Child & Family Connections #15 November 2019 Newsletter Will/Grundy/Kankakee/LaSalle Counties

Happy Thanksgiving to all families!

We hope you are able to enjoy time with family and friends this holiday season. Thanksgiving is a good time to stop and think of all that you are thankful for. Much research has been done recently on how Giving thanks can make you happier! Here are links to an article on Raising a Thankful Child, and ideas from PBS Parents on things to do with your child this Thanksgiving.

November 17th is National Take a Hike Day! Check out the many beautiful State Parks and hiking trails in IL. Here is a link to two free guided hikes in Ottawa, IL. Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County also has ongoing guided hikes and events.

We have also included information on the 2020 census which will begin next Spring. As always see below for information on fun family events and resources all month long in all four counties that we serve.

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Upcoming Fun Family Events | Nov/Dec 2019

Will/Grundy Kankakee LaSalle County County events County Events Events

Veterans Day parade, Turkey Trot at Perry Farm, Veterans Day open house Morris, Nov 10th at 10:30 Nov 9th 7:30am at Mendota Historical Museum, Nov 10th 1-3pm Festival of Lights Tree Bradley Lighted Christmas Lighting at Bolingbrook Parade, Dec 6th 6:30pm National Take a Hike Day, Promenade, Nov 16th Nov 17th, two free guided Craft Show at Kankakee hikes available at Dayton Christmas Crossroads craft County Fair Grounds, Dec Bluffs and Buffalo Rock in fair at Lockport East High 7th 9am-3pm Ottawa School, Nov 23rd, 8:30- 4pm Miracle on Washington Festival of Lights Parade at Street in Momence, Dec Washington Park in Ottawa, Light up the Holidays 7th Nov 29th 6pm Parade and Festival in downtown Joliet, Nov 29th JCPenney Kids Zone the Keeping Christmas Close to 10am-7pm 2nd Saturday of every Home Parade and events, month 11-noon in Streator. Nov 30th Home for the Holidays Bourbonnais. Crafts for kids Parade Morris, Nov 29th & 10% off coupon for Christmas Parade parents. Downtown Peru, Dec 7th, Holiday Spectacular at Phillip 1:30pm Lynch Theatre, Lewis Parents and Caregivers Univeristy, Dec 5th & 6th Together (PACT) Support Marseilles Holiday Magic Group for families of Parade, Dec 7th, 5:30pm 15th Annual Holiday children with special needs Spectacular at Philip Lynch in Kankakee, free childcare Christmas in Oglesby, Dec Theatre, Lewis Univeristy during meeting. Call 815- 7th Dec 5th & 6th 933-7336 to register. Holiday Events at Reddick Holiday Movies at the Rialto Barnes and Noble Mansion $5/ticket, The Polar Express storytimes Saturdays at on Nov 30th, Miracle on 11am in Bourbonnais. Click Chris Kringle Market, Dec 34th Street on Dec 14th, the link to view October 6th-15th at Washington and Elf on Dec 23rd. dates. Park in Ottawa

Free Pancake Breakfast the Bourbonnais Twp Park AMC Showplace 16 in 1st Sat. of the month 8- District offers fun events for Rockford offers Sensory 10am at First Presbyterian kids and families, see their Friendly movie showings on Church in Joliet Sept-Dec program guide. the 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month. JCPenney Kids Zone the Perry Farm Park offers 2nd Saturday of every walking trails, Indian Caves, Sweet Sadie's Indoor month 11-noon at area and their inclusive Barnyard Playspace is an children's stores. Crafts for kids & Playground. activity center, in LaSalle 10% off coupon for designed for children age 0- parents. The Kankakee Valley Park 8 years of all abilities. District offers Parent Tot The Will County Forest time on Tues & Thurs 9am- Peru Library has fun classes Preserve online calendar 11am, $1/child, they also and storytimes for little has fun events like the Little have a father son nerf one's birth-3 years old. Explorers and Nature Play battle on Nov 9th day on Nov 13th. Reddick Library has lots of fun events and classes for Barnes and Noble kids 0-3 year. storytimes Saturdays at 11am in Joliet, Bolingbrook, Marseilles Tourism and Park Orland Park, & Naperville. Committee has a facebook Click to view October dates. page!

Lincolnway Special Rec Calendar of fun events in hosts a parent support the Ottawa area group. Click to view the Fall brochure. Starved Rock State Park was voted the #1 Smith & Galowich Family attraction in the State of YMCAs offer Parents Night ! Check out their Out & Family nights. View calendar of events & kids the 2019 Fall program corner with events & info! guides for details. Ottawa YMCA is a great Hope Helps sensory resource for fun events for playground for all is open! parents and kids! They offer See their Facebook page for preschool and summer details. camps.

Click the link below to Streator family YMCA has see ev ents offered at the Tot Lot Preschool y our local park district. program & a child watch Joliet Park District program for kids age 6 Frankfort Park District weeks - 8 years. Bolingbrook Park District Romeoville Park District Mendota YMCA & Peru Lemont Park District YMCA has a preschool Mokena Park District program and free family Plainfield Park District nights for members. Naperville Park District New Lenox Park District The many state parks in Channahon Park District LaSalle County are a Crete Park District wonderful resource for Braidwood Park District outdoor fun. Godley Park District

Family Events and Resources For All Areas

Family Time Magazine's Autism and Special Needs Seminar is on Saturday, November 16th, 9am-5pm, at Moraine Valley Community College.

Goodman Theatre's Sensory Friendly performance of A Christmas Carol on November 23rd at 2pm. To purchase tickets to A Christmas Carol, enter the promo code SENSORY to unlock this performance. Tickets start at $15 and often sell out fast. See their FAQ about Sensory performances at Goodman Theatre.

