can
hands
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
EDITOR
Katelyn Disbro
DEPUTY EDITOR
Kelly Harbour
DESIGN EDITOR
Mara Stork
Gabrielle Versmessen
PHOTOGRAPHY
Whitney Patton Wendy Dewhurst
Carlee Colonneso, Sheri Roca, Colleen Hartnett, Jenn Johnson, Merab-Michal Favorite
CALENDAR OF FAMILY EVENTS Bradenton Macaroni Kid: Denise Granata
ADVERTISING SALES Kelly Stasurak: kstasurak@elc-manatee.org
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
PCI Communications, Inc.
EDITORIAL 941-757-2912 ADVERTISING 941-212-4988 FAX 941-757-2917
EDITOR editor@nextgenmagazine.org
COMPETITION ENTRIES competitions@nextgenmagazine.org
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@nextgenmagazine.org
ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS adsubmissions@nextgenmagazine.org
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES
Adam Mohammadbhoy (Chairman) Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer)
Andrew Minor
PRIVATE SECTOR APPOINTED MEMBERS
Michael Rampino, Christina Riggio, Karen Carpenter, Zack Kallis, Dr. Michael Mackie, Gary Scott, Caroline Halfacre, Tim Pye
LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED MEMBERS
Rachel Kendzior
Children With Disabilities Program Representative Annette Larkin
Private, For-Profit Provider Representative Dr. Robin Thompson Manatee County School Board Designee Jennifer Passmore
Board of County Commissioners' Appointee Kathy Patreka Head Start Director Chantal Porte Department of Children and Families Designee James Disbro CareerSource Suncoast Dr. Carla McGill County Health Department Designee Dr. Kristina DeWitt Florida College System Designee Marjani Jones Faith-Based Provider Representative
SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD Linda Guritz
Charlie Kennedy, Gina Messenger, Rev. James Golden, Mary Foreman, Chad Choate Cynthia Saunders, Superintendent
and Going Strong!
WORDS: Gabrielle VersmessenEight years and now 50 issues later, Nextgen Family Magazine has been a massive success right from the start! Beginning as the brainchild of our late CEO, Paul Sharff, after seeing a small publication at his son's orthodontist's office that was full of advertisements, he wanted to create something that not only would advertise businesses and events but be a vehicle to showcase what the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County was doing - and feature everything good in our local community.
New CEO of the ELC, Darrell King, was in journalism in the UK for 21 years before moving to the US in 2012. Thinking he might like a career change, he perused the Sunday edition of the Bradenton Herald only to find that a small ad looking for a project manager to start a magazine was what caught his eye. He then applied, interviewed, and met Paul.
"Once I met him, it was an easy decision. He and I just hit it off. He told me what he wanted to do with the magazine, and I saw immediately that he was going to be so committed to making it happen. When Paul went at something, he went 150% to make it the best it could be, and I liked that. I had this instant good feeling that it was something that would be really cool. We had a lot of support from the then Office of Early Learning at State level, Manatee County local government, and many of our funders to help get it up and running," Darrell says.
Nextgen was initially supposed to launch in August of 2014, but with so much interest in it, Paul and Darrell launched the magazine in May after just five short months. Darrell wrote most of the content for the first issue, and the two freelance photographers, Wendy Dewhurst and Whitney Patton have contributed from the beginning and are still working with Nextgen. Kelly Harbour is also part of the original team as one of the designers for the magazine. Nextgen
partnered with PCI Communications to handle some design work, the printing, and all the distribution.
Valerie Longo and Mara Stork are two employees from PCI who have been assisting Nextgen from the start, making them another integral part of the team. According to Darrell, they got approval from the school
district to put the magazine in kids' backpacks, which was a "game changer," and Nextgen still has that partnership today. The bulk of the 30,000- copies are distributed to elementary schools, but the school district also allocates some to middle schools, high schools, and administrative offices. In fact, many of the partners who helped the magazine get up and running are still with us today.
With contents like "Children's Champion," "Beyond Generous," and "Manatee's Got Talent," readers have access to learning about local people or organizations that are making a difference in Manatee County or reading about local kids who are excelling in all different fields.
After only being published for a year, Nextgen Family Magazine won the Silver Charlie Award, named "Best New Magazine" by the Florida Magazine Association. Other publications with 25-30 staff were going up to Darrell, with only 4-5 staff members, asking, "How do you do this?"
According to Darrell, there has never once been a challenge to fill the content in eight years. He explains it's because Manatee County is such a 'vibrant, cool place' where things are always going on, new nonprofits and people are coming in, and there is exponential community growth. In all that time, they've only missed one issue during COVID for the 2020 June/July issue.
Another prominent feature of Nextgen is that it's not a profit-making magazine. Any money the magazine does make gets spent on ELC programs which is a good feeling for its partners and advertisers. They're getting the chance to advertise but then also have the opportunity to support the Coalition.
"We're eternally grateful for all of our partners and their support over the years. They know what the magazine is about and that every revenue we make comes back to the ELC," Darrell says.
"Nextgen has helped the community, children, and families by generating revenue for the ELC. The main thing is that it's allowed us to showcase what the ELC does because we have our own pages in there. So, whenever anything good is going on that we
want to get our programs out there, or we want to promote our reading program, or want to talk about when we handed out sanitizing stations during COVID, the magazine has become a vehicle for us to tell the community what the ELC does. I think that's really important when you're funded by state and federal dollars, and people can actually read and see where their money is going."
It saddens Darrell deeply that Paul will not be here for the 50th issue. He reminisces, "We had a launch party for the magazine at his house, so he would probably have had some big party to celebrate this landmark! It's kind of weird doing it with Paul not being here, but it's a big thing to me to make sure we carry on the magazine the way he wanted, to really make it a part of the community and help people."
Since Darrell became the CEO, his position at the ELC has changed quite a bit. "The magazine is still very important to me. I like to be as heavily involved with it and the editorial team as time permits. That will never change. That will always be a part of what I do here because the magazine means so much to me. Sometimes it adds a little extra to my day, but it's worth it."
So, what's next for Nextgen? We hope to still be producing a great magazine by the 100th issue in another eight years. It's the ELC's publication but has become part of the fabric of Manatee County that the whole community owns. With a very special thanks to everyone at the schools for passing out our magazine, our partners, our readers, and everyone that's been involved from the start, we wouldn't be where we are today without all of you!
WhenJenny*, age 7, unexpectantly lost her father during the week of Thanksgiving, she was overcome with grief. Her interest in her favorite activities waned; she had trouble sleeping, had no appetite, and developed an immense fear of being alone. In school, she wasn't participating in lessons and experienced bouts of intense emotion.
Jenny's school administrator referred her to a mental health therapist conveniently based at her elementary school. Unlike a
traditional school counselor, who primarily works with the school populace in a group setting, a school-based therapist is a licensed clinician with a defined number of clients. With parental consent, therapists work one-on-one with students during their day to nurture mental health and wellness, two components connected to success in the classroom.
Jenny's therapist helped ease her trauma by asking her to decorate two stones. Jenny painted each of them to reflect
happy memories of her dad. She placed one on her father's grave. The other she kept as a constant reminder that he loved her. The remembrance stone was just one way the therapist helped Jenny cope with losing her father and better understand the emotions she was feeling.
Jenny is just one of more than 700 young clients helped by school-based therapists employed by The Florida Center for Early Childhood last year. The non-profit agency supports the healthy development of
young children, specializing in those with delays, disabilities, and mental health challenges. The Florida Center's nationally accredited school-based therapy program, which began in 2017, has gained popularity in the region and expanded to 25 schools in Sarasota County. This year, it has also been implemented in select schools across Manatee County.
"The School District of Manatee County is happy to partner with the Florida Center for Early Childhood this year. Their record of success with schools and families is evidenced in the work they have done in other counties. We have contracted them to work with our BIG 10 schools, which are our elementary schools with the highest needs. These therapists will be integrated into each school's community to assist students and families with counseling services. Florida Center therapists will work to ensure that students with mental health needs are addressed on-site. Our partnership will ensure we meet students' academic and mental health needs while
maintaining compliance with all statutes," says Superintendent Cynthia Saunders.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in 10 children is coping with a mental health issue severe enough to impact their lives at home, in school, and in the community. However, 75-80 percent of children in need of counseling do not receive the service, according to the American Journal of Psychology.
School-based mental health therapy helps to bridge that gap, providing counseling services to children during their school day. Therapists also support the child's family at no out-of-pocket expense. Students are referred to the program for various reasons, including aggression, anxiety, defiance, trauma, and grief.
