NEXTGEN October-November 2022

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Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program A place where you can gather with co-workers and classmates to learn hands on activities and education that promote social/emotional, fine and gross motor development, language/cognitive skills, self-help and moral values skills that defines school readiness.

Classes follow the School District of Manatee County schedule and are conducted generally one night per week. Featuring a NEW childcare lab for hands-on classroom instruction.

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941.751.7900 • ManateeTech.edu The School Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, transgender status, or gender identity), disability (including HIV, AIDS, or sickle cell trait), pregnancy, marital status, age (except as authorized by law), ancestry, genetic information, which are classes protected by State and/or Federal law (collectively, “protected classes”) in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities. It is the legal obligation and the policy of the Board to employ only those persons who are best qualified, with or without reasonable accommodations. The Superintendent shall appoint a compliance officer whose responsibility it will be to require that Federal and State regulations are complied with and that any inquires or complaints are dealt with promptly in accordance with law. S/He shall also require that proper notice of nondiscrimination for Title II, Title VI, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act will be provided to staff members and the general public. Any sections of the District’s collectively-bargained negotiated agreements dealing with hiring and promotion will contain a statement of nondiscrimination similar to that in the Board’s statement above.

Contents

October - November 2022

PUBLISHER

EARLY LEARNING COALITION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

6

EDITOR Katelyn Disbro

GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES Adam Mohammadbhoy (Chairman) Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer) Andrew Minor

50 ISSUES AND GOING STRONG!

8

CHILDREN’S CHAMPION Nurturing Mental Health on Campus

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

DEPUTY EDITOR Kelly Harbour DESIGN EDITOR Mara Stork STAFF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Gabrielle Versmessen PHOTOGRAPHY Whitney Patton Wendy Dewhurst CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 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.

CONTACT NEXTGEN 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

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 BOARD OF EDUCATION MANATEE COUNTY Charlie Kennedy, Gina Messenger, Rev. James Golden, Mary Foreman, Chad Choate Cynthia Saunders, Superintendent

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS articles@nextgenmagazine.org

14 EXECUTIVELY SPEAKING An Invaluable Resource Center...

20 MEAL PLANNING WITH YOUR KIDS! 24 BEYOND GENEROUS An Unmatched Commitment..

35 ELC INSIDER! 36 WORDS ON THE BUS! 38 CHILDCARE PROVIDER DIRECTORY 44 MTC EDUCATING FOR EDUCATION…!

48 EARLY EDUCATION PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM 54 READING TIPS 55 On the Bookshelf 56 Calendar Of Events 62 Fun Kids Craft Paper Pumpkin Upcycle 64 OUTDOOR SAFETY TIPS Less Screen... More Green!

72 LIFEVAC 76 MANATEES GOT TALENT For the Love or Art...

NEXTGEN and the Early Learning Coalition do not endorse or warrant any products or services contained herein, unless otherwise expressly noted. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors. Submitted materials will not be returned. Whole or part of this publication may not be used or duplicated in any way without written permission from the Early Learning Coalition.

The Early Learning Coalition is a 501-C (3) nonprofit organization committed to ensuring affordable and creditable early child care and early education through School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs. Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning and Manatee County Government.

80 GRADE LEVEL READING UPDATE Stronger Me, Stronger We Workshops

50 ISSUES and Going Strong!

WORDS: Gabrielle Versmessen

E

ight years and now 50 issues l ate r, N ex tg e n Family Magazine has been a massive success right from the star t! Beginning as the brainchild of o u r l ate C E O, Pa u l Sharff, after seeing a small publication at his son's or thodontist's of f i c e th at wa s f u l l of adver tisements, he wanted to create s o m eth i n g th at n ot only would advertise Paul Sharff 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.

6

"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 Darrell King 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

Winner of FMA Silver Charlie Award: Best

New Magazine 2015!

December 2014/January 2015

Words: Darrell King, Editor

Happy Holidays!

INSIDE: CHILD CARE RESOURCE

DIRECTORY www.nextgenmagazine.org

February/March 2015

FOR MANATEE! PIRATES PITCHon deck for Spring Training...

County Commissioners

Stranger Danger

Ring The Bealls!

RISING STOCK...

WIN Marauders Tickets!

INSIDE: CHILD CARE RESOURCE

October/November 2014

MANATEE’S GOT TALENT!

Syesha & Sam

FELD STUDIOS Uncovered...

WIN Pizza for a Year!

