The Center for Alexandria's Children Kicks Off Second Year Of Innovative Learn and PlayGroup(TM) Early Childhood Enrichment Program

ALEXANDRIA, VA, September 3, 2014—This week, the Center for Alexandria’s Children is launching the second year of its Learn and Playgroups™, a unique program for children ages 0-5 that blends best practices in social, emotional and language development with good parenting skills.

This week’s registration drive provides Alexandria residents with the opportunity to enroll children in one of the Center’s 14 Learn and PlayGroups during the 2014-15 school year. Most are being held in neighborhoods on Alexandria’s West End, where more than 50 percent of children under the age of five reside.

Since opening in 2007, the Center’s developmental playgroups have benefitted more than 500 families by providing meaningful child development and family support activities. Last year, it rolled out a new Learn and PlayGroup™ curriculum, formulated by early childhood learning experts, to fill a gap in educational and social needs within this age group in the community. This year, due to an overwhelming response, the promising program continues with additional locations to reach even more Alexandrians.

“Research shows that quality early childhood experiences have long term benefits,” said Ellen Folts, board member of the Center for Alexandria’s Children and executive director of the Bruhn-Morris Family Foundation. “Our community has great preschool programs and early childhood education, but there is little for in need families between the ages of 0 and 5,” she said. “Our PlayGroups support families’ efforts to provide their children with happy, healthy childhoods, and promote school readiness. We also provide children with a fun and enriching experience that gives parents an opportunity to meet other adults in their neighborhood with young children.”

The Center’s PlayGroups help children and caregivers learn and play together in a friendly, structured, and specialized environment. The curriculum helps children acquire the early childhood skills necessary to ensure school readiness, a known precursor to success in school and life. Each lesson plan helps nurture children’s curiosity about the surrounding community and expand their imagination. Parents and caregivers deepen their knowledge about child development and effective parenting, receiving guidance about how to manage stressful situations, problem solve, and seek the support of family, friends, or outside resources when necessary.

Each Learn and PlayGroup focuses on a specific topic. For example, one session is geared to help families understand the vital role of “community helpers,” or public service professionals such as firefighters, police officers, and mail carriers. Activities help families learn how to respond in an emergency and where to seek help.

To date, the program has served more than 530 children and nearly 400 adults. Through public and private support, including the Virginia Department of Social Services Child Abuse Prevention Program and the Giving Circle of Alexandria, the Learn and PlayGroup initiative will operate at least 14 groups in seven locations during the 2014-15 school year. In-kind space is provided by the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, Community Lodgings, Alexandria Library, and the Pavilion at Mark Center.

“We attended the Center’s PlayGroup last year and learned a lot from it. We met other people, and due to that we have a lot of friends now.” said “Vida” who attended registration with her two and one-half and three year-old children. “Now when I walk around my neighborhood, people from PlayGroup recognize my child and call him by name.”

This week’s special registration events are being held at the following Alexandria locations and times:

Tuesday, September 2nd:

· Center for Alexandria’s Children, 1900 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 200,

9:30 am – 12:00 pm

· The Pavilion, 5708 Merton Court, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Wednesday, September 3rd:

· Center for Alexandria’s Children, 9:30 – 11:00 am

· Beatley Library, 5005 Duke Street, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Thursday, September 4th:

· Community Lodgings’ Brent Place Learning Center, 375 S. Reynolds Street, #201,

9:30– 11:00 am

· Community Lodgings Fifer Learning Center Annex at Brookside, 601 4 Mile Run Trail, 11:00 am– 12:30 pm

· Center for Alexandria’s Children, 9:30 am – 12 pm

Friday, September 5th:

· Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 3600 Commonwealth Ave., 9:30 – 11:30 am

· William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Registration for Session 1(Fall 2014) of Learn & PlayGroups will continue throughout the month of September. Learn & PlayGroup Program days and locations for Session 1(Fall 2014): September 8th – December 19th can be found on our website: http://centerforalexandriaschildren.org/blog/about/playgroups/

The Center for Alexandria’s Children is the city’s primary resource for the prevention, investigation, and treatment of child abuse through child development and family support.

###