CASY Family Newsletter
December 2023
The CASY office will be closed for the holidays
Friday, December 22nd
Monday, December 25th
Tuesday, December 26th
Friday, December 29th
The Booker T. Washington building will be closed during Christmas Break
Staff will be working remotely and will be available by phone & email:
Wednesday, December 20th
Thursday, December 21st
Wednesday, December 27th
Thursday, December 28th
Tips for being present, not perfect this holiday season
The holidays are a time of celebration, filled with family gatherings, gift giving and good cheer, but for many people, they also are a time of stress and seemingly never-ending to-do lists. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of people said their stress level increases during the holidays. To help ward off the stress of the season, Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC) Early Childhood Specialist and National Trainer Nefertiti B. Poyner, Ed.D., offers tips for families to slow down and focus on being present, not perfect.
Holiday Fun & Family Meaning: Connecting our Lives
Family and cultural traditions can have a magical way of connecting our lives and generations. Have you ever prepared one of your grandmother's holiday recipes with your kids, for example, or played her favorite game with them? Did you find yourself sharing stories about her and parts of her personality you see shining through in them?
Here are 3 ways you can use traditions—new or old—to reinforce the strengths of your family's meaning systems and your relationships with your kids.
8 tips to De-Stress your December
December doesn't have to be stressful, no matter what holiday you celebrate. The increasing dark of the Northern hemisphere can be a signal to turn inward to your family, to create more warmth, light and peace in your home. It can be a time for cozy connection and deep joy, whatever your personal beliefs. Read more here.
Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder
As winter approaches, some of us may experience the “winter blues” – feeling sad from shortening days, climbing into bed earlier and resenting waking up on dark mornings.
That’s different than Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a term used to describe a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern.
The most common form of SAD occurs in winter, although some people do experience symptoms during spring and summer. And while SAD is often talked about in terms of adults, children and adolescents are not necessarily immune. Click here to learn more.
Winter Fun for Kids in Bloomington
Winter may get a bad rap, but Bloomington knows how to make the most of it — especially for families. With fun seasonal festivals & events, awesome indoor attractions, unique opportunities for outdoor fun, and Hoosier Basketball, there's plenty to do with kids in B-Town. Whether you're here for a day, a weekend, or a week, there's much winter fun to be had among the bare branches and snow-covered hills. Learn more!
Supporting Language and Literacy Skills from 12–24 Months
The idea of babies and toddlers talking and reading can seem incredible. It isn’t necessary to “teach” very young children, but learn how you can begin to help your child develop their language and literacy skills. Click here for more.
7 Important Questions to Ask Your Child During Story Time
Amplify the benefits of story time by asking your young reader these questions before, during, and after you read together.
Let’s face it: In everyone’s super busy schedules, settling in with your kids while reading a story is such precious time. But you can make it even more valuable and boost the skills your child gets out of reading by asking a few strategic questions. As a bonus, it’ll make the reading experience more interesting and engaging for both of you!
“When you ask questions during story time, it really helps children learn to be active readers and to think critically,” says Tammy Milby, Ph.D., director of reading in the Department of Education at the University of Richmond. “When parents can get kids thinking and discussing a text, it makes story time a richer experience.”
Ask these questions before, during, and after a story to encourage your young learner to think about the text in a more in-depth way (it’s OK if your child can’t read independently yet!).
4 Things to Do When Your Child Is Worried
The anxiety that children experience in most cases is normal and common. Even so, worry can be confusing and scary for young children. When kids feel worried, adults may want to distract them from or fix these hard feelings. But understanding and coping with worry are important skills for children to learn — and as grown-ups, we can help them. Learn more here.
8 Parenting Goals to Start the New Year Strong
Helping to make your family safer, stronger and more harmonious may not require a complete overhaul, but rather a few strategic tweaks. Here are some concrete and tangible parenting goals you can set for the year ahead.
Family and Kid Friendly New Year’s Eve Events
With all the other festivities filling the month of December, it can be easy to forget the holiday that falls on the last day of the month. Make your plans now for New Year’s Eve! There are so many great places in Indianapolis to celebrate the new year with your family. Best of all, your littlest ones can join the party and still make it home for bedtime. Click here for more information!
Upcoming Events
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Statewide Resources
Supporting the whole family
Families, teachers and children are better together. That’s why the Child Care Resource and Referral Network is proud to serve as a navigator for families, expertly assisting them in finding high-quality child care and connecting them with additional opportunities to meet their needs.
For personalized support in finding a child care program that best meets your family's needs,
contact CASY, Child Care Resource and Referral, Family Engagement Specialists
at 800-886-3952 and choose option 2.
You can also complete the referral request form by clicking here.
Our Family Engagement Specialists will follow up with you by the next business day when you submit the online form.
Click below to find your county's CCDF Eligibility Office
Email: ccrr@casyonline.org
Website: http://casyonline.org/
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Phone: 800-886-3952 ext. 2