Play and learning go hand in hand for children. Our Success by Six Resource Center is located inside High Grove Early Childhood Center.   We exist to provide books, learning toys, and materials to help your young child's brain development and to reduce stress.  What a great opportunity for your children during this roller coaster season! Yes, our kiddos are also feeling stress just as we are. They may show it in different ways: worry, fear, tension, clinging, anger, crying, whining, out of control emotions, aggressive and/or stubborn behavior.  (I know I have felt some of these symptoms myself!)

Our Success by Six Resource Center is here to help your family.  We provide materials for children aged birth - 6 years. These helpful items are easy to access by calling, texting, or emailing me, Fonda Burkhart, at 816-316-5489 or 816-721-1640.  I am available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 10:00am - 3:00pm.  My email address is fonda.burkart@grandviewc4.net.  The process of checking out materials and books is super easy; simply call or email me and we will discuss your child's age, stage of development, and their interests.  I will gather several learning items catered for your child/ren.  We will agree on a meeting time in the front lobby of High Grove Early Childhood Center for you to drop off and/or collect the materials.  (Remember to wear a mask).  It's that easy!!   This is a service we offer your family FREE of charge...PLEASE SHARE THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS!

I recently read an article entitled "Play Helps Stress Reduction" by Megan Gunnar, PH.D.  I challenge each of you to read this!
https://mcm.org/reducing-the-effects-of-stress-on-your-child/

The Success By 6 Resource Center is a hidden treasure within the Grandview area. I look forward to hearing from you and having the opportunity to partner with your family. 

My name is Fonda Burkhart.  I have worked at High Grove Early Childhood Center for seven years. Previously, I worked as a Head Start Director, Head Start District Supervisor, Head Start teacher, Parent Educator, and Private School Director.  I am wanting to use my 35 years of training to serve your needs in helping educate your child/ren.  I value my family and love spending time with them.  I have 4 grandchildren, 1 dog, and 5 chickens...oh yes...and my awesome hubby of 47 years!

Holiday help, ranging from Christmas gifts to assistance at Thanksgiving, is available across Kansas City. Most of the charities that operate these programs only provide services to a limited area, however there are options in all counties. More information is below on where to turn to for free toys or Christmas food baskets in Jackson, Cass, Clay, or Platte County.
The programs available tend to be either Adopt a Family or toy giveaways. Due to this, there is also a need for further donations and participation of the greater Kansas City, Missouri community. Everything from gift cards from retailers such as Wal-Mart to educational toys, DVDs, games, and more are always in demand. Families in need of help at the holidays needs to register in time. While the goal is to provide each child a gift, or family a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, due to the demand on the charities this is not always possible.

LUMA
Address: 3007 Mercier
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Phone number is (913) 948-9700
The non-profit runs a Holiday - Christmas store. This allows low to moderate income individuals and families to shop at a reduced price for any needed gifts.

City Union Mission
Address is 1700 E 8th St
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 329-1444
Small Christmas gifts are provided to qualified applicants. Women, including single moms, as well as children from low income families can get help.

Kansas City Catholic Charities
Address - 20 West 9th Street
Kansas City, MO
A Toy Shoppe is available for needy families. In many years, hundreds of children get a present for Christmas morning. This church - charity may help thousands of kids from low income families each Thanksgiving and Christmas. More on Catholic Charities programs in Kansas City.

Salvation Army
There are several in the region, including Platte and other counties. Seniors, the disabled,
homeless, and children may qualify for a free gift or parents can shop for low cost items at the thrift store.
-1301 E 10th St, Kansas City, MO 64106, dial (816) 421-0910
-500 W 39th St, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, call (816) 753-1628
-Another site is at 1535 East 23rd St S, Independence, Missouri 64050.
-Prospect Plaza, 6469 N Prospect Ave, Gladstone, Missouri 64119, dial (816) 595-5999

Grace United Church
811 Benton Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64124
For information, call (816) 231-5745
Della Lamb Community Services - Operation Santa Claus
500 Woodland Ave
Kansas City, MO 64106-9908
New toys, gift cards, winter coats, and food baskets are passed out at the Christmas season.

Operation Breakthrough
3039 Troost
Kansas City MO 64109
Intake number - 816-756-3511
They only offer assistance to qualified low income families in the Kansas City metropolitan area city center region.

Toys for Tots is run from several locations in Kansas City, including Clay, Jackson, and other counties. The program provides free, unwrapped Christmas gifts to children of low income families.

The Salvation Army and other charities or churches, such as below, participate. There
may be games, electronics, books, and other presents available.

 Mt Washington Missionary Baptist Church - 3551 Wabash Ave, Kansas City, Missouri,
64109. Phone - 816-509-6538. This site runs Toys for Tots for Jackson County.
 Community Services League is at 404 N. Noland Rd, Independence , Missouri, 64050,
dial 816-912-4493
 Great Circle accepts applications. The location is 18610 East 37th Terrace South,
Independence, Missouri, 64057. Phone - 816-739-4976.
 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council. Address - 3700 Woodland Ave., Kansas City, Missouri,
64109. Dial 816-921-6611.
 Greater KC LINC, INC - 436 Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, 64124, telephone
- 816-418-3612
 Bumps with Benefits focuses on new moms or single parents. 7920 Troost Ave, Kansas
City, Missouri, 64131, dial 816-873-1292.

