SFLC Playgroups and Support Groups

**Session 2: March 7* - June 17**

*In response to the changing nature of COVID-19 and SFLC’s deep commitment to the health and safety of children and families, playgroups will now begin the week of March 7. All groups are subject to change based on Somerville Department of Public Health and Somerville Public Schools guidelines.

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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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) 684-5316.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resource Sheets for Somerville Families

Including Somerville Public Schools, City of Somerville, and community supports. These resource sheets will be updated regularly.

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mental Health Supports

Mental Health Supports: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Support Groups

New Parent Support Group: In-Person and Virtual!

VIRTUAL New Parent Support Group, NEW TIME starting 11/12/21! Fridays 10:00-11:30am via Zoom
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 10:00-11:30am via Zoom, or 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 for the link to join us!

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!

Additional Resources

Anti-Bias / Anti-Racism
Early Learning is Crucial

Local musician Alastair Moock (https://moockmusic.com/schools/) is one of a few musicians who recently turned down their Grammy nominations for Best Children’s Album – because all of the nominees were white. After speaking with him, Fayerweather Street School 8th graders created a “Family Music Playlist” of songs by diverse artists. Listen here: https://www.fayerweather.org/unit-music-project?fbclid=IwAR3UhkaN3G3XEVPWaL5gqyFVru2Ex-gVeY1AqNsijmbW8jV8GqPAmIUYEHo

Boston-based @Kidogo Productions creates animated musical content that features and honors Black culture for preschool-age children. Check out their version of Wheels on the Bus, a Soulful Rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF8PGk8LBQs

https://www.facebook.com/kidogoproductions/posts/3985067291524456

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/

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

They're not too young to talk about race- infographic
Somerville Public Schools Director of Early Education Lisa Kuh A message and resources
Maestros y familias, comuníquense y construyan los puentes que nos ayudarán a sanar. Lisa Kuh, Directora de Educación Temprana 6/17
Talking Race with Young Children. NPR Podcast
We Are All Alike...We Are All Different by The Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners
Starting the Conversation: Recorded Storytime and Follow-Up Questions/Activity

Books about difference can be a great way to start the conversation about race and inequality with your child. Follow your child’s lead and respond to the questions and thoughts they bring up. Depending on their age, here are some questions you might consider asking your child during or after the video:

What makes you different from or the same as other people?
What makes our family different from or the same as other families?
Sometimes people are treated differently/badly because of their skin color/family structure/etc. [Discuss recent events as you deem appropriate.] Do you think that’s fair?
What do you think we can do to help create a world that is fair?

In the context of your own family, share your own answers to these questions with your child (ex. “It makes me sad/angry/upset when people are treated differently/badly because of their skin color.”)
Emphasize what your family can do to help create a more fair world. (ex. “When we see people treating others unfairly, we can speak up” or “We will go to protests to use our voices and speak out for our/others’ rights.”)
Expect and encourage these conversations to continue beyond this one reading of the book.
Extended Activity: Provide materials for your child to create a self-portrait. Use “people colored” crayons or provide different colors of paint for your child to mix to create their skin color. Use yarn, colored tape, or other household items for the hair and face!

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& 7/1
How To Talk About Race And Protests With Your Kids, Explained By A Child Psychologist | Here & Now 7/14
Did you catch the live Panel Discussion on Structural Racism with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, DA Rachael Rollins, Mayor Joe Curtatone and other community leaders?
You can watch it now at 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