To sign up, visit http://somersetaccesstv.org/

The Boys & Girls Club’s atrium is now home to 105 pieces of art using various media made by 54 students from kindergarten to high school. Peter McCarthy, the club’s executive director, said the entire project was made possible by $16,000 in grants.

Students used to go to the club’s art room and draw what they pleased, but McCarthy said the grants have allowed the club to hire instructors to teach specific art methods.

“We hope that this program will help to create awareness for some members that may not attend our art room, students that will see this artwork and realize that ‘Hey, I can do that’ or ‘I can draw like that,’” McCarthy said. 

Youth Services Director Adam Coderre said instructors taught a number of different methods, including multicolor design, water color, mixed media and more to give the students more direction.

“It went from October to December and was between four to five times each week rather than just once a week,” said Coderre. “Sure, there were some growing pains with students used to being able to walk in there and do their own thing before, but they got used to it and the results were amazing.” 

Katie Grinnell, a B.M.C. Durfee senior, headed up the Boys & Girls Club Art program. She said it was incredible to finally see the finished results after so many months of working with the students.

“I’m so proud of all the kids and the work they did. Many of them liked to draw but it was difficult at first to get them into being instructed,” Grinnell said. “But everything looks so professional. It’s more than I ever could have dreamed of.”

Twelve-year-old Jayson Caballero said the instruction gave him valuable knowledge.

“They taught me how to hold a pencil, keep moving forward and never give up,” said Caballero, who stenciled a picture of a cat. “It’s something I’ll try to keep getting better at.”

Mandy Ducy, 26, whose high school artwork was displayed in the atrium under the “alumni” category as a former member of the Boys & Girls Club, said it was nice to see her old artwork on display and for the other students to have a place where their art can shine.

“It gives them a little outlet, allows them to be creative,” said Ducy. “With art being cut from so many schools, it’s nice that kids have the opportunity to come and do fine art somewhere else.”
Coderre said the art classes and supplies were free to Boys & Girls Club members. The exhibit age categories were 9 and under; 10 to 12; and 13 to 18. More than a dozen pieces were awarded first-prize ribbons in their respective media and will have the opportunity to compete at a regional level next in Groton, Conn. Any artwork that makes it past the regional level will then compete at the national level at the Boys & Girls Club headquarters in Atlanta.

Marissa Surgens, 13, said she was proud of her water color artwork that was on display, but even prouder that it was tabbed as a first-place prize winner.

“This was a great program,” said Surgens. “I have never done anything like this before.”
The art exhibit will be on display Tuesday to Friday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Feb. 12.

E-mail Jay Pateakos at jpateakos@heraldnews.com.

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Gymnastics will be offered from on Tuesday nights from March 2 to April 6, in the North Elementary School gymnasium. There will be two class times available: 6 to 6:50 p.m. and 7 to 7:50 p.m. The cost is $30 per child.

The hip hop dance class will be offered Thursday nights at the South Elementary School, from March 4 to April 8. There will be a 6 to 7 p.m. class for children ages 5 to 10 and a class for children ages 11 and older from 7 to 8 p.m. The fee for this program is $30 per child. Classes may be combined depending on enrollment.

There will be judo classes offered for kids age 6 and older Wednesday evenings, from March 3 to April 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at North Elementary School. Cost is $40.

Registered yoga teacher Diane Rodrigues, the former owner of Infinity Yoga & Wellness Center, will teach a six-week basic yoga series that will include breathing techniques along with basic yoga postures geared to stretch the body, mind and spirit.

All levels are welcome. A yoga mat is required. Classes will be held Wednesdays, March 3 to April 7, from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Elementary gymnasium. Cost is $40 for the six-week session.

Boy who enjoy reading science fiction and general fiction will find plenty of interesting books to read in this group.

The group will meet once a month on Mondays, beginning Feb. 8, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The first book will be “Artemis Fowl” by Eoin Colfer. Space is limited. Call 508-674-9609 to register.

The Parents as Teachers Program is offering a free informational session dealing with the sleep patterns of children.

“A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Sleep” will be held on March 10 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Pocasset Elementary School.

The session is being presented by Dr. Judith Owens, director of the Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Learning, Attention and Behavior Program at Rhode Island Hospital.