IT IS HOLIDAY SEASON!  For many of us this year looks a little different: small gatherings in our homes, not visiting with family, virtual education and jobs.  Not only are adults processing these changes but so are our children.  Often, they do not know how to express their feelings or process their thoughts.  It is the parent’s responsibility to equip our children with the tools needed to be successful in handling their big emotions and concerns.  

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I thought now would be a good time for us to fill our personal tool boxes with tools that can assist us and our children as we navigate the many changes associated with this Holiday season.  I, too, am learning.  How do I communicate so much information with my children?  How do I manage stress?  What can my children do while home?

I found this article by The Incredible Years to be full of great tools.
Keeping Calm and Providing Supportive Parenting During the Coronavirus
Mantener la Calma y Ser Un Padre que Da Apoyo Durante el Coronavirus

Here are some activities they suggest.
Dina's Fabulous and Incredible Activities
Las Actividades Increíbles y Fabulosas de Dina

Your Parent as Teacher Educator has many wonderful tools to offer you. Tools for play, tools for education, tools for handling emotions, tools for communication and tools for connecting with your child, etc.  We are here to equip you, serve you, and support your family!  What tools can we offer you today?

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​I recently took a training where the presenter said, “Any product can harm someone if used in the wrong way, in the wrong amount, or by the wrong person.” The wrong person could be a child. Do you know the phone number for Poison Control (1-800-222-1222)? It would be a good idea to put the number into your cell phone in case you need it. 
Every 8 seconds someone needs a poison center. Could you be next? You can call day or night, 7 days a week, any day of the year. The center can help you in more than 150 languages or if you are hearing impaired. 
This year there has been an increase in calls made to Poison Control due to COVID. These calls involve disinfectants and hand sanitizers. Some hand sanitizers contain methanol (wood alcohol). Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and deadly if swallowed. The FDA recalled 75 Brands of hand sanitizers.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/toxic-hand-sanitizer-fda-warning-growing-list-brands/

Many food, candy and drink products look remarkably like some potentially harmful items. Use this brochure to educate your children (and yourself) about knowing the difference. 

https://missouripoisoncenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/LOOKOUT-for-POISON-Look-Alikes.pdf

Lead poisoning is also a concern. Lead can be in house and car keys, stained glass, some fidget spinners, some Mardi Gras beads, some forms of luster dust, imported candy and candy wrappers, imported toys and toy jewelry, some doll house furniture, imported cosmetics, and ceramics and pottery. If you have concerns, you can have your child tested for lead. Talk to your doctor’s office or your local health department.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuooyMIpn1M
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​My name is Marilyn Allen. I am a wife and mother of three sons. My husband, Herb, has two sons and a daughter. We share eleven wonderful grandchildren. Three of them have Autism and one has Cerebral Palsy. They range in age from one year to twenty-four years. My husband and I enjoy spending time with our family. Due to COVID, though, our get-togethers have been less. The holidays will be different this year, as some of our family members will not be attending our usual gatherings.
I have been a parent educator for over ten years. I have a degree in Business Education, elementary certification, and a graduate degree in Early Childhood. I also operated a home daycare for twenty years when my boys were growing up. I enjoy working with families and seeing their children grow from newborns to Kindergarteners. I tell parents what my mother used to tell me, “Enjoy every moment of their childhood because before long, they will be grown.” She was right. At the time, I was a single parent just trying to make it.  I would give anything to go back and spend one day with my boys when they were little. 

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Does anyone else feel like we went from t-shirts to snow boots overnight?  We have lived in the Midwest for ten years and I am still amazed by the inconsistency of the weather patterns here. I’m not going to lie, Midwestern winters are not my favorite.  Every October I brace myself for the inevitble: freezing temperatures, power outages, unpassable icy roads, children crammed indoors, and excessively muddy floors. 

The change of weather also means lots of family celebrations and togetherness as we jump from one holiday to another from now until the new year. Our sense of belonging, connection, structure, and identity are all rooted in our traditions.  For many of us, the holidays represent traditions that have lasted a lifetime: Gathering at Grandma’s house for meals, special services, and even decorations. Cities, teams, schools, and families all have some form of traditions they continue year after year. It gives us a real sense of belonging, and as individuals we crave to feel that connection. Traditions help children feel connected to their families and their past. They provide a kind of stability, especially when there is more chaos than usual. 

In an article I read, https://frfamilytherapy.com/do-traditions-matter-4-reasons-why-traditions-are-important-for-families/, the author gives four reasons why traditions are important to families. 

1.Traditions offer consistency to those who participate.
2.Traditions draw families together, helping them to bond and come closer to one another—sometimes even years later.
3.Traditions can be healing during tough times.
4.Traditions are fun.

