Fun Opportunity!

Come check out Great Play, a

unique new gym for kids. Great

Play features fantastic coaches, an

amazing Interactive Arena, and innovative

curriculum that makes it

fun for kids to develop motor skills,

sport skills, fitness, and coordination.

For ages 6 months to 12 years.

New Players only. Call in advance

to find out which class is right for

your child and to register for free

trial. * 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. * Great Play

of Chandler * 2855 W. Ray Road *

Chandler * 85224 * 480-726-7529

Free Trial Class

At Great Play of Chandler

FREE Kinder Prep Class in Ahwatukee

                                KINDERPREP CLASS FOR 3-5 YEAR OLDS

Kinder Prep is an interactive class for parents and children ages 3-5. We have an excellent presenter who shows different games and activities that you can do at home to help your child’s brain learn and grow.

At the end of each of the three classes each child is given a “goodie” bag with the activities demonstrated in class. Also, at the end of each session she has a story circle and gives each child a copy of the book that was read.

This class is lead by New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development.

This is a three-class series.
Dates: Wednesdays February 2, 9, 16 from 9:45-11:00

Location: Kyrene de los Lagos Elementary School 17001 S. 34th Way, Phoenix 85048

Contact: Scott Dolinsek sdolinsek@kyrene.org 480.783.1428

Space is limited, please RSVP

February Dental Clinics

Five opportunities to attend a FREE Dental Clinic for children 5 years old or younger!

What is offered?

·         Fluoride varnish treatments,

·         Oral health screening and

·         Referrals for children 0-5 years

Research shows that oral health is progressive and cumulative and becomes more complex over time. 

Here is the bad news…If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to needless pain and suffering; difficulty in speaking, chewing, and swallowing; missed school days; increased cost of care; loss of self-esteem; and the risk of other systemic health problems due to poor nutrition, infection, and abscess. 

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, dental decay is the most common untreated chronic childhood illness…yet, it is one of the most easily preventable.

Now, here is the good news! Studies show that there are oral health benefits from applying fluoride varnish.  Fluoride varnish protects the teeth from decay, helps to rebuild tooth structure, interferes with decay-causing bacteria, and reduces acids that bacteria produce.

FEBRUARY DENTAL CLINICS

• 2/1/11 @ 8:30-11:00am Wood Elementary School 727 W. Cornell Dr. Tempe, 85283
• 2/8/11 @ 8:30-11:00am Holdeman Elementary School1326 W. 18th St. Tempe, 85281
• 2/9/11 @ 8:30-11:00am Frank Elementary School 8409 S. Avenida del Yaqui Tempe, 85283
• 2/14/11 @ 3pm-5pm Kyrene Family Resource Center 1330 E. Dava Dr., Tempe, 85283
• 2/15/11 @ 8:30-11:00am Aguilar Elementary School 5800 S Forest Ave. Tempe, 85283

Services are offered FREE to children under the age of five!         
                    

Questions? Contact: Amanda Nosbisch anosbisch@kyrene.org  (480) 783-4177

Grow That Brain!

My kids were born at 35 weeks gestation and because of that they had an automatic reservation for three lovely isolates in the NICU.  We were pretty fortunate that they were born healthy and for the most part only needed some time in NICU to learn to eat and put some weight on “feeders and growers” the nurses called them.

When the doctors started to talk about a discharge date we were asked if we wanted to enroll in a program that would send a child-development specialist out to our house once a month or so to perform weight checks and developmental screenings … as terrified parents of three premature infants …this sounded like heaven.

Our specialist was great.  She came and weighed our peanuts praising us for every ounce they gained and questioned us on the kids’ developmental milestones assuring us that they were doing wonderful.  I loved her visits, they were so comforting.

Another thing our visitor would do is bring us great information and activity sheets on brain development.

Some of the activities seemed silly and to sleep deprived parents of triplets …darn right funny… but the point was it doesn’t take special toys or expensive classes to impact your child’s development.  Some of the games we laughed at turned out to be our babies’ favorite games.

The kids are almost four now and although none are being scouted by the ivy leagues yet... we think they are pretty darn smart.

The New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development are bringing their Brain Time workshops to Thrive To Five…for FREE!

Check it out…  J -Amanda

The Brain Time for Children Workshops are parent-child programs that includes time for parent(s) and child to work and play together using Brain Boxes®.  Parents will learn facts about early brain development, early literacy and child development tips.

Workshops are based on the ABC’s of Early Learning®, Attention, Bonding and Communication.  Brain Time utilizes NDI’s patented Brain Box® learning system.  Certificates and incentives will be awarded to families who complete the 3 class series.

Brain Time! Birth- 18 months

Thursdays: Jan 27, Feb. 3, 10 @ 2:45-4:00pm

Kyrene Family Resource Center

1330 E Dava Dr. Tempe

RSVP: anosbisch@kyrene.org 480-783-4177

Brain Time! 18 months- 3 years old

Mondays: Feb. 14, 28 & March 7 @ 8:30-9:45

Hudson Elementary School

1325 E Malibu Dr. Tempe

RSVP: bdigioia@tempeschools.org  480-897-6608 x6122

We are live!!

