LEWISTOWN - Sixteen local families with children under 10 months of age gathered recently at the Lewistown Children's Center for dinner and activities.
Before the Nov. 14 event, each family contributed to the Healthy Families America Family Tradition Booklet. A few of the traditions submitted by parents included taking family portraits once per year, taking first day of school photos, listening to Greek music, reading before bed, wearing new pajamas on Christmas Eve and making a sandwich platter to take on a drive to view neighborhood lights.
As a part of the event, each family had the opportunity to make a handprint or footprint keepsake. Dana Grove Photography was also available to take family photos.
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Stefanie Symonds watches as her son, Brennyn Rhodes, tracks a homemade duct tape block Nov. 14 at Lewistown Children’s Center.
Homemade age-appropriate toys were available for parents and children to play with and explore. Toys included blocks made with boxes and duct tape, peekaboo blocks made with empty baby food containers and small toys and wave bottles made with water, oil, food coloring and glitter. During this time, parents discussed ways they could use the toys in their home to extend their child's learning.
Healthy Families America is a voluntary program for first-time parents and provides support, education about child development and connections to community resources. HFA is managed by Snyder Union Mifflin Child Development Inc. SUMCD is a non-profit organization providing early care and education services to nearly 3,000 children in Snyder, Union, Mifflin and Northumberland counties. For more information, visit www.sumcd.org or call 242-3023.
