Family Resource Center

First Steps in Music Class

Come and make music with Miss Mallory at First Steps in Music! This program is geared towards children ages 0-5 and their grown-ups. Children and adults are engaged in a variety of activities including bounces, finger wiggles, action songs, vocal exploration, movement exploration, playing instruments, ball rolling, and more! First Steps in Music is a wonderful opportunity for children to have fun, interact with other children, and bond with their grown-up, all while beginning their journey to becoming tuneful, “beat-ful”, and artful. *Please register all children who will be attending.

Instructor: Mallory Kokus

Location: AHM’s building at 25 Pendleton Drive, Hebron.

Fall Session

TIME: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:15 am

Dates: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/14 (No group 11/7-Election Day)

Cost: $125.00 per family for 8 sessions.

Winter Session 1

Time: Wednesdays, 9:30-10:15 am

Age: 2.5 and up plus Parents/Caregivers

Dates: 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/6. Make-ups 3/13, 3/20.

Cost: $125 per family for 8 weeks

Winter Session 2

Time: Wednesdays, 10:30-11:15 am

Age: Birth – 2.5 plus Parents/Caregivers

Dates: 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/6. Make-ups 3/13, 3/20.

Cost: $125 per family for 8 weeks

Spring Session 1

Time: Wednesdays, 9:30-10:15 am

Age: 2.5 and up plus Parents/Caregivers

Dates: 3/27, 4/3, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22. Make-up 5/29. (No group 4/10 for School Vacation)

Cost: $125 per family for 8 weeks

Spring Session 2

Time: Wednesdays, 10:30-11:15 am

Age: Birth – 2 .5 plus Parents/Caregivers

Dates: 3/27, 4/3, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22. Make-up 5/29. (No group 4/10 for School Vacation)

Cost: $125 per family for 8 weeks

Messy Hands

Sensory play allows children to engage their five senses by exploring different textures. In this group, children will get the chance to explore a variety of different messy materials in a relaxed setting while creating,  constructing, and exploring!

Materials may include: fingerpaints, playdough, slime, water play,  shaving cream, & other substances. Please come dressed in VERY casual clothing, smocks will be provided! Information on Child Development and Parenting will also be available!

Location: Gilead Hill School, in our Family Resource Center! 

*Please enter through the front door by the office. The office will buzz you in. Please bring a license the first time you attend as part of the school’s safety protocol. You will be buzzed into the building and get a badge. Families are also asked to please exit through the front door.

Fall Sessions

Time: Fridays, 10 – 11 am

Session 1: 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20

Session 2: 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22 (No group 11/24 for Thanksgiving break)

Cost: $45.00 per family for 6 sessions

Age: Children 2-5 years old plus parent or caregiver

Spring Session

Time: Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 am

Dates: 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23

Age: Children 2-5 years old plus parent or caregiver

Cost: $48/Family

Play & Learn Groups

The program includes crafts, free play with materials (trucks, train table, play kitchen, puzzles), circle time, snack, information about parenting and child development in a fun and relaxed atmosphere! All enrolled families will be offered a free developmental screening for their child. *Please register all babies who will be attending.

Age: Children Birth-5 and adults. 

Location: Gilead Hill School, Family Resource Center 

*Please enter through the front door by the office. The office will buzz you in. Please bring a license the first time you attend as part of the school’s safety protocol. You will be buzzed into the building and get a badge. Families are also asked to please exit through the front door.

Fall Sessions

Time: Wednesdays, 10 – 11:15 am

Session 1:  9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25 –  7 classes

Session 2:  11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20 (no group 11/22) – 7 classes

Cost: $60 per family, includes snack!

Winter Session

Time: Tuesdays, 9-10:15 am

Dates: 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, 3/5. Make-up 3/12. (No Group 2/20 for School Break)

Cost: $70.00 per family, includes snack!

Spring Session

Time: Tuesdays, 9-10:15 am

Dates: Tuesdays, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14. Make-up 5/21. (No Group 4/9 for Spring Break)

Cost: $70.00 per family, includes snack!

Play & Learn In the Park

Join us outside at Columbia Rec Park for Play and Learn at the park! Children aged birth to 5 and their parents/caregivers will have the opportunity to play outside, socialize with other children and families, explore the playground, engage in developmentally appropriate games and learning experiences and enjoy listening to a story and songs. Feel free to pack a blanket to sit on and a snack to eat during story time. *Please register all children who will be attending. 

Location: Columbia Rec Park Playscape – 10 Hennequin Road, Columbia.

Fall Session

Time: Mondays, 10-11 am

Dates: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, (Makeup 10/30 if needed)

Cost: $40 per family for 6 sessions.

Spring Session

Time: Fridays,10-11 am

Dates: 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, and 5/31

Cost: $35 per family for 5 sessions

Join us for a FREE Sparkler fun and learning group for children Birth-5 and adults. Children will get to socialize, and engage in age appropriate learning. Parents and caregivers will learn how to use the free Sparkler app and use it at home for activities, screenings, and parenting tips. Snack will be provided for both parents and children.

Translation is available for non-English speaking families. Please let us know if you are a non-English speaker and would like to participate in this program.

Parents signing up for the group will be asked to create a Sparkler Account and access the account for screening and activities.

Sparkler Fun & Learning Group

Time: Thursdays, 10-11 am

Session 1: 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, and 11/2

Session 2:  11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 1/11, 1/18,

1/25 – Make-up (no group 11/23, 12/28 and 1/4 )

Cost: FREE, for 8 sessions.

