Family Newsletter

Some of the best ways to help children learn to behave appropriately are to have clear rules and expectations and offer lots of praise whenever children are meeting your expectations. It is very hard for children to behave well if they don't understand what your rules and expectations are! At Early Childhood CARES, we have come up with 3 program-wide expectations for that we use throughout our classrooms: We are Safe, We are Kind, We do our Best.

Families can help children understand what's expected at home by having clear household expectations. We have visuals available of the We are Safe, We Are Kind, We do our Best expectations if you would like some to display in your home. You can view more information and download the expectations in English, Spanish, or Chinese on our website here.

As children get older, we can teach more specific rules that align with the expectations. For example, "We use walking feet indoors," could be a rule that aligns with the expectation of We are Safe.

Giving clear and frequent positive descriptive feedback (or praise), is the best way to help children understand that they are meeting your expectations. For example, depending on your child's receptive language, you might say, "Thank you for playing gently with your brother. You are doing a good job of being safe and kind." Research shows that children need a ratio of at least 5:1 for positive vs corrective feedback in order to make progress with positive behavior. We can think of giving them praise as putting a deposit into their emotional piggy banks! You can never spoil a child with too much praise. However, it is helpful to be specific about praise so that they connect it with their positive behavior.

It is almost time for Summer Food at Food for Lane County! The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a USDA Federal program that sets standards and provides reimbursement for healthy meals and snacks served to eligible children. The SFSP plays an integral role in giving eligible children and teens access to meals when school is not in session. June 22nd – August 21st, Monday – Friday, 11:30am – 12:30pm. Flyer attached with link for list of sites and daily menu.

All families currently receiving services are welcome to attend our free play dates at Adventure! Children's Museum. The museum will only be open to our families during this time, so it will be a quieter experience. Adventure! Children's Museum is located at the top of the escalators in Valley River Center.

As Oregon’s Parent Training and Information Center for Special Education, FACT Oregon offers extensive support and resources to families. One of their latest resource is an inclusive education toolkit for families of young children with disabilities. You can view it on their website here: FACT Oregon Toolkit.

June 13, Summer Bonanza, 11 am - 3 pm at Booth-Kelly, 303 S. 5th St., Ste.150, in Springfield. This is an opportunity for families to learn about summer resources and connect with local organizations. Come enjoy a live DJ, flash vinyl and laser cutting lessons, yard game tournament, door prizes, and more! No registration is required.

June 17, Parent Coffee, 10 am at Southpine Bakery and Cafe. Come sit for a spell, connect with other parents who understand the journey, and enjoy a welcoming, supportive space.

June 20, Family Fun Day, 1 pm - 3 pm, Arc Park, 4181 E Street, Springfield. Families are invited to enjoy an afternoon of outdoor games, kite making, ice cream, and community fun together. Please RSVP in advance for the Family Fun Day so we know how much ice cream and supplies to purchase

To keep up to date with Arc Families Connected, view their newsletter here. Arc Families Connected is a family network supporting families of children with disabilities in Lane County.

Our Community Birth Center offers a Baby Clinic with free drop in support for postpartum and baby feeding every Monday from 12-1:30 pm. Have your baby weighed and track their growth. Have your lactation & feeding questions answered. Make connections with other parents. Baby Clinic is open to anyone in the community regardless of where they give birth. It provides a unique and special opportunity for peer-to-peer support. We have seen parents and babies develop long lasting friendships through Baby Clinic. There is no age limit for babies who attend Baby Clinic! Free to attend! No registration required. They are located at 188 West B Street, Building O in Springfield.

Safe Lane Transportation Coalition provides offers free child passenger safety checks to families in Lane County. Caregivers can schedule an appointment for a one-on-one safety check. See this page to submit a request for an appointment.

Sleep In Heavenly Peace provides free beds to kids in need! They provide the frame, mattress, sheets, pillow and comforter (twin size only). Contact Connie Jonas 541-729-0420 for more information! (Note: Based on the website, it appears that some zip codes may not be eligible.)

Need help finding emergency shelter? Lane County has a Shelter Finder website to assist individuals and families looking for shelter. Click here to visit the site.

Parenting Now has a comprehensive community resource guide available for families with information on basic needs, counseling, family education & support, and more. You can download a PDF of their 2025-26 resource guide below.

Email: eccares@uoregon.edu
Website: https://earlychildhoodcares.uoregon.edu
Location: 1500 West 12th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97402 USA
Phone: (541) 346-2578
Facebook: facebook.com/earlychildhoodcares