HOT TOPIC: Kids & Media

INSIDE: CHILD CARE RESOURCE

DIRECTORY

www.nextgenmagazine.org

DIRECTORY

industry, His leadership of the Florida magazine to be the EXTGEN Family Magazine was honored Wellborn FMA’s 1973 Achiever of Association including FMA, earned recipient of the Florida Magazine retired from UF in 1987 and 2015’ at the Year Award. Wellborn award the “Char‘Silver Charlie Award: Best New Magazine FMA honored him by renaming its top 77. age at an awards ceremony in Orlando last month.

2002 in magazines lie.” Wellborn passed away – which has Recognizing achievements by Florida This amazing recognition of NEXTGEN competition since 1957, FMA’s annual Charlie Awards 30,000 copies bi-monthly into the back artists, photogra- a distribution of crowns publishers, writers, editors, students in Manatee County - is as the best among packs of all Elementary phers, printers, marketers and others team to be very proud of. So entire the for something by recognized their peers in scores of categories. Juried such a huge part in this sucprofessionals, many people have played articles and ideas, to out-of-state magazine and newspaper of entries cess, from those who contribute and college journalism professors, hundreds deliver the magazine. awards—Charlie, those who help received vie for first, second and third place And, of course, NEXTGEN could not have Silver and Bronze. amazing support of our adver1958 gradu- this award without the Charles G. “Charlie” Wellborn Jr. was a many of whom have been with us faithof Journalism and tising partners, ate and later a professor in the College issue in May of last year. We are truly Florida in Gaines- fully from the first support!

Communications at the University of financial served in the thankful for that continued Learnville. A Georgia native, Lt. Col. Wellborn NEXTGEN is proudly published by the Early Korean War, reU.S. Army during World War II and the County. All revenue generated Stars. Starting ing Coalition of Manatee into the ELC, as we strive ceiving two Purple Hearts and two Bronze in editing, by our publication is reinvested in 1967, Professor Wellborn created courses make a difference to the lives of 5000 children to day every that ions graphics and business/technical communicat From everyone at NEXTGEN, a huge magazine cur- in Manatee County. partners! were the core of the public relations and ‘Thank-You’ to all our readers and advertising riculum at UF for many years.

N

MANATEE TOGETHER

www.nextgenmagazine.org

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 star t, making them another integral part of the team.

According to Darrell, they got approval 757-2904 (941) Hilarie Jill (941) 705-0663 or ng@nextgenmagazine.org or contact To Advertise in NEXTGEN email advertisi 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?"

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!

A CE

In T he Pack !

and NFL star Sanders Former Manatee High fun - and dream. helps local kids have WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock PICTURES: Whitney Patton

p.m., and a dozen round, clock ticks just shy of 4:30 against a glass window hopeful young faces pressed and reflecting an army of smudged with handprints guard across the room. Squirmy sparkling gold trophies standing like a roster of six to 12-year-olds anticipation rolls through the shorts The children, sporting gym case of contagious wiggles. peer from an after-school snack, and T-shirts and a few crumbs Dream turning into the 13th Avenue out to watch for a grey Jeep

A

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.

Center parking lot.

coach Sanders – their football They are waiting for Ace and generous smiles, oozes positivity, extraordinaire who flashes line companies. He also happens co-owns printing and clothing of Jaguars NFL pro-player, University to be a former Jacksonville Manatee standout kick returner, and South Carolina Gamecocks hero.

High School hometown football starunderprivileged- look past the But the kids- many at-risk and passionately cares about them. who man a see and studded resume illuminating an escape route.

They see a mentor – a searchlight family rough backgrounds and hard "With these kids, many from Sanders, support and an outlet," said lives, you have to give them in "If they are not engaged nodding his head with conviction. to ticking time bomb. We have a just it's sports, something like get them early." team and former Dream Center Sanders, a Palmetto native and NFL up his life-changing college player himself, has collected up the to his roots in an effort to lift experiences and voyaged back

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.

A Star In WORDS & PICTURES:

P

Pat explained: “I had retired, but there was nothing to do… just sit around the house. There’s only so much you can clean. The house was spotless!”

It was at about that time that Kristen Terrell, owner of A Child’s Galaxy – whom Pat has known since Kristen was about four years old – had a suggestion for her old babysitter. “Why don’t you come and work a couple of hours for me?” Kristen asked her.

"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

“So, the first thing I did was volunteer ,” Pat remembered. “Then they got short on girls to take care of students, so I came and worked for a while.

Then I left. And then I came back, and then I left again…

But I just keep coming back!”

Asked where her passion for child care comes from, Pat recalled: “First of all, I had five brothers

who kids to train," said Sanders, "It's really important for these Coach scholarship and played for attended USC on an athletic reinforce as important to compete and Steve Spurrier. "But it is just keeping what happened is we were good habits. More importantly, lights the under play to they wanted the kids off the streets because 19

The Galaxy

Jessica Schubick

at Spicer has been working with Manatee County’s youngest learners for nearly a decade at A Child’s Galaxy Preschoo l in Bradenton.