Wondering what classes are available?

Want to know when the next dental clinic is?

Need to know a contact number?

Check out our website!  Don't just check it out...save the link, make us a favorite!

Thrive To Five!

January Events

School is back in session and we are ramping up for a very busy spring session of Thrive To Five! 

All classes and events are FREE for anyone who cares for a child five years old or younger!  That means mom and dad, aunties and uncles, cousins and babysitters, nannies and childcare workers, teachers and volunteers...

IF you have contact with a child who is five years old or younger… you qualify!!

Take a look!

Kyrene del Milenio	Nutrition	Tuesday	Jan. 11	5:45-7:00 pm
4630 E. Frye Rd.	Love & Logic	Thursday	Jan. 13	5:45-7:30 p.m.
Phoenix, AZ 85048	Brain Time- (18 mos.-3yr.)	Tuesdays	3 class series	5:15-6:30 p.m.
RSVP: Sdolinsek@kyrene.org			Jan. 18, 25, Feb. 1
Kyrene de los Lagos
17001 S. 34th Way	Kinder Prep- (3-5yr.)	Wednesday	Jan.12,19,26	9:45-11:00am
Phoenix, AZ 85048
RSVP: Sdolinsek@kyrene.org
Kyrene Family Resource Center	Dental Clinic	Monday	Jan. 10	3:30-5:00pm
Kyrene de los Ninos	Love & Logic	Wednesday	Jan. 12	12:45-2:30pm
1330 E Dava Dr.	Nutrition	Thursday	Jan. 20	5:00-6:15pm
Tempe, AZ 85283
RSVP: Anosbisch@kyrene.org
Fuller Elementary School
1975 E. Cornell Dr.	Love & Logic	Tuesday	Jan. 11	6:00-7:30pm
Tempe, AZ 85282
RSVP: kalto@tempeschools.org
Hudson Elementary School
1325 E. Malibu Dr.	Parent Workshop-Discipline	Wednesday	Jan. 19	6:00-7:30pm
Tempe, AZ 85282
RSVP: bdigioa@tempeschools.org
Aguilar Elementary School
5800 S. Forest	Parent Workshop-Discipline	Thursday	Jan. 20	8:45-10:30
Tempe, AZ 85283
RSVP: Ihorton@tempeschools.org
Holdeman Elemetary School
1326 W. 18th St.	Parent Workshop-Discipline	Friday	Jan. 21	8:45-10:30
Tempe, AZ 85281
RSVP: vmeneses@tempeschools.org

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes...

About a year and a half ago I was in the grocery store shopping with all three kids in the cart (thank you creator of the car-cart!).  As usual, I persuaded one child to sit “up-top” to be Mommy’s special helper and this day it was my daughter Faye. 

As we were shopping the freezer section a lady who was very done up breezed past us leaving a remarkably strong wake of perfume in her path.  My darling Faye, my tiniest child…with a very loud voice said “Mommy, why that lady smells like that?? What IS that smell? That is a yucky smell, I no like that.”

The perfumed lady broke her stride and I stammered “That’s perfume, I like it” (not true) “Don’t you like it?” (why did I ask that?) “I think it smells nice”(nervous smile).  The lady smiled curtly and continued. 

Not a big deal really… but it could have been.  I was quickly reminded of friends’ stories of their young children loudly remarking exactly what they see, think...and smell and the parental embarrassment that follows. 

The experience left me with a number of questions.  What will be next?  What would I do next time?  What can I do proactively? 

I recently met with a couple of leaders from the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona and they were discussing research that supported that children can develop bias and preference at an age that is much earlier than I ever considered…as early as two years old!

By the age of 4, your children will want to know why other people don t look like them.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THEM WILL LAST A LIFETIME.

Thrive To Five and The Anti-Defamation League are offering a FREE workshop for families with children between the ages of birth-five years old.

Please join us for this engaging presentation of information, materials and resources to engage children in learning about self and others. 

The curriculum uses the lively characters of Sesame Street to help you:

·       help your children to develop a positive self-image.

·       teach your children to respect and appreciate differences.

·       give your child skills to combat stereotypes and negative attitudes.

When:        January 31^st, 2011    3:30pm-5:30pm

Where:       Kyrene Family Resource Center

1330 East Dava Dr., Tempe

RSVP:           Amanda Nosbisch

anosbisch@kyrene.org , (480)783.4177

Free childcare provided with reservation!!

Every Workshop participant receives:

an engaging family poster and valuable resource books to help make

your home a bias-free environment.

 More information about the Anti-Defamation League's Miller Early Childhood Initiative can be found here: http://www.adl.org/education/miller/