The initiative is making a difference for children, families, and schools. A recent survey conducted by The Florida Center found that 100 percent of school administrators said the program positively impacted the school, improving the overall dynamic. The same survey found that 95 percent of student clients made progress in their mental health goals.
"School-based therapy has been an incredible support for our school," said Becky Drum, Principal of Glenallen Elementary School in Sarasota. "The therapists are smart, kind, and patient, helping children overcome challenges and connecting families in crisis to services and supports."
However, each school-based therapist has a maximum caseload of 20 students. Serving 700 students per year is merely scratching the surface of a nationwide epidemic. Locally, more funding is needed to address the mental health needs of youth. The Florida Center hopes to attract new donors to support the program and get children the help they need.
Organizations like the Lean on Me Project with NAMI Sarasota-Manatee have stepped up to fund additional positions at schools that need it the most.
"My husband and I believe in the concept of healing the world," said Amy Falk Weinberger, founder of the Lean on Me
Project. "Funding mental health counselors at the elementary school level is about participating in something greater than oneself. It holds the promise that perhaps a young person will feel supported and elevated. It holds the promise of access to mental health services during the school day. It simply holds the promise that a student can practice mental health wellness, and that is hopeful."
In addition to providing services for children and families, school-based therapists also work with the child's teacher and other educational staff through coaching and consultation. The process has helped schools become more trauma-informed, shifting the perception of children's actions.
"We tend to focus on the behavior instead of really trying to understand what's happening in that child's life that's causing the behavior," said Dr. Kristie Skoglund, CEO of The Florida Center. "Having this holistic approach where therapists are communicating regularly with teachers, administrators, staff, and parents has cultivated an environment that enhances the success rate for students in the program because they feel very supported."
The Florida Center is also finding ways to support teachers and acknowledge the stress they feel on a daily basis. At Wilkinson Elementary School in Sarasota, therapists set up a special space for teachers and school staff to help them decompress after a busy day. With the help of a sponsorship from Bayside Community Church and a grant from the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, they installed mood lighting, calming music, mindfulness activities, and even massage chairs in a new 'Zen Den' at the school.
"It gives them a space to go and just breath for a few minutes, let go, have a quiet moment, and treat themselves to something special," said school principal Susan Nations. "It then allows them to go
back to the classroom and really focus on their children with renewed energy."
In addition, The Florida Center's newly expanded training institute offers a variety of training for parents/caregivers, teachers, and other early childhood professionals that cover beneficial topics that can be applied in various situations.
"We are doing everything we can to nurture the well-being of teachers and students by providing training and support, allowing schools to maintain their critical focus on education and achievement, said Skoglund. "We want educators to know, we've got this, and we're here to help."
The Florida Center's school-based therapy program doesn't only cover grade school. At a preschool level, social-emotional consultants help very young children learn to identify and express their emotions, ensuring they are better prepared for kindergarten and beyond. Developing these abilities is critical not only for their healthy development but also for the overall success of their classroom.
*The client's name at the
The program began at Starfish Academy Preschool, The Florida Center's early education program, and has since expanded to include other preschools in Sarasota and Manatee counties, thanks to community partnerships with United Way Suncoast and The Barancik Foundation.
"Every day in the United States, 250 children are expelled from preschool," Skoglund said. "When preschools have access to social-emotional consultants, it helps reduce disruptions for the teacher and the other students. The consultant works with the child in the classroom and on a one-on-one basis to help them better develop their emotional regulation."
Child well-being and thriving communities go hand-in-hand. Research shows that intervention at an early age benefits society -- directly affecting the outcomes such as special education placement, grade retention, high school graduation rates, employment, and social welfare programs.
"When people and agencies support this critical period of growth and development, they are providing vulnerable children with skills that will last their entire lifetime," said Melissa Dunlap, a longtime supporter of The Florida Center. "I rest assured knowing my contribution made a difference."
to protect their privacy.
Living in Manatee County, most of us are aware that there is an abundance of resources available at our fingertips. However, we might not always know precisely what organizations to look toward or who exactly to reach out to for help. One organization that's helping people navigate and connect with these supports is the Women's Resource Center.
Women's Resource Center of Manatee was started in 1991 by a coalition of women's organizations, including Altrusa and the American Association of University Women. The premise was to help women in the economic middle ground, the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, who were struggling without support. Today, the Women's Resource Center (WRC) provides services to women of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. They have three locations in Bradenton, Sarasota, and Venice that offer various programs and services. These include affordable mental health counseling, employment services, financial planning services, resource advising, and support groups.
Ashley Brown, President and CEO of Women's Resource Center says, "We provide direction to women of all generations by inspiring, educating, and supporting them through life's transitions.
The core of our mission is to provide counseling, education, support, and training which then leads to emotional health and financial stability."
These life transitions that Ashley refers to can be anything from divorce or widowhood to leaving an abusive relationship to empty nesting. There are a lot of moms who have come to the Center after being stay-at-home moms for years that re-enter the workforce. WRC's career coaching program shows these women their transferable skills by using examples of what they did in PTA or their roles and responsibilities at home and how those can translate into the workplace. While this might sound simplistic, this tactic helps these women lean into their strengths as people.
"It is perfectly ok to say, 'I had kids, wanted more flexibility, and now they're at a stage where I don't need to be home as much, so I'm going to look for a different job.' I think there's something unique in what we do in working with women to help them really lean into their strengths and acknowledge that it's ok to have babies. We don't have to
feel bad about owning it," Ashley explains after recounting how one client was almost apologetic in explaining why she had a significant job transition on her resume before returning to work.
Last year, the WRC did direct programming with over 2,000 clients and gave out an additional 7,000 referrals to women seeking assistance or guidance for various needs. In the Gulf Coast region, served by WRC, there are more than 428,000 women. Approximately 13% of these women live in poverty. The population is ethnically diverse, with a higher concentration of Hispanic women than state or national averages. While the Center helps women of any means, 88% of its clients live at or below
Ashley Brown, WRC's President & CEOthe ALICE population. WRC's programs specifically target these populations and demographics to help women establish stability for themselves.
"We recognize that we have great potential to serve many more women and increase our effectiveness through new funding and collaboration. We don't receive state or federal funding. Except for two grants through Manatee and Sarasota counties, we are mainly supported by the community, individuals, corporations, and foundations, and we are so appreciative of this," Ashley says.
In 2020, WRC hired its first bilingual case manager and mental health therapist, which has helped expand its ability to serve the Latina and Hispanic populations. Now, many of their programs are offered bilingually to serve the Spanish-speaking population. This also complements their Latina Empowerment Program, which has
provided support and services to the local Latina community since 2005.
Another service that WRC provides is a Career Closet. This feature is available at the Bradenton and Sarasota offices, where women can shop once every six months for clothing for work or job interviews at no cost. These items can range from career separates to accessories and shoes to handbags. Additionally, WRC owns an upscale resale boutique called "Unique Boutique." Both stores are donationbased, and all proceeds from the Unique Boutique go directly back to the Center.
In 2020, like so many other businesses and organizations, the WRC had to reimagine what its services and special events would look like; naturally, they turned virtual. Prior to the pandemic, the Wonder Women Luncheon was an event where the Center would honor women in the community that were doing great things and have a client
tell her story. Rather than having such a formal event with an audience, Ashley wanted to create more of an inclusive engagement event for women. So, the Center pivoted and created the Wonder Women Collective.
"When everything seemed really divisive in the world, we wanted to create something that was for all women. We wanted to acknowledge that we all have our strengths, weaknesses, and struggles and wanted to create a space where women could come together to learn from each other and connect. You didn't know if someone had $20 or a million dollars."
The first year of the Collective was done virtually and hosted seminars on topics ranging from how to build a network to how your mindset affects your relationships and work. Last December was the first inperson Wonder Women Collective event. The attendees included clients, donors, staff, and staff from other nonprofits. To make it affordable for all women and continue with the theme of inclusion, tickets were only $25. According to Ashley, over 600 individuals engaged with the programming of the Collective in the first year, and 32% of those participants are clients of the Center.
Along with the networking component, there was also an educational component.
In the second year of the Collective, the WRC partnered with Game On Nation to expand its programming and educational content. Their goal is to continue to build that network for people. Hoping to host the event twice a year, the next Wonder Women Collective is scheduled for December 1st.
In addition to those who participated in real-time with virtual events, the videos from Wonder Women Collective have received over 1,000 views on WRC's YouTube channel. The YouTube channel also contains any of the Center's career connections or other virtual programs so people can access them at their convenience.