Child care has become something of a second career for Pat, 72, who retired from the Longboa t Key Club af ter working there for almost 20 years in various capacities.

"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.

the with heart and creative energy, community he cherishes. Bursting of the Year tackled a new position 2012 SEC Special Teams Player itioning and life skills at the two years ago: Director of strength/cond Sanders has carved out programs center. Hitting the ground running, youth to – an activity that entices at-risk such as Friday Night Lights for constructive, safe fun. swap out roaming the streets just go to that is so vibrant – the kids "Ace has a contagious spirit their Derrick Randall, who shared him," said Dream Center CEO inspire atstaple in the community to football program rises as a up for and coaches. "He lights it risk youth with positive mentors asset to the community center these kids and is a phenomenal driven and unmatched." because he is exceptionally tire practice field dotted with a Across the dusty Dream Center, and find Sanders running, tackling, and agility ladder; you can to day of the week with kids eager passing footballs every single from excelling in sports ranging learn and grow. A natural athlete in a he's knows and track, Sanders tennis and golf to basketball ago, these adolescents. Two years race against time to capture so kids could focus on practicing he hatched Friday Night Lights backdrop compete against a night-sky through the week and then evenings. of stadium lights on Friday and under the exciting glow

and two sisters – all but one of whom were younger than me, so I always had to help out there. Then I had two of my own.

And I took care of my sister’s children after she passed away.

Then they all grew up and the next thing you know, I had four grandkids. And now they’re grown, so I came back here to work with the babies again! My oldest grandson is 30, and I have granddau ghters who are 22, 19, and 17. So you never know, I could have some great-gra ndchildre n in the next few years!”

As Pat discusse d her love for caring for young children – the one-year-old classroom is her favorite – a toddler came over and swatted at her with a sticky hand. “They’re so mean sometimes and stinky,” Pat said with a smile, laughing as she continued, “…but sweet as can be.

It was something I could do. Somethin g I love to do… and I just kept wanting to do it more!”

“It is very rewarding – the first time they come over and hug you for no reason, that just does it right there.

This is why I’m here… this is why I’m here.” Pat said she couldn’t think of doing anything else at this point in her life. “I just love it. I don’t ever want to do anything else. It’s not for everybod y – but if you enjoy it, it’s the most rewarding thing you can do!”

Pat occasion ally enjoys time away from children, of course.

“I go to Vegas every year at Hallowee n with my cousin Phyllis – we dress up!”

Pat explained. “At Halloween, it’s the best place to be. You can get dressed up and walk all over.

One year we dressed up like Dumb and Dumber. We were the oldest ones there and everyone wanted pictures with us!

We play in the casinos during the day. I even won $27,000 once!”

Asked if she thinks she’ll still be working with children for much longer, Pat said: “I’ve already retired from here three times, but I keep coming back! I’ll never not want to be with kids. I know one day I won’t be able to, but I’ll never stop wanting to!”

50

51

NURTURING MENTAL HEALTH ON CAMPUS… WORDS: Merab Favorite PICTURES: Whitney Patton

W

8

hen Jenny*, age 7, unexpectantly lost her father during the week of T hanksgiving, 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.

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 school administrator referred her to a mental health therapist conveniently based at her elementary school. Unlike a

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

9

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 dif ference 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 Beck y 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 10

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."

Helping Teachers Cope with Stress 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."

Ensuring Preschoolers are Emotionally Ready for Grade School 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 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."

*The client's name at the beginning of this article was changed to protect their privacy.

If you'd like to learn more about the agency or to support the program, visit www.thefloridacenter.org 11

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An Invaluable Resource Center...

WORDS: Gabrielle Versmessen PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

L

iving 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 Ashley Brown, WRC's nesting. There are a lot President & CEO of moms who have come to the Center after being stay-at-home moms for years that re-enter the workforce. WRC's career feel bad about owning it," Ashley explains coaching program shows these women after recounting how one client was almost their transferable skills by using examples apologetic in explaining why she had a of what they did in PTA or their roles significant job transition on her resume and responsibilities at home and how before returning to work. those can translate into the workplace.

Last year, the WRC did direct programming While this might sound simplistic, this with over 2,000 clients and gave out an tactic helps these women lean into their additional 7,000 referrals to women seeking strengths as people. assistance or guidance for various needs.

