Welcome October!

Hello Friends!

 As we enter the first week of October, we begin to discover, through little eyes, how fascinating Vermont trees really are! Join us next week at the center (Mon-Thurs; 9:30am-11:30am) where we will be creating Harvest Wreaths to hang in our homes as well as leaf rubbings to hang....anywhere! There will also be new songs to sing about Acorns, Colors and Leaves and stories to listen to about what we can expect to see around us during an October in Vermont! 

Fall is in the air!

Hello Friends,

This week has been off to a great start at our center! The children have been painting with corn cobs and green peppers and using these vegetables to make stamps and designs on their papers.  At the end of playgroup, fall themed stories will be read and songs about pumpkins, acorns and corn stalks will be sung! With this new chill in the air, come on into the Leo O'Brien Civic Center located at 113 Patchen Rd in South Burlington for some hot coffee, adult socialization and child's play! Our playgroups run Monday-Thursdays, 9:30am-11:30am and as always they are FREE! We hope to see you soon :)

Expecting... big news!

We are so filled with excitement, that we can't help but share with you this big news!!

We're expecting...

... to have a great time at the first ever Chittenden County Community Baby Shower!

Plans are underway, and we are like little elves busy at work! Click on the picture to see the details, and DO share this with anyone you know in Chittenden County who is pregnant/expecting. Space is limited!

Folks can reserve their space at the baby shower by clicking HERE or visiting the Community Baby Shower link in the menu.

Not pregnant/expecting, but would like to be involved? We are looking for help in several areas, including funding, collecting materials for gift bags and raffle baskets. If you or someone you know would like to help, please contact Colleen at 802-489--0410 or email for more information.

Introducing... Our NEW Schedule!

South Burlington Family Center Playgroup

Leo O’Brien Civic Center *  113 Patchen Road *  South Burlington, VT

Questions? Contact Colleen Christman at 489-0410 or SBurlFC@gmail.com

NEW Schedule! Mon-Thurs: 9AM-Noon

Playgroup starts

MONDAY

September 9th!!!

FREE Snack, Stories, Songs and FUN!

Meet your playgroup facilitators... Mondays: Ashley and Colleen (alternating) Tuesdays: Colleen and Caitlin (alternating) Wednesdays: Marina Thursdays: Ashley Typical Playgroup Schedule:  9:00: Open for free play and exploration  9:30: Story time and Craft 10:30: Monthly Visitor, Free Play, Art & Crafts 11:15: Put away small toys and crafts 11:25: Gross Motor and Sensory Play 11:40: Clean-up & prepare for closing activities

Upcoming Themes and Events September: Farm Animals & Apples.   Tuesday Sept 17th: a visit from “Goldie” the chicken! October: Oct 7-10: Fire Prevention Week Pumpkins, Harvest & Halloween! November: Our body, senses & Thanksgiving! Special Event: Toy & Book Swap (Date: TBD) NO Playgroup Nov. 25-28 December: Food Groups and Cookie Making! NO Playgroup Dec 23-Jan 2

We are excited for this year and look forward to seeing you at playgroup!

Happy Earth Day!

The Vermont weather has been treating us well lately. Hopefully you were all able to get outside to have some Earth Day FUN! If you missed the chance, or are looking for more things to do with your little one, here is one idea with a lot of variation:

Nature walk
There are a bunch of great parks and hiking trails throughout South Burlington where you can escape and be one with nature. Here are a few of our favorites: Red Rocks Park (Central Ave.), Wheeler Nature Park (Swift St. Extension, near Dorset Park), East Woods UVM trail (Swift St, near Klingers Bakery).
Want to start small? Go out in your own backyard, or take a walk around the neighborhood! The trees are starting to bud, flowers are sprouting, you can hear the birds sing-- nature is everywhere!

Extend your child's understanding of the world... 

Ask them questions about the things they see, hear, smell, feel.  Using the phrase "I wonder..." is a great way to get children to start thinking. Point out things that YOU notice too! Remember that much like a nature walk, the pathway to learning is not about the destination, it's about the journey.

Things to do on a nature walk:

• Collect sticks, rocks, pine cones, etc.
• Look for signs of wildlife (scratches on trees, tracks, bird calls).
• Discover the world below: turn over logs, rocks. See what you can find! (Remember to put the logs and rocks back where you found them!)
• Compare bark rubbings: Place a piece of paper against a tree trunk. Rub the long side of a crayon against the paper. You will see a replica of the bark on the paper. 

What are your favorite things to do on nature walks?