While the world has been returning to normal, WRC noticed that many of its clients benefitted from being able to access its
services virtually. With over 60% of clients having children that still live at home, things like transportation and childcare can make it difficult for clients to find the time or ability to visit one of the locations for services. This is why WRC now offers most of its services remotely. In fact, the majority of clients that receive mental health counseling continue to do it remotely.
Even though they are called the Women's Resource Center, 3% of its clients are actually men. Men can take advantage of any program besides support groups, as this would throw off the dynamic in such vulnerable settings. But career coaching, mental health counseling, couples counseling, and more are all available for them to participate in.
At a time in our society where so much change has happened in such a short time, it's comforting to know that there are organizations out there to help in any situation by any means necessary. Not only are the employees and volunteers passionate about what they do, but when there's a service they don't offer, they know who to direct people to, ensuring they get the assistance they need. The Women's Resource Center is such a fundamental asset to our community, and it's wonderful that everyone can utilize its services regardless of age, income, or background.
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October and we are all back in school routines by now.
Whether homeschooling or not, we probably have more structure and rhythms than we did all summer. With that comes more activities, responsibilities, and appointments, and suddenly there is much less time in the day. So, how can we all stay energized and focused amidst our busy days?
Nutrition is the key to keeping us not only energetic but also strong and healthy as we combat all the germs that our family will encounter in a day. But it's hard to find the time to shop for and prepare healthy meals between school pickup, basketball practice, piano lessons, and the multitude of other things we have on the calendar. Preparation, planning, and teamwork are essential to keep your family thriving during the school year. So, where should we begin?
1. Start with planning as a family.
Gather your family around the table on the weekend and ask them for input on meals they would like during the week and what they would like to pack for lunch. Include your children in the decision-making and even allow them to help make a grocery list or schedule. (As a bonus, the children can practice their writing, spelling, and planning skills!) Hopefully, the more input they have, the more likely they are to eat the meals and get excited about preparing them.
2. Grocery shop together.
Consider going to the grocery store as a family or if you have a larger family, take a child or two along to help you get food. They can hold the list and check off the items as you go. If you are not in a rush, it's also a great time to teach them about healthier choices, look at labels, and compare prices. Plus, extra hands are helpful when unloading the car and putting the groceries away. It may seem harder when children are younger, but it creates a great routine as they get older. This routine also allows children to invest more time, effort, and responsibility in the household. They can even have more understanding about the cost of food and not waste food while feeling blessed to have healthy, plentiful choices.
3. Prep together
ahead. One of my favorite tricks is to continually refill a fruit and veggie tray that stays in the fridge. When the kids are hungry after school or waiting for dinner, they have healthy snacks on hand. It also comes in handy when they are packing their lunches for school and can just pull out the washed, pre-cut fruits and veggies. Children can also be taught to wash and cut using child-safe knives. Usually, they also do a lot of healthy snacking while prepping and may eat all their fruits and veggies before the meal even begins!
After cleaning up dinner, parents can spend an hour or more cleaning up and getting lunches ready for the next day. So instead of spending all that extra time in the kitchen, get your family involved. Invest in good quality bento boxes for kids and let them fill the box themselves. Even young children can do this with the right guidance. Teach them to start with a healthy protein to give them good energy for their day. Then add fruits and veggies, and lastly, healthy carbs. There are great lists online that can help your children to pick their favorite choices.
When children are young, it may be easier to do all the cooking and prepping on your own. However, the adage rings true "if you teach a man to fish, he will be fed the rest of his life." Initially, it takes longer with young kids in the kitchen, but over time, it becomes easier, and it will be well worth it when they prepare meals on their own for your family and into their adult years. Their help also encourages them to try new foods and be less picky since they have helped prepare them. This is also a great time for connection and fun while being productive in the kitchen.
While these steps may seem daunting or too much at first, it's okay to start small with one or even two. Depending on the ages of your kids and schedules, they may not all be doable, and that's okay. It's about progress over perfection and creating healthier habits for you and your family. Hopefully, these habits and routines will become ingrained in your children's lives, making all the time and effort worthwhile!
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Dr. Jose Erbella received his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. His internship was held at the University of Michigan. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Florida. Dr. Erbella sees patients at the North River location and is affiliated with Manatee Memorial Hospital. Now Accepting New Patients.
to inspire people of all backgrounds and incomes to make a difference in our Manatee and Sarasota communities, the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust created a donation matching program in 2020 that has taken off a lot faster than they expected. In the first year, $4 million was donated to charities. In 2021, the second year, $8 million was distributed. And this year, they have already surpassed $8 million.
Although Louis and Gloria have passed away, the Flanzer Trust's trustees, Eric Kaplan (EK) and Dr. Dean Hautamaki (DH), are seeing to it that the couple's estate gets allocated to the charities that were closest to Gloria's heart. These charities mainly include those in the education, social service, or medical field. The Flanzer Trust's matching program does not match funds for organizations primarily focusing on the arts.
"Gloria felt that entertainment was the dessert of life. She wanted to ensure people have a full plate of a primary meal before they partake in that dessert," Eric explained. She also felt that the seasonal residents of these counties contribute well enough to the arts, so she made her mission centered around reaching kids at the beginning of
their life to break cycles of poverty and enhance educational opportunities.
NG: What are your roles as Trustees?
EK: We handle the day-to-day operation. We also serve on other Boards, which helps us learn the best practices we can then spread around. We get the opportunity to learn what each one is doing right so we can keep the good stuff and implement it. We also oversee the operation of the Trust and where the money goes. We consult an advisory board that consists of different specialties like law, medicine, trust regulations, and real estate, but we (Dean and Eric) have the primary decision-making authority.
NG: What brought Louis and Gloria to Sarasota?
EK: Lou was on a business trip to Sarasota, and Gloria came with him. They toured the area, took a trip over the Ringling Bridge, and found Longboat Key. He and Gloria bought a piece of land which now sits the Players Club. Lou once told me that the day his foot hit the ground when the plane landed at SRQ Airport, he felt like a completely different person. Cares seemed to go away,
the hecticness of the fast-paced lifestyle of New York City was gone, the density of the people was far less, everybody was so much more polite, and there were nice restaurants and great entertainment. They were residents for 35-40 years.
NG: Were the Flanzers always philanthropic?
EK: Originally from Manhattan, Gloria was a member of a more prominent family, the Milstein's, whose ventures included real estate development and banking. Her family was always philanthropic and gave back. In fact, you can see the Milstein and Flanzer names in many places in New York. Gloria always felt that she should give back and do significant things in life and death on a perpetual basis. She felt that she was extremely fortunate and had more money than she'd ever be able to spend. So, she left her entire estate to the Flanzer Trust.
NG: How did the Flanzer Trust get started?
EK: The Trust was created in the 90s but was not nearly as active until post-death. Gloria tended to do one or two big projects a year. Even with all the wonderful aspects of Sarasota, there is still a large part of
Sarasota where there is a crushing need. Gloria felt that the quality of life in Sarasota was greatly enhanced by the important work that the agencies who work in social services, education, and healthcare do. And the people who are unfamiliar with these agencies reap much of that benefit.
NG: Can you tell me more about the Matching Program?
EK: The matching program was inspired by Gloria's concern about getting the
typical Sarasotan involved. She wanted them to understand that their lives were being improved by these agencies and to support them. It took off a lot faster than we expected! The first year, we matched $4 million, then $8 million the following year, and we've already surpassed $8 million this year.
DH: With Eric's expertise and Gloria's philosophy of how regular folks in the community should be helping their community, that's how the matching
program has really been successful. We're not looking at large whale donors. We're looking at $5 to $500 contributions that people are getting matched each month. Eric and I are always looking at transformational stuff as well that can have a real impact on people. Things that can touch thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lives, in and around our community. We're also a costfree enterprise.
EK: Unlike other matching programs, through the Flanzer Trust, the donor doesn't have to pay the extra fees that come with the credit card charges. So, if you contribute $100, the agency gets $200. You don't have to pay $112 to cover the cost of the credit card charges or anything like that. We absorb it all.
NG: What other work has the Flanzer Trust been a part of?
DH: In general, we try to make equipment purchases. We do brick and mortar, building buildings and such, but our biggest concern is it having to be repurposed 8-10 years later. We have been involved with helping UF's advanced translational research division, developing vaccines for pediatric brain tumors, advanced diagnostic imagining in dermatology, working with equipment that essentially photographs a body and identifies every mole, and assesses highrisk and low-risk lesions.
EK: Before Lou passed in 2013, he had dementia. Jewish Family and Children's Services was having a seminar that Gloria was attending on how caregivers can cope. She found the space not large enough for the seminar and called the CEO. He said they didn't have a lot of room because they only had the one big room for events, and there was a lot of demand for it. She called me and said, "Find him a building, and we'll buy it for them." They furnished it, built it out, and paid for everything, with the Benderson's donating their labor and design skills.
