Family Resources
- Book Lists
- District Release of Records Forms
- Community Resources
- Free & Reduced Meal Information
- Summer Resources
Book Lists
Books For Adults
- A Framework for Understanding Poverty -Ruby K. Payne
- Why Gender Matters- Leonard Saxs
- Raising Resilient Children : Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child-Robert Brooks
- Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14 - Chip Wood
Books For Children
General
- The Missing Piece Meets the Big O - by Shel Silverstein
- The Other Side-by Jacqueline Woodson
- I’m Gonna Like Me -by Jaime Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell
Anxiety
- Wemberly Worried - by Kevin Henkes
- What to do When a Worry is Worrying You - by Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews
- Courage - by Bernard Waber
- Wilma Jean Worry Machine - by Julia Cook
- Ish - by Peter Reynolds
Friendship
- Stick Up For Yourself- by Gershen Laufman, Lev Raphael, and Pamela Espeland
- Enemy Pie - by Derek Munson
- We Can Work It Out- by Barbara K. Polland
- The Kids’ Guide to Working Out Conflicts- by Naomi Drew
- How to Say NO and Keep Your Friends- by Sharon Scott
- Cliques, Phonies, & Other Baloney- by Trevor Romain
- The Recess Queen - by Alexis O'Neill
- Stand up for Yourself- by American Girl
- Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon- by Patty Lovell
- Have You Filled a Bucket Today- by Carol McCloud
- My Secret Bully- Trudy Ludwig
- Nobody Knew What To Do- A Story About Bullying- Becky Ray McCain
Growth Mindset for Kids
- The Most Magnificent Thing - by Ashley Spires
- The Girl who Never Made Mistakes - by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
- Beautiful Oops - by Barney Saltzberg
- Fantastic Elastic Brain - by JoAnn Deak, Ph. D
Family
- Oh Brother…Oh, Sister!- by American Girl Library
- All Kinds Of Families-by Norma Simon
- The Family Book - by Todd Parr
Gender Identity and Expression
- I Am Jazz - by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
- Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress - by Christine Baldacchino
- Red: A Crayon’s Story - by Michael Hall
Divorce
- Divorce Happens to the Nicest Kids Revised- by Michael S. Prokop
- What in the World Do You Do When Your Parents Divorce- by Kent Winchester & Roberta Beyer
Transition
- The Kissing Hand - by Audrey Penn
- 25 Things to Do-by Laurie A. Kanyer
- Talking To Your Kids In Tough Times- by Willow Bay
- The Kissing Hand- by Audrey Penn
- The Night Before First Grade - by Natasha Wing
- Off to First Grade - by Louise Borden
- First Grade Jitters - by Robert Quakenbush
Grief and Loss
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf- Leo Buscaglia
- My Life Changed-A Journal for Coping with Loss & Grief-by Free Spirit Publishing
- The Goodbye Boat-by Mary Joslin
- The Kissing Hand- by Audrey Penn
ADHD
- The Seven Habits of Highly Successful ADDers-Dr. Edward Hallowell
- Delivered from Distraction- Dr. Edward Hallowell
Homework and Organization
- How to Homework Without Throwing Up - by Trevor Romain
Coping
Board games are a great way to teach coping. Some of my favorites are…
- Candyland
- Chutes and Ladders
- Trouble
- Parcheesi
- Uno
- Checkers
- Connect Four
- Jenga
District Release of Records Forms
Community Resources
Crisis Support
The website for Access Services is www.accessservices.org.
The Hotline number is 1-888-435-7414 for Children Crisis and Support services in Montgomery County.
