The Mount will be having their “Family Day at The Mount” on Sunday, June 10th.  Hours: 11am-3pm. Admission is free. Located in Lenox, check out their webpage HERE for more information.  Bring a picnic, explore the grounds, go on a house tour, and enjoy the family activities they have planned for a fun day!

Naumkeag House and Garden will have a Community Day on Monday, June 18. Hours: 10am-5pm. Admission is free to Berkshire County residents!  Located in Stockbridge, check out their webpage HERE for more information.  Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch and find the perfect spot to enjoy the view.

The Clark Museum will be having a “Chinese Street Festival Family Day” on Sunday, June 24th starting at 11am. Located in Williamstown, it is a bit of a drive if you reside in South County, but totally worth it!!! More information can be found on their website HERE.  There will be tons of fun activities as well as a Chinese dragon parade!

Jacob’s Pillow will have their “Community Dance Day” on Sunday, July 1st. Hours: 9:30-12:30. Admission is free.  Located in Becket, check out their webpage HERE for more information.  There will be workshops, tours, music, games, giveaways, and performances throughout the day.

Hope to see you at some of these wonderful, FREE, family events!!!  If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jessica Maloney via the comments below, phone 413-464-5095, or email: southberkshirekids@gmail.com.

Surfing the web? Here are a few online links:

Zero To Three (http://zerotothree.org/)  This is a wonderful website full of resources for families with young children.  Check out the “Little Kids, Big Questions” series of 12 podcasts that translates the research of early childhood development into parenting practices that families can tailor to the needs of their own child and family.  Topics include: Coping with Crying, Healthy Eating Habits, Developing Self Esteem, The Influence of Media, and The Role of Grandparents.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (http://www.naeyc.org/)   Click HERE to go directly to NAEYC’s Families Today webpage that shares special articles from Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and Dr. Joshua Sparrow.  Topics include: Nighttime Fears, Pet’s Death, Temper Tantrums, Sleep Schedules, Healthy Eating, and Emotional Intelligence.

Brain Building in Progress  (http://www.brainbuildinginprogress.org/)  “An explosion of research in neuroscience and other developmental sciences shows us that the basic architecture of a child’s brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues through adulthood.”  Check out this website for tips on how to develop your child’s brain!

One Tough Job (http://www.onetoughjob.org/) ”An online resource for real-live parents” Check out this amazing website with tons of information!!!! I especially like the “Mother’s Day” post (click here) most of the activities are in the Boston area, but I love the list of links with ideas and crafts. Do you know any Mother’s Day activities happening in Berkshire County? Please leave a comment and share!

Happy Spring Everyone!!!!

Berkshire County’s “Wee Read” Week of the Young Child Celebration is in full swing!! Events throughout Berkshire County have been planned around this year’s book pick, “Duck on a Bike” by David Shannon….please check out the MCLA’s Compact Website Here, for a complete calender of events.  In South County there will be three StoryWalk Events:

Town of Great Barrington, Wednesday, April 18th 10:30-11:30.  Starting Point: Subway sandwich shop.   Ending at the Mason Library for a live reading at 11:00am.

Town of Lenox, Thursday, April 19th 11:00-4:00pm. Starting Point: Lenox Library’s Roche Reading Park. Ending at the Lenox Library Children’s Room. Live Readings will be at 11:30am, 1:30pm & 3:00pm.

Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Wednesday, April 25 10:30-11:30am. Starting Point: North Lawn at the museum entrance. Ending in the Norman Rockwell’s Children’s Room for a live reading at 11:00am, followed by a craft and free admission into the museum.

In Addition, check your local library for special storytimes!!!  Copies of the book will be handed out to families while supplies last!!!

Head Start offers a comprehensive early childhood program for preschool children and their families centered around a curriculum which meets individual and group needs.  Head Start is funded primarily for low income children, however a percentage of over-income families may be accepted.

Head Start Registration/Screenings for Lee area preschool children is Thursday, March 15th, 2012 @ 9am-12:00 noon at the Lee Elementary School. Open Registration also during the Week of the Young Child, April 23-27, 2012. Applications will be accepted and tours of the classroom will be given between 9am-2pm. For additional information please contact the Lee Head Start office @ 413-243-2003.