As a family, we have some traditions that represent us.  At Thanksgiving we invite people from other cultures and let them bring a native dish.  On Christmas Eve, everyone gets an ornament that represents something they did or accomplished that year.  Our children draw names and exchange $10 gifts. We pick a movie night and watch Elf again.  Yes, we have memorized all the lines by now, but it’s the intentional togetherness and fulfillment of tradition that we love.  

Traditions are unique to each family, they are part of your family finger print.  Maybe you have grown up with strong traditions to pass down to your children, or maybe you are choosing to begin some of your own.  Both are great and both are valuable to your family identity.  It isn’t necessarily ‘what you do’ as your family tradition that matters, but ‘that you do’ something.

 Check out this article if you need some fresh ideas for creating family traditions.  
https://www.parents.com/holiday/christmas/traditions/classic-holiday-traditions-for-your-family/

And, we would love to hear from you...please share your family traditions with us!

                                                          DATES TO REMEMBER:
December 15 from 5:30-7:00pm WINTERFEST @ High Grove Early Childhood Center 
              
My name is Tricia Henson.  This is my first year with Parents as Teachers in the Grandview School District, but not my first experience with families and children.  My husband and I have moved 17 times, including New Zealand, the east coast and now the midwest. We have four children: Olivia, Ezekiel, Canaan and Micah.  We have also been home to 27 foster children.  My education is in Communications and Early Childhood.  My passion is seeing families and children find their success.  I have been active in Safe Families KC,  Zoe House Adoption Agency, Orphan Justice Center, Missouri Fostercare, Parents as Teachers, and Early Childcare.  I am excited to work among this amazing group of educators and serve families in the Grandview area.  

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January is usually the time of year we make fresh goals in life that will better us and our families.  Some commit to exercise or eating healthy.  Maybe reading a new book, saving money, or spending more time with family.  If you are looking back at your goals from this past January and realizing things just haven’t gone as planned, well, join the group! I wrote on my calendar January 1, “2020...the year of double blessing!”  Hummm...not exactly. (emphasize eye roll)  Earthly disasters, social unrest, Covid-19, loss of jobs, children home from school, sports/activities eliminated, isolation, fear, etc (I know you have a personal list running through your mind).  Recently, I remembered a book I read called One Thousand Gifts by Anne Voskamp. She challenged readers to FIND the GIFTS in life among the EVERYDAY things.  New goal...Redeem 2020 by counting my blessings daily. Some days are easy.  I breeze through two hands of blessings before lunch.  Other days, I have to find the single thing that made me smile that day.  The first signs of Autumn, children that napped, or the very fact that I remembered to get milk on my way home. By numbering these simple GIFTS in life I realized there are many things I am grateful for this year. Throughout the day I find myself looking for the positives, finding the good, and focusing on my ‘haves’ and not my ‘have nots’.  The circumstances surrounding me haven’t changed much, however, my perspective and attitude are climbing to new heights.  Now, I challenge each of you to redeem your 2020 by counting your blessings and finding the gifts in life among the everyday things!   As you continue to navigate life, and the constant changes and challenges it brings, your Parent Educators are here to support you.  We already see you as a success...you are here, and you are wanting to do the best for you and your family.  TOGETHER, we’ve got this!

TOGETHER we have already adapted to the way we visit through Parents As Teachers.  We are doing our best to keep you connected, informed, and safe.  One way we are meeting with families is via Zoom.  Zoom is a FREE app that can be downloaded to your phone or other electronic device.  Zoom allows face to face visits with your parent educator from the safety of your home.

We are excited to introduce you to our new High Grove Principal, Stephanie Bradley.  Her leadership and vision for our families, education, and community are exceptional!

Mrs. Bradley was born and raised in Cypress, Texas.  She joined the United States Army right out of high school and served nearly four years before starting her family.  She started her educational career in 2004 as a kindergarten teacher, spent 11 years in the classroom as a second-grade teacher and three years at the middle school level as an Instructional Coach. Her most recent position within the school district was Coordinator of Professional Development and Extended Programs.  This 2020-2021 school year begins her new journey as the Principal at High Grove Early Childhood Center.  She is very excited to work directly with families and their children in order to help High Grove students build a strong base for lifelong learning.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS (Please note: THESE ARE TENTATIVE AND MAY CHANGE)…
October 20 5:30-6:30 Trunk or Treat @ High Grove
December 15 5:30-7:00 Winterfest @ High Grove


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“When you know better, you do better”--
Maya Angelou        

Parenting can naturally be stressful and frustrating in the best of times, but when you add  a global pandemic, a presidential election year and an increase in racial tensions, it is understandable that parents can be under a lot of additional stress.​  

The following article published in the September 2020 issue of KC Parent by Christa Meinyk Hines will introduce you to Mindful Parenting and share 8 Things Mindful Parents do Differently. Mindful Parenting can prepare you for a better way of responding to your children that will help to preserve the special parent-child relationship that you already have.  If you participate with Parents As Teachers, you are already doing one of the things mentioned in the article.  You are learning about child development each time your parent educator visits with you and your family.  To discover the other 7 things mindful parents do, follow this link.