Music Therapy & More

Join us for a hands-on program designed to teach families how to use music to improve their child’s academic, motor, communication and social skills as well as behavior. This program is designed for families and their children, ages 0 – 6 years, who have concerns about development.
connectingforkids.org/music
Maple Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library
Saturday, Aug. 23, 10:00 a.m.

About Connecting for Kids

Connecting for Kids provides resources, support and community to families in Northeast Ohio who have concerns about their child. We support families who have children with mental health concerns, developmental delays and disabilities as well as those facing major life changes. We offer programs, Resource Fairs and a Family Resource Specialist (FRS) Program. Programs include support groups for adults, presentations by professionals as well as hands-on programs that caregivers attend with their child. The FRS
program offers a CFK staff member who meets with families and assists them in navigating resources. All programs are offered free to families.

The post This Saturday — Connecting for Kids August Programs in Maple Heights first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Common Emotional Challenges Students Face in August

“At the start of a new year, I see a lot of anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and what people often label as ‘acting out,’” says Hollins. “But truthfully? It’s kids trying to adapt to a whole new rhythm—socially, emotionally, and academically.”

Many students are relearning how to exist in group settings, juggling new routines, unfamiliar expectations, and sometimes stressful home lives. For those with trauma histories or inconsistent support, the emotional adjustment can be overwhelming.

Why New School Environments Increase Emotional Stress

The stress intensifies for students entering new schools, districts, or grade levels. “New buildings, new people, new routines—it’s a lot,” Hollins explains. “And for students with marginalized identities, the pressure to adapt is multiplied.” Without emotional safety, the transition can shift from exciting to debilitating.

Mental Health Check-Ins Are School Readiness

Mental health deserves the same priority as physical exams. “We wouldn’t send a kid to class without checking their vision. But we’ll send them into high-pressure environments without asking how they’re coping emotionally?” Hollins argues. Early emotional check-ins can prevent larger issues from surfacing as behavioral problems or academic struggles.

The Emotional Impact of Curriculum and Library Restrictions

Recent policy changes, such as curriculum bans or book removals, send damaging signals. “When students see books removed that reflect their families or identities, it sends a clear message: ‘You don’t belong here.’” Hollins emphasizes that safety in schools must include emotional safety for all students, regardless of identity.

How Educators Can Create Inclusive, Trauma-Informed Classrooms

Even under policy restrictions, educators can create safe spaces. “Start with your classroom culture. Lead with compassion, curiosity, and courage.” Teachers can affirm student identities through culturally relevant materials, trauma-informed strategies, and clear communication. Relationships, Hollins notes, are the foundation of any emotionally supportive environment.

Building Emotional Resilience in Students

Helping students develop daily grounding practices—like journaling, movement, mindfulness, or open conversations—can build emotional resilience. “Teaching them to name their feelings and ask for help should be part of every school’s culture,” Hollins says.

The Role of Empathy in Diverse School Communities

Empathy is a survival skill in today’s diverse world. “When students learn to understand rather than judge others’ experiences, it reduces bullying, bias, and isolation.” Embedding empathy into classroom discussions, literature, and peer interactions helps foster respect and connection.

How Parents Can Support Their Children Emotionally

Back-to-school is emotional for the whole family. Hollins, a mother herself, encourages caregivers to use three daily questions:
● What made you happy or laugh today?
● What made you frustrated or upset?
● How did you show kindness—to someone or to yourself?

These simple check-ins create space for powerful conversations. “Our role isn’t just to prep lunches—it’s to reassure, regulate, and reflect the emotional safety we want them to feel,” she says.

Warning Signs a Child May Be Struggling

The biggest red flag isn’t big emotions—it’s secrecy. “If your child starts hiding their screen, locking their door, or pulling away from conversations, that’s a sign.” Hollins emphasizes that all kids need emotional support, and preventative care is essential. “Mental health should already be part of your child’s annual care plan.”

Staying Connected Beyond August

“Back-to-school isn’t just about new supplies or color-coded schedules—it’s about emotional preparedness,” Hollins says. The way families and educators show up now sets the tone for the year. But connection must continue well beyond August. “Enroll students in creative and emotional development programs. Check in often—not just during crisis.”

