The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Family Fun Day promotes school readiness
OberlinKids hopes to help children, families through early learning, kindergarten skills
Early learning, community spirit and the change of seasons to autumn were part of the morning for Oberlin youngsters, their families and staff of programs to support them. OberlinKids held Family Fun Day on Oct. 9 in the East College Street Courtyard, located behind Slow Train Cafe, 55 E. College St.
OberlinKids’ partner agencies set up tables with snacks, markers, books and crafts.
Children could decorate pumpkins that later were a key ingredient for pumpkin bread recipes given away for families.
Collaboration
OberlinKids started in 2014 and is funded by United Way of Greater Lorain County.
It is one of community collaboratives around the county that aims to ensure every child enters kindergarten ready to learn, said Director Jenn Keathley.
The organization had more activities before the novel coronavirus pandemic, but has adapted, Keathley said.
For example, the in-person play groups evolved to become monthly literacy kits for families to work on at home.
“And they’ve been phenomenal,” she said.
OberlinKids has a roster of about 275 children, estimated to be about 85 percent of the preschoolers in Oberlin, Keathley said.
The goal is to reach every family who has a girl or boy growing up to kindergarten age.
“We just help the whole family because if the parents’ needs aren’t met, the child’s needs are less likely to be met,” Keathley said. “Through the tyranny of the moment, you can’t afford to put food on the table, you’re not going to sit down and have time to play educational games, you’re going to be at work.
“So we help the whole family,” with programs such as parent education sessions, an online book club and online social and emotional screenings for children age 2 months to 5 ½ years, she said.
Getting out
Anita Perkins-Tate, a 37year educator and 25-year classroom teacher in the Chicago area, had her family move to Oberlin in April.
She brought grandsons Dorian Heeg, 4, and Asher Tate, 18 months, for the Family Fun Day.
Heeg turned 4 in the summer and the family began inquiring about preschool enrollment.
They received a mailed OberlinKids newsletter and learned about Oberlinbased KidSpeak, a speech language pathology consultant.
That inspired the visit to the Family Fun Day.
Dorian is not yet in preschool, but Perkins-Tate said she hopes to teach her grandson so he can achieve first-grade level instruction when he enters kindergarten.
“This is awesome though,” she said. “More parents need to know so they can help their children out. The children are our future. This is our future.”
Making contact
There were crafts and games for the children and for parents, first aid kits packed in bright orange pouches with clips to hang on a backpack or diaper bag.
“Because you always need Band-Aids at the park, whether there’s real booboos or not,” Keathley said.
It’s also a visual cue for parents to connect, especially as people maintain distances due to COVID-19.
“If it’s out and visible, it is a signal to other families, hey, approach me, please come up and talk to me, we want to make friends,” Keathley said.
The two-hour gathering was a collaboration with United Way of Greater Lorain County pop-up Homecoming 2021.
It also was an extension of the Oberlin Business Partnership’s Second Saturday promotions to encourage residents and visitors to patronize the city’s merchants.
Extending the season
OberlinKids staff were part of the Second Saturday events during the summer. Keathley credited KidSpeak owner and clinician Laura Slocum for adding the Family Fun Days in September and October.
The courtyard “became a really popular place for people to hang out on a Saturday morning, so we decided we’d continue with it as long as the weather’s nice,” Slocum said. “And we’ll see in November if the weather allows us to continue or not.”
Other participants included ReadUp!, the literacy and tutoring business of Maureen Simen, who also works with Oberlin Business Partnership; and the Child Care Resource Center of Lorain, a regional nonprofit that supports families and child care providers.
If you go
A similar family gathering
is the Rising Titans Trunk or Treat scheduled noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at Black River Landing in Lorain.
There will be games, crafts and the first 75 attendees will get free string backpacks and two children’s books.
United Way of Greater Lorain County supports the Rising Titans kindergarten readiness program with Lorain City Schools and a number of other partner agencies.