DREAM (Doing Right Every Available Moment) for Kids is a group of individuals who have a unified dream for children in the Big Stone Lake area; a dream where all children are able to grow up in a family and a community that cares for, supports, and protects them as they grow to become healthy and productive adults.
DREAM for Kids is here to help you find the resources you need to be the best parent you can be
for your children.
Check out the calendar and blog on this website for upcoming programs/workshops/events.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns:
dreamforkids.BigStoneLakeArea@gmail.com
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HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
RESOURCES
- Bullying Information Center
A collection of bullying related articles, along with a “quick guide to reducing bullying” - Countryside Public Health
Health related resources and information - Kids Health
“Information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years” provided in easy to understand language with separate sections for parents, kids, and teens - Love and Logic®
“Simple and easy to use techniques to help parents have more fun and less stress while raising responsible kids of all ages” - Minnesota Department of Human Services
Information and resources that “help keep children safe and provide families with support to care for their children. This includes child protective services, out-of-home care, permanent homes for children, and children’s mental health services.” - Minnesota Judicial Branch: Self-Help Center
Resources related to legal questions/issues - Minnesota Statewide Family Network
“Expands opportunities and enhances the lives of children with mental health disorders and their families”
- Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota
“Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota offers direct and indirect child abuse and neglect prevention programs and resources” - Shoulder to Shoulder
“Practical, evidence-based information and tools to support parents of teens” - Stop Bullying
“StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying” - We Can Parent Together
“Tips for parents to come together for the benefit of your child”
DREAM FOR KIDS PROGRAMS
Listen and Learn Buddy Program
Volunteer Listen and Learn Buddies meet with Mrs. Thompson’s 2nd grade students at the Ortonville elementary school on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month between 10:30-11:05 from October through April. Buddies help students develop spelling, reading, and math skills. We are currently interested in implementing this program at the Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley elementary school. If you’re interested in any aspect of the Listen and Learn Buddy Program, please contact us with Listen and Learn Buddy in the subject line.
Lunch Buddy Program
Volunteer Lunch Buddies have a regular 20 minute lunch date twice a month with students in kindergarten and/or first grade at the Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (1st and 3rd Tuesdays) or Ortonville (2nd and 4th Tuesdays) elementary school from October through April. If you’re interested in more information about the Lunch Buddy Program, please contact us with Lunch Buddy in the subject line.
Day Care Buddy Program
Daycare buddies will take place on the second Wednesday or Thursday morning of each month (depending on the daycare). Volunteers will spend 45-60 minutes at each daycare. There is no preparation necessary from the volunteers, just show up and be ready to play. Volunteers will help by sitting in the circle during circle time to help keep children focused on the story, participating in the finger plays/songs, helping with the craft, helping clean up the craft area, and playing with the kids during a free play involving fine motor and gross motor activities. If you’re interested in more information about the Daycare Buddy Program, please contact us with Lunch Buddy in the subject line.
Love and Logic® Parenting Sessions
“Love and Logic® provides simple and easy to use techniques to help parents have more fun and less stress while raising responsible kids of all ages.” Classes are held in various communities throughout Big Stone County during the year. Watch our site for upcoming sessions. If you’re interested in facilitating a series for your congregation, organization, staff or community, please contact us with Love and Logic Parenting Sessions in the subject line. For more information about what Love and Logic is, visit www.loveandlogic.com
Parent Cafés
“Conversations with other parents about what it takes to keep our own families strong.” Training sessions for parent leaders for the cafés in Big Stone County will begin in the Fall of 2011. If you are interested in being a parent leader, please contact us with Parent Cafés in the subject line. More information about Parent Cafés within Big Stone County coming soon. For more information about what Parent Cafés are, visit http://keepyourfamilystrong.org
Parents Forever
“Parents Forever is an educational program developed by the University of Minnesota Extension, based on research about the effects of divorce on children. When parents attend the complete parents forever class series, they learn valuable skills and tools that will help reduce the effects of divorce on children and themselves. They will learn how to: eliminate parental conflict in front of the child, keep the child out of the middle of parent issues, provide access to both parents, put the best interest of the child first, make adjustments in their finances to account for the financial changes that divorce brings, work with the legal process rather than against it, and form a new ‘pathway’ in life after divorce.” While Big Stone County does not currently have this program, DREAM for Kids would like to start one if there’s enough parent interest. If you are interested in either participating or facilitating, please contact us with Parents Forever Program in the subject line. For more information, visit www.extension.umn.edu/ParentsForever/
Shoulder to Shoulder-Raising Teens Together
So, you’re having a teenager. Believe it or not, teen years are good years. (Read this phrase again for positive reinforcement.) There is no one way to parent teens – each teen is unique. Through Shoulder to Shoulder, you’ll find ideas to try and strategies that may work well for you. The information you gain can affirm your wisdom, as well as provide you with support as you guide your teen into young adulthood. Welcome to the ride (and buckle up). More information on this program coming soon. If you are interested in participating in this program, contact us with Shoulder to Shoulder in the subject line.
ECFE
Classes for parents and children age newborn to 5 years. Contact Laura Lamb with any questions: Laura.Lamb@ortonville.k12.mn.us
Please contact us with any additional programs you would like to see implemented in Big Stone
County.
