At the Charleston office, TAP has a great Community Room and Family Resource Room where parents or others may receive support services. Some of the items in the Resource Room include; books, DVDs and Videos, free tip sheets, computers, social skills games, and brochures to other community, state and federal agencies. The TAP Staff are willing to create custom visual aids for children and are willing to train parents, caregivers, and mentors on Autism Spectrum Disorders at no cost.

TAP offers a Free Social Skills Group in Charleston every Tuesday from 5:30pm until 6:30pm. The group is for children ages 7-11. If you are interested in having your child attend the event you will need to register. Please contact Teasha at (217) 348-3869 ext. 10 or email her at teashawalker@ctfillinois.org. The Charleston Autism Program office is located at 689 Castle Drive in Charleston.

Effingham programs that TAP offers include a Social Skills Group and a Sibshop. Sipshop is a group focused on the siblings of children with an autism spectrum diagnosis. For more information about the Effingham program, please contact Kristen Elie at (217) 348-3869 or through email at kristinelie@ctfillinois.org.

May 11th at 6pm at the Helen Matthes Library. Come make a card suitable for Mother’s Day or a birthday. Registration required. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Teen Art Event

May 11th from 6-8pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 13-18. Learn about Jackson Pollock and make your own splatter paint art. Plus free snacks! Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Mother’s Day Tea

May 12th at 2pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 10-12. Celebrate Mother’s Day by having tea with mom. There will also be games and other activities to do. Registration required. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Annual Champagne Mother’s Day Brunch

May 13th from 9:30am-1:30pm at the Keller Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom. Over 50 dishes as well as a special dessert table. For more information, call 217-347-5115.

Art Attack

May 16th at 4pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 6 and up. Show your artistic side and display your work at the library. Registration required. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

School’s Out Movie

May 17th at 1pm at the Helen Matthes Library. Come watch Tintin (PG) with free popcorn! Kids 7 and under need an adult chaperone. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Wreck Lab

May 18th from 6-7:30pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 10 and up. Take apart an old computer and reassemble it into art to take home! Registration required. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Family Bike Event

May 19th at 1pm at the Helen Matthes Library. Bring your bike for care and safety tips from the folks at Bike and Hike. Afterward, head to the Bike and Hike store for a tour, raffle and refreshments. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Tween Art

May 22nd from 1-2pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 10-12. Create your own masterpiece on the wall in the Luttrell Room. Registration required. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Teen Manga Madness

May 24th from 2-3pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 13-18. Like anime? Come for a trivia contest and then create your own superhero! Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Homeschool Happening

May 25th from 2-4pm at the Helen Matthes Library. Come for fun art projects with other homeschoolers. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

Watson Area Homecoming

May 26th & 27th. There will be a memorial church service, parade, Queen Pageant and much more! For more information, call 217-536-6046.

Tween Book Club

May 30th from 1-2pm at the Helen Matthes Library for ages 10-12. Come discuss Warriors: Into The Wild. Registration required. Visit www.effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464

May 11th at 6pm at the Charleston City Hall basement. Come watch Cars 2 (G) and enjoy pizza, popcorn and drinks. $5/person. Visit www.charlestonillinois.org or call 217-345-6897

Brownie Girl Scouts: Plants

May 12th from 2-3:30pm at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center. Come work on your Eco-Action Badge. $2/scout. To register visit www.dhnature.org or call 235-4644.

The Princess Ball

May 12th at 5pm at the Salvation Army. Bring your girls and dress for the Princess Ball. RSVP to Captain Erin, at 217-234-3915 ext. 223 by May 4th.

Lego Club

May 16th from 3:30-5pm at the Charleston Library. Ages Kindergarten and up are invited to come build friendships and have fun at the same time! Visit www.charlestonlibrary.org or call 217-345-4913

Astronomy Night

May 22nd from 8-9pm at the Charleston Library parking lot. Get a good look at the night sky through a telescope or binoculars. All ages invited, but children under 12 will need to bring an adult. For more information, call 217-345-1514.