"It is perfectly ok to say, 'I had kids, wanted In the Gulf Coast region, served by WRC, more flexibility, and now they're at a stage there are more than 428,000 women. where I don't need to be home as much, so Approximately 13% of these women live I'm going to look for a different job.' I think in poverty. The population is ethnically there's something unique in what we do diverse, with a higher concentration of in working with women to help them really Hispanic women than state or national lean into their strengths and acknowledge averages. While the Center helps women of that it's ok to have babies. We don't have to any means, 88% of its clients live at or below 15

the ALICE population. WRC's programs specifically target these populations and demographics to help women establish stability for themselves.

provided support and services to the local Latina community since 2005.

"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.

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, 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

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

16

Guests enjoying themselves at the last Wonder Women Collective Event

WRC's Wonder Women Collective Event was a big hit with the local community

Share Your Brand with Someone New Through in-person and remote events at the Women's Resource Center.

526

9.7K YouTube Views

32%

# of registrants for Wonder Women Collective Events

79,231

of attendees are clients of the WRC

16,678

Email Subscribers

$84k

7,259

Website Views

Social Media Followers

raised to support women in our community.

Wonder Women Collective Kick-off Event

ActivatingSocial Capital with Robyn Faucy, CEO of Results 1st December 1st, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

GROVE 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

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.

• For more information on services or to make donations, visit www.mywrc.org.

17

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Meal Planning with Your Kids!

WORDS: Jenn Johnson

I

t's 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 Weekends can be a great time to get ahead and do some serious prepping. After grocery shopping, work as a team to wash, cut, and prepare fruits and veggies for the week

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!

4. Have children pack their own lunches.

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.

5. Cook together.

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!

21

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Meet Our Surgical Team Jose Erbella, MD, FACS, DipABLM Jill Nash, PA-C, DipACLM General Surgery and Lifestyle Medicine

Advanced surgical care right in your community Dr. Erbella and Jill Nash, PA-C focus on cancer, laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. Their areas of special interest include: • Breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment (High Risk Clinic) • Colon cancer and diverticulitis • Skin cancer • Parathyroid and thyroid surgery • Gallbladder disease • Hernia repair • Lifestyle medicine 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.

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Physicians are on the medical staff of Manatee Memorial Hospital, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of the hospital. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 22682810-1075333 9/22

An Unmatched Commitment...

History Behind the Flanzer Philanthropic Trust WORDS: Gabrielle Versmessen Louis and Gloria Flanzer

H

elping 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 25

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 communit y 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 communit y. 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.

Eric Kaplan, Dr. Dean Hautamaki with Dr. Allan Schwartz and Dr. Lee Goldman 26

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 might

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.

Kelly Romanoff, Eric Kaplan and Dr. Dean Hautamaki

Eric Kaplan and Dr. Dean Hautamaki

• 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.

27

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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The Paul Sharff Memorial Golf Classic Hosted by State Senator Jim Boyd & State Representative Will Robinson Friday, December 9, 2022 IMG Academy Golf Club Title Sponsor $6000

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Male Closest to Pin $200 (one available) • Recognition on course

Female Closest to Pin $200 (one available) • Recognition on course

11:00am Registration & Lunch 12:00pm Shotgun Scramble Format $150 per Golfer $600 per Foursome

www.elc-manatee.org/golf

All proceeds to benefit the ELC of Manatee County | For more information call (941) 757-2909 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com Registration #CH27655

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

Cornhole and Cocktails

Kiwanis

®

Club of Manatee Sunrise

33

STAGE SKILLS TEACH LIFE SKILLS At the Manatee Performing Arts Center, we believe every student, regardless of age or experience, deserves the opportunity to participate in musical theater and discover their creative potential.

Our program provides training in the disciplines of Dance, Theater, and Music and requires active learning and participation. Programs are led by professional directors and artists. Don’t have your student miss out on developing their ability in public speaking, self-confidence, and personal life skills.

Scholarships are available.

Production Camps available Fall & Spring Learn more about all of our events and programs at ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com or (941) 748-5875 Program Location: Manatee Performing Arts Center 502 Third Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205

ELC INSIDER CONTENTS: 36

Words on the Bus!

44

Educating for Education…

38 48 50

Childcare Provider Directory Pre-Apprenticeship Program Soar in 4 Family Night

35

WORDS ON THE BUS!

