Author Archives: letstalkadmin

  1. Community Playgroups Spring 2019

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    Registration is now open for the spring session of Cambridge Community Playgroups.  Playgroups meet weekly for 6-8 weeks starting in April.   Children and their moms, dads or caregivers attend and get to play and learn together through songs, books, and fun activities.

    Playgroups are held in different locations around the city.  There are three groups for children 2-5 years and two Tiny Tots groups for children 15-23 months. Details about the times and locations of groups are on the registration form.

    To sign up, fill out the registration form below and return it by Friday, March 22, 2019.

    Community Playgroup Form Spring 2019Download

    By mail: Center for Families, c/o DHSP, 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA, 02139  In person: Give it to anyone at the Center for Families (70 Rindge Ave.) or the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative (119 Windsor St., ground floor). You will hear from us by March 29 to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

    Questions?  Contact Natalia at 617-665-3825 or nmartinez@challiance.org.

    Playgroups are sponsored by the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families.

  2. Children’s Dental Health Month 2019

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    Here are some tips from the Cambridge Public Health Department’s Healthy Smiles program for keeping children’s teeth healthy. Click for downloadable tips in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. 

    Oral Health Resources

    TIPS

    A tooth needs to be cleaned as soon as it is in the mouth.

    Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, for two minutes.

    Use a small soft toothbrush or finger brush.

    Brushing:

    Use a pea size amount of toothpaste on your brush

    Use a soft toothbrush

    Brush in circles

    Brush your gums and your teeth

    Open your mouth and brush top and bottom separately

    Brush all surfaces of all your teeth

    Don’t forget to brush your tongue

    Rinse out thoroughly with water

    Remember to replace your child’s toothbrush every three months or after your child has been sick.

    First visit to the dentist – at one-year-old bring your child to the dentist for an exam.

    Tooth decay is caused by bacteria – which can be transferred from the parent. Don’t share cups or utensils.

    Only sue bottles and sippy cups for formula, milk or water.

    Once teeth are present – only give your child water at night if they are thirsty.

    Limit sugary drinks and snack, including juice-they increase the incidence of tooth decay.

    Rinse with water after eating when a brush is not available, it washes away food and mouth germs.

    Cambridge water has fluoride which prevents cavities by making your tooth stronger.

  3. Dads and Kids Reading Challenge!

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    How to participate:

    • Read books with your child!
    • Using the hashtag #CambDadsRead, post a picture on Cambridge Dads’ Facebook or Twitter of you and your child reading a book or post a short message letting us know what you read and something you enjoyed about it.
    • Be entered to win a Cambridge Dads coffee mug and a pack of five books for your child.
    • Have fun reading!

    Details:

    • You’ll receive 1 raffle entry per post. One winner per week – announced Mondays at 3:00PM
    • Repeats for four weeks. Once a participant wins they cannot win again, however you are strongly encouraged to continue reading and sharing posts!

    Dates:

    • Week One: January 22 – January 27th – Winner announced January 28th
    • Week Two: January 28th – February 3rd – Winner announced February 4th
    • Week Three: February 4th – February 10th – Winner announced February 11th
    • Week Four: February 11th – February 17th – Winner announced February 19th

    Facebook (@Cambridge Dads) or Twitter (@CambDads)

    Dads and Kids Reading Challenge FlyerDownload

    If you have questions reach out at cambdads@cambridgema.gov.

    Cambridge Dads is a project of the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families.

  4. Winter 2019 Community Playgroups

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    Registration is now open for the winter session of Cambridge Community Playgroups.  Playgroups meet weekly for 7-8 weeks starting in mid January.   Children and their moms, dads or caregivers attend and get to play and learn together through songs, books, and fun activities.

    Playgroups are held in different locations around the city.  There are three groups for children 2-5 years and two Tiny Tots groups for children 15-23 months. Details about the times and locations of groups are on the registration form.

    To sign up, fill out the registration form below and return it by Friday, December 14, 2018. 

    Community Playgroup Forms Winter 2019

    By mail: Center for Families, c/o DHSP, 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA, 02139  In person: Give it to anyone at the Center for Families (70 Rindge Ave.) or the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative (119 Windsor St., ground floor). You will hear from us by December 19 to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

    Questions?  Contact Jen at 617-665-3812 or jbaily@challiance.org.

    Playgroups are sponsored by the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families.

