Founded by a group of feminist activists to confront the issue of domestic violence in rural and suburban communities, The Selene Center opened in downtown Sylvania at 5658 Main St..
419-540-1942 | facebook.com/theselenecenter
Fit Mamas Offers Stroller Workouts And A Mom Community
Fit Mamas is a community that provides mams a place to move, connect, grow, and love. Fit Mamas offers a challenging, 45 minute sweat session with your little one(s) by your side, either in a stroller or playing on the ground/mat, while moms increase their heart rate and build muscle. Moves include squats, push-ups, lunges, resistance training, and more. Fit Mamas instructors make sure to incorporate the little ones as much as possible with bells, bubbles, and kid-friendly songs. Class locations include Wildwood Metropark, West Side Montessori Perrysburg, Riverside Park in downtown Perrysburg, and pop-ups at locations like Gust Brothers Farm.
$15/class; packages available
fitmamas419.com
Programs At Newly Renovated TLCPL Main Library
Sporting a fresh new look and a plethora of programs, Main Library re-opened to much excitement. Scheduled programs include free after-work yoga classes on Mondays (for a limited time), Supercharged Storytime, Tuesdays for Teens, Writing Workshops, Books on Tap, Willy Wonka’s Escape Room and more.
Details at events.toledolibrary.org
Imagination Station’s KIDSPACE Upgraded And New Programs Available
Little learners and their caregivers now have new ways to engage with science as they observe, wonder and play together. Thanks to support from a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in addition to the Clement O. Miniger Memorial Foundation and Landman Goldman Foundation, Imagination Station’s Little KIDSPACE recently received several updates and upgrades with enhanced learning opportunities in mind. Join Science Story Time, Mini Explorers Club, or Little Scientist workshops.
More info and registration at imaginationstationtoledo.org.
Special Is Unique
It takes a village to raise a child, and when your child is diagnosed with a special need, you quickly learn the need for support.
My oldest was a colicky baby who turned into an exhausting toddler. By 2.5 years old, when he still could only use a handful of intelligible words, his inability to communicate led to tantrums on a daily basis. Thanks to the guidance and testing of Help Me Grow — a free resource for Lucas County residents with children under the age of 3 — Dexter was diagnosed with speech apraxia and sensory needs.
After a whirlwind of speech therapy, occupational therapy, and IEP meetings, Dexter was enrolled in Sylvania School’s preschool program that mixes typically developing kids with preschoolers on IEPs (another free local resource). Thanks to an amazing team of educators, Dexter progressed quickly. By the end of preschool, he had reached all of his milestones and was taken off an IEP.
He is now in first-grade, and while language skills still don’t come easily to him, he is working hard and loving school. Those difficult first few years now seem like a hazy dream (nightmare?), but if it hadn’t been for the support of local resources, our school district, and supportive, accepting parents, none of us would be where we are today.
We recently learned that our 4-year-old has the same genetic hearing loss that I have, so we are beginning the IEP process all over again. I can’t communicate the pain it causes me to know that she will have the same struggles I’ve faced over the years. We will be trying hearing aides, but due to our unusual hearing loss, they may not help. They didn’t for me.
But I keep returning to one thought: she will have the same wonderful educational team that Dexter had, and this gives me peace and hope.
We each have different struggles, and our children have distinct needs, but we have one thing in common: we all benefit from the support of our community. It really does “take a village,” and this issue of Toledo Parent contains a guide to special needs resources that can assist you and your little one.
Happy reading and best of luck in this parenting thing,
Erin Marsh, Assignment Editor
November 2019 Giveaway—Family Dinner Club kit
For the budding chefs in your home, we have THREE great giveaways this month! Explore Italian world cuisine while you discover the joy of cooking as a family with the Family Dinner Club kit from eat2explore! For a second meal, you can cook, play and learn together with the Happy Cooking Kit from kidstir. Don’t want baby brother/sister to miss out? Serve the rest of the family one of the meals above while you safely introduce eggs or peanuts to your infant using Lil Mixins Powders. Lil Mixins is the #1 pediatrician-recommended infant peanut powder for early allergen introduction for infants.