Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

Children are naturally drawn to various forms of Power Play, such as Rough and Tumble and Superhero play. While these activities come instinctively to children, they often raise concerns for parents. How can we ensure safety without stifling their exploration? In this workshop, we will first reflect on our own experiences and biases regarding this type of play. Then, we’ll explore the learning opportunities children engage in through these games. Finally, we will discuss strategies to support our children in staying safe, having fun, and learning to play collaboratively.

Register Here

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

BONUS BOOK GIVEAWAY! FAN is giving away copies of The Way of Play to randomly selected Zoom attendees. Details on the webinar registration page. Register Here

Most parents understand that free, unstructured playtime is great for children’s development. What they may not know is that playful interaction with parents is also a powerful way for kids to cultivate healthy emotional development and resilience. Kids often want their parents to play with them, but many parents don’t know how to play or see it only as an (often boring) way to kill time.

Playing with your kids doesn’t have to mean enrolling in countless parent-and-me classes or getting on all fours and making toy car sounds; the little daily moments together can make the most impact. In The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids, world-renowned pediatric therapists and play experts Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. and Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT offer simple, playful techniques that harness this caregiving magic in only a few minutes each day.

Full of science-backed research, real-life stories, and charming line illustrations to bring this novel advice to life, The Way of Play will help you nurture your kids and encourage them to become calm listeners, cooperative problem solvers, and respectful communicators. Just as important, it will help your whole family have more fun together and build stronger relationships.

Bryson is the founder and CEO of The Center for Connection, a multidisciplinary clinical practice in Southern California. She is the co-author (with Dan Siegel, MD, FAN ‘13) of four books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline. Wisen-Vincent is a nationally recognized play therapy expert and co-founder (with Bryson) and head of faculty for The Play Strong Institute, a continuing education and training organization for professionals and parents.

Bryson and Wisen-Vincent will be in conversation with Carly Andrews, executive director of The Alliance for Early Childhood, a nonprofit organization devoted to nurturing the healthy development of young children by equipping early childhood educators, parents, and families with resources, education, and support.

This event suitable for youth 12+. It will be recorded and available on FAN’s website and YouTube channel.

As a parent, noticing that your child may have higher-level needs or needs that seem outside the scope of the current school context can be both challenging and overwhelming. This workshop is designed to guide parents through the initial stages of recognizing and addressing these unique needs. Participants will learn to identify key signs that their child may require additional support and discover how to effectively partner with their child's school to ensure the best possible outcomes. The workshop will also cover valuable resources and strategies for advocating for your child's needs within the educational system. Join us to empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to support your child's journey.

Register Here

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

Mindful Beginnings is an outdoor meet-up for new and expecting parents that will launch Fall 2024. We'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am at different trails to walk together and connect with nature. Bring your baby (carriers encouraged) and join us for a walk led by Kassie Leachman, a certified doula and childbirth educator. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and share your experiences. Our first meet-up will be on Wednesday, October 16, 10 - 11:30am at Erickson Woods. Sign up for meet-up emails here.

From pushing over a baby brother to pulling a friend out of their favorite chair, children often act without thinking (and before you can get there to stop them!) You’ve told them no and tried appealing to their empathy, but nothing helps. You’re up at night, worrying that your kid has a mean streak or that someone will really get hurt next time.

Where does this behavior come from and how do you teach them it’s not okay? Rather than seeing it as a character defect or your child being “mean on purpose,” remember: young children act on big feelings with little impulse control. Feelings like jealousy, anxiety, and disconnectedness can overwhelm a young child. They need an adult to help organize their feelings and “see” them in their overwhelm, while being in charge in a kind way. We can provide boundaries while maintaining empathy for their developing brains and bodies. 

Come learn how to respond from a place of confidence rather than fear or embarrassment, and to let your children’s behavior guide you in meeting their needs. Register Here

Presenter: Molly Pope, EdS, I/ECMH-C, is an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant specializing in supporting children, families, and classrooms. She has worked with young children and families as a school psychologist for 17 years. She strongly believes that for children to learn and thrive, they first need to feel safe, seen, and secure. Knowing that nobody’s perfect and it’s never too late to start, she works with adults to help children successfully manage emotions and build their self esteem. Molly lives in Evanston with her husband, 2 sons, 3 cats and 1 lizard. Find her at mollypopeparentcoach.com.

