group lets us enjoy parenting the way we always dreamed about!"
Join us for our New Parents Support Group every Friday, 1:00-2:30pm in person!
Open to all expectant parents and parents with babies from Birth - 15 months old.
Facilitated by Amy Bamforth, MS (ED.), LICSW, Early Childhood Specialist at the SFLC.
Please email sfn@k12.somerville.ma.us to register.
VIRTUAL In This Together: A free on-line support group for parents of children birth to 10 years old
Who: People who have young children (birth-10 years old) and would like to connect with other parents, share ideas, frustrations, and resources!
What: A 90 minute Zoom group meeting with facilitation by Amy Bamforth (from the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative)
When: Weekly on Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Where: Online. Please email sfn@k12.somerville.ma.us for the link to join us!
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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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Potty Training
Are you wondering if your child is ready to start potty 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
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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
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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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- 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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