Save the date! March 24th for FREE Mediawise training!

Attention all childcare providers, parents, teachers everyone who care about children!

The ECI is sponsoring a special training event Tuesday, March 24th at 6:30-8 at the Northfield Community Resource Center dining room on Jefferson Parkway! Light dinner, refreshments and dessert is included. To rsvp to this free event click here

For information click here- http://www.mediafamily.org/

or read about Mediawise here-
The challenge: Watching out for our kids.
Our children are in trouble. Kids from preschool through high school are laying building blocks for success in school and life. They include self-discipline, the ability to delay gratification, perseverance, imagination, and respect. Study after study shows that poor media habits undermine every single one of these building blocks. Instead of being given the tools and experiences they need to succeed, more and more kids are shaped by a media culture that promotes more, easy, fast, fun, violence and disrespect.
We are your resource.Since 1996, the National Institute on Media and the Family has worked tirelessly to help parents and communities “watch what our kids watch.” The National Institute on Media and the Family is the world's leading and most respected research-based organization on the positive and harmful effects of media on children and youth. The National Institute on Media and the Family is an independent, nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and nonprofit organization that is based on research, education, and advocacy. Its MediaWise® movement is being adopted in communities throughout the country to help families make wiser media choices and encourage parents to “Watch What their Kids Watch.”

Mission: To maximize the benefits and minimize the harm of media on the health and development of children and families.

Vision: To be the trusted national voice and resource to help children and families thrive within the dynamic media culture.

Northfield Day Care evening at Books & Stars

Many child care providers met at Books & Stars for the start of something really good! Representatives from Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral had early literacy packs for the providers.
For more information contact Stacy Waters sjowilliams@yahoo.com or Alice Oleson olesonfamily71@hotmail.com

The Northfield Early Childhood Initiative was on hand to give books to the providers and the children who came to Books & Stars.

Books & Stars schedule

Click here for schedule

Attention Northfield Childcare Providers

Looking for support, unity and a sense of community?
Want more local training?
Interested in a toy/equipment exchange?
Looking for socializations in a sometimes lonely field?

Please join us for an informal meeting of the Northfield Childcare Provider’s Association in conjunction with the Northfield Early Childhood Initiative Coalition.

What: Providers Book Giveaway (YES, FREE BOOKS FOR AREA PROVIDERS!!!)
When: 6:00PM, July 23rd – one hour before the Books and Stars event
Where: Oddfellows Park, Northfield
Why: Free books, Childcare Resource and Referral incentives, a chance to meet local providers and an opportunity to learn more about the Northfield Childcare Provider’s Association!!
This is a can’t miss event!!

Please e-mail Stacy Waters at sjowilliams@yahoo.com or Alice Oleson at olesonfamily71@hotmail.com for more information and to RSVP!!

We hope to see you there!!

NECI joined the pool & Booker together to offer free passes to Booker patrons!

The Northfield Early Childhood Initiative Coalition has teamed up with the Outdoor Pool and Booker, the Northfield Book Bus, to offer one day pool passes to the people who live in the neighborhoods Booker services. Coalition member Janet Lewis-Muth brought forward the idea of offering pool passes through Booker. The idea is based on the model used by the Twin Cities libraries that offer one day passes to local museums and other attractions. “It seemed like such an easy way to provide access to families who might not otherwise have access to programs and activities in Northfield,” said Lewis Muth.

Because the pool and the library are both City of Northfield entities, it was a logical place to start, but the hope is that in the future there will be other kinds of passes available on Booker. The Early Childhood Initiative Coalition is excited to have facilitated such a great program for families with young children in Northfield.

If your program would like to offer passes through Booker, please contact coalition member Kathy Ness at 645-1810.

Pictured above is Booker at the outdoor pool. The people are: Jason Eisold, Recreation Manager;
Katie Clark, NECI Co-coordinator; Diana Tallent, Booker Outreach Director and Scott Parker, NECI Co-coordinator.

How can we empower childcare providers in Northfield?

The Northfield ECI is interested in coordinating a Northfield Childcare Providers Group/Network/Association?
How could a group like this help you as a provider? Please post opinions below.
Thank you!

Help us build the future by supporting early childhood! Join us!

The mission of the Northfield ECIC is to educate, activate and mobilize the entire community on the issues affecting young children from birth to age five. ECIC is a community-based campaign to assure that every young child in the Northfield community has the support they need to have a solid foundation for life. Current efforts focus on nine projects including: Booker Booster, Getting School Ready, Kindergaren Screening, Childcare giver support, and other early childhood resources.

New members including parents, community and business leaders, teachers, grandparents, or others are invited to get involved. You can help with outreach to families, publicity and marketing for special events, donating basic supplies for new parents, developing a community resource list, providing financial contributions, assisting with clerical tasks, verbal and written translation, building community partnerships, web design, child care assistance, and planning upcoming events.
Current ECIC members represent a variety of organizations including: CommonBond Communities, Northfield Public Schools - Community Services Division, City of Northfield, Southern MN Initiative Foundation, Northfield Public Library, Child Care Resource and Referral, Head Start, St. Olaf College, and Americorps.

Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month 4-5:30 pm at the Northfield Community Resource Center (NCRC). Free child care is available.