Topics covered during the presentation include the basics of sleep changes and requirements in young children, the relationship between inadequate sleep and learning, behavior and health and common sleep disorders including night wakings, sleep walking, sleep terrors and sleep apnea.

Registration is free for the session. Those interested should contact Tiverton Parents as Teachers Coordinator Joan Macomber at jmaccaper@yahoo.com or 401-683-0166.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/in_brief/x1878073908/Kids-can-take-part-in-Valentine-Cookie-Creation-event-Feb-13

Kids can decorate Valentine cookies with frosting and candies on Saturday, Feb. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. at Swansea Mall as part of the Valentine Cookie Creation event, which is open to the first 100 kids who sign up in advance at the mall’s customer service center.

The event is part of Swansea Mall’s Kids Crew, a club featuring free events for kids ages 4 to 12.

Members receive a membership card and flyers with information about upcoming activities e-mailed to them. Membership is free.

For more information, call 508-679-2543.

Visit www.visitswanseamall.com or become their fan on Facebook to find out more about upcoming mall events.

Toilet training any child can be a challenging task, but toilet training children with developmental disabilities can be particularly daunting for caregivers. Often, these children respond best to intensive toilet training programs based on the principles of behavior analysis.
In their book, “Toilet Training in Less than a Day,” Nathan Azrin and Richard Foxx describe toilet training procedures based on the principles of behavior analysis. These procedures work well with typically developing children and may be helpful to parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities.

Before parents start toilet training, they should find strong rewards to entice and encourage their child. Depending on the child’s preferences, edible items or access to new or favorite toys may provide effective reinforcement.

Sometimes, children may have already developed challenging behaviors in the bathroom and may be unwilling to sit on the toilet. In these cases, parents might start by rewarding the child for simply entering the bathroom, then for approaching the toilet, and eventually for sitting on the toilet for progressively longer periods.

Often, children with developmental disabilities may not have a way to communicate their need to use the toilet. Teaching the child to use sign language to request the toilet or give the parent a picture of the toilet or a small dollhouse-size toilet may enable him or her to communicate the need to use the bathroom.

If parents choose to use an intensive toilet training approach, they can begin by having their child sit on the toilet until s/he urinates. When the child is successful, parents should celebrate and present him or her with the reward.

After the child has experienced some success, s/he can wear underwear and sit next to the toilet. If the child shows signs of needing to use the toilet, the parent can use very mild prompts to encourage the child to go to the toilet. Parents should be careful not to offer prompts too often or too strongly so the child does not become dependent on the prompts. The child should stay in the bathroom next to the toilet until s/he can get up and approach the toilet independently when s/he needs to use it. After the child experiences more success, the chair can very gradually be moved away from the toilet.

During toilet training, children learn that keeping their pants clean and dry is desirable. Parents can set a timer and reward their child every few minutes for keeping dry, clean pants.
What about toileting accidents? For some children, earning rewards and enjoying the feeling of clean, dry pants is effective, but other children benefit from correction procedures. Often these procedures include both practice and restitution components. For example, the child may be required to practice going from the site of the accident to the toilet several times. The child might also help clean up the site of the accident and change their clothing.

Toilet training children with developmental disabilities may be very taxing; but helping them learn this very important skill will build their independence and contribute to their continued success at home, in school environments, and out in the community.

Shannon Kay,, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is director of the May Center for Child Development in West Springfield. She can be contacted at skay@mayinstitute.org.

Two six-week art classes will be held at Union United Methodist Church, 600 Highland Ave. Alan Iveson, M.F.A., will instruct both sessions.

An art class for children ages 7 to 12 will begin Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The course will include drawing, watercolor painting and paper sculpture for beginner and intermediate students. A variety of media will be used, such as pencils, charcoals, pastels, watercolors and ink. Class fee is $50 with supplies included. Gift cards are available for the holidays.

An adult and teen drawing class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting on Feb. 16. The course will include drawing with pencils, charcoals, pastels and ink wash.

A variety of and subjects will be covered, such as landscape, still-life and portraits. The program is for beginner and intermediate students. It offers a hands-on course in the basics of drawing techniques. Class fee is $50, which includes supplies.

Pre-payment and registration is necessary. To register, call Iveson at 508-672-3153.