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Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development
September 17, 2015 4:35 pm Comments Off on Parent Workshops-Early Literacy Development
Join us for a three-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 Dads and Moms.

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

Tuesdays, October 6, October 20 and November 3

6:15-8:00pm, Windsor Street Health Center, 119 Windsor Street, 2nd floor

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 fall2015
Fall Playgroups – Register Now!
September 9, 2015 3:21 pm Comments Off on Fall Playgroups – Register Now!

Registration is now open for the fall session of Cambridge Community Playgroups. Playgroups meet weekly for 8 weeks starting in early 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 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 September 25, 2015.

Fall 2015 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 2nd 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.
September Festivals
September 2, 2015 4:24 pm Comments Off on September Festivals
September is a busy month in Cambridge with a number of fun fall festivals to attend!

*First Holiness Church Back to School Festival, September 5th from 12-3 p.m., Sennott Park. Info: BTS 2015 FT BTS 2015 BK

*The Port Pride Day, September 12th from 12-5 p.m., Clement Morgan Park. Info: Port Pride Day 2015

*Danehy Park Family Day, September 19th from 11-4 p.m., Danehy Park. Info: Danehy Day

Enjoy!!
Cambridge dads: in their own words
July 21, 2015 8:09 pm Comments Off on Cambridge dads: in their own words
What does fatherhood mean to you?

We are now seeking original writing submissions of any kind and length (including essays, poems, rap-lyrics, reflections, etc.) from Cambridge dads to be collected and displayed at a prominent city location. The public will get a glimpse into what being a dad truly means to the men who live it.

Deadline: Monday, August 31, 5 p.m.

One lucky dad will have his entry selected by Scout Cambridge Magazine to be featured in an upcoming issue!

Need help getting started? We have two free drop-in sessions to help you get started or to work on your piece….come on by!

Wednesday, July 29th, 6-8 p.m., Agenda for Children, 119 Windsor Street, Ground Floor

Monday, August 17th, 6-8 p.m., Center for Families, Back of the Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave., Door #10

To enter, email submissions to Luis at lvasquez@cambridgema.gov with the subject “Fatherhood,” and include registration info: full name; age (optional); phone #; age of child(ren). You can also drop your submission off at the Agenda for Children or Center for Families (addresses above) during normal business hours.

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

Note: By participating in “Cambridge Dads: In Their Own Words,” I am consenting to the release of my written piece and/or photo/artwork to be used for all purposes surrounding promotion, execution, and physical display of the project by the Center for Families and Agenda for Children.
Cambridge Book Bike!
June 26, 2015 2:35 pm Comments Off on Cambridge Book Bike!

Let’s Move, Let’s Eat, Let’s Read!

Cambridge Book Bike is ready for it’s second year! With the addition of a second bike (thanks Kids Council!) the Book Bike will be at 5 parks from June 29th to August 14th, 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.)-starts July 10
Fridays: Russell Field (Rindge Ave)-starts July 10

Book Bike Schedule

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

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

Why Do Poor Students Lag Behind Rich Students in Reading Development

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. Free lunch is available at all the Book Bike parks except for Russell Field. Summer Food Schedule: Summer Meals Program

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
Summer Fun in Cambridge!
June 25, 2015 1:52 pm Comments Off on Summer Fun in Cambridge!
Summer is a great time to talk, read, play, sing, and have fun with your child! Cambridge has many wonderful (and free) activities for your family. Thanks to the 0-8 Council for compiling this list. Enjoy!

Library Events

“Every Hero has a Story” in the 2015 summer reading program for children
- Summer Reading and other events including puppet shows, real animals, science programs, magic, movies etc. at the Cambridge Public Libraries across the city
- Summer Reading 2015
Movies Outdoors

Screen on the Green
- Summer outdoor movies on Wednesdays in a different park each week, July 8 – August 12
- Screen on the green dates
- 617-349-6200
Museums, Zoos and Other Attractions

Free Fun Fridays throughout the state June 26-August 28, 2015
- Every Friday 7 attractions are free to the public and include Tanglewood, the Children’s Museum, Franklin Park Zoo, Hancock Shaker Village, Museum of Fine Arts and others
- Offered by Highland Street Foundation
- Free Fun Friday Schedule
Passes from the library for museums and zoos can be reserved up to a month ahead
- Museum Passes
- 617-349-4041
Parks

Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) plus Let’s Move activities
- June 29- August 14, 2015
- Located at 5 parks: Greene Rose Heritage Park (Harvard St.), Sennott Park (Broadway), Hoyt Field (Gilmore St.), Danehy Park (Sherman St., by sprinklers), and Gold Star Mother’s Park (Gore St.). Open for drop-ins
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Exercise and Activities; 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch and Book Bike (see section on Book Bike! for days and locations)
- For kids 0-18
- Call 617-349-6247 or Summer Food Program for more information
Book Bike!
- The Cambridge Book Bike, in collaboration with the Summer Food Service Programs is bringing books to kids of all ages…by bike!
- Each week the book bike will be at Greene-Rose Heritage Park (Mondays), Hoyt Field (Wednesdays), Danehy Park (Thursdays), Gold Star Mother’s Park (Fridays) and Russell Field (Fridays, but no lunch at this site) with books and activities.
- Learn more at Book Bike
Water-play parks
- 26 water-play parks in Cambridge
- Water Play Parks
- For information about when fountains and pools are in operation, call 617-349-4800
Arts in the Park
- Free art activities, community potlucks, and entertainment in local neighborhood parks. Details: arts in the park
Performances