Join The Alliance for Early Childhood’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Molly Pope, EdS/I/ECMH-C,  in conversation with Dr. Mike Rucker about his book, The Fun Habit. Grounded in current research, accessible science, and practical recommendations, The Fun Habit explores how you can build having fun into an actionable and effortless habit and why doing so will help you become a healthier, more joyful, more productive person. Join this lively conversation, as we explore the importance of habits of fun in the lives of parents and families. Register Here

Presenter: Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit, which is out now.

Facilitator: Molly Pope, EdS, I/ECMH-C, is an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant specializing in supporting children, families, and classrooms. She has worked with young children and families as a school psychologist for 17 years. She strongly believes that for children to learn and thrive, they first need to feel safe, seen, and secure. Knowing that nobody’s perfect and it’s never too late to start, she works with adults to help children successfully manage emotions and build their self esteem. Molly lives in Evanston with her husband, 2 sons, 3 cats and 1 lizard. Find her at mollypopeparentcoach.com.

Hosted by The Volunteer Center and the Community House in Winnetka, families and friends of all ages and abilities from N.E. Metro Chicago are invited to join fellow volunteers to complete service projects that will be of use to seniors, veterans, the homeless, hospitalized youth, orphaned animals and more, to be held at The Community House in Winnetka, 620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka.

Honor the legacy of Dr. King by joining together in unity of service. Time TBD. Check the VC website, VolunteerCenterHelps.org, in November for timing. Email info@volunteercenterhelps.org No fees or reservations to attend.

From preschoolers we share on our own social media, to kids starting their own YouTube Channel, Kids are growing up in a hyper-connected world. How can we help our kids navigate coming of age in a world where nearly every moment of their lives can be shared and compared? How can we help them navigate all the firsts? First Roblox playdate? First social account? First Phone? We can track our kids’ every move with apps, see their grades within minutes of them being posted, and fixate on their digital footprint, anxious that a misstep could cause them to be ostracized or even jeopardize their admission to college. How can they figure out who they really are with zero privacy and constant judgment? Devorah shows us that mentoring and not just monitoring kids will help us understand and support our kids, building our relationships with them AND helping them be successful in digital spaces. Register Here

Presenter: Dr. Heitner is the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in their Digital World, a guide to mentoring digital kids. Growing Up In Public draws on Heitner’s extensive work with parents and schools as well as hundreds of interviews with kids, parents, educators, clinicians, and scholars. With relatable stories and research-backed advice, Growing Up in Public empowers parents to cut through the overwhelm to connect with their kids, recognize how to support them, and help them figure out who they are when everyone is watching. Dr Heitner’s insights have appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, Fast Company, CNN Opinion and Real Simple, etc. Dr. Heitner has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology and Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul University and Northwestern University. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager, too.

Your local retailers offered specials, with discounts, gift wrapping, and festive fun.

Shoppers strolled through downtown Winnetka, Hubbard Woods, Northfield and Glencoe, shopping for gifts for him, her and the home, toys, books, clothing and more, all in their own zip code. 

Books can be gateways to meaningful conversation and opportunities to build empathy and expand vocabulary around challenging topics. In this interactive workshop, children’s librarians will demonstrate how picture books can be paired with prompts and activities to begin a practice of open and direct conversation about why race matters in our society. By developing a strong sense of self and group identity, and building on young children's natural sense of fairness, we can help children develop accurate and open-minded beliefs and critical thinking skills. Register Here

Presenter: Sarah Jo Zaharako, MLIS,  is a youth services librarian at Wilmette Public Library. She came to public librarianship after working as a professional violinist, a music teacher, a school librarian, and a bookseller. As a librarian, she works to create meaningful programming and partnerships that promote equity and social justice. She runs an initiative at Wilmette Public Library called Let's Learn Together, which provides a framework for families to engage in challenging topics. Sarah Jo is currently co-chair of the Public Awareness and Advocacy committee for the Association of Library Services for Children. She lives in Evanston with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and a cat.

Chicago’s North Shore residents are once again invited to “upcycle” their new or gently used goods at the Volunteer Center's 21st Make A Difference Day. Nonprofits will gratefully receive your donations at the Indian Hill Metra Train Station Parking Lot in Winnetka (111 Green Bay Road, Winnetka). This annual Volunteer Center (VC) donation drop-off collects nearly 30,000 items each year! 

See the detailed list on the VC website of the 16 nonprofits and the goods they have requested and start sorting, tagging and bagging them for drop off!