Families with young children are invited to bring them to family centers to join with other parents, grandparents, caregivers and children for enjoyable activities, social connections, information and resources, and learning opportunities. Family centers offer support to families with children from birth to kindergarten in lots of different ways. Children can play, learn, explore, and make new friends in a friendly, family-centered setting, while their caregivers have an opportunity to connect with other adults who understand the joys and challenges of caring for young children. Some come to meet families in their new community or are looking for information about preschools, pediatricians or parent support groups, to name just a few resources that might be requested and provided. All are welcome. There are no income guidelines or other types of eligibility requirements and participation is voluntary. Family centers are equipped with toys, books and other materials to stimulate learning in young children. Parents find that participating in activities at a family center teaches children skills like sharing, listening to stories and taking turns. They notice that the family center experience helps their children make a smooth adjustment to preschool or kindergarten. Parent Advisory Councils provide leadership to the family centers, so contributions of participants’ time and talents are always needed and valued. By investing in children when they are young, and by supporting families throughout these formative years, we are laying the groundwork for a greater measure of success in school and social relationships

All programs and activities are free or low cost. Family centers, parent-child activities, and family fun events are supported by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care through the Collaborative. The Collaborative manages the Palmer Monson Family Center, and provides support for the eight family centers in Hampshire County. The Collaborative also supports parent-child activities and the library story hour in Hatfield, as well as the public library story hour in Easthampton.


PALMER / MONSON FAMILY CENTER

Palmer/Monson Family Center
4 Springfield Street, P.O. Box 5
Three Rivers, MA 01080
413-283-6246

Located above The Learning Factory on Springfield Street, across from Hryniewicz Park in the Three Rivers section of Palmer, the engaging space is sure to delight any baby, toddler, or preschool aged child! Free parking is available in spaces bordering the park. This family center welcomes families with young children who live in Palmer, Monson and the surrounding communities. Expectant families and older siblings are always welcome, too. Play-to-learn groups are facilitated by experienced early childhood professionals. Services include: drop-in play-and-learn groups for young children accompanied by their adult caregivers; recreational programs and events; information about area resources; workshops and support groups for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and caregivers; welcome baby bags; a parent resource library of books and media; and a children’s clothing exchange. The family center is open Monday through Thursday mornings each week during the school year and follows the Palmer public school calendar. For more information, please call or read our latest newsletter:

Palmer/Monson Family Network News-Summer 2010 (2 Page PDF)

To learn more about the communities served by the Palmer/Monson Family Center, please visit:
Town of Palmer: www.townofpalmer.com
Monson Tourism Association: www.monsonmass.com

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FAMILY CENTERS

Summer Happenings 2010 (1 pg PDF)

There are eight family centers in Hampshire County. If you’ve seen one, you haven’t seen them all! Each is unique and reflects the character of its local community, but families from all communities are welcomed at each center. No preregistration is needed for most play-and-learn groups and there are no fees, so families can drop in on the spur of the moment. Limited funding is provided through a Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care grant to Hampshire Educational Collaborative, but most centers also need to rely on donations from families, businesses, and community groups. All families are welcome, whether or not they can make a financial donation.

All of the centers listed below sponsor events at times other than those listed here. Many programs have different summer schedules. Please contact the individual centers for more specific information about their programming. This list will help you locate the Hampshire County family center nearest to you:

Amherst Family Center
Unitarian Meetinghouse
121 N. Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
413-256-1145
www.umass.edu
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9-1; Wednesday and Friday 9-12
Schedule: September through June
Directions: Located downtown in the church building between the Post Office and Bart’s. Please use rear entrance.

Belchertown Family Center
720 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
413-283-7594
www.belchertownfamilycenter.org
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 9:30-11:30am (school year)
Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-11:30am (summer)
Directions: Located on Rte. 181 five miles south of Belchertown Center.

Cummington Family Center
33 Main St.
Cummington, MA 01026
413-634-5362
www.cummingtonfamilycenter.org
Hours: Wednesday and Friday 9:30-11:30am
Thursday 10:00am-12:00pm: drop-in time for parents with infants
Schedule: October-May
Directions: Enter in back of the Community House on Main St. in Cummington.

Easthampton Family Center
Mailing Address: Easthampton, MA 01027
Play-and-Learn Groups: Christ United Methodist Church
271 Rocky Hill Rd. (Rte. 66), Florence, MA
Call or check website for special events in Easthampton
413-563-7672
www.easthamptonfamilycenter.org
Hours: Wednesday and Friday 10-12
During September, October, May, June, July, and August families gather weekly
at an Easthampton playground, weather permitting. Call for location.
Schedule: Public school calendar for indoor play-and-learn groups

Gateway Family Center
Hilltown Social Services Building
9 Russell Rd.
Huntington, MA 01050
413-667-2203 x3
Hours: Wednesday and Friday 10-12; Monday 3-4: parent-child exercise group
Schedule: Year round
Directions: Located across from the Fire Station at 9 Russell Rd. (Rte. 20).

Northampton Parents Center
297 Main St., Lower Level
Northampton, MA 01060
413-582-2636
www.northamptonparentscenter.org
Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:30-11:30am
Schedule: Mid-September through May
Directions: Located in the Edwards Church building, lower level, corner of State and Main Streets. Please use rear entrance.

South Hadley Family Center
7 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
413-533-7096
www.shfamilycenter.org
Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:30-11:30am
Schedule: Mid- September through May
Directions: Located in the All Saints Episcopal Church building on Rte. 116, across from the Post Office in South Hadley Center.

Ware Family Center
49 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
413-967-8127
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 9:30-11:30am
Schedule: Mid-September through May
Directions: Located in the United Church of Ware building.
Church St. is uphill from Rte. 9 in Ware Center.

All Family Centers sponsor activities at times other than the drop-in play-and-learn times listed here.

For more information about family centers, please contact:

Corky Klimczak
Hampshire County Family Network Coordinator
Hampshire Educational Collaborative
413-586-4998 x104 or 800-519-1882 x104
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Hampshire County Family Network Brochure (2 Page PDF)

HATFIELD PARENT / CHILD ACTIVITIES

Activities for families with young children in Hatfield are offered throughout the year. Every Thursday morning at 11:00 there is a story time for preschool-aged children. In the course of this hour-long program, children, along with their parents or caregivers, listen to stories, enjoy finger plays, sing, join in a musical play along, and engage in an arts and craft activity.

“Playshops” are free performances or events for children to attend with their parents. They provide Hatfield families with opportunities to come together and share in fun and enriching experiences. There have been marionette shows, musical concerts, story tellers and live animal presentations. We’ve also held ice cream socials and pizza parties. If you want to receive e-mail notices of upcoming playshops, send a note to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


EASTHAMPTON LIBRARY STORY HOUR

Free story hours at the Emily Williston Memorial Library on the first and third Wednesdays and Thursdays of each month during the school year. The Wednesday session is 1:30-2:30pm and Thursday's is 10:30-11:30am. Registration is encouraged but not required. Please call 413-529-1605 to register and for additional information.