A Community Collaboration…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

B

ack in August 2021, Words on the Bus was created by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee C o u n t y's C o m m u n i t y E d u c a t i o n a l Initiatives (CEI) team, who wanted to create a book-embedded vocabulary program for pre-kindergar tners 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 l et te r s, d r aw i n g, s to r y te l l i n g, a n d 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 37

Childcare Provider Directory 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 38

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

Doodle Bugs! Children's Learning Academy 11015 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34221 (941) 721-0330

Children's Nest of Manatee, Inc. 5051 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9024

Doran Family Day Care Home 4719 Cayo Costa Place Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4802

Children's Nest of Manatee 2 600 7th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34207 941-479-7789

Easter Seals of Southwest Florida 350 Braden Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7637

Community Christian School 5500 18th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-756-8748

Education Time 5165 33rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-7332

Community Haven for Adults & Children with Disabilities 4405 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235 941-355-8808

Faith Preschool of Faith UCC 4850 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-7895

CORE Early Education And Learning 605 13th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-9069

First For Kids Children's Christian Center 603 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-0824

Countryside Academy For Children 5807 18th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-304

Forza Child Development Center, Inc. 8605 Erie Road Parrish, FL 34219 941-545-6380

Creative Kids Connection 408 75th Street Northwest Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-8687

FORZA Child Development Center, Inc. 12214 US Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-981-5885

CRPE Academy 1621 66th Avenue Terrace East Sarasota FL, 34243 (941) 932-0984

Foundation For Dreams 16110 Dream Oaks Place Bradenton, FL 34212 941-746-5659

DC's Child Care Center 5105 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-6090

Foundations Christian Montessori Academy of Sarasota 4141 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235

Debra Johnson Johnson Family Day Care Home 2730 22nd Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-365-1685

Free To Grow Academy 5304 7th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-254-4268

Discover Our World Child Development Center 455 48th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-749-5263

Grandma's Babysitting Center 1728 26th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-708-9864

Discovery Point Twelve Oaks 7218 55th Ave Bradenton, FL 34203 941-200-4250

Great Minds Childcare 1018 35th Avenue West Bradenton FL, 34205 941-896-5319

Dixon-Wright Family Day Care Home 1016 31st Street East Palmetto, FL 34211 (941) 721-0232

Growing Hands Learning Center 5743 69th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-845-4873

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Growing Start Preschool LLC 2611 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-741-3311

Kids Academy Plus 57th 1415 57th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-727-1841

Happy Cubs 6207 21st Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-798-6173

Kids Academy Plus HL 4635 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-524-1045

Happy Go Lucky 1606 55th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-752-4608

Kids Club Child Development & Educational Center of Bradenton, LLC 5231 4th Avenue Circle East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-900-2812

Horizons Unlimited Christian Academy 2674 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL 34234 941-957-0409 House of JBaby's Preschool 1300 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-7415 Imagine Charter School at North Manatee 9275 49th Avenue East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-981-5345 In The Beginning Learning Center 5503 12th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-567-6106 Jackson Family Day Care Home 6715 36th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-5097 Jones Family Day Care Home 10447 Brendle Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-219-3605 Joy Learning & Development Academy 2515 37th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-721-0684 Jump Start Preschool of the Arts 11005 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34211 941-747-8900 Just for Girls 1500 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-8988 Just Grow Harvest United Methodist Church 14305 Covenant Way Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-907-7333 Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch 4225 Concept Court Bradenton, FL 34211 941-727-9072

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Kids On The Rock 1401 14th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-4567 Kidzone Preschool 116 27th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-2727 Lakewood Ranch Early Learning Center LLC 11520 Palmbrush Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-727-9990 Lane Family Day Care Home 602 31st Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-1774 La Petite Academy 37th 4301 37th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-756-5227 La Petite Academy SR 70 6919 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-2336 La Petite Academy Vintage Road 4507 Vintage Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7677 Learning! Kidz Zone 2211 53rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-254-7859 Learning Unlimited 6210 17th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-5838 Learning With Love 2712 47th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-0442 Let's Learn Early Childhood Center 1415 7th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-567-4279

Lil' Angels Daycare, Inc. 1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640

Our Kids West 2425 38th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-752-1715

Linda Evans Family Day Care Home 1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640

Palma Sola Early Learning Academy 7315 1st Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-795-0788

Little Caterpillar Early Child Care LLC 3059 Gypsy Street Sarasota, FL 34231 941-960-6312

Palmetto Youth Center 501 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0783

Little Einstein's Academy 3631 Tallevast Road Bradenton, FL 34243 941-894-6505

Parrish Charter Academy 8605 Erie Road Parrish, FL 34219 941-545-6380

Little Manatee's Cove, LLC 707 3rd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-405-7991

Pathways to Learning LLC 2601 7th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-8802

Little Tikes University 4200 32nd Street West Bradenton, FL 34205-2744 941-567-6350

Pines of Sarasota Child Care and Learning Center 1501 North Orange Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 941-552-1861

Love And Laugh Fun Care Center 2811 17th Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-952-1626

Play & Grow Preschool Inc. 2435 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34237 941-366-7300

Loving Hands Daycare 1204 60th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-755-6306

Portal To Adventure 911 Rye Road East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-739-3929

Manatee County Family YMCA 3805 59th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-798-9622

Precious Jewels Academy Learning Center 2700 Leon Avenue Sarasota, FL 34234 941-360-1122

Manatee United Methodist Preschool 315 15th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-750-6739

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch North 5730 New Haven Blvd.

