BT3 logo.JPG
Birth To Three Newsletter
For Parents, Alumni and FriendsSpring 2011
It's Your Week!
Parenting Education Awareness Week is a good occasion to offer you free parenting guides and tips. Children's stores have helped Birth To Three and United Way's Success By 6 distribute the material:
Bambini, Baby's World, Elephant's Trunk (both locations), Fletcher's, Kidstuff, My Little Children (both locations) and Rose Bud.
Read Gov. Kitzhaber's proclamation
of your special week!

Trip to India 

Touches Many Lives

India group
Minalee Saks, Birth To Three's executive director, taught social workers from six countries in an intensive four-day training on using one of our curricula. Could it work across cultural and language barriers? Read Minalee's story and see photos from the training.

App Spreads
Words to Love By

When parents want encouragement, our Words to Love By app is a quick way to find support, comfort and strength. The app makes a great gift, too. Buy it now!

Photo Contest 2010

Photos Celebrate Area Children

The Bowser family, pictured above with the photo of their children, won the Birth To Three Award in last year's Lane County Children's Photo Contest. Many wonderful photos from this year's contest are on display at Valley River Center. Plan to enjoy them and vote for your favorites. Then join us at VRC for the celebration on Saturday, May 7, at 11 a.m.

Birth To Three Now Offers PayPal

We are very grateful for

 your financial support over the years. If you're ready to donate online, our PayPal or Network for Good options are secure and easy. Either way, we'll have even more reason to thank you!

 

Greetings! 
  We're celebrating! This is Parenting Education Awareness Week in Oregon! We honor all of you parents, grandparents, child care providers and communities who raise the next generation. Thanks for all you do.

Dad, child blowing bubbles verticalIdeas for Spring, Summer Parent-Child Activities
Here come more outdoor days, more time with our children and grandchilden. Our Facebook friends offer these suggestions for things to do with children:
  • Work with them to make ice in lots of plastic containers of different sizes and shapes. On a warm day, they'll have fun making ice castles and watching them melt. Even better with a slow-flow hose. (Corlies Rudd Delf)
  • Hikes and bikes! (Juli Joybringer)
  • Take a walk through the [Springfield] Dorris Ranch filbert orchards. Bring a camera and get a photo of the kiddos on the old tractor there. (Leslie Harstad-Bell)

The following article has more outdoor activities. We've got ideas for rainy days, too, just in case one or two come along. 

  
New Ideas for Fun in the Great Outdoors
 
Park, parentsSure, you can go to a park or a playground. But what will be new and interesting when you get there? Try these suggestions, which include rainbow collecting and an ant hike.

We're Behind You: Support for Parents

Includes Tips, Advice, Resources

 

Raising children can feel lonely, but lots of organizations are cheering you on. Sometimes, checking out online information is all you need to find reassurance, strength and ideas. Some of our favorites include:
   ZERO TO THREE's page for parents (developmental stages, e-newsletter, webinars)

   Oregon State University's Cooperative Extension Service (articles, Q&As, webinars) - for parents or relatives raising children! Parent HelpLine Logo small

   Birth To Three's columns (written by professionals and focused on raising children)

   In Lane County, Birth To Three's Parent HelpLine provides confidential, free information and referrals. Parent HelpLine is a partnership with United Way of Lane County.

Classified Ads for Our Readers
Read our ads for info on raising bilingual children, a nutrition consulting service, counseling for families with teens, and how to find and use greener children's products.
Connect with Birth To Three
Become our Find us on Facebook fan and stay informed about Birth To Three and parenting. You may also visit us at our website. Contact Birth To Three by calling (541) 484-5316, e-mailing us at [email protected] or using our e-mail form.

 

Would you like to advertise in this newsletter? Alumni may do so at no charge; others pay $30 for placement in all issues of this newsletter published in the next six months. All ads are subject to review before publication. Interested? Contact us!

Join Our Mailing List