People are also free to make their own contribution to the Flanzer Trust when they don't know which agency to choose. People might not be aware of which ones are the best agencies, and they mightEric Kaplan, Dr. Dean Hautamaki with Dr. Allan Schwartz and Dr. Lee Goldman
want to leave that to our judgment. If they want to make just a straight contribution, we'll be sure to see to it that it gets to the agencies and not to our major initiatives. Additionally, we gave a substantial amount of money, which we're now doubling due to expansion needs, to the Boys and Girls Club in Sarasota and DeSoto.
DH: The fundamental goal of the Boys and Girls Club is about education and developing healthy children, starting early on. It's a great campus: with an industrial kitchen, great computer rooms, and many volunteer teachers. It's been about three or four years since we got involved, and when we started, 90% of the third graders in DeSoto County were reading at the firstgrade level. Now, 90% of the third graders are reading at the fifth-grade level.
EK: It's just one club in one county in one state, but if people do these kinds of things within their own communities, you'll see improvement, you'll see the quality of life that makes a difference, and if you benefit from it, you really should contribute to it.
• If you are interested in helping support our community through the Flanzer Trust, please visit flanzertrust.org, where you can select from over 400 approved agencies that will help the greater Suncoast area.
With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.
Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more —so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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Back in August 2021, Words on the Bus was created by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County's Community Educational Initiatives (CEI) team, who wanted to create a book-embedded vocabulary program for pre-kindergartners that heavily emphasized dramatic play. CEI also wanted to connect it to Soar in 4, a community initiative that strives to ensure all children are on grade-level reading by the end of third grade.
During their time on the bus, the children get introduced to vocabulary from the book, read the corresponding book, and then do activities that correlate with the vocabulary and/or book. These activities focus on pre-kindergarten skills such as scissor practice, identifying letters, drawing, storytelling, and sequencing. Pre-writing skills will start to be incorporated into the Words on the Bus activities in the summer and upcoming school year as well.
"The activities are related to the story, but then we pull in the education side," says Kara Leavy, CEI Specialist. Words on the Bus can also include activities like dressup, shadow puppets, and money play.
With Soar in 4, the children attend the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature once a month for free, where the "spotlight book" is featured, and families participate
in activities using various materials that include the book. Parents also get takehome materials to continue the learning experience at home. Words on the Bus uses the same books that Soar in 4 uses, but they introduce the "spotlight book" a month ahead of time.
"Our hope is that the children who attend Words on the Bus go to Soar in 4 and go, 'I know that book!' so that they're familiar with the vocabulary words and make the connections," says Colleen Hartnett, CEI Coordinator. Research shows that repeated exposure to new concepts strengthens lasting learning.
Words on the Bus visits child care provider sites throughout Manatee County twice a week and will return to the same spot once a month. There are about 15 to 20 kids at each location, so they see approximately 200 students per month. The program is ongoing through the summer so that the children get exposure to vocabulary and pre-kindergarten skills year-round.
The children receive a take-home sheet for parents that the teachers also receive. The take-home sheet outlines the vocabulary to focus on, featured books for the months, and how parents can incorporate learning strategies at home. Parents are a child's first teacher, and these activities help create bonding moments between parent and child.
The goal of Words on the Bus is to instill a love of books and reading so that the children are able to read at grade level by third grade. Instilling these qualities early on helps children to succeed academically later in life. Statistically, a child in a lowerincome family will hear 30 million fewer words by the time they're four years old than a child from a higher-income family. We can see this in our very own Manatee County, and it's because of outstanding programs like Words on the Bus that we are able to work on closing that gap!
Kara Leavy, Community Educational Initiatives Specialist, reads to kids on the Mobile Learning Lab
A Child's Galaxy Preschool
4417 20th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-755-6302
Adventures In Learning
712 61st Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-1816
A Growing Start Childcare Center, LLC
525 3rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-9750
A Little Schoolhouse Christian Academy
11740 U.S Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-776-1973
All About Children Christian Child Care Center
447 North Lime Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 941-365-4172
All Gods Children Preschool 11107 Palmbrush Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-739-2776
Angel's Friends Child Development
611 North East Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 941-953-3852
A New Beginning Early Child Care Learning Center 2185 Wood Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941-316-1555
A Plus Growing Academy
800 10th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0797
A Readiness Learning Academy
9045 59th Avenue Circle East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-727-9354
A Readiness Learning Academy 2
6130 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4927
Bible Baptist Church of Palmetto Academy
1750 6th Avenue West, Unit 101 Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-4958
Blanton Family Day Care Home
216 60th Street NW Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-8563
Boys And Girls Club DeSoto
5231 34th Street West Bradenton, FL 34210 941-758-3828
Boys And Girls Club at Harllee Middle
6423 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-7027
Boys And Girls Club at Lincoln Memorial Middle
305 17th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-721-6840
Boys And Girls Club Palmetto
1600 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-1268
Bradenton Christian School West 1305 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-404-4491
Bradenton Early Learning Academy
2015 7th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-216-3305
Bradenton Early Learning Academy (Downtown) 202 3rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-216-3060
Bright Angels Academy & Daycare, Inc.
1716 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-962-0472
Bright Beginnings Academy
614 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-7910
Bright Beginnings Preschool
4111 Webber Street Sarasota, FL 34232 941-921-6722
Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool, LLC
1617 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-251-5436
Bright Minds Family Home Daycare, Inc.
2101 32nd Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-565-9058
CapoKids Martial Arts Preschool
11534 Palmbrush Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-922-4520
Children's Nest of Manatee, Inc.
5051 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9024
Children's Nest of Manatee 2
600 7th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34207 941-479-7789
Community Christian School
5500 18th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-756-8748
Community Haven for Adults & Children with Disabilities
4405 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235 941-355-8808
CORE Early Education And Learning
605 13th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-9069
Countryside Academy For Children
5807 18th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-304
Creative Kids Connection
408 75th Street Northwest Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-8687
CRPE Academy
1621 66th Avenue Terrace East Sarasota FL, 34243 (941) 932-0984
DC's Child Care Center
5105 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-6090
Debra Johnson Johnson Family Day Care Home
2730 22nd Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-365-1685
Discover Our World Child Development Center
455 48th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-749-5263
Discovery Point Twelve Oaks 7218 55th Ave Bradenton, FL 34203 941-200-4250
Dixon-Wright Family Day Care Home
1016 31st Street East Palmetto, FL 34211 (941) 721-0232
Doodle Bugs! Children's Learning Academy
11015 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34221 (941) 721-0330
Doran Family Day Care Home
4719 Cayo Costa Place Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4802
Easter Seals of Southwest Florida 350 Braden Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7637
Education Time
5165 33rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-7332
Faith Preschool of Faith UCC 4850 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-7895
First For Kids Children's Christian Center 603 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-0824
Forza Child Development Center, Inc. 8605 Erie Road Parrish, FL 34219 941-545-6380
FORZA Child Development Center, Inc. 12214 US Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-981-5885
Foundation For Dreams 16110 Dream Oaks Place Bradenton, FL 34212 941-746-5659
Foundations Christian Montessori Academy of Sarasota 4141 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235
Free To Grow Academy 5304 7th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-254-4268
Grandma's Babysitting Center 1728 26th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-708-9864
Great Minds Childcare 1018 35th Avenue West Bradenton FL, 34205 941-896-5319
Growing Hands Learning Center 5743 69th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-845-4873
Sand & Buckets Daycare
3407 17th Street Court East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-748-4799
Sandman Preschool & Academy
924 Wilmerling Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34243 941-755-2591
School District of Manatee County Professional Support Center 2501 63rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6550
School for Constructive Play 6608 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941-778-2210
Smarty Pants Preschool LLC 832 62nd Street Circle East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-7710
Smarty Pants Preschool 2 904 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-896-4796
Smiling Faces Academy, Inc. 910 19th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-756-1234
Smiling Faces Junior Academy, Inc. 1720 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-3925
Sproutlings Kids SFCP Too, Inc. 1222 36th Avenue East Ellenton, FL 34222 941-776-4947
Sproutlings Kids SFCP Too, Inc. 3411 US Highway 301 North Ellenton, FL 34222 941-845-4484
Stapleton Family Day Care Home 1110 42nd Terrace East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-580-0510
Step Up Suncoast
Rise & Shine Early Learning Morton Clark 1707 15th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-750-6667
Rise & Shine Early Learning Palmetto 1315 2nd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-750-6667
Rise & Shine
Early Learning Parkland
6432 Parkland Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-750-6667
Rise & Shine
Early Learning Pine Village 1103 56th Avenue Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-827-2887
Rise & Shine
Early Learning West Bradenton
2531 9th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-750-6667
Sunny Daze Preschool East 9922 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-750-0042
Sunshine Academy & Daycare 2520 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-3143
Teachable Moments Learning Center LLC 3005 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-900-1022
The Center of Anna Maria Island, Inc. 407 Magnolia Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216 941-778-1908
The Goddard School 14534 Arbor Green Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-752-6600
The Learning Experience Lakewood Ranch 14425 Arbor Green Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-251-4046
The Learning Post Child Care
623 30th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-536-4858
The Renaissance Preschool Inc. 2500 10th Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941-365-0749
Thompson Academy LLC 1212 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-748-2162
Tiny Tots University 930 9th Street Drive West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-723-9072
Toad Hall Children's Center of Bradenton
4004 8th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-3951
Toddler's Ark FCCH
711 36th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-879-2407
Toddler's Inn Child Care Center LLC
2611 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-4631
Tree of Life Preschool Inc
2200 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-1756
Trinity Children's Center
3200 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-8608
Vanessa Hawkins Family Day Care Home
2674 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL 34234 941-957-0409
Victoria Morgan Family Day Care Home
3311 Barstow Street Sarasota, FL 34235 941-957-0608
Walker Family Day Care Home
3213 44th Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-6629
Wee Care Christian Academy
10540 Hamilton Way Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-6409
Wee World Child Development Center
1020 4th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0810
Weitz Family Day Care Home
6405 37th Avenue Circle West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-7257
West Coast Christian Academy
1112 49th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203-2648 941-755-9667
Willis Family Day Care Home
3206 Clark Drive
Sarasota, FL 34234 941-355-6574
Willis 2 W.E.Cares Child Care
708 32nd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-356-5205
Woodland Early Childhood Center
9607 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-753-8588
Early childhood education is an integral part of ensuring that students in our community are not only prepared for grade school but also excel in it. Our children begin learning at home, but all too soon, those little ones go off to child care, where their first experiences of a structured learning environment are formed.