  5. Family Literacy Fun Day 2018

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    Join us on Saturday, November 3rd for the 22nd Annual Cambridge Family Literacy Fun Day, which kicks off National Family Literacy Month (November).   2018 FLFD Flyer

    This free event will take place at Cambridge City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and is open to all Cambridge families with children birth through grade 3.

    FLFD14-2

    The event includes children’s activities, free books, Bonaparte the Magician (shows at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.), sing along, face painting, and more! For more information, call 617-349-6492.

    This event is sponsored by the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge Public Schools – Title 1 Program,  Center for Families, and City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs.

     

  7. Fall 2018 Community Playgroups

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    Registration is now open for the fall session of Cambridge Community Playgroups.  Playgroups meet weekly for 6-8 weeks starting in mid October.   Children and their moms, dads or caregivers attend and get to play and learn together through songs, books, and fun activities.

    Playgroups are held in different locations around the city.  There are three groups for children 2-5 years and two Tiny Tots groups for children 15-23 months. Details about the times and locations of groups are on the registration form.

    To sign up, fill out the registration form below and return it by Friday, September 21, 2018. 

    Fall 2018 Community Playgroup Forms

    By mail: Center for Families, c/o DHSP, 51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA, 02139  In person: Give it to anyone at the Center for Families (70 Rindge Ave.) or the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative (119 Windsor St., ground floor). You will hear from us by September 26 to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

    Questions?  Contact Jen at 617-665-3812 or jbaily@challiance.org.

    Playgroups are sponsored by the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families.

  8. Early Literacy Parent Workshop Series, Fall 2018

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    Join us for a six-part series –  Early Literacy Development:  Dads and Moms Make a Difference!

    Learn concrete strategies to support your child’s language and literacy development (birth to four years).

    Share your successes and challenges with other Cambridge Dads and Moms.

    Topics include talking, reading, managing screen time, early math, science and storytelling. Free books and giveaways!

    dad and kid reading

    Tuesdays, September 25-October 30, 2018

    6:30-8:30 pm, 362 Rindge Avenue Apartments, Conference Room

    Facilitated by Jen Baily, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative.

    Limited child care available upon request. Light snacks served.

    To register contact Christine at 617-349-3003 or cdoucet@cambridgema.gov.

    Co-sponsored by Let’s Talk! and Center for Families.

    Info: Early Literacy Development Series fall 2018

  9. September Festivals 2018

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    September is a busy month in Cambridge with a number of fun fall festivals to attend.  Let’s Talk! will be giving out free children’s books at these events!

    *Port Community Pride Day, September 8th from 12-4 p.m., Clement Morgan Park. Info: PortCommunityPrideDayFlyer2018

    *Danehy Park Family Day, September 15th from 11-4 p.m., Danehy Park. Info: Danehy Park Family Day

    Hope to see you there!

  10. Cambridge Book Bike 2018

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    Let’s Move, Let’s Eat, Let’s Read!

    Cambridge Book Bike is ready for it’s fifth year! The Book Bike will be at 5 parks from July 9 to August 10th, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.  Cambridge children of all ages can pick a free book, do a craft, get a free lunch and hear stories read aloud.

    • Mondays: Greene-Rose Heritage Park (Harvard St.)
    • Tuesdays: Fresh Pond Apartments playground (Rindge Ave)
    • Wednesdays: Hoyt Field (Gilmore St.)
    • Thursdays: Danehy Park (Sherman St.)
    • Fridays: Gold Star Mothers Park (Gore St.)

    Book Bike Schedule 2018

    To stay up-to-date on schedule changes or rainouts, call 617-349-4038 or follow us on Facebook, or Twitter.

    The Book Bike supports healthy bodies and healthy minds by visiting many of the Cambridge parks that participate in the Summer Food Program, which provides free lunches to children under 18.  Summer Food Program Schedule 2018

    The goal of the Book Bike is to give all children access to books to build their home library for enjoyment and learning in the summer to help prevent “summer slide”. Meeting families in the park for stories and activities, the Book Bike models that reading is fun! The program provide a wide variety of titles, topics and languages so children can find a book they want to read.  Research has shown that children read more when they select the book.  For more information:

    Why we should let kids choose their own summer reading books

    Book Bike partners include: Liz Phipps-Soeiro, Elementary School Librarian, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Center for Families, and Cambridge Public Library. For more information check out the Book Bike website or contact Jen Baily, AFC Literacy Coordinator, jbaily@challiance.org, 617-665-3812