By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Hearts & Lives is planning a craft and activity day for youngsters ages 4 to 10 years old on Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at their office on Lake Drive in Crestline. They hope to see at least 50 come to this event, as this fun program is open to all. They will be making snowman craft stick decorations and other tree ornaments.
There will be hot chocolate and cookies and the children will play games and have other holiday activities.
Santa will be there, so parents are encouraged to bring their cameras or cell phones to capture the moment. Santa will have gifts for the younger children who attend.
This activity will introduce parents to the variety of programs that Hearts & Lives offers. The nonprofit offers accurate and complete evaluations of young children that may be necessary to make a difference in their lives through their early identification and intervention services. These services will help any child who may be struggling with a learning, behavioral or emotional problems.
These early childhood screenings and interventions can be important, leading to a child’s successful lifelong learning. They can identify whether a child is meeting age-appropriate milestones in play, learning, speaking and behavior, from birth though 5 years. These screenings are designed to help parents learn about their child’s development and understand their child’s strengths, weaknesses or needs and how to support them and help them thrive.
If an intervention is warranted, Hearts & Lives will help each child reach their optimal development, with support, techniques and guidance, which parents may use in the home and for school success. The problems that may need an intervention include aggressive behavior or a short attention span and excessive tantrums. Infants who are difficult to comfort or who have sleep difficulties may be helped with their techniques. Those with speech difficulties, such as stuttering or poor sound formations, are best assisted early in childhood, as they learn to speak, through speech therapy.
Children who may have had prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol should be screened at Hearts & Lives. Children with those prenatal exposures could develop some future problems that are best dealt with at a young age. They do not judge and only want the best for the children.
The wide variety of services offered at Hearts & Lives is provided through a contract with San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health and costs are covered through a combination of funding between Medi-Cal, MHSA, and First 5 San Bernardino. However, children are not required to have Medi-Cal to receive these services, which are provided by clinicians and rehabilitation specialists from Hearts and Lives.
All who are interested are invited to attend this children’s craft and activity day on Dec. 15 at the Hearts & Lives office at 24028 Lake Drive in Crestline. There is parking behind the building in the upper parking lot.
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