Before becoming a mom, I thought child care was where you sent your child to be cared for during the day, and I had no clue why people would call them "schools." What can a two-year-old be learning? Doesn't that start at the VPK level? Working at the Early Learning
Coalition of Manatee County, I saw the parameters these providers have to abide by, went to the facilities to observe the programs being implemented, compared the statistics, and wrote about how it's all making a difference. It was then that I fully understood how necessary our child care facilities and the teachers working at them are for our smallest learners.
The heart of each learning facility is the teachers that fill the classrooms. Thankfully, these teachers are vetted for safety and are required to go through courses where they are trained to prepare young children for school readiness. Manatee Technical College (MTC) offers
an excellent Early Childhood Education (ECE) program that equips those wanting to become teachers at a child care site with all the necessary skill sets. They provide hands-on classroom instruction that even has a mock child care lab for students to immerse themselves in the role of a teacher fully.
Michelle Meluch, program coordinator for ECE at MTC, says that they're preparing their students to be eligible to obtain a job in the child care industry and learn the fundamentals of child care education. The ECE program begins with the preapprenticeship course. This course is eight weeks (150 hours) long with two start
dates a year: one in January and the other in August. Initially, the pre-apprenticeship course was created as a partnership with the ELC, MTC, and PACE for Girls. The pilot course was started in the spring of 2022.
"The training we provide includes the necessary 45 DCF hours, first aid, CPR, inclusion training, PEARLS training, and more. In the pre-apprenticeship program, we're giving them the tools necessary for an entry-level position in the child care industry," Michelle says.
Along with educating the students on how to promote the various skills that define
school readiness, the students in the ECE program are also taught soft skills, such as resume writing and interviewing skills. All the students get the opportunity to go on tours of different child care facilities in the community.
Brittany Aca-Orea, a student in the program, appreciated the interview training. "It can be nerve-wracking when you first go into an interview and don't know what they're going to ask. Mrs. Carleton went really in-depth on what questions they could ask us and how to be prepared in our answers."
AnnaMaria Mascherino Carleton is one of the instructors at MTC. She brings fun into her instruction and likes to ensure her students know what to expect. She tells them that in an interview at the facilities, they are likely to ask questions such as, "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" or "tell me about yourself." While these on-the-spot questions might feel awkward to answer at first, the students at MTC have their responses already prepared.
She says, "I've gotten good feedback from the providers after their interviews that the
students had all been professional and can answer their questions. But I've also gotten good feedback from the students that they feel prepared when they go out and that they're being asked questions that they can answer and not be caught off guard."
Upon completion of the program, the students have their 40 DCF hours and 5 hours of emergent literacy training (all required for their DCF staff credential), trained in both child and adult CPR, and three of the ten required service hours. Each year, the teachers are required to have ten service hours in addition to the DCF classes, so when the students start teaching, having the three hours already under their belt is a good marketing tool when talking to providers about possibly hiring them.
The hope is that the students will secure a position at one of the local providers after completing their 150 hours at MTC. Once they are employed, the next step for them as students is to enter MTC's evening ECE Apprenticeship Program which is roughly a year and a half long. That program goes even further into the childhood education world. They'll attend class one night a week, but most of their training is done on the job at a child care facility.
"We want them to continue on in that program. After or in conjunction with the end of our apprenticeship program, we offer a child care center operations program that gives students the tools to be center directors. So, we would hope they
would continue on those paths to further their education and career development," Michelle explains.
Ralitsa Funez, another student in the program, wants to further her education. "I want to take it as far as it leads me. I hope to own my own child care center one day." Ralitsa works night shifts, gets home at six in the morning, takes a shower, and goes to MTC.
Brittany also plans to continue the program in January to obtain her Child Development Associate credentials to become a VPK lead teacher. "I'm also working on my associate degree in Early Childhood Education at SCF. My end goal career-wise is to be an elementary school teacher, and this program has been a perfect stepping stone for me."
AnnaMaria beams with pride over her students. "I think these two students really say a lot about the program here at MTC. Brittany maintains two different school schedules, and Ralitsa provides for her family while also attending school. This field takes a lot of dedication. Sometimes people feel like it's a thankless job or they're not paid as much as other people, and the fact that these girls are putting in so much effort into wanting to be here shows their drive and passion."
It's never too late to start a new career path, and there will always be children ready to learn. As a mother and a member of this community, I'm grateful for MTC's early childhood education program and the teachers that instruct the students, who will then become the early educators for our children.
Program Benefits:
Possible Careers:
The Board of Directors of The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) is delighted to appoint Mr. Darrell King to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
King had held the position of Interim CEO since January 14th after the sudden passing of long-time CEO Mr. Paul Sharff. King joined the Coalition in 2014 as Director of Communications and Editor of Nextgen Family Magazine and has been an Officer for the past three years holding the Chief Communications Officer and Chief Operations Officer positions.
He said: “It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be appointed CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. I am inspired every day by our highly talented and diligent team, who work so hard to make a difference in the lives of local children and families. Paul left an amazing foundation and legacy for us to build upon. As we move into a new era at ELC, I am determined to ensure we continue to set the bar high and stay true to our mission and vision for all of Manatee County’s children.”
Adam Mohammadbhoy, ELC Board Chairman, said: "It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Darrell King as CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. Darrell has established himself as a remarkable leader of the Coalition over the last eight months. His vision for the Coalition, paired with his Industry Knowledge, Community Relations, Financial Management,
and overall Professionalism, ensure the continued success of the Coalition and expansion of quality services to the children in our community.”
King has confirmed Ms. Kerry Gaylord, who joined the Coalition in 2009, as Chief Operations Officer (COO). Gaylord was previously Director of Child Development, Director of Grant Management, and most recently, Interim COO.
Kerry Gaylord
The Children’s Guardian Fund is a non-profit organization that provides for the immediate and ongoing needs of local children removed from abusive and neglectful homes. These vulnerable children get moved on short notice – often losing most of their personal belongings as well as the comfort of familiar surroundings. We provide for emergency needs such as cribs, school supplies, or other essentials and work to reestablish normal childhood experiences in the lives of the 1,200+ local children in foster and state care.
in
of local children who have been abused, abandoned,
neglected by purchasing a
(Birth to 3)
By Roberta Grobel IntraterPart of the Baby Faces series, this board book is a must-have companion for the classic "Peek-a-boo" game played by babies and families. The sturdy pages show photographs of culturally diverse babies engaging in various moods and "I love you." A great gift for a new family or a nice extension to a tried-andtrue classic baby play.