Head Start Registration/Screenings for Berkshire Hills Regional School District will be Friday, March 16th, 2012 @ 9:30am-1:00pm at Muddy Brook Elementary School.  Open Registration also during the Week of the Young Child, April 23-27, 2012. Registration and classroom tours will be held throughout the days from 8:30am-2:30pm. For additional information please contact the Head Start office @ 413-644-0005.

The Lee Elementary School District will be accepting registrations and scheduling screenings for incoming Kindergarten students for the 2012-2013 school year.  To attend Kindergarten Fall2012, a child must be 4 years,11 months on or before September 1st. No child born after October 1, 2007 will be accepted for Kindergarten.

Parent Workshop:  Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 6:30pm at Lee Elementary School. Parents of enrolling kindergarten students should attend this workshop. Registration packets will be handed out.

Kindergarten Registration: Wednesday, April 4th, 2012. 9am-11:30am, 1pm-2:30pm, 6:30-8pm.  Please contact the school prior to April 4th to obtain a Registration Packet.

Kindergarten Screening: Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27th.  Appointments are necessary and will be given at Kindergarten Registration.

Kindergarten Orientation: May 9th, May 16th, and May 23rd.

Please call Ms. McCollum, secretary to the principal, @ 243-0336 if you have any questions or need further information.

**If interested in the Lee Elementary School Preschool for 3 & 4 years olds please contact Mrs. Vaughan, secretary to the Special Education Director @ 243-9715.

The Farmington River Regional School District will be accepting registrations and scheduling screenings for 3 and 4 year old children for their public preschool program for 2012-2013 school year. Children who are residents of Otis or Sandisfield and who will be three years old before September 1, 2012 may be eligible for this program. Residents of neighboring communities are also invited to apply.

Preschool Open House: Thursday, March 29th from 3:00-5:00pm.

Preschool Registration/Screening: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 from 9:00am to 12:00 noon.

If you have any questions please contact coordinator Jill Lenney at 413-269-4466 or email jlenney@frrsd.org.

South Berkshire Kids is happy to announce that there will be 2 new library Story Times offered in South County!!

**The Sheffield Bushnell-Sage Library will be having Saturday morning Story Times @ 10:30am.

**The Lee Library will be having a Thursday afternoon Story Time @ 3:30pm starting on March 15th.

Both Story Times will run till the end of June. No registration is required. Happy Reading!!!

** Wednesday, February 22nd @ 10:30 there will be a Curious George Story Time at the Lee Library. Join us for stories, snack, crafts, and a Curious George Video….every child who participates will receive a free Curious George Book!!

**Thursday, February 23rd @10:30 there will be a Curious George Story Time at the Mason Library in Great Barrington. Join us for stories, snack and crafts!! Every child who participates will recieve a free book!

**check out www.cabinfeverfest.com for fun events planned in Lee during the winter break…movies, music and more!!!

Looking for a place to go during these cold winter months? Is your toddler climbing the walls and you need to get out of the house? Check out a Playgroup!! There are many different kinds of playgroups offered in South County…check them all out!!! They are Free…They are Fun!!

To get a full list of playgroups…click on the playgroup tab or the calender tab….here are a few to get you started:

*Lee Youth Association, 17 Academy Street, Lee.  Mondays @ 10:00am. Mondays are fun when you can meet up with friends, listen to a story, and have a snack….a great time for moms to chat too!

*CHP offers playgroups throughout South County, from Lenox to Otis to West Stockbridge! Make sure to check out the Family Network Program page on the CHP website www.communityhealthprograms.org.  A family favorite during the winter months is Skip & Dip at Berkshire South RCC on Fridays @10:00am. Time in the gym and time in the splash pool makes for a great morning!!

South Berkshire Kids would like to invite you to a family event at the Norman Rockwell Museum to explore the Curious George exhibit. During this event we will get a museum tour, story and craft. This is a free event sponsored by South Berkshire Kids which is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Grant provided by the Department of Early Education and Care. Please contact Jessica Maloney @  413-464-5095 to obtain tickets prior to the event, tickets are limited so please call asap. 

Saturday, January 14th, 2012 @10:00am

Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA

Museum Tour, Storytime, Crafts, and a free book to take home!