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great holiday and welcomed the new year with happiness!

We have been busy at the South Burlington Family Center planning some fun programs for the month. As this week proved, January can be a cold month, so plan on stopping by to play at one of our South Burlington Playgroups for some fun! We've scheduled a library field trip, a NEW baby playgroup, and an EVENING dinner playgroup!
Check out our CALENDAR  for more details.

If you are looking for more things to do in the area, check out our friends at Growing Kids South Burlington. Every week, they put together a special calendar of events for things going on in South Burlington!

We are always looking for new ideas and feedback on our current programs. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey so we can further improve our programs and services to families like yours! This survey is also one way that we are able to secure funding so our programs can continue to remain free!
SURVEY LINK.

If you have any ideas for programs or events, please let us know! We are here for your needs and interests!

Warmest Wishes,

Colleen

Spring..... into Winter?

It's funny to think that Spring begins this month (on the 20th) with the snow we've had recently! We hope you are taking advantage of all the white stuff and having fun with your little ones out in the fluff! The temperatures will soon turn it all back into slush.

March in Vermont is a unique time of year, an in-between month that involves snow, slush, rain and probably a lot of mud puddles. Sugaring season is upon us, and you will see many events surrounding our wonderful Vermont maple syrup! 

SBFC News

Playgroup:

We have been listening to your comments and concerns...

There is now a separate yellow garbage can at playgroup, along with little baggies for soiled diapers. Please be courteous and use this garbage after changing your child's disposable diapers. We all appreciate it!

Please Note: Playgroup on Tuesday March 6 will be at City Hall! (See SAPLINGS below)

S.A.P.L.I.N.G.S Event:

SAPLINGS (Seniors and Preschoolers Linking Intergenerational Needs & Growing Successful Communities) 

The SAPLINGS program is a new collaborative effort between SB Rec. Dept and SBFC, to meet the needs of the early preschool and senior populations in our community. The SAPLINGS meet once per month to participate in a variety of themed activities including craft projects, coloring contests, sing-a-longs, sharing & telling stories, games and more. The SAPLINGS events require no pre-registration and are open and free to all South Burlington Residents. Whether you are a grandparent looking for a fun activity to do with your grandchild, a mom of a preschooler who is looking for an outlet and some adult conversation, or a senior who is longing for the laughter of little ones, this program is for you. 

We encourage all who are interested to join us for our kick-off event Tuesday, March 6 from 9:30-11am, at City Hall as we celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with a Green Eggs and Ham Party! We will begin by reading the classic children's story "Green Eggs and Ham", then dive right into sampling our own batch of the delectable treat as we meet and greet new faces in our community and work on take home crafts together. It is a festive event sure to be fun for all ages!

Things To Do
Lots of FREE things this month. For more, check out FindandGoSeek!

• Ben & Jerry's Winter Festival: March 3, 11am-4pm
  
• Mardi Gras Parade, Church St, Burlington: March 3, 3pm
  
• Toddler Yoga and Stories: Williston Library 10:15am
  Simple yoga and books for children ages 1-5. Presented by Karen Allen.
  

  • 4-week series.
  • Fridays, 10:15 am. (March 9-30). 
  • Pre-register at 878-4918.
• Teddy Bear Tea Party, Gardener's Supply, Williston: March 10, 10-11am
  Bring your favorite stuffed animal or doll to our conservatory for a Tea Party. They will be serving crackers and jam and tea/juice. You will learn about how plants keep our air clean, take a greenhouse tour and paint a pot. You will even get to take a clean air plant home to plant in your pot.
  Please register ahead of time 658-2433.
   
• Wintervale, Intervale, Burlington: March 11, 10am-2pm
  Winter fun at the Intervale!
  
• Visit a Sugar House:
  Check out the link above for over 40 different sugar houses open to the public! Call ahead to make sure they are open.
  Maple Open House, Various Locations: March 24-25

Parent Workshops and Education:

• Life of the Child Conference-- The Art of Thinking,
  Lake Champlain Waldorf School: March 10, 8am-3pm
  Cost: $75. See link above for registration details.
  
• Building Blocks for Literacy, Discovery Preschool, So. Burlington: March 20, 7-9pm Come and learn strategies to help your child build early literacy skills in:
  • alphabet knowledge
  • shared book reading
  • vocabulary
  • phonological awareness
   This workshop provides information and fun activities for promoting your two-to-five year old's early reading success. To help them prepare, please e-mail them if you plan to attend this FREE event.