About Relevant Connections

To learn more about Chardé Hollins and the work of Relevant Connections, visit www.relevantconnections.org. The organization partners with schools, nonprofits, and businesses to build emotionally intelligent, culturally responsive environments, and offers
training for educators, caregivers, and youth. Follow @RelevantConnections on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for continued insights and support.

The post Back-to-School Support Must Go Beyond Supplies: Why Emotional Readiness Matters first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

1. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results: One way I encourage my kids is by celebrating the effort they put into a task rather than focusing only on the outcome. For example, when my child struggles with a school project or a new sport, I make sure to acknowledge how hard they worked, even if things didn’t go as planned. This reinforces that trying and learning from mistakes is just as valuable as succeeding.
2. Growth Mindset Challenges: Whether it’s learning a new skill, attempting a puzzle, or even cooking a new dish, the goal here is to try something new and see where we can improve. If things don’t go as planned, we reflect on what went wrong, how we can do better next time, and how each attempt brings us closer to mastering the task. This encourages my kids to focus on the process of learning rather than just the outcome.
3. Use Stories of Famous Failures: Sharing stories about well-known figures who faced failure before achieving success can help kids understand that everyone experiences setbacks. For example, telling them about how Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before inventing the lightbulb can inspire them to keep going when they face their own challenges.
4. The Oops Art Project: We also have a fun family tradition called “The Oops Art Project.” When a drawing or craft doesn’t go as expected, we transform mistakes into something new. For example, if a picture gets smudged or the lines don’t come out right, we turn it into an abstract design or add creative elements to cover the mistake. This activity teaches my kids how to be adaptable, creative, and resourceful in the face of challenges.
5. Create Safe Spaces for Mistakes: I create an environment where mistakes are part of the learning process. Whether it’s through playing games, art projects, or homework, I remind my kids that making mistakes is okay, and it’s a natural part of trying new things. To further reinforce this idea, we created a “Mistake Jar” with notes about failures my kids encountered and what they learned from those experiences. Then we cheer for the lessons they’ve gained.

By teaching kids in Bedford to embrace failure, we help them build resilience, confidence, and a growth mindset that encourages them to keep trying, learning, and improving in all areas of life. Through these creative approaches, failure becomes a powerful tool for personal development and an exciting part of their journey toward success.

The post Teaching Kids to Embrace Failure as a Part of Growth first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

1. Nature Exploration: Nature is a treasure trove of wonders waiting to be discovered. Whether it’s exploring Bedford’s local parks or hiking the trails, I love encouraging my kids to observe the world around them. We look for different types of plants, insects, and animals. Sometimes we even take a notebook and sketch what we see. It’s a great way for them to connect with nature while learning about local wildlife.
2. Outdoor Treasure Hunts: One of our favorite activities is organizing an outdoor treasure hunt. I create a simple map or list of clues, leading them around the yard or nearby park to find hidden “treasures” — small toys, nature items like colorful rocks, or even treats. This activity sparks their curiosity and gets them moving. It also encourages problem-solving as they follow clues to reach their “treasure.”
3. Stargazing and Night Adventures: As the days get longer, we often spend evenings stargazing in our backyard. I’ll tell them stories about the constellations or challenge them to find certain stars. It’s a calm yet adventurous way to spark their curiosity about the universe.

By focusing on adventure and exploration this summer, we create opportunities for our kids to learn, grow, and enjoy the great outdoors right here in Bedford.

The post Sparking Adventure and Exploration in Kids This Summer first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

1. Storytelling Through Movement: Pick a story from a different culture that includes elements of dance or movement. For example, after reading a traditional African folk tale or a Latin American story, encourage your kids to act out the characters’ actions, like jumping, spinning, or mimicking animals in the story. This allows them to experience storytelling through physical activity while learning about customs and traditions from around the world.
2. Cultural Crafting: After hearing a story from another culture, engage your kids in a craft that ties into the tale. If you tell a Native American story, you can make dreamcatchers or paint rock art. If you share a story from Japan, try origami. These activities inspire creativity and introduce new traditions while allowing them to express their understanding of the culture through art.
3. Outdoor Cultural Play: Explore traditional games from other countries. You might try playing “kabaddi” from India or “la cuerda” (the skipping rope game) from Spain. These games get kids moving and active, while offering a glimpse into the playtime traditions of different cultures.

