Author Archives: letstalkadmin

  1. Fall 2016 Community Playgroups

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    Play_Sense_Playgroups_Play_Groups_Play_Therapy_Counselling_Early_Learning_Kids_Sign_orange

    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 30, 2016. 

    Fall 2016 Community Playgroup Registration Form

    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 October 7 to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

    Questions?  Contact Priscila at 617-665-3825 or pdecalvache@challiance.org.

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

  2. September Festivals!

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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 all three events!

    *First Holiness Church Back to School Festival, September 3rd from 12-3 p.m., Sennott Park. Info: Back to School Festival 2016

    *Danehy Park Family Day, September 17th from 11-4 p.m., Danehy Park. Info: Danehy Day

    *The Port Pride Day, September 24th from 12-5 p.m., Clement Morgan Park. Info:  Port Pride Day 2016

    Enjoy!!

  3. Cambridge Book Bike 2016

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

    Cambridge Book Bike is ready for it’s third year! The Book Bike will be at 5 parks from June 27th to August 12th, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.  Children of all ages can pick a book, do a craft and hear stories read aloud.

    Mondays: Greene-Rose Heritage Park (Harvard St.)
    Wednesdays: Hoyt Field (Gilmore St.)

    Thursdays: Danehy Park (Sherman St.)
    Fridays: Gold Star Mothers Park (Gore St.)
    Fridays: Russell Field (Rindge Ave)

    Book Bike Schedule

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

    logo

    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 Schedule: Summer Food Program

    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

  4. StoryWalk at Fresh Pond Apartments

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    It’s a reading adventure at Fresh Pond Apartments!  Walk around the playground to read all of the pages in Turtle Splash!

    Join us on Thursday, June 9 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for the StoryWalk kickoff at Fresh Pond Apartments, 362 and 364 Rindge Ave.  Free books, activities, pizza, & a performance by a drummer! For families with children 2 to 8 years old. Rain date: June 10th

    For more information, call 617-665-3825 or click here: Fresh Pond Apts. Flyer

    Sponsored by Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and the Center for Families.

  5. StoryWalk at Donnelly Field

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    It’s a reading adventure at Donnelly Field!  Walk around the field to read all of the pages in “Do You Have a Hat?”and “Children Around the World”!

    Join us on Friday, May 20 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for the first StoryWalk of the season, at Donnelly Field (between Cambridge, Willow and Berkshire Streets).  Free books, activities, pizza, & a performance by a juggler! For families with children 2 to 8 years old.

    Event held weather permitting. For more information, call 617-665-3825 or click here: Donnelly Flyer

    Sponsored by Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Center for Families and the Cambridge Public Library.

  7. Register Now for Spring Playgroups!

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    Play_Sense_Playgroups_Play_Groups_Play_Therapy_Counselling_Early_Learning_Kids_Sign_orange

    Registration is now open for the spring session of Cambridge Community Playgroups.  Playgroups meet weekly for 8 weeks starting in mid 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 four 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 25, 2016. 

    Spring 2016 Community Playgroup Registration Form

    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 April 1st to know if you are in a group or on the waitlist.

    Questions?  Contact Priscila at 617-665-3825 or pdecalvache@challiance.org.

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

  8. Children’s Dental Health

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    dental health

    Did you know that dental decay is the most prevalent chronic childhood disease – 5 times more common than asthma. It is almost entirely preventable, with a few simple measures.  Here are some tips from the Cambridge Public Health Department’s Healthy Smiles program for keeping children’s teeth healthy:

    • Brush twice a day.
    • Drink tap water – not bottled water – to benefit from fluoride.
    • See your dentist twice a year.

    More dental tips:

  9. Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development

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    Join us for a four-part series for Cambridge parents:

    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 Dads and Moms.

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

    Flyer: Early Literacy Development Series winter 2016

    dad and kid reading

    Wednesdays, February 3, February 10, February 24 and March 2

    6:30-8:30 pm, Center for Families, Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave.

    Facilitated by Jen Baily, Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative.

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

    Limited child care available upon request. Light snacks served.

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

  10. LGBT Resources for Families, Seniors, and Youths

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    The Community Engagement Team (CET) and the Cambridge GLBT Commission cosponsored an informative and lively networking event on December 17, 2015 entitled “ENGAGING FAMILIES: LEARNING FROM AND WELCOMING LGBTQ PEOPLE”.  Two resource sheets were shared:

    LGBT Resources for Families, Seniors, and Youths

    PFLAG Terminology

    Please share these resources with others!