Bradenton, FL 34211 813-230-2827

Morgan Large Family Day Care Home 2809 8th Street Court West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-745-2401

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch Town Center 9127 Town Center Parkway Bradenton, FL 34202 941-373-6363

My First Steps of Bradenton, Inc. 3815 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-727-5511

Puppy Patch Preschool 1116 35th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-6648

Myakka Early Learning Center, Inc. 37190 Singletary Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-2605

Reaching For The Stars Academy 2239 14th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-3901

Next Generation Academy 4636 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-251-2491

Risen Savior Academy 14605 59th Avenue East Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 941-756-7545

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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 Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning Palmetto 1315 2nd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-750-6667

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Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning Parkland 6432 Parkland Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-750-6667 Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning Pine Village 1103 56th Avenue Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-827-2887 Step Up Suncoast 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

Willis Family Day Care Home 3206 Clark Drive Sarasota, FL 34234 941-355-6574

Toddler's Ark FCCH 711 36th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-879-2407

Willis 2 W.E.Cares Child Care 708 32nd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-356-5205

Toddler's Inn Child Care Center LLC 2611 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-4631

Woodland Early Childhood Center 9607 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-753-8588

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

Childcare Resource & Referral (941) 757-2910 43

EDUCATING

AnnaMaria Carleton and Michelle Meluch

for Education…

WORDS: Gabrielle Versmessen PICTURES: Whitney Patton

E

arly childhood education is an integral par t 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.

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.

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

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 45

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 inter view 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.

ELC Inclusion Specialists, Maggie Van Camp, Jessica Anthony, and Rebekah Skidmore

• For more information regarding the ECE pre-apprenticeship program contact Francesca Ricciardo at fricciardo@elc-manatee.org or call (941) 212-4994.

47

Early Education

Pre-Apprenticeship Program Are you looking for a more meaningful career? Do you enjoy working with kids? The Early Education Pre-Apprenticeship program is now available to interested candidates (18-years-old or older) and can help provide you with the initial training and essential skills needed to become an early childhood educator!

Program Benefits: • No cost, fees covered by ELC of Manatee County • Job placement in Early Education upon completion of courses • CPR Certification • 45-hour DCF Training • Knowledge of early childhood development • Gain the necessary skill set for work in early childhood setting/child care facility Possible Careers: • Child Care Worker • Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Teacher • Preschool Teacher • Lead Teacher (public child care provider) • Classroom Teacher (private/faith-based child care provider) Required Coursework (Facilitated by Manatee Technical College): • OCP A: Child Care Worker 1 (150 class hours total) • Monday-Friday 8:00am-12:00pm • Classes start August 8th

Apply online by July 15th at www.manateetech.edu

For general questions, contact Francesca Ricciardo at fricciardo@elc-manatee.org or call (941) 212-4994

MANATEE ELC BOARD OF DIREC TORS APPOINTS DARRELL KING AS NEW CEO. . .

WORDS: Katelyn Disbro, Director of Communications PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

T

he 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

49

PICTURES: Whitney Patton

48

51

just grow

Harvest United Methodist Church License Number: C12MA0361

• • •

• • • • • • •

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Helping Our Kids Soar Children’s Guardian Guardian Fund Annual Fall Luncheon November 9, 2022 Michael’s on East, Sarasota 12:00pm -1:30pm 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+ Silver local children in foster and $500 state care.

You're just one person

We invite you to join us in support of local children who have been abused, abandoned, and neglected by purchasing a ticket or sponsorship to this event.

Platinum $2,500

Gol $1,0 d 00

Bronze $250

Ticket $100

Do just one thing to help a child...

Visit www.childrensguardianfund.org/events REGISTRATION#, CH37509. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-HELP-FLA) OR FROM THE WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDACOM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL. OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

THE PERFECT TIME IS...NOW It is not too early.

Babies begin learning at birth.

You are your child’s first and most important teacher.

It is not too late.

As your child is growing, keep going! Even young readers (whether early or accomplished) benefit from being read aloud to.

Any place can be the right place.

Bedtime is a great time to read aloud. But so is before dinner, while the kids are splashing in the bath, during the afternoon lull or over pancakes in the morning.

Read Aloud

15 MINUTES Every child. Every parent. Every day.

Learn more at

ReadAloud.org

On The Bookshelf REVIEWS: Colleen Hartnett

Peek-a-Boo! (Birth to 3)

By Roberta Grobel Intrater

Part 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.

Miguel and the

Grand Harmony (7-9)

By Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Ana Ramírez

From 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.

