The Children's Place

Trying something new can be scary, especially for a child who has experienced a traumatic event. A child recently got to try water coloring for the first time in an art therapy session, which was a bit scary for her. She decided to invite her friend Rudy Bear into the activity. She set Rudy Bear next to her with a separate paper and paintbrush. The child would paint a few strokes, and then she helped Rudy Bear paint a few strokes. With Rudy Bear at her side, she felt brave to try this new activity. Each child who completes services at The Children's Place leaves with their very own plush Rudy Bear. Just like our water-coloring friend, we believe that with Rudy Bear at their side, they can do anything.

Speech and language skills open up a child's world for them, allowing them to learn, talk with friends, and even develop their own inner monologue. But did you know that these skills can be affected when a child experiences a traumatic event? Thats why Rudy Bear's birthday wish is to give the children we serve the gift of language with speech therapy. Learn more and donate today to join us at Rudy Bear’s birthday party: https://lnkd.in/djhRSsM2 ??

There's never a dull moment here at The Children's Place. One of our diagnosticians was recently meeting with a child for an assessment, and the child asked her, "Are you old?" As one of our longest-tenured team members, she said, "Well, yes, I guess I am." The kiddo didn't miss a beat and said?"We're supposed to be nice to you then." We can always count on these little ones to tell us like it is!

You're invited to Rudy Bear's 4th birthday party! Join us two weeks from today for Giving Tuesday, where we will celebrate the birthday of Rudy Bear, the beloved symbol and welcoming face of The Children's Place, who is turning FOUR this Giving Tuesday. Rudy Bear has one birthday wish: To give the children we serve the gift of language through speech therapy. When a child experiences a traumatic event, this can cause a delay in their development, including their ability to speak. Our team of speech-language pathologists are here to support these little ones to build their ability to talk with friends, communicate their needs, thrive in school and so much more. Will you join us this Giving Tuesday to give children the gift of language? Learn more and kickstart our celebration for Rudy Bear here:?https://lnkd.in/djhRSsM2

Thank you to the?UMKC School of Dentistry for visiting our Day Treatment program last week to teach the children about the importance of oral healthcare. The kiddos loved their fun and energetic ways of talking about flossing, brushing and how to take care of their teeth. Do you need a dental home? UMKC School of Dentistry welcomes patients with Medicaid and offers free dental exams for children ages 3 and younger, regardless of insurance.?

Feeling nervous about starting a new daycare, our friend here took this photo with some of his favorite toys in the playroom to help ease the transition. We helped him print it off so that he could have a picture of his safe place even when he's somewhere new.

Join a holly jolly bar crawl through Westport, and make a difference for The Children's Place! When you buy a ticket to the Crawling Santa Charity Bar Crawl, we?receive a $15 donation per ticket.? This charity bar crawl is on Saturday, 12/7 from 2 - 6 p.m. in Westport, Kansas City. You'll enjoy a custom Crawling Santa sweatshirt, exclusive drink specials, and access to all participating bars. Come out for holiday fun for a purpose—grab your ticket today and select The Children's Place at checkout. ???:?www.crawlingsanta.com

Thank you to our friends at The Family Conservancy for inviting us to be a part of their United Way of Greater Kansas City kickoff earlier this week! Our Director of Counseling Services & Family Support Candis Boily shared about the work we do and how others can get involved. We're grateful for all who step up in support of children and families in Kansas City!

Big news! Last night The Children's Place?brought home not one, not two, but THREE Philly Awards! ??? Hosted by Nonprofit Connect, the Philly Awards recognize the best in nonprofit marketing, and we took home the following awards in the medium-sized organization division: ???GOLD for Annual Report?– Celebrating our 2023 publication? ???GOLD for Social Media Campaign?– For our outreach supporting children's mental health in the aftermath of the violence at the Chiefs' victory parade? ???GOLD for Social Media Brand Management?– Recognizing our overall social media presence across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Congratulations to our team on these impressive awards!

Step into one of our therapist's playrooms, and it might look just like a fun place to play. But these spaces are designed with great intentionality. In play therapy, toys provide words for young children, so our therapists carefully curate a wide range of toys in their play spaces to ensure children have the words they need to heal. In each of our playrooms, you will find a variety of areas for children to explore and work through emotions: ??? A play kitchen offers a space to play house and practice skills of nurturing either themselves or their therapist. ?? Scary things like handcuffs, swords or toy guns can offer a chance to act out things that are difficult or frustrating, or potentially to display curiosity about things they have seen. ?? A safe place such as a tent with comfy pillows gives children somewhere to withdraw for a calm moment. ?? Baby dolls give the chance to practice being calm, gentle and caring. ?? Expressive art materials like crayons, playdoh, paint and more can allow a child to express feelings or experiences using art. ?? A doctor's kit or supplies like bandaids can show literally or figuratively that there are ways to heal and keep ourselves healthy and safe. Learn more about our Counseling Center and the mental health therapy we offer for children ages eight and younger here: https://bit.ly/3Zm7gca