August Updates

We have lots of exciting programming slated for the coming months designed to support you & your family.

• 8/18 CPR - infant, child & adult CPR plus choke saving. Join us Sunday morning to learn these life saving skills. 9:30 am.

• 8/19 Ask the Lactation Consultant. Katie Howser will be our guest expert for Monday's New Parent Group (0-12mo) at Noon. Connect with other new parents and get a little support as you make your way through the first year with your little one.

• 8/22 Baby Sign Language Playgroup 12:30pm. Learn to communicate with your child before they can verbalize.

• 8/29 Meet the Doula 6:30pm. If you’re expecting, join us for an evening to learn more about the role of a doula, and meet some local doulas.

SEPT:

• Closed 9/2 for Labor Day

• 9/10 Introducing a New Sibling. If you're expecting, please join us to learn how to make the transition from 1 to 2 a smooth one.

• 9/11 Cooking without Waste 101. In this fun, hands-on class, you'll learn how to make apple cider vinegar, salad dressing and a delicious salad as you also gain tips for reducing food waste (& saving money!) as you feed your family.

• 9/14 10am. Infant Sleep Workshop with Dr. Angelique Millette at 10am. Angelique is a top notch expert in the field of sleep and child development, and an absolute wealth of information.

• 9/15. Childbirth Preparation. If you're expecting, we hope you'll join the incredible Kelly Gray to gain information and confidence as you welcome your little one to the world.

• 9/20. Estate Planning 101, at 11:30am. Learn what you should have in place, especially now that you're a parent.

• 9/29. Yoga for Posture and Alignment for Dads. We hear a lot about self care for moms. Here's a workshop especially for the papas out there. Taking good care of your body will enable you to keep up with the little ones as they only get faster!

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything I can do to make Recess a supportive oasis for your family. Hope to see you soon, Lisa

Everyone needs play - Inclusive Playgroups for children with Autism

Facilitating Play and building meaningful friendships for children with disabilities and their peers.

Wednesdays at 10am (when Recess is closed to the public).

Led by an Autism Specialist, our unique playgroups provide an exciting opportunity for children of all abilities to come together to learn, play, and grow. The groups will be led by experienced play facilitators, who will plan creative and engaging activities.

The play will give the children a chance to interact with each other, practice social skills and communication, pretend, and explore a variety of different toys and materials. The Recess Collective play space features toys and equipment for gross motor play, manipulation and sensory play, cooperative games, and pretend play. The space will be sensory friendly and the routines will be predictable and safe for children of all ability levels.

FAQs 

Who can join? 
Children between the ages of 0-4. We will group children together based on their age as much as possible.

What if my child has behavior problems? 
The play facilitators are trained behaviorists and special educators, who have experience helping children with challenging behaviors. They will work with the family to develop a plan to prevent and respond appropriately to challenging behaviors as they come up.

What if my child is nonverbal? 
We would love to have children who communicate differently join our group. We look forward to teaching their peers about sign language, gestures, and AAC devices. If your child is nonverbal because they are just not developmentally ready to speak, that is also great! We will be learning about social cues and communication for infants and toddlers.

Who will facilitate? 
The lead facilitator will be Janelle Dowling, MA. She is the owner of Our Autism Specialist, LLC. She provides support for inclusive practices in preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools all over the Bay Area. She also organizes and leads several play groups for children ranging in age from 0-18. She has a masters and credential as an Education Specialist with a focus in Extensive Support Needs. She also has an endorsement from the California DeafBlind program, where she learned about working with children with multiple sensory challenges.

Although Janelle’s business focuses primarily on providing consultation and direct support to families with children and teens with autism, she has taught and supported children who experience a variety of disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Angelman’s Syndrome, ADHD, and children who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Please do not hesitate to contact us and see if the group and the staff’s experience feel like a good fit for your child. Janelle will also be partnering with volunteers to support the groups and will be recruiting to find adults who are the best match for our participants.

When do the groups meet? 
Every Wednesday except the last one of each month. There will be two groups. The first will meet from 10-10:45am and from 11:15-12pm.

What will happen there? 
The agenda might vary slightly each week and depending on the group’s needs, but we will include greetings, music, snack, an organized group activity, and some free play before clean up.

How much will it cost? 
The cost is $18 per session and we prefer that families pay for 3 sessions at a time in a $45 package.

Please spread the word!

• INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUPS FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM - (7/10) https://www.care.com/connect/recesscollective/activities/929523-inclusive-playgroups-autism

Introducing a Partner: Book Tree

We’ve been working with Chad and Kathy, founders of Book Tree, for nearly 10 years. They created an incredible organization that brings unique, diverse, age-appropriate books to your family in monthly bags. As a gift to our community, they’re offering a free month trial to your family. Read on to check it out!

Try BookTree’s Curated Lending Program at Recess

BookTree’s lending program is optimized to stimulate brain development and establish the foundation for reading, writing, and school success.

Try out a complimentary personalized tote of ten extraordinary, age-appropriate illustrated books, carefully curated for your child, delivered right to Recess!

Each monthly tote brims with outstanding artwork, rich vocabulary, a wealth of concepts, cultural diversity, and lifelong benefits. Supported enthusiastically by bay area school directors and educators, BookTree delivers the highest quality literature available for your child, infant to about 3rd grade for English, and one year old to about 5th grade for Spanish.

To receive your child’s complimentary tote of ten books with no contract or obligation to continue after the free month, visit www.booktree.us and click on “Start Your Free Trial Now”!

Music for All Ages

Do you love music as much as we do? It’s an incredible learning tool for young children, it snaps us grown ups out of a bad mood, and it brings people together.

Join us this summer for music designed to delight and engage all members of our community. And please spread the word, because music is more fun with friends!

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Summer Music Activities at Recess

a perk of membership!

Mondays

Little Ladybugs Early Childhood Music Class with Toby. Last Monday of the month @ 9:40am (June 24, July 29, August 26):

Toby’s small group classes for mixed ages (newborns - 5 years) include lots of fun singing, movement, instruments, and are a great chance for the Little Ladybugs (your young musicians!) to connect with you, their parents and/or caregivers, and also with the other musicians in the class. We develop our sense of rhythm, pitch, melody, and have a lot of fun in the process. Classes are developmentally appropriate for the Little Ladybugs in each class!

Tuesdays

Stories & Song with Regina at 11am

In a classic “circle time” format, Regina reads a few stories and leads the group in interactive songs. This playspace activity is great for all ages and takes place in the playspace for families to join in.

Thursdays

Music Time with Carissa at Noon,
(most Thursdays this Summer, not 7/4, 7/18, 7/25)

Introduction to songs, props, musical instruments and fun! 

One Saturday a Month, Live Cello Music

Classical Cello with Hannah, 10am

Canadian cellist Hannah Addario-Berry has been delighting music lovers around the world for over a decade. Specializing in chamber music and solo repertoire, Hannah is passionately committed to performing music by living composers. Along with her exquisite cello playing, Hannah's warmth and unique presentation style enable listeners to forge a deeper connection with music. She lives in San Francisco, CA.

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Other Great Opportunities for Music Around Town:

Charity Kahn’s JAMboodas

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Music for Aardvarks

Rock Band Land

Golden Gate Park Band