*Register all children who will be attending, and please only register for one 8-week session of Sparkler at a time. We want to give as many families as possible the opportunity to participate. If we have space, we would be happy to include you in two sessions! Thank you for understanding.

Location: GHS Family Resource Center

Location: Family Resource Center at Gilead Hill School!

*Please enter through the front door by the office. The office will buzz you in. Please bring a license the first time you attend as part of the school’s safety protocol. You will be buzzed into the building and get a badge. Families are also asked to please exit through the front door.

Tell me a Story: Fun with Children’s books

Each week this group’s activities and experiences will be based on a different beloved children’s book. Children will have the opportunity to play, explore, create and listen to a story read aloud. Snack will be provided.

Spring Session

Time: Fridays, 9:30-10:45 am

Dates: 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 4/5, 4/19. Make-up 4/26. (No group 3/29  & 4/12)

Age: Birth-5 and Parents/Caregivers

Location: Gilead Hill School, Family Resource Center

Cost: $53 per family

Things that Go: Transportation themed fun for little ones and their grownups

Come have fun learning about things that move through play, exploration, sensory and art experiences. This group will incorporate different kinds of vehicles including cars, trucks, and trains! Snack and story time will be included.

Time: Fridays, 9:30-10:45 am

Dates: 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16. Make-up 2/23.

Age: Birth-5 and Parents/Caregivers

Location: Gilead Hill School, Family Resource Center

Cost: $53 per Family

Come shake out those winter wiggles with fun and exercise for your little one! Children will get a chance to play and practice motor skills including; running, jumping, throwing, and balance skills. There will be a brief circle time at the end of each group with motor activities such as using parachutes, scarves and dancing.

Tumble and Roll

Time: Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 am

Dates: 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14. Make-up 3/21.

Age: Children ages 1.5-5 and Parents/Caregivers

Location: Gilead Hill School Gym

Cost: $40 per family

Come join the seniors at Colebrook Village for Valentine’s Crafts and a snack to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Children will work with their parents and seniors to make valentines. We will have a snack with the seniors, and enjoy a circle time with a story and songs.

Take a break from the busy season and enjoy some time with your child playing, and talking with other adults in a supportive and fun group! Children will make personalized holiday creations to share with friends and family. Discussion on Stress Reduction for parents, creating meaningful family rituals and memories, plus recipe and idea sharing. Snack Included!

Come meet other local parents with babies and discuss the challenges and joys of baby’s first year! We will discuss baby’s growth and development during the first year of his/her life including milestones such as babbling, crawling, sitting, and discuss sleep and feeding, as well as parents’ adjustment to their new role.. Babies are welcome and snack will be provided! Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are welcome!

The AHM Family Resource Center offers home visits for families living in Andover, Hebron, or Marlborough and Columbia with a child between the ages of birth and five. We utilize curriculum from the National Parents as Teachers program.

Home Visits provide families with information about child development through observation, activities, talking to parents, and play. The curriculum, which is tailored to the age and developmental stage of each child, helps parents understand their child’s behavior, what to expect next, and gives parents strategies for challenges they are facing in parenting.

Visits are offered at the FRC at Gilead Hill, or your home, based on your preference.

For more information, please contact: Rebecca Murray at 860-228-0871 or email BeckyM@ahmyouth.org

AHM’s Family Resource Center has a Staffed Child Care Network which provides free services to Home-Based Early Care providers. These include ongoing support and referrals to many resources.

• Administering Medication Class, CPR
• CT Staffed Family Child Care Networks
• Hebron Hub Family Child Care Network Meeting Schedule
• FCC Strengthening Business Practices in Your Family Child Care Business _ Online Class
• Map listing of the FCC Networks: https://www.ctoec.org/program-and-improvement-supports/staffed-family-child-care-networks/
• Book Lending library – Children’s Books
• Book Lending library – Adult Books

For more information, please contact Becky Murray at BeckyM@ahmyouth.org.

As part of a grant received from the State Department of Education and Office of Early childhood, AHM’s Family Resource Center staff were able to purchase books to be part of a lending library for families, daycare providers, and parents. We are so grateful that we were able to purchase these books, and offer this valuable resource to the communities we serve! Pictured: Jahnna Sieckowski, Family Resource Center Associate.

Visit our adult & children’s library links on the right!

Do you have questions about your child’s Development? Would you like to know how you could support your child’s development and know what they will be doing next? The FRC offers free developmental screenings! Screenings are offered at the FRC at Gilead Hill, or your home, based on your preference.

These screenings are for children ages 4 months to 48 months, using the Ages and Stages questionnaire. Through playing with your child and speaking to you, we will look at your child’s development in the areas of language, fine and gross motor skills, social/emotional, and problem solving. We can offer feedback to parents or caregivers and suggestions to further your child’s development. The screening takes about an hour, and is confidential.

If you would like your child to be screened, or have any questions, please contact:

• Rebecca Murray at 860-228-0871 or email BeckyM@ahmyouth.org

Sparkler is a FREE mobile app for CT families that helps parents support their children’s growth from 0-5. Please see attached flyer for instructions to sign up!

KinderRHAMa_ENGLISH_APRIL2021_Sparkler Handout for FAMILIES w QR Code

GileadFRC_ENGLISH_APRIL2021_Sparkler Handout for FAMILIES w QR Code (1) (1) (4)