(7-9)
By Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Ana RamírezFrom Newberry Medal Winner Matt de la Peña comes a story inspired by Disney® Pixar's Studios film Coco. Illustrator Ana Ramírez captures the culture and colors of Miguel and the Grand Harmony with magnificent hues and pictures, while de la Peña uses La Música (the music) in the first person to tell the story of a boy without music in his home. A wonderful book, both in pictures and story.
(4-6)
By Donald CrewsA Caldecott Honor Award Winner with simple words for colors and motion, this book will delight children whether they are train enthusiasts or not. The illustrations are brightly colored and simple yet lend themselves to a multitude of questions to be asked and answered between the reader and the child. A wonderful route to learn or review colors. One of my favorite children's books!
(10-12)
By Louis SacharAnother Newberry Award Winner, Holes, is a young adult novel that also earned the National Book Award. Stanley Yelnats has been unjustly sent to a detention center for boys, furthering the family curse. At Camp Green Lake, Stanley finds no lake, but the boys are instructed to dig holes all day, every day. The plot is entertaining, and the characters are easily relatable in this new classic that became a movie in 2003. Themes of consequences of choices, destiny, and true friendship will leave the reader digging for the next book in the series.
The first 50 people to come into the lobby of the Early Learning Coalition ofManatee County, 600 8th Avenue West, Suite 100, Palmetto can pick up freecopies of the books reviewed.
Bradenton Macaroni Kid is one of the area's top re sources for all things family-friendly! With a comprehen sive listing of holiday events, play groups, classes, festivals, summer programs, shows and much more, Bradenton Mac aroni Kid makes it easy for parents to keep their children busy and entertained all year long. Don't miss the exciting giveaways, promotions, timely bits of parenting advice and humor! Like us on Facebook and sign up to receive the FREE weekly e-newsletter with the latest scoop on fun outings and events in Manatee County at www.bradenton.macaronikid.com.
16Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers
9:00am-11:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm
Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm
17Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Defy Bradenton
KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
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13Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am
Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm
Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm
14
15Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm
Anna Maria Island Bayfest 10:00am-9:00pm
Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm
EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm
South FL Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm
LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm
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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
19
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
20
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Manatee County Sheriffs Operation Center
Sheriff’s Spooktacular Night 5:00pm-8:00pm
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
21
EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm
Arlington Park Haunted Trail Carnival 5:00pm-7:00pm
Boo! at The Bay Sarasota 5:00pm-10:00pm
Oscar Scherer Park 10th Annual Haunted Trails 8:00pm-10:00pm
23Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm
Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm University Town Center Fall Festival 11:00am-6:00pm
30Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm
Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm
Big Cat Habitat Sanctuary Wild-O-Ween 12:00pm-4:00pm
24Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
31Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
Tabernacle Church Night of Light 6:00pm-8:30pm
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Nathan Benderson Park Trick or Treat around 5:30pm-8:00pm
26Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Robert Taylor Community Complex Trunk or Treat 5:00pm-7:00pm
Ringling College Sarasota Art Museum Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
27Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
22Arlington Park Pumpkin Patch Splash 11:00am-1:00pm
Florida Railroad Museum Pumpkin Patch Express 11:00am & 2:00pm
University Town Center Fall Festival 11:00am-6:00pm
Oscar Scherer Park 10th Annual Haunted Trails 8:00pm-10:00pm
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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm
Lakewood Ranch Main Street BooFest 6:00pm-9:00pm
Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm
EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm
29Boo at the Bazaar (Apricot Street) 10:00am-3:00pm
Boo at The Bishop Museum 6:00pm-9:00pm
Dakin Dairy Farms Trick or Treat 5:00pm-8:00pm
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office 3rd Annual Halloween Drive-Thru 6:00pm-8:00pm
Big Cat Habitat Sanctuary Wild-O-Ween 12:00pm-4:00pm
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Children’s Glazer Museum (Tampa) FREE Admission 10:00am-4:00pm
1
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
2
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am
Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am
Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm
3
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm
Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm
4
Suncoast Technical College (Sarasota)
Storybook Street 9:00am-12:00pm
West Manatee Fire Rescue District Open House 10:00am-2:00pm
5
EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm8:00pm
Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm
Lakewood Ranch Music on Main Street 6:00pm-9:00pm
Hillsborough County Fair 10:00am-10:00pm
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm
Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm
6Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers
9:00am-11:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Hillsborough County Fair 10:00am-8:00pm
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
7Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm
8Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library
Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am
Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am
Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm
11 12Mixon Fruit Farms Jack Hartmann Fall Festival Concert 10:00am-3:00pm
Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival 10:00am-9:00pm Hillsborough County Fair 10:00am-10:00pm
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm
13Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Hillsborough County Fair 10:00am-8:00pm
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival 10:00am-5:00pm
20Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festival 10:00am-6:00pm
14Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival 10:00am5:00pm
15Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
16Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
17Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am
Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am
UTC Night Market 7:00pm-10:00pm
18Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm
Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm
EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm8:00pm
19The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City)
Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festi val 10:00am-6:00pm
South FL Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm
LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm
21Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
22Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
23Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
24 25Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm
Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm
EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm8:00pm
26License-free Saltwater Fishing Day
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festi val 10:00am-6:00pm
Downtown Bradenton Main Street Live 6:00pm-9:00pm
Venice Holiday Parade 5:00pm-9:00pm
Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm
27Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers
9:00am-11:00am
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm
Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festival 10:00am-6:00pm
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm
28
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
29
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am
Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am
Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am
LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm
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Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key is known around the world for beautiful island beaches, sprawling nature preserves, exciting activities, and so much more. However, there’s so much more than outdoor adventures to discover here. The Bradenton Area’s history and culture is unlike anywhere else in Florida. Our history represents Old Florida at its finest, built on the backs of the maritime, agriculture, and railroad industries. Our founders date back to the 1840s, but our area’s history of human inhabitants goes back even further. We invite you and your family to explore our history and culture through several fun and interactive museums located throughout Florida’s West Coast.
Learning about where we came from will give you an even greater appreciation for where we are today, and where we’ll be in the future. Discover how visitors of all ages fall in love with the Bradenton Area when our history comes alive.
Visit the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum to explore the area’s rich history and take your picture at the former city jail, built in 1927.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205 | (941) 746-4131
Kids of all ages love the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s West Coast. Oh, and adults like it too. Here, you’ll enjoy exhibits and educational programs that interpret the scientific and cultural knowledge of Florida, the world, and our universe. The museum’s exhibits include permanent and temporary installations. Exhibits range from fossil evidence of Florida’s earliest animal inhabitants and archaeological materials representing Paleo-Indian, Archaic, and pre-contact cultures to local history and creative exhibitions. The new Mosaic Backyard Universe is a literal backyard experience, complete with a giant artificial tree, that teaches children about our natural surroundings and beyond with interactive and fun activities. Showcasing our county’s favorite water-dwelling mammal, the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat provides a temporary home for manatees that will be released back into the wild, and has housed more than 30 manatees over the years. Parents and kids love getting an up-close look at these “sea cows” as they prepare to return to the wild. See all the exhibits at: BishopScience.org
In The Planetarium, guests can lift off from Earth and fly beyond our solar system, out of our galaxy, and to the very edge of the universe.
4415 119th St W, Cortez, FL 34215 | (941) 708-6120
Florida’s maritime industry was essential in developing the majority of its coastal towns and communities, and that’s especially true for the Cortez Historic Fishing Village. Housed in a historic 1912 Schoolhouse and surrounded by the Cortez Nature Preserve, the Florida Maritime Museum documents the growth and significance of one of the Bradenton Area’s most crucial industries and time periods. Exhibits include historic photographs, boat models, tools, instruments, and other historically significant materials that were a part of Florida’s maritime culture and history.
The museum is also home to a folk school that teaches traditional Florida skills.
For more information, visit: FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org
1404 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34208 | (941) 749-7165
Preserving, sharing, and educating visitors about the founding period of Manatee County, 1840-1918, this village features historical and replica buildings reflecting this crucial time in our county’s history. Today, guests can explore exhibits recreating the daily lives of early Manatee County residents. There are two permanent exhibits to enjoy: “One Century Plus of Ranching in Manatee County” located in the Wiggins General Store, and “Life on the Florida Frontier” found in the 1912 Stephen House. However, there are always new events scheduled to keep visitors coming back to experience something fresh, such as lectures, book signings, festivals, workshops, and demonstrations.
Learn more online at: ManateeVillage.org
The museum opened July 4, 1976, and features fourteen structures representing pioneer life in Manatee County.