Freight Train (4-6)

By Donald Crews

A 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!

HOLES (10-12)

By Louis Sachar

Another 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 of Manatee County, 600 8th Avenue West, Suite 100, Palmetto can pick up free copies of the books reviewed.

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Sunday

OCTOBER

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Bradenton Macaroni Kid is one of the area's top resources for all things family-friendly! With a comprehensive listing of holiday events, play groups, classes, festivals, summer programs, shows and much more, Bradenton Macaroni 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.

Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

16

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

17

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

18

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

23

Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm University Town Center Fall Festival 11:00am-6:00pm Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm

30

Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm Big Cat Habitat Sanctuary Wild-O-Ween 12:00pm-4:00pm

12

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

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

25

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am Nathan Benderson Park Trick or Treat around 5:30pm-8:00pm

31

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm Tabernacle Church Night of Light 6:00pm-8:30pm

13

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Saturday

14

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm

15

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Anna Maria Island Bayfest 10:00am-9:00pm

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

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 Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

19

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Friday

LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival 10:00am-5:00pm

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival 9:00am-5:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Thursday

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

26

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

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

20

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

21

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-8:00pm

Manatee County Sheriffs Operation Center Sheriff’s Spooktacular Night 5:00pm-8:00pm

Arlington Park Haunted Trail Carnival 5:00pm-7:00pm

27

Boo! at The Bay Sarasota 5:00pm-10:00pm

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

22

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 Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Arlington Park Pumpkin Patch Splash 11:00am-1:00pm

28

Oscar Scherer Park 10th Annual Haunted Trails 8:00pm-10:00pm

Boo at the Bazaar (Apricot Street) 10:00am-3:00pm

29

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Boo at The Bishop Museum 6:00pm-9:00pm

Lakewood Ranch Main Street BooFest 6:00pm-9:00pm

Dakin Dairy Farms Trick or Treat 5:00pm-8:00pm

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm-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

Sunday

NOVEMBER

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

1

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

Thursday

2

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

Friday

3

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Saturday

4

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm8:00pm

Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm

Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm Lakewood Ranch Music on Main Street 6:00pm-9:00pm

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Suncoast Technical College (Sarasota) Storybook Street 9:00am-12:00pm West Manatee Fire Rescue District Open House 10:00am-2:00pm 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

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Sky 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

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm

Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival 10:00am-9:00pm

Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

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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Mixon Fruit Farms Jack Hartmann Fall Festival Concert 10:00am-3:00pm

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Hillsborough County Fair 10:00am-10:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm

Hillsborough County Fair 5:00pm-10:00pm

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Saturday Studios 1:00pm-3:00pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

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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

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm

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Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival 10:00am5:00pm

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm

Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival 10:00am-5:00pm Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm8:00pm

The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm

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Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festival 10:00am-6:00pm South FL Gymnastics Open Gym 12:00pm-1:30pm LWR Gymnastics Sweet Peas Open Gym 1:15pm-2:15pm

UTC Night Market 7:00pm-10:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Playdate 10:00pm-12:00pm

Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festival 10:00am-6:00pm

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Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm EVO Athletics Ninja Open Gym 6:30pm8:00pm

License-free Saltwater Fishing Day

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The Woods of Mallaranny (Myakka City) Sarasota Medieval Fair 10:00am-5:30pm Sarasota Fairgrounds Suncoast Renaissance Festival 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

Sky Zone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

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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

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Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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Jumpin Fun Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

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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

Historical Attractions

BORING MUSEUMS

The Whole Family

Will of Lovethe Past Are a Thing

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

Kids of All Ages Love Exploring Everything the Bradenton Area Has to Offer 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 In The Planetarium, guests can lift off from Earth and fly beyond our cows” as they prepare to return to the wild. solar system, out of our galaxy, See all the exhibits at: BishopScience.org and to the very edge of the universe.

Florida Maritime Museum

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

Manatee Village Historical Park

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.

Florida Railroad Museum

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.

Offered on specific dates, guests can experience an intriguing murder Get your ticket to ride at: FRRM.org mystery on the train, or a thrilling train robbery by ruthless outlaws.

Manatee County Agricultural Museum 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.

Keep Our Area’s Culture Thriving

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.

Pumpkin Paper Craft!

I

have 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.

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DIRECTIONS: 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.

WORDS & PICTURES: Carlee Colonneso 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.

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Less Screen...

MORE GREEN! WORDS: Safety.com

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Outdoor Safety Tips for Kids

O

utdoor time 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.

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.

The Role of Nature In Well-Being 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.

Children’s Mental Health and Playing Outdoors

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.

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.

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.”

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 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.

Outdoor Activities Reduce Stress, Improve Mood and Overall Well-Being 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

Preparing for Potential Outdoor Risks 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.