Through storytelling, we can inspire our children to be both creative and active, all while broadening their understanding of the world’s diverse cultures this summer.

The post Exploring Creativity and Active Play Through Storytelling This Summer first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

1. Plant Growth Observation: One of the simplest and most educational experiments is observing plant growth. We plant seeds (like sunflowers or beans) in small containers and track their progress over the weeks. It’s a great way to teach kids about how plants grow and the importance of water, sunlight, and healthy soil. You can even teach them to recycle old containers as planters!
2. DIY Bird Feeders: Creating a bird feeder from eco-friendly materials like pinecones, peanut butter, and bird seed is a fun and easy project. It not only teaches kids about wildlife but also encourages them to care for animals in their own backyard. Watching birds visit the feeder is a rewarding experience for children.
3. Water Filtration Experiment: Use common household items like gravel, sand, and cotton to create a simple water filtration system. This experiment teaches kids about the importance of clean water and how natural filtration works. It’s a wonderful way to discuss environmental conservation and the need for clean water.
4. Creating a Solar Oven: One of my favorite experiments, especially as the weather heats up, is building a simple solar oven. Using a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black construction paper, you can create an oven that uses sunlight to heat and cook food. This hands-on project teaches kids about solar energy and its potential as an eco-friendly power source. We’ve used our solar oven to melt s’mores or heat up some small snacks, and the kids absolutely love it!

By doing these eco-friendly experiments, we can teach kids in Bedford not only about science but also about the importance of taking care of the planet—while having fun and learning together!

The post Fun and Eco-Friendly Science Experiments for Kids This May first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Speaker Series: Navigating Well-being in a Digital Age

Dr. Nicole Pucci, Clinical Psychologist, and Dr. Kelly Christian and Dr. Emily Lauster, of the Ethan D. Schafer Center for Learning Differences at Lawrence School, will discuss how to lessen the negative effects of screen time, as well as strategies to promote development, mental health, and social interactions.

Free, supervised children’s activities are available during the program — adults and children must register separately.
Wednesday, May 7, 6:30 p.m.
Solon Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library

Music Therapy & More

Join us for a hands-on program designed to teach families how to use music to improve their child’s academic, motor, communication, and social skills as well as behavior.

This program is designed for families and their children (ages 0–6) who have concerns about development.
connectingforkids.org/music
Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 p.m.
Solon Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library

About Connecting for Kids

Connecting for Kids provides resources, support, and community to families in Northeast Ohio who have concerns about their child.

We support families who have children with mental health concerns, developmental delays, and disabilities, as well as those facing major life changes.

Our offerings include programs, Resource Fairs, and a Family Resource Specialist (FRS) Program.
Programs include support groups for adults, presentations by professionals, and hands-on programs that caregivers attend with their child.

The FRS program offers a CFK staff member who meets with families and assists them in navigating resources.
All programs are offered free to families.

The post Connecting for Kids May Programs in Solon first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

1. Spring-Themed Crafts: Easter provides the perfect backdrop for crafting. Whether it’s decorating Easter eggs, making flower crowns, or creating colorful spring-themed paintings, there are endless possibilities. I love setting up a crafting station with markers, stickers, and other supplies. Letting the kids choose their own designs or colors makes the activity even more personal and imaginative.
2. Outdoor Nature Art: With the weather finally warming up, we love taking art projects outdoors. Using materials like twigs, leaves, and flowers, we create natural art pieces, or sometimes even create simple mandalas on the ground. Nature provides endless inspiration and gives kids the chance to appreciate the outdoors while being creative.
3. Cooking Together: Another way to spark creativity is by getting the kids involved in the kitchen. We make homemade bunny-shaped cookies or colorful spring-themed cupcakes. They love decorating them with frosting and sprinkles, and it’s a great way to explore their artistic side while making a tasty treat.
4. Storytelling and Imaginative Play: Lastly, we incorporate imaginative play by creating stories. Whether we act them out or simply write them down, it allows the kids to create their own worlds and characters.