Bryn Mawr Hospital: (Emergency Room)
130 S. Bryn Mawr Ave Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
484-337-3000
Horsham:
722 Butler Pike Ambler, PA 19002
215-643-7800
1-800-237-4447
Foundations:
833 E Butler Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 345-0444
Devereux: (CBHS - Children’s Behavioral Health Services)
655 Sugartown Road Malvern, PA 19355
Admissions - 610-431-8126
Brooke Glen:
7170 Lafayette Ave, Fort Washington, PA 19034
(215) 641-5300
Belmont:
4200 Monument Rd Philadelphia, PA
(215) 877-2000
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
To Report Child Abuse and Neglect Online: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/public/cmphome
Housing
Montgomery County Housing Authority (MCHA)
104 W. Main Street, Suite 1, Norristown, PA 19401
Telephone: (610) 275-5720
Food Banks
Narberth Community Food Bank
201 Sabine Avenue
Narberth, PA 19072
Location has recently changed to old Narberth Elementary School between Montgomery and North Essex Avenues.
Tuesdays (except the Tuesday before Thanksgiving) 10am to 1pm and 6pm to 7:30pm.
Contact person GiGi Mofit.
Ardmore Food Pantry
Saint Mary's Episcopal Church
36 Ardmore Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
Mondays: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays: 6 to 8 p.m.
Food preparation ideas and simple, healthy recipes are included with the food items each recipient receives. In addition, volunteers provide information and assistance to those who may not know if they are eligible for food stamps (SNAP -Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or the WIC program (Women, Infant and Children Assistance).
Food Pantry: Contact Ruth Johnson chefrab@aol.com, Running a food drive: Contact Liz Henry lisabeth.henry@yahoo.com
New Horizons Senior Center
Narberth Borough Hall
100 Conway Ave, 2nd Floor
Narberth, PA 19072
Phone: 610.664.2366
Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Ada Mutch Food Pantry, ElderNet of Lower Merion - Narberth
Bryn Mawr Community Building
9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-3406
Phone: 610-525-0706 - leave a message 24 hours
E-mail: information@eldernetonline.org
Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Free & Reduced Meal Information
If you would like information about the Free and Reduced Lunch Program for the upcoming school year please contact Nutritional Services at 610-645-1990 or you can email Karen Castaneda at castank@lmsd.org or Karen Pinardo at pinardk@lmsd.org
Summer Resources
Summer Activities for Lower Merion Children and Their Families
Low Cost Summer Camp
Camp Rainbow - www.camprainbowinc.com
Camp Rainbow provides a physically and emotionally safe one-week, overnight camping experience to children in Montgomery County. The registration fee for Camp Rainbow is based on verifiable participation in the Free or Reduced School Lunch Program. The fee per camper ranges between $25-$50 dollars. A child who qualifies for free lunch at school can come to camp for $25. That includes 6 days, 5 nights, and 3 meals a day. There are no other costs. For students who receive reduced lunch, the cost is $50 and the most you would pay is $100 for children who do not receive lunch assistance.
Camp Rainbow has all of the activities that you would expect from a traditional summer camp. Activities like boating, archery, campfires, and environmental programming are part of our program. We are located right in Schwenksville between a hiking trail and the Perkiomen. Our campers bunk in cabins to experience that camping feel while still having electricity and indoor plumbing to provide a few home comforts. What better place to spend part of the summer?
Websites for Parents:
- Main Line Parent – online magazine -- lists activities and opportunity to win one week free at local day camps- http://mainlineparent.com/
- Main Line Summer Camps - http://www.mainlinecamps.com/
- Main Line Today - http://www.mainlinetoday.com
- Metro Kids – www.metrokids.com
Community Places and Programs:
- Lower Merion Township Parks and Recreation
- See Spring and Summer Brochure for information on sports programs, Township Pools in Belmont Hills and Ardmore, Chess and Science programs, and other fun activities.
- Be sure to register early for the Playground Programs held at Gladwyne Park, McMoran Park, General Wayne Park, Wynnewood Valley Park and South Ardmore Park. These 6 week programs that run from 9 am – 3 pm include field trips for children age 7 and up. Note that the program is canceled in the case of inclement weather.
- Ludington Library – Kids Section - http://www.lmls.org/kids/
Sign your children up for their reading incentives program. - Ardmore Avenue Community Center offers summer programming for children.
- JCC - Jewish Community Center: http://www.phillