First Connections CFCE and ParentChild+

First Connections CFCE and ParentChild+ First Connections is funded by CFCE and PC+ grants from MA EEC awarded to JRI To view our direct services and programs, please go to: www.firstconnections.org

We provide free support, early childhood and parent education, and resources to all families with children under age 9 living in Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, Westford and Hanscom AFB.

01/26/2026

Kids want to play in the snow ❄️, but you don’t feel like getting them all dressed, only to have someone say they need to go potty, then they get outside only to complain their hands are cold (maybe you should keep your mittens on 😩)!? Here are a couple ways to play with snow inside!

If you are going out, a fun thing to do is give the kids colored water in spray bottles and let them paint the snow!

Be kind about my video friends, I had to do it all by myself, no professional filming or editing from Jasmine, with what I had at home. I think I did pretty well!

Happy Snow Day all! ☃️

01/14/2026

We have some great FREE webinars for caregivers coming up this winter! Email Linda at lmatthews@jri.org to regsiter for any and all of these webinars.

❄️Motor Development in Babies 0-18 Months: Thursday Jan 29, 1:00-2:00, presented by Christina Marinelli, DPT from Emerson Health. This presentation by a pediatric Doctor of Physical Therapy will describe motor development using evidence-based resources. You will learn: 1) what typical development looks like, 2) general tips and strategies to support baby's skill acquisition, and 3) helpful resources for continued learning. Time for questions allowed.

❄️Understanding Threenagers: Thurs Feb 12, 7:00-8:00, presented by Ellie Springer, M.Ed. Three year olds begin to fiercely assert their independence, while at other times cling to adults and want help with tasks they have been able to do on their own for months. If you have a child in this stage, or about to enter it, join Ms. Ellie to learn what is typical at this stage, how to support your child through it, and how to make life a little smoother for you all.

❄️What Behaviors Tell Us: Understanding Your Child's Communication: Thurs Feb 26, 7:00-8:00, presented by Concord Children's Center educators. Join early childhood experts for a warm and informative panel discussion exploring how young children use behavior to communicate their needs, emotions, and developing skills. You’ll learn what your child might be trying to tell you—and how to respond in ways that build connection (and maybe save your sanity).

❄️Setting Effective Boundaries: How Clear, Loving Limits Create Safety & Security for the Developing Brain: Thurs Mar 12, 8:00-9:00, presented by Chrissy Dagostino, M.A. This workshop explores the critical role boundaries play in helping young children to develop a sense of security as they move through the world and come to understand their place in it. Parents and caregivers will leave with practical tools for supporting cooperation and safety within their families.


Concord Children's Center

01/12/2026

ICYMI, our "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" January newsletter went out last week! If you want to read it, you can do so here: https://conta.cc/3Lu9pka

This monthly newsletter is for anyone with a child entering kindergarten in 2026. You'll find tips on what to do (and what NOT to do) to get your child kindergarten-ready and how to prepare yourself for this big transition.

01/05/2026

Happy 2026! 🎉As you emerge from the fog of the holidays, are you just starting to realize that you have a child entering kindergarten this year!? 😱

If you're wondering what you should be doing to get your child--and yourself--ready for this big transition, sign up to receive Ms. Ellie's monthly "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" newsletter.

From January through March, you'll get tips on what to do--and what NOT to do--to prepare yourself and your child for the transition to kindergarten and what to expect. And from April through August, in addition to more tips, you'll get a calendar with daily activities (very simple, free or low-cost) you can do with your child or have them do on their own to help them develop the skills to set them up for success in kindergarten.

The first newsletter will go out at the end of this week.
Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/3xadWuvpha

Please share with any other caregivers of rising kindergarteners you know!

12/30/2025

We need more babies! 👶 Can you help us spread the word? Our 3-11-month-old baby playgroup will meet at the in Littleton starting on Jan 13. It will be on Mondays from 10:30-11:30, and it’s open to all caregivers. And of course, it’s FREE!

We’ll sing songs 🎶, read a book 📖, and the adults will chat about how things are going while the babies play (or sleep, eat, or cry 😅). It’s a great opportunity to make new friends and connect with others in the trenches of caring for infants.

Email Linda at lmatthews@jri.org to register.

Our popular bilingual Chinese-English Lunar New Year celebration at the Maynard Public Library is back for 2026! 🐎 🧧 🏮 🎆...
12/30/2025

Our popular bilingual Chinese-English Lunar New Year celebration at the Maynard Public Library is back for 2026! 🐎 🧧 🏮 🎆 And spots are filling up fast, so sign up now!

Join us on Sat Jan 31 from 10:30-11:30 for songs and stories in Mandarin Chinese (Ms. Jasmine and Ms. Weiping) and English (Ms. Ellie), crafts, snacks, and face painting. Our friend Ms. Casey at the Maynard Library sets up great decorations, including a banner for great photo ops. This is a really fun event every year!

Activities and stories are aimed at children ages 2-6, but younger and older siblings are welcome. You don't have to speak Chinese or know anything about the Lunar New year to attend. Jasmine and Weiping will teach us some words, and Ellie will try to remember what she learned last year!

Regsiter here: https://forms.office.com/r/ptsSHafiys

12/17/2025

In case you need more Ms. Ellie in your life while playgroups are on hiatus! 😅

While we haven't updated the blog in quite a while, there are some story time videos there from Covid days, in case you need some low-key screen time for your child during the holidays. And there are some older posts on things like transitions, saying sorry, and developmental milestones.

Check it out: https://jri.org/jri-first-connection/

12/15/2025

No, your young child is not being rude! She’s learning what feels safe and comfortable to her and how to set boundaries for herself. And I’m not offended!

Sometimes children who are shyer or slower to warm up are labeled insecure or a problem and parents are told to “make” them talk to people. (How do you *make* someone else speak!??) But these children are actually exercising confidence in themselves and trusting their own experience. So let’s foster that sense of self and trust in oneself, whether it looks/sounds like a child saying, “You stay over there!” or hiding behind your legs. With time and no pressure, they’ll be ready to interact in their own time!

And just a note, this child was totally comfortable by the end of playgroup and gave me a high five. She just needed some time and space.

(This happened last week, but it took me a while to edit the 14 videos I took into one (mostly) coherent reel. 🤷🏼‍♀️)


This Thursday! Join our First Year of Life Support group at the Goodnow Library  in Sudbury for an introduction to infan...
12/10/2025

This Thursday! Join our First Year of Life Support group at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury for an introduction to infant massage class with Mary Beilman, CEIM.

Free and open to all caregivers with a baby 0-12 months. Email Linda at lmatthews@jri.org to regsiter.

12/05/2025

Well, we did it friends! 🎉 YOU did it! Thank you! 🙏You donated over $1,000 to First Connections! 👏 Thank you so much!!

And as promised, here is your reward 🌟: a video of Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck 🚒 for your children to watch over and over! 😅 Enjoy!

We are so excited to announce that we have been awarded a 2025 Human Service grant from the Community Foundation for Met...
12/05/2025

We are so excited to announce that we have been awarded a 2025 Human Service grant from the Community Foundation for MetroWest! This will make a big impact in our program, helping to ensure all our services remain free to all!

Thank you so much!

12/04/2025

Link in bio to donate!

We’re almost there! We just need $150 to get to our first fundraising goal of $1,000! Then you get a reward 🌟 of Ms Ellie singing Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck! Help us reach the goal today! Any donation in ANY amount helps!

Thank you!!

Address

179 Great Road, Ste 104A
Acton, MA
01720

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

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