Languages Spoken: Spanish,
Hebrew, Russian, Cantonese, Sign Language, French, Portuguese
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Thom Mystic Valley
Early Intervention Program offers a variety of community playgroups.
Specific groups change from time to time based on family and child
needs and interests. Please call the program at 781-932-2888 or speak
to your service coordinator for up-to-date information regarding group
times, types and space availability. A number of places in each group
are reserved for children who are not enrolled in Early Intervention.
Early Intervention professionals who may include Developmental Educators,
Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational or Physical Therapists,
Teaching Assistants and Counselors, provide staffing for all Mystic
Valley groups. Some groups may also be staffed in collaboration with
another community program.
Groups Currently Offered Include:
Jump Jiggle & Jive™ is a
movement and music program for young children and their parents
or caregivers. The intent and focus of the program is on the process
of adults and children having fun while making music together. Each
session of Jump, Jiggle & Jive™ is composed of 6 classes.
Each class is one hour long and occurs once a week. Classes may
not be held during the holidays. The current sessions are held at
the Arlington Boy's and Girl's Club and are facilitated by members
of Thom Mystic Valley Early Intervention staff.
There are aslo currently five Community
Play Groups held at our Woburn Early Intervention Center.
Each group lasts approximately 2 hours. Some groups offer a parent
support/discussion group which runs at the same time as the child
group. Parents have the option of participating in the child group
if preferred. Days and times of community groups and parent support
groups vary, but there are available options on most days of the
week.
While each group is somewhat different based on the specific ages
and needs/interests of the children attending, there are some common
threads. All the groups offer a language rich, nurturing and safe
environment where children have the opportunity to explore and play
with their peers. Staff maintain a consistent routine of activities
including free play, motor play, snack, circle time, pretend and
manipulative play. The high staff to child ratio, with at least
one adult to every three children, allows staff to facilitate child
to child peer interaction and learning in all areas of development.
Thom Mystic Valley Early Intervention also runs or participates
in Off Site Community Groups within
the local communities we serve. Currently, we participate in a playgroup
located at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, the Woburn Boys and
Girls Club and St. Thomas of Villanova Church Hall in Wilmington
and additional venues are being explored. These groups are Parent
- Child Groups, meaning that a parent or caregiver participates
in the group. The groups offer activities such as art, music and
play that enhance children's development in all areas. Children
gain peer learning and socialization opportunities while parents
gain information about community resources and make connections
with other parents with young children. Early Intervention professionals
are on-hand to provide guidance around early childhood development.
These groups are somewhat less structured than the groups at the
Early Intervention site and have a lower ratio of staff to children.
A Parent Group is offered at the same time as many of the
child playgroups at our Early Intervention site. The groups run
for 1½ hours, allowing parents time to separate from their child
in a relaxed manner and to talk with the child group staff at the
end of the playgroup. The parent groups are safe and confidential;
are typically led by experienced EI professionals; and provide the
opportunity for parents to meet and discuss issues which impact
on themselves and their families. Frequently discussed topics include
developmental needs of young children, medical issues, community
resources, siblings, sleep, school transitions and the impact of
children on adult relationships.
An Adoption Group is held at our Woburn Early Intervention
site each Thursday morning. Each session lasts for 2 hours. The
group is designed for children who have been adopted internationally
and focuses on developing language, motor, social and play skills
in a structured play setting. Children attend with their parent
or caregiver who participates in the beginning of the group. An
optional support/inform ation sharing parent group is offered concurrent
with the child group.
Specialty groups such as Feeding Groups, Sibling Groups or Parent-
Baby Groups are offered on an occasional or "as needed" basis.
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