12210 83rd St E, Parrish, FL 34219 | (941) 776-0906
Have you ever wondered what it felt like to ride the rails in the 1940s or 1950s? If so, this is the museum for you. The goal of the Florida Railroad Museum is to recreate the sights and sounds of Florida railroading as it once was. To do so, the museum operates a six-mile line between Parrish and Willow, Florida where guests can take a train ride back in time. Each weekend, diesel locomotives pull equipment consisting of open window coaches, a covered gondola, and an air-conditioned coach. This is one of the most unique museum experiences in the world, but it doesn’t stop with classic trains. Whether you’re a train enthusiast, history buff, or coming for a show, this is a fun and interesting experience the whole family will love. Get your ticket to ride at: FRRM.org
Offered on specific dates, guests can experience an intriguing murder mystery on the train, or a thrilling train robbery by ruthless outlaws.
1015 6th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221 | (941) 721-2034
Established to preserve, share, and educate the community about Manatee County’s agricultural heritage, this museum also looks to the future and supports local agriculture today. Historical artifacts and exhibits are rotated frequently to ensure there is always something new to see. The Manatee County Agricultural Hall of Fame is a dedicated space that honors local agriculturalists who have made a great impact on our community, while the Citrus Room showcases specialized tools and equipment from the local groves and businesses. The Ag & Economy board teaches guests how agriculture affects Manatee County’s economy, and allows children to guess which tools are useful to farmers. The Livestock Room highlights our area’s rich cattle industry, and “The Barn” contains larger agriculture equipment such as engines, a silo filler, seeders, fanning mill, and more. Learn more at ManateeCountyAgMuseum.com
See everything from historic photographs to authentic farm and citrus grove equipment, a 1925 Model-T, and more.
The Florida Arts License Plate Program was developed so arts and culture lovers could show their support of local artists in a fun, eyecatching way. The funds collected through the sale of these specialty plates are used to support local arts and cultural organizations, programs, and activities in the county. If you’re a lover of arts and culture, or just want to stand out and express yourself, there’s no better way to show your support for our local artists and turn heads than with a Florida Arts License Plate. Order yours today: BradentonGulfIslands.com/pages/291/arts-tag
For more information about our vibrant arts and culture and other can’t-miss offerings, visit BradentonGulfIsland.com or contact the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 941-729-9177 or info@bacvb.com.
probably shared this before, but Autumn is my favorite time of year. This season is the start of so many fun foods, smells, and activities. Whether pumpkin pies or rolls, apple cinnamon candles, or Halloween and Thanksgiving gatherings, this part of the year marks the beginning of many wonderful family celebrations.
To provide a little background on the fall activity, we put together, my daughter attended a summer camp at the Art Center Manatee a few years back. There she made several artistic creations, one of which happened to be a sculpture of an owl made from newspaper. As I was brainstorming a fall craft, I thought it would be fun to do something similar but in the form of mini pumpkins.
If you are looking for a fun activity where you can upcycle newspaper or scraps of paper destined for the recycle bin, this Pumpkin Paper Craft will work out great. If you don't have any paper to upcycle, regular printer paper will work just as well.
This is such an easy craft to put together and great for encouraging hand-eye coordination. If you would like to recreate this with your child, you will need the following: - 4 to 5 pieces of newspaper or sheets of printer paper - Sheet of black construction paper - Non-toxic orange acrylic paint - Green fuzzy sticks - Foam brush and regular paint brushes - Glue - Safety scissors - Cardboard pieces - Paper towels
Tip: Most of these items can be found around your home or purchased from a local craft store.
To get started, crumble up a piece of paper. Then, wrap the next piece of paper around the first and squeeze it tight into the shape of a ball.
Tip: This craft is messy. Be sure to protect your child's clothing with an apron or oversized T-shirt. Also, protect surfaces with paper towels and keep some nearby to wipe hands.
It is now time to paint the paper balls. Place pieces of cardboard down on your work surface. This will be where the pumpkins to dry.
Squeeze the paint directly onto the paper and use the sponge brush to apply it. Come back with a brush to ensure all the spots are covered. You will want to use plenty of paint since it acts as glue to keep the paper together when it dries.
Once the paper ball is completely covered in orange, set it down on the cardboard to dry. My daughter ended up making three of these.
Next, use the safety scissors to cut out faces from the black construction paper. Your child can use their imagination as they design the eyes and the mouth. You will also want to cut the fuzzy sticks in half and twist them into curly cues for the stems.
Once the paint is dry, glue the stem to the top of the pumpkin, then glue the construction paper face.
This pumpkin paper craft can then be displayed around your home for Halloween. If you want to keep them on display for Thanksgiving, simply turn the faces around for a plain pumpkin to display.
This was such a cute craft for my daughter to create, and I hope you and your family also have a great time working on this activity together.
Carlee Colonneso is a wife, and stay at home mother of three. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and author of funlearninglife.com. Her website is a lifestyle blog that centers on family, crafts, recipes, and frugal living.
Outdoortime for kids is an essential part of their development. Unfortunately, most children's average amount of unstructured outdoor playtime has been four to seven minutes per day.
As a parent, guardian, or child care provider, you may have noticed a change to children's daily habits has made it challenging to curb device overload. In most cases, the best way to conquer hyperreliance on screens and beat the indoor blues is by putting devices away and getting back outside.
It's the perfect time to encourage kids to explore the outdoors. The weather is warming up. There are plenty of reasons families need to step out of their comfort zones to reconnect with sunshine, sand, soil, and friends. With a bit of planning, the benefits for your child's overall well-being and development far outweigh the drawbacks.
Underprivileged kids and those with special needs may be suffering (and acting out) the most. Underprivileged children may not have the same level of parental support or access to proper nutrition and a safe environment at home. Children with special needs may be regressing to past difficult behaviors due to their limited coping skills and the interruption to their sacred, daily routines.
According to Kait Towner, LMHC, RPT, CCPT, IMH-E, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Play Therapist, “Children that stay inside more frequently, particularly those diagnosed with ADHD, have pent-up energy. This unreleased energy can lead to the child experiencing emotional dysregulation on a consistent basis. Exerting energy by having your child play outside is an easy way to combat this emotional dysregulation, leading to a happier child and happier home.”
The studies found that stress buildup in kids eventually leads to insomnia, irritability, and appetite change. A great relief for the levels of unreleased stress is outdoor time.
The initial transition to more outdoor activities can be challenging. Towner explains, “Children that stay inside and engage in screens are more likely to be increasingly irritable, have an addictive relationship with their screens/devices, and have increased difficulties transitioning to different tasks.”
According to Towner, persistence is key. “Children who have caregivers that set firm limits and boundaries in regards to screen time are more likely to be more emotionally regulated, have a
healthy relationship with screens, and an overall easier time transitioning.” The warmer weather is the perfect time to limit indoor screen time and gently nudge your kids to venture outside.
Time outside may be beneficial in general, but not all outdoors are created the same. Although much of the world’s population lives in urban areas, humans are hardwired for nature specifically. Even the most disconnected individual will typically start getting comfortable outdoors and learn to appreciate the peace and beauty of nature.
However, a love of the outdoors that leads to healthier, happier kids often starts with the parents. Dr. Jessica Myszak, a child psychologist and the director of The Help and Healing Center, says, “More than anything else, parents can help children embrace the outdoors and opportunities to socialize safely by modeling these behaviors themselves.” You’re probably familiar with the old saying, “Do as I say and not as I do,” but it doesn’t work with kids in today’s day and age.
Dr. Myszak adds, “Screen time has been more prevalent in all of our lives, and as parents’ work and home lives have blurred, being able to turn off the computer, silence the phone, and engage in play and fun activities will speak volumes. Showing children that you are willing to do it will be much more effective than anything you would say to them.”
The inertia aspect of getting kids outside is initially challenging. Like a heavy stone, getting it to budge at first requires the most energy, but once it’s rolling, far less effort is needed. Keep persistent - time in nature and increased outdoor playtime have many benefits, including: socialization, exercise, improved mental and physical health, a stronger immune system, better sleep patterns, and creating a lasting relationship with the natural world.
Kids can be exposed to dangers outside, but with some awareness and preparation beforehand, allowing kids to have free time outside can be a safe experience. Some risks parents should prepare kids of all ages for are:
• Roads and Highways: Even very young children can learn about the dangers of cars and road rules. Children should avoid playing on or near busy streets and stay away from areas with heavy traffic.
• Stranger Danger: Children should avoid contact with adults they don’t know and who may engage them. Kids should remain in groups with friends for their safety and have someone they know and trust accompany them home.
• Falls and Injuries: Bumps and bruises happen. An adult should always supervise younger kids at play in case help is needed.