Chicago Toy and Game Fair, November 23rd & 24th. Tickets start at $14 for adults and $7 for kids. Grandparents, educators, scouts, firefighters, police and military can receive complimentary tickets. Come out and Play!

Santa's Little Hackers Adapted Toy Sign up is open! Click here to register. An adapted toy is a toy that has been altered for use by individuals living with disabilities. See their website for more information.

Signing Santa for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children will be at Ridge Mall from 9:30-11:30 & from 5-6:30 on Dec 16th. Call Sandy Martinez 815-439-1000 with questions.

Soothing Santa is a sensory-friendly event for families with special needs children and their siblings. Taking place before the mall opens on Dec 8th from 9am-11am at Louis Joliet Mall; Dec 8th 9:30am-11am at ; and Dec 8th 9am-11am at .

Free ACES Parenting Program offered at We Care of Grundy County in Morris. This free 5 week course is for parents who have been impacted by trauma or who have children children who have experienced trauma. Classes run from 5-7pm. Free meals & childcare are provided during the meeting. For more information click the link or call 815-942-6389.

Save the Date for The Mom's Night Inn event offered through Illinois Hands and Voices for moms or female caregivers of children of all ages who are deaf or hard of hearing on April 25th in Lisle. Registration will begin in early 2020. For more information click the link or call 630-697-3544.

Play for All at Chicago Children's Museum at . The Museum opens one hour early at on 9am on the second Saturday of every month for children and families with a disability. The 1st 250 people to register receive free admission.

Sky Zone Toddler Time in Joliet offers a special time just for the little ones, walking to age 5. Fridays 9:30-11am & Saturdays 9-10am.

The Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse offers resources and information for families and professionals in Early Intervention. Check out their current newsletter and subscribe to receive their quarterly newsletter sent to your inbox! Family Time Magazine is a great resource for families on fun local events and informative articles. They also have a facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/familytimemag

ChicagoParent.com/Calendar lists fun events all year long! Also check out the Chicago Special Parent Guide that is published twice a year with resources and articles for parents of a child with a disability or special needs.

Check out this list of 2019 Fairs and Festivals in Illinois .

The Enjoy Illinois website lists statewide fun events all year long!

Do you know someone who needs help with groceries? Check out Food Access Maps in Will County Or to locate a food pantry or soup kitchen near you go to the Northern Illinois Food Bank and enter your zip code. You can also get information or help with your SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) appilication or call 844-600-SNAP.

Children's museums and Play areas with Sensory sensitive or Special Events Exploration Station at the children's museum in Bourbonnais DuPage Children's Museum Calendar 301 N. Washington in Naperville Sensory Sensitive Sundays at Chuck E. Cheese 1st Sunday of the month, Joliet & Naperville locations Sky High Sports Naperville Special Needs Open Jump every Tuesday from 4-6pm Gizmos in Orland Park Special Needs Family Time 1st and 3rd Monday of the month 4-8pm Pump It Up Sensory Jump in Orland Park is the first Monday of every month Airtastic bouncy playland in Aurora has Music Free Mondays for kids with sensory sensitivities Special Needs Nights at Centennial Beach in Naperville Sundays 6:30-8pm, $3/person Luigi's Pizza and Fun Center in Aurora has a sensory day the 1st Sat of month from 9-11am

Movie Theatres with Sensory Friendly Movie Times AMC Theatres in New Lenox, Naperville, Lombard and Morris Marcus Theatres in Orland Park and Chicago Heights Studio Movie Grill in Wheaton NGC Cinema in Yorkville Emagine in Frankfort -go to Sensory Friendly Movies for movies listings

Resource Spotlight: Spring 2020 Conferences for Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

FREE Conferences for Parents of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing And the professionals who work with their children 2020 Illinois School for the Deaf Outreach Statewide Parent Conferences

FOUR Locations to choose from: • South of Seventy – Carterville – Saturday, February 22– 8:30am –4:00pm • South of Eighty – Springfield – Saturday, March 28– 8:30am-4:00pm • North of Eighty – Rockford – Saturday, April 18 – 8:30am –4:00pm • City of Chicago – Near Midway – Saturday, May 2 – 9:00am – 4:30pm

2020 Conference Topics: Educating Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Different Settings Special Education Law and Advocacy Growing Up Deaf/Hard of Hearing Socialization Skills for Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

No childcare is provided at this conference, we welcome your children age 15 or older to participate in the conference. Reasonable ADA accommodation requests must be made at least 3 weeks prior to the eventdate. ASL interpreters are provided at all conferences. These conferences are parent safe, meaning the topic of amplification or communication choices is not discussed. All families, regardless of the choices they have made are encouraged to attend.

Register Today https://forms.gle/7cDiZ7wfrBbbLcrP9 Questions or requests – Contact: [email protected] Parents: Financial assistance may be available to help with travel, lodging and/or childcare costs. For more information see the 2020 conference flyer.

Reminder: The 2020 US Census will be taken in Spring of 2020. Information gathered in the Census helps to determine how billions of dollars in Federal funding is spent in your community. It impacts funding for schools, health clinics, fire departments, roads, highways, and much more! Please visit the website to learn more about the process, timelines, and how the census protects your privacy and security.

The 2020 Census is currently hiring for census takers and other positions. To learn more or apply online go to https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.html

About Us:

Child and Family Connections #15 is the regional office serving as the point of entry for children and families into the Illinois Early Intervention Program. CFC #15 serves children age 0-3 year and their families in Will, Grundy, Kankakee, and LaSalle Counties.

For more information about the Illinois Early Intervention Program, please visit: Illinois Department of Human Serv ices or The Illinois Early Interv ention Clearinghouse

**The events and information contained in this newsletter are not sponsored by Child and Family Connections #15. This newsletter contains information from many different agencies and organizations and is provided to families as a resource.**