These simple activities not only make Easter and spring break fun but also nurture the creative skills that will benefit my kids year-round.

The post Encouraging Creativity in Kids During Easter and Spring Break first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Connecting for Kids has introduced a new website to help local families easily find inclusive summer programming for those 0-12 years. The site, inclusivesummer.com, includes adapted summer camps, sports, arts and recreational opportunities as well as programs addressing academics, speech-language, motor, social and executive function skills, among others.

This website is searchable by child’s age, region or program length. It even has a feature where users type in their zip code and indicate how far they are willing to travel for a program with search results shown visually on a Google map. An advanced search option allows families to search on more than one criterion, for example, westside programs for preschoolers.

“Connecting for Kids receives a large volume of calls each spring from parents and caregivers looking for ways to not only keep their child occupied over the summer but to keep up skills heading into the new school year,” said Sarah Rintamaki, Executive Director of Connecting for Kids. “By creating this website, Connecting for Kids has introduced a user-friendly experience, giving families information matched to their needs and offering direct links to provider websites and contacts.”

All of the programs on the website take place in June, July or August. Connecting for Kids staff will continue to verify and add new programs that are available this summer. Providers can share their updates with an online form. Please note that the site only takes submissions that welcome children ages 0-12 years with disabilities or mental health concerns.

Since families are busy, a how to use this site page explains all of the different ways families can search the site to find the resources and information they need.

“Some parents are just so overwhelmed with a new diagnosis or life circumstance that they don’t even know where to begin,” said Rintamaki.

For those families, Connecting for Kids offers free Ask Us sessions where individuals can schedule a 30- minute one-on-one session with a Connecting for Kids Family Resource Specialist to discuss their unique situation and get personalized summer options. Reserve a time on the website, email info@connectingforkids.org or call/text us at 440-570-5908.

About Connecting for Kids

Connecting for Kids provides resources, support and community to families in Northeast Ohio who have concerns about their child. We support families who have children with mental health concerns, developmental delays and disabilities as well as those facing major life changes. We offer programs, Resource Fairs and a Family Resource Specialist (FRS) Program. Programs include support groups for adults, presentations by professionals as well as hands-on programs that caregivers attend with their child. The FRS program offers a CFK staff member who meets with families and assists them in navigating resources. All programs are offered
free to families.

The post Connecting for Kids Introduces New, User-Friendly Website to Help Families Find Inclusive Summer Programs in Northeast Ohio first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.

Music Therapy & More

Join us for a hands-on program designed to teach families how to use music to improve their child’s academic, motor, communication and social skills as well as behavior. This program is designed for families and their children, ages 0 – 6 years, who have concerns about development. connectingforkids.org/music
Wednesday, April 16, 7:00 p.m.
Solon Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library

Workshop: The Ugly Hour

Ochanya McRoberts-Wells, MEd, will discuss the ugly hour—that time before bed where chaos reigns and your little angel turns into a bedtime monster. She will provide you with tools to support a smoother bedtime and teach you nighttime rituals to establish predictability for the whole family.
Thursday, April 10, 6:00 p.m.
Virtual

About Connecting for Kids

Connecting for Kids provides resources, support, and community to families in Northeast Ohio who have concerns about their child. We support families who have children with mental health concerns, developmental delays, and disabilities as well as those facing major life changes. We offer programs, Resource Fairs, and a Family Resource Specialist (FRS) Program. Programs include support groups for adults, presentations by professionals, and hands-on programs that caregivers attend with their child. The FRS program offers a CFK staff member who meets with families and assists them in navigating resources. All programs are offered free to families.

The post Connecting for Kids April Programs in Solon & Virtual Opportunities first appeared on The Bedford Tribune.