Community Band

The Community Band is looking for people to join. Jr. High—Adult musicians are encouraged to join. Practices are on Tuesdays and shows are on Thursday evenings at Kiwanis Park. For more information,  call 217-345-6897 or 217-345-7790.

Trenton & Nikki

Natalee & Vanessa

John & Mathew

5 Match Anniversaries

Megan & Lisa

Nicole & April

McKinlee & Ciara

Kayla & Layn

LaKayla & Vanessa

Premiere Nights when you can schedule your teams to bowl are available on Friday nights at Mattoon Bowl in April and early May with shifts at 4:00, 5:30, and 7:00 pm. Call now to schedule your teams!

Teams consist of 4-6 bowlers. Individual bowlers collect pledges totaling $50 and enjoy FREE bowling, FREE food, FREE drinks, FREE FUN and a chance to win prizes! Minimum pledges of $100 will get you a Bowl for Kids’ Sake T-shirt and enter you in the drawing for $100 Wal-Mart Gift Cards!

Prizes for top fundraisers!

New this year….prizes for best closest to the theme team!

Come dressed up, bring props, have fun with it!

For sign-up information and pledge sheets contact: Mid-Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Contact: Toq Lawrence

Phone: 217-348-8741

Fax: 217-348-8660

Email: tlawrencebbbs@consolidated.net

First off, your child needs to understand the difference between a “good” stranger and a “bad” stranger. Not all unknown people are necessarily bad or dangerous.

Examples of a “good” stranger  may include police officers, security guards, teachers, store clerks, etc. These are all examples of people to turn to if a child is ever lost, scared, threatened or if they think someone might be following them.

If a child is ever approached by a “bad” stranger who tries to lure or pull them away, the best thing to do is get the attention of other adults; whether that is by running to the nearest home or making enough noise to be heard by someone. The vast majority of adults will help a child in danger.

Other tips for kids include knowing your name, address and phone number in case you get lost. Use the buddy system to avoid walking alone. Trust your instincts if you feel you are being followed and seek help immediately. Try to remember the license plate number of the vehicle following you and tell it to a trusted adult. If a stranger approaches you, do not speak to them, no matter what they tell you. Just keep walking.

And if a stranger does grab you, do everything you can to stop them from pulling you away or dragging you to their car. Try to attract attention to yourself and yell “this is not my mom” or “this is not my dad!”

Adopted from www.my childsafety.net Teaching Children About Stranger Danger

Some reasons why kids avoid school

• A bully may be bothering them
• problem with a teacher or friends
• the school work is too easy or too hard
• changes at home
• shyness or feel nervous about entering a new school or grade.

Some ways teachers/parents/Bigs can help

• Don’t just tell them they have to go to school, give them a reason.
• Explain how going to school will give them a chance to learn and experience new things.
• If your child is shy, encourage them to join an after school club or activity.
• Get your child extra help if they are having trouble with their school work
• Talk to teachers and counselors to keep up to date on bully situations.

Some things your child can do to reduce stress

Caring adults, whether parents, teachers, counselors or friends, can help children during this time. If adults are open, honest and loving, experiencing the loss of someone loved can be a chance for young people to learn about both the joy and pain that comes from caring deeply for others.

Some possible behaviors children might express during this time are occasional regressive behavior, mood swings, hides feelings, acts like the death never happened, aggressive behavior, withdrawn, nightmares or trouble sleeping, concentration difficulties, changes in grades, impulse or high risk behaviors, change in peer groups, fighting, screaming or arguing and changes in eating patterns.

Ways adults can help are offer comfort, expect and accept mood swings, allow hidden feelings unless there is a risk of harm, encourage expression of feelings through writing, art, music, sport, etc., support relationships with other understanding adults, be available to listen and talk, answer questions truthfully, share your grief, watch for high risk behaviors and encourage peer support.

Adopted from “Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief” and “Navigating Children’s Grief: How to Help Following a Death”