Lunch & Learn: The ABCs of Play ✨🍎 (Gardner MA)

Think prepping your child for school means flashcards and worksheets? Think again! 🧠💡

FREE for all families — light lunch included!

Join us for a lively and interactive Lunch & Learn where we’ll explore how play—not pressure—is the key to building your child’s confidence, curiosity, and classroom readiness. Whether your little one is a toddler, prepping for Pre-K, or heading into kindergarten, this session will give you practical tools to support their growth and learning through everyday play.

🎯 What you’ll learn:
Discover how playful moments at home can build your child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development—whether they’re a curious toddler or a soon-to-be kindergartener.

🎨✨💬 You'll discover the ABCs of Play framework:

🔤 A is for Attachment — Build strong emotional bonds that help your child feel secure and ready to explore.

👫 B is for Belonging — Use play to nurture social skills, friendships, and cooperation.

🔍 C is for Curiosity — Inspire imagination and a lifelong love of learning through hands-on discovery.

📅 Date: Wednesday, Aug. 27
🕛 Time: 12-1 PM
📍 Location: Gardner Family Resource Center, 205 School Street, Suite 302, Gardner, MA 01440|
🍴 A light lunch will be served
🧸 Childcare available with RSVP

This workshop is FREE and open to all families—in and beyond Greater Gardner.

🎟️ Space is limited, so reserve your spot today.

📧 Questions? Contact FRC Director Summer Haggerty-Meeker at:
U3VtbWVyICEgSGFnZ2VydHlNZWVrZXIgfCBjc29pbmMgISBvcmc=

Let’s make learning playful again! 🌈

#GardnerMA #GardnerFRC

Gardner Family Resource Center (FRC)
205 School Street, Suite 302
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 730-1275

######
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗥𝗖
The Gardner Family Resource Center (FRC) is a program of nonprofit community behavioral health agency Clinical & Support Options (csoinc.org).

It is open weekdays to provide free multi-cultural parenting and kid-friendly programs, mental health needs assessment, job/housing referrals, and school-focused help for families whose children range in age from birth to 18 years without any need for insurance.

Massachusetts Family Resource Centers (frcma.org) have been operating since 2015, with FRCs in each of the state’s 14 counties.
The Gardner FRC primarily serves the Greater Gardner area, but would welcome any nearby family looking for support, referrals or community.

######
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗖
Family Resource Centers, like the one in Gardner, are designed to be accessible solutions for families seeking health, safety, educational and employment services.

CSO’s team at the GB FRC are trained and ready to help local families with a broad range of concerns, including:

• 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 — Find help looking for employment, exploring career options, and discovering which jobs are a good fit.
• 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 — Attend parenting groups with onsite child care.
• 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 — Develop positive parenting skills that will improve a child’s growth and development. Participate in playgroups and activities.
• 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Get study support for adult GED testing.
• 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 — Obtain direct assistance or referrals to groups that promote family unity and successful life skills.
• 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 — Attend workshops and consultations to manage a budget, save for the future, or repair credit.
• 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 — Navigate the system to find ways of meeting housing needs.
• 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 — Get help working with local juvenile courts to identify services for youth.
• 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤 — Join supportive, social networking groups for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer teens and families.
• 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 — Identify potential medical services.
• 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 — Engage in an atmosphere of support and wellness, with clinical referrals available.
• 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 — Connect and learn from other parents/guardians, grandparents, and youth.
• 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 & 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱 — Ensure children receive the support and resources they need with homework, school plans, and more.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 — Access local support groups. Connect with outpatient and/or residential treatment programs.

The 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗥𝗖 is located at 𝟮𝟬𝟱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁, Suite 302. It is open for walk-ins and by appointment each weekday.
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟵𝟳𝟴-𝟳𝟯𝟬-𝟭𝟮𝟳𝟱.

You may also like the following events from Gardner Family Resource Center (205 School Street, Suite 301, Gardner, MA):

• This Saturday, 9th August, 09:00 am, Family Tie Dye Party: Bandanas in Gardner
• This month, 23rd August, 09:00 am, Back to School Celebration (Gardner MA) in Gardner
• This month, 28th August, 05:00 pm, Nurturing Fathers: A 13-Week Supportive Group for Dads (Gardner MA) in Gardner

Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Gardner, Workshops in Gardner, Meetups in Gardner.