Minneapolis Awarded
Child Friendly City Designation
Minneapolis adopted UNICEF USA's Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) in February 2020. After 4-years of work, Minneapolis become only the second city in the country to become a UNICEF USA child friendly city. We held a gathering in downtown Minneapolis and were joined by Mayor Jacob Frey, former Commissioner of Health, Gretchen Musicant; current Commissioner of Health, Damon Chaplin; Minneapolis Public Schools board member, Kim Ellison; UNICEF USA President & CEO, Michael Nyenhuis; and many guests. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the CFCI effort. Read more about the event at the full page HERE.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services promoted Help Me Connect and our Early Childhood Director, Deby, was a part of the promotional video. As stated in the video, Deby can help you find resources and services via Help Me Connect if finding things on your own becomes too difficult. Learn more about Help Me Connect by watching the video. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions.
Every year support systems and numbers change. It's sometimes difficult to stay on top of these changes during our busy lives. Here is a quick "2024 Family Factsheet" to help guide you through resources, programs, and policy changes.
The Minneapolis Health Department have created a video to gently remind people to wash their hands. We love the video because it features young people! Protect yourself from getting sick, but also your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and more! Check out the super cute video and share it with your network!
Do you have an open job that you want to fill with the best possible candidate? One of the roles of the Minneapolis Afterschool Network is to ensure the youth work field of Minneapolis remains healthy by promoting professional development opportunities and by making sure we're all aware of important open youth work positions. We're here to help spread news about your open positions! We've now made it easier than ever with a short form that will guide you through the essential information we need. Now there is no need to contact us to have a back-and-forth! Find our new form HERE and we'll have your information in our next newsletter and social media soon. Thank you!
Every year, we swear in a new cohort of Minneapolis Youth Congress (MYC) members. As we continue to recover from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, we're extremely excited for the 2023-24 cohort of MYC. We kicked things off in style inside City Hall! Thanks to everyone who attended and we're looking forward to what MYC accomplishes over the next year!
The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) has many threads of work — emergency management & preparedness planning; youth voice in decision making; community safety; and child rights education & awareness. To make our Local Action Plan and CFCI work, we need to bring the entire community together. Therefore, the CFCI-Minneapolis team hosts periodic gatherings so we can network, coordinate, share resources, and gain insight. Our latest event in November was a great success and we thank everyone that attended. 2024 will be a big year for CFCI!
Nurturing Holiday Cheer: A Guide to Helping Children Cope with Seasonal Stress
While the holiday season is often a time of joy and celebration, it can also bring about stress for both adults and children. Young children, in particular, may find the disruptions to routine, new environments, and heightened emotions overwhelming. As parents and caregivers, it's essential to support our little ones in navigating the holiday season with ease. In this blog, we'll explore practical strategies to help children cope with the holiday stress.
Create Predictable Routines:
Young children thrive on routine, and the holiday season can introduce a multitude of changes. To provide a sense of security, try to maintain as much consistency as possible. Stick to regular meal times, nap schedules, and bedtime routines. Predictability helps children feel grounded, especially during the whirlwind of holiday activities.
Limit Overstimulation:
The holidays often come with a flurry of bright lights, loud music, and crowded spaces. Recognize your child's sensory thresholds and be mindful of their exposure to overstimulating environments. Consider using noise-canceling headphones or providing a quiet space where your child can retreat when needed.
Communicate Simply and Honestly:
Explain holiday plans and activities to your child in a simple and honest manner. Use age-appropriate language and answer any questions they may have. Knowing what to expect can alleviate anxiety and help your child feel more in control of the situation.
Click HERE to continue reading more tips at our main Early Childhood Blog page.