How to Limit Risk Without Limiting Outdoor Play 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:

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•

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 t he A r ea: 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.

Outdoor Safety Checklist 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.

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SAVE THE DATE:

Monday October 31st, 2022 5:30pm - 8:30pm

19th Annual Halloween Safe Kids Night At the Manatee Fairgrounds in Palmetto

Free to the Public Fun & Games for the Whole Family Plenty of Candy Prizes for Best Costumes Civic Organizations, Public Safety Agencies & Non-Profits interested in participating as a Booth Host or Businesses interested in Sponsorships & Hosting a Booth, May Sign Up to be a Booth Host or Sponsor by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSMCHalloweenBoothRSVP Scan the QR Code Or by contacting Manatee Crime Stoppers via email Info@ManateeCrimeStoppers.com

CRAFT BEERS From here, there & everywhere

Locally owned & operated since 1983

Serving Lunch & Dinner Dine-In, Outside Seating or Curbside Pickup

20+ Home-cooked southern sides from local ‘farm to table’

Wednesday-Saturday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm 4705 US-301, Ellenton, FL 34222 941-722-3932 www.hickoryhollowbbq.com

FREE preschool for all four-year-olds residing in FL regardless of family income Call (941) 757-2910 or register online at www.elc-manatee.org Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Registration #CH27655 “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.”

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DO YOU NEED HELP PAYING FOR CHILD CARE? VPK - FREE preschool for all 4-year-olds residing in FL regardless of family income

CHILD CARE L A R R E F E R & E C R U O S RE

School Readiness - A child care subsidy based on income and family size for children aged birth to 12

We can help, call us today to see if you’re eligible!

Call (941) 757-2910 or visit www.elc-manatee.org today!

Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Registration #CH27655 “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.”

Trauma-Informed Care with Director Endorsement

The 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 outside assignments and readings.

Upon completion of this course, child care program directors will form a community of practice and will be able to: • • • • •

Recognize the signs of trauma impacting children Examine the importance of self-care Apply tools to help children regulate emotions and behaviors Evaluate the physical learning environment for trauma-sensitive supports Develop a plan for creating a trauma-sensitive program

This course can be used to meet the Florida Director Credential Renewal requirements.

6305 State Road 70 East Bradenton, FL 34203 Contact: Kristi Mellin 941.730.9963 mellink@manateeschools.net

Apply Today!

941.751.7900 • ManateeTech.edu TheSchoolBoarddoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,ethnicity,religion,nationalorigin,sex(includingsexualorientation,transgenderstatus,orgenderidentity),disability(includingHIV,AIDS,orsicklecelltrait),pregnancy,maritalstatus,age(exceptasauthorizedbylaw),ancestry,geneticinformation, whichareclassesprotectedbyStateand/orFederallaw(collectively,“protectedclasses”)initsprogramsandactivities,includingemploymentopportunities.ItisthelegalobligationandthepolicyoftheBoardtoemployonlythosepersonswhoarebestqualified,withorwithoutreasonableaccommodations.

TheSuperintendentshallappointacomplianceofficerwhoseresponsibilityitwillbetorequirethatFederalandStateregulationsarecompliedwithandthatanyinquiresorcomplaintsaredealtwithpromptlyinaccordancewithlaw.S/HeshallalsorequirethatpropernoticeofnondiscriminationforTitleII,Title VI,andTitleVIIoftheCivilRightsActof1964,TitleIXoftheEducationAmendmentActof1972,Section504oftheRehabilitationActof1973,andtheAgeDiscriminationinEmploymentActwillbeprovidedtostaffmembersandthegeneralpublic.AnysectionsoftheDistrict’scollectively-bargainednegotiated agreements dealing with hiring and promotion will contain a statement of nondiscrimination similar to that in the Board’s statement above.

ARE YOU PREPARED IN A CHOKING EMERGENCY? C

hildren’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.

HERE ARE THE FACTS: • • • • • • • • • •

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!

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Back to

School 2022

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

FOR THE

LOVE OF ART… WORDS: Sheri Roca PICTURES: Whitney Patton

A

ngel 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 77

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."

house, but we are very happy for him," she beams proudly.

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.

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."

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

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Angel is the youngest 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.

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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!

Stronger Me, Stronger We The Power of Presence

Stronger Me, Stronger We Mind in the Making

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.

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.

is Th

is

Stronger Me, Stronger We Vrooming to Literacy

Stronger Me, Stronger We THIS BOOK IS COOL!

Learn fun and entertaining methods of encouraging literacy to help children establish a love of learning and reading.

Learn how to help children process new information from the books and the world around them.

For those with children ages 0-4.

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