Cambridge Arts Council’s “Summer in the City”
- Free programs including music, dance, storytelling, theater, puppets, arts and crafts day and night across the city. Many events are interactive.
- See Summer in the City for details
- 617-349-4669
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Festivals and Community Events

Center for Families Family Fun Day, July 18, 10:00 – 1:30,
- Rindge Field (behind the Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave.).
- Children ages 0-8 and their families are invited for a fun morning of arts & crafts, moon bounces, face painting, book giveaways, a light lunch, and more!
- Rain location is Peabody School Gym.
- Call 617-349-6385 for more information.
Area IV Community Pride Day, September 12, 11:00 AM – 6 PM
- Columbia Park, between Columbia St. and Pine St.
- Bar B Q, live music and dancing, basketball tournament, live entertainment, pony rides, resource tables, fun for everyone.
- Call 617-547-4680 for more information.
General Activity Listings

Department of Human Service Programs’ (DHSP) Summer Resource Guide 2015
- Lists variety of summer programs including camps, park/playground activities, lessons, sports programs during the day and evening, and some paid opportunities
- Summer Youth Guides are available in Spanish, Creole, and Portuguese
- Summer Resource Guide (617-349-6200)
Title I Summer Packet and Booklists
- Summer Literacy Packet
- Title One Info
Center for Families activities
- Center for Families offers drop-in groups, play-groups, programs in the park,
- Info: Center for Families
Summer activities for children with special needs
- SPED PAC website
- PAC Coordinator, Rosalie Rippey, 617-593-4402
Cambridge Public Schools website listings
- Summer Opportunities
Compiled by Cambridge 0-8 Council. For more information about summer activities contact Jayne Cantor, Cambridge Community Partnerships for Children 617-349-6086 or Jayne_ccpc@yahoo.com
22nd Annual Hoops ‘n’ Health
June 19, 2015 8:46 pm Comments Off on 22nd Annual Hoops ‘n’ Health
Join us for the 22nd Annual Hoops ‘n’ Health Sports Tournament and Health Fair on Saturday, June 20th at Hoyt Field (Gilmore St. and Western Ave).

Health fair is from 12 to 4 pm. featuring:
- kids’ activities
- free books
- music
- food
- prizes
- health screenings
- community resources
- and more!
For more information, call Richard Harding at 617-665-3769 or view Hoops family flyer 2015

Hoops ‘N’ Health is the largest health fair and citywide sports tournament in Cambridge. Since its start in 1993, this annual event has been bringing together hundreds of residents over Fathers Day weekend to build community and highlight the importance of men’s health.
Storytelling Tent at River Festival!
June 5, 2015 6:29 pm Comments Off on Storytelling Tent at River Festival!

StoryStream Cambridge will host a day full of Storytelling at River Festival on Saturday, June 6th from 12-6! Stop by the Storytelling Tent at the corner of Sidney Street & Massachusetts Avenue to participate in the stories and create your own Story Flag! American Sign Language interpreters will translate stories all day.

Schedule of events

12:00 Storytellers Tony Toledo and KR Glickman.
Unseen Borders: Stories in American Sign Language and English
12:45 KR Glickman presents: Growing Up Deaf in a Hearing World

1:40 True Story Theater …
Your own stories brought to life!

3:00 Story Flags and Memory Stories with Cambridge residents from all over the world

3:30 Storyteller and mime performer, Motoko presents:
Sumo Mice and Power Rice: Tales from Japan

4:30 Story Flags and Memory Stories with Cambridge residents from all over the world.

StoryStream Cambridge is a collaboration between many city agencies and individuals. Our goal is to connect all the people of Cambridge with the joy and power of listening to and telling stories.

After the Storytelling Tent, check out the many other wonderful activities at River Festival. Click here for information: River Festival
StoryWalk Cambridge- Donnelly Field & Fresh Pond!
May 21, 2015 4:40 pm Comments Off on StoryWalk Cambridge- Donnelly Field & Fresh Pond!
It’s a reading adventure at Donnelly Field! Can you find all the pages?

Join us on Friday, May 29 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for the first StoryWalk of the season! The opening celebration is at Donnelly Field (behind King Open School between Willow and Berkshire). Free books, activities, pizza, & a performance by Silly Sally! For families with children 2 to 8 years old. For more information, call 617-665-6825 or click here: Flyer-Donnelly-Field-2015final

Rain location: King Open School Cafeteria. Sponsored by Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, Center for Families and the Cambridge Public Library.

Continue the fun on Saturday, May 30th at Fresh Pond Day from 11:00 to 3:00! Join the Water Department and many agencies in celebrating a great Cambridge resource. Look for the StoryWalk around the pond, see live wildlife presentations, a wildlife and bike parade, live music, face painting, and much more! For more information, click here: Fresh Pond Day info
Supporting Early Math Development
May 8, 2015 3:56 pm Comments Off on Supporting Early Math Development
Math for young children consists of three areas: counting, shapes and patterns. By taking opportunities during everyday activities to count up and down, notice patterns and play with shapes, parents and caregivers are helping children get the foundation they need in order to start school and learn addition/subtraction, algebra, and geometry.

Math is everywhere and adults can help children see it by counting cars or steps when talking a walk, noticing patterns when building with Legos, counting scoops of flour when baking, looking at shapes when doing a puzzle, counting fingers when taking a bath and much more!

For tips, resources and a list of children’s books with math, click on the links below:

Math Techniques Math Key Messages and Books

Remember to have fun while doing math with young children!