• Protection from the Elements: Children need to exercise caution from some of the things that they may be drawn to most, such as animals, bodies of water (pools, lakes, and rivers), and a hot sunny day. Animals could scratch, bite or cause allergies. Playing around water unsupervised can lead to drowning. And too much time outside on a hot, sunny day could lead to dehydration and sunburn.
• Playground Hazards: Playground equipment occasionally breaks and may not be safe for use. It’s a good idea to perform a quick visual inspection before letting your kids use the equipment.
The biggest challenge in keeping kids safe outdoors is not limiting free play. Kids need some freedom — finding the right balance takes effort. Some ideas to reduce risk without reducing the fun are:
• Start Small: A family bike ride, a nature hike with your child, or climbing a tree are fun and socially distant ways to be outside. Slowly transitioning your child to being outside safely may be a better idea than thrusting them into a busy playground.
• Create a Safe Place to Play: Ensure the opportunities you provide for outdoor time are in a safe, controlled environment, such as a backyard or kid’s park.
• Educate Your Child: Kids aren’t born street smart. They need to learn the skills. As a parent, you can teach your kids the safety ropes that keep them secure regardless of whether you supervise them.
• Monitor the Area: The most important factor to child safety
outdoors is adult supervision. If someone can’t be outside at all times watching, the next best thing is a home security camera that adults can monitor continuously.
• Set Check-in Timers: It’s important that kids have an awareness of time and check-in with you periodically to let you know they’re ok. Older kids with a smartphone can send or answer a check-in text. Phone or not, help your kids get into the habit of stopping playtime briefly every half hour or so to run in and let you know they’re ok. It’s easier said than done since time having fun passes quickly, so consider taking on the responsibility yourself by setting a timer to remind you to check on kids playing outside.
• Use the Buddy System: Kids of all ages should always play or hang out outdoors with a friend or two. If anything should happen, a buddy can ask for help. If a buddy system is not possible, an adult should supervise or make sure that outside play alone is restricted to a controlled environment, such as a fenced-in backyard.
While it’s only natural for parents to feel concerned about their kids venturing back into the world, it’s necessary to step back and let them resume their everyday life — within limits. Download or print this safety preparation checklist and keep it handy. It may be helpful to review it each time your kid gets ready to go outside.
goal of this course is to assist child care programs in implementing trauma-informed care for families they serve. This is a multi-session course, which will require the completion of
readings. Upon completion of this course, child care program directors will form a community of practice and will be able
Children’s safety is of the utmost importance to all of us at the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. That is why we decided to purchase Home Kits to protect children in preschools throughout our community from the dangers of choking. We know that choking can happen at lunchtime, on the playground, and even on the school bus. We invested in the LifeVac choking rescue device to always be prepared.
LifeVac aids in removing a foreign body obstruction in a choking emergency. Choking remains the number one cause of accidental death in our schools. We want to protect our families, so we felt compelled to share important information about this choking rescue device. With over 5,000 choking fatalities a year in the United States, it is so important for all of us to be educated, prepared, and aware that an option exists if choking protocol fails.
LifeVac is offering a special discount for Early Learning Coalition families who purchase an airway clearance device for their homes or vehicles. Please use our special coupon code "HBF1" for all orders processed on the LifeVac website.
Parents need to select the LifeVac kit they want to purchase and apply the "HBF1" coupon code for a 10% discount and free shipping on the order.
• There are 160,000 choking deaths worldwide every year!
• At least one child dies from choking on food every five days in the U.S.
• More than 12,000 children are taken to the emergency room each year for choking injuries.
• Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in young children.
• The younger the child, the greater the risk for choking injury and death.
• Toys, household items, and foods can all be a choking hazard.
• The size of a young child's trachea (windpipe) or breathing tube is approximately the size of a drinking straw in diameter. Imagine a piece of popcorn lodged in this small area!
• An individual choking has less than seven minutes until brain death!
• Education regarding choking risks, precautions to take in avoiding these risks, and known life-saving procedures are necessary to eliminate tragic injuries and deaths caused by choking.
• Over 100 million Americans have no defense against choking due to pregnancy, disability, obesity, or being alone!
LifeVac is easy to use, can be used by anyone, and has proven to be effective. LifeVac has recorded 473 LIVES SAVED. Protect your family and purchase your LifeVac today!
Angel Ballesteros-Santillan has an amazing gift for visualizing and recreating forms in 3D. At just ten years old, his ability to sketch something and then build it three dimensionally has already earned him accolades, not just with his third-grade art teacher and his friends and family. His sculptures have even been exhibited at the Manatee County fair and the Bishop Museum in Bradenton.
According to Angel, he first started creating art when he was about eight years old, inspired to create a piñata after watching one being constructed in an online video. He enjoyed it so much that he just kept making more and more. Since then, Angel has had requests from friends and neighbors to make piñatas for gifts or celebrations, creating them from pictures they bring to him or inspired by an animal or character he found on the internet. He even has a small business making piñatas for people in his family and community. But mainly, Angel says that he makes piñatas because "it's fun!" He is currently working on a four-foot-tall unicorn, with designs already formulated for a dinosaur "as big as me!"
With some inspiration from his art teacher, Valeri Borstelmann, also known as "Ms. B" at Ballard Elementary school, along with introductions to some additional art materials, Angel has been able to expand his creative outlet from simply building piñatas to crafting other types of sculptures as well. For example, one of his recent pieces, the dinosaur that was featured at the annual Manatee County K-12 Art Show at the ArtCenter of Manatee, has a tin foil armature underneath with oven-baked clay over the top of it. Ms. Borstelmann fondly recalls the event, "His first dinosaur sculpture was one already chosen to be on display; however, my hard worker made a second sculpture and proudly brought it with him to the opening reception of the exhibition."
Ms. B has been very impressed with Angel's blooming talent, stating, "Angel is a very creative student and works very hard at perfecting his craft. He gets inspiration from the world around him and turns it into something beautiful." She went on to say, "He is particularly skilled at sculpture. He can actually visualize in three
dimensions, which is unheard of with children his age. He has a sketchbook and often draws his plans out before creating them with the sculpture compounds."
Angel's creative talent continued to surprise and amaze when he expanded his skills to include simple machines like pulleys and levers to make his sculptures come to life. Thinking not just like an artist but also like an engineer, many of his sculptures also have moving parts. It began when he visited a Chinese restaurant and saw a lovely dragon costume. Angel immediately went home and made a life-size dragon head of his own, with winking eyes and a moving mouth! He used drinking straws and tape to build the frame, and the eyelids were made from plastic bags. Finally, he created a pulley system to open and shut the eyelids and create a moving mouth that he controlled by pulling on a wire. Utilizing the same gifts for ingenuity, he designed and built a basketball board game, including a catapult that shoots the ball into the baskets at varying difficulty levels for higher scores. For his next project, he would like to build a Chinese lion.
Although Angel's family was surprised by how quickly he has taken to the arts, they have been very supportive and have encouraged his interest in art. They give him the time and space to work on his projects at home and even allow him to repurpose materials he finds around the house and buy him more traditional art materials when he needs them.
"Angle just started making piñatas and things out of random materials around the house," his mother confides. "He makes a little mess, and there is tissue paper and glue all around the
house, but we are very happy for him," she beams proudly.
According to his father, "Angel is very kind and, overall, a good kid. And he is very focused. When he gets an idea, he needs to make it right away. Sometimes it takes hours, and he won't stop until he is finished."
Angel is the young est of four and has two brothers and a sister. His sister, Stephanie, thinks he is "creative and funny, and a little shy, but he can also be very loud." Despite the very sisterly input, it's clear that the entire family is very proud of Angel and his creative accomplishments!
As I was leaving, Angel stopped me and offered me the generous gift of one of his piñatas, "free of charge." I am now the proud owner of an original Angel Ballesteros-Santillan. Remember the name; I have the feeling the future holds great things for such an imaginative and creative mind.
Through five 1-hour guided conversations, you will take a journey that will give insight into improving your ability to be present with your family and community.
If you're looking for fun and constructive ways to connect with the children in your life, this interactive experience is right up your alley!
The workshops are time friendly for those with busy schedules and completely free, thanks to the generosity of The Patterson Foundation.
Learn more about the Stronger Me, Stronger We workshops, including The Power of Presence, Mind in the Making, Vrooming to Literacy, and THIS BOOK IS COOL!
The Suncoast Campaign is looking forward to partnering with groups, nonprofits, agencies, and faith-based organizations to offer this workshop throughout the Suncoast region. Please email connect@gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net if you would like to offer this workshop or if you would like SCGLR to hold a workshop for your group.
Learn fun and entertaining methods of encouraging literacy to help children establish a love of learning and reading. For those with children ages 0-4.
Learn how to help children process new information from the books and the world around them.
