Bridges to Growth, the early childhood program of The Georgetown Project, announced Smart Beginnings, a program of parenting classes, events for children, family support, and a lending library for infant and toddler toys and books. The program is free for parents, caregivers and childcare providers of young children.
“Thanks to Georgetown Health Foundation, we will be able to offer Smart Beginnings classes and events free of charge, which will remove barriers and increase access to quality parent training and support for caregivers of children 0-3 from all walks of life,” said Leslie Janca, executive director of The Georgetown Project. “Research shows that the first three years of a child’s life is crucial to healthy development, and that early environment can either cause lasting negative consequences or set a child on the path for future success. By helping parents learn to nurture early development and cultivate positive family relationships from birth, we hope to increase the number of babies that have a strong start in life.”
Smart Beginnings class offerings include Learning through Play; Understanding Your Baby’s Communication; Basic Parenting for Infants and Toddlers; Toddler Issues: Tantrums, Aggression and Potty Training; Encouraging Literacy in Toddlers and Preschoolers; and Stay Calm: Don’t Take it Out on the Kids.
Family events at Bridges to Growth include Baby Time, Toddler Time and Parents’ Morning Out. “Both my children have improved social skills and developed friendships that carry over to other activities,” said a parent of Toddler Time. “They have developed language skills. The opportunity to talk to their peers and other adults is good for them.”
Other resources at Bridges to Growth include a lending library, teacher workroom, parent talk hotline, referrals, family counseling and a family support group. To pre-register for classes or events, call (512) 864-3008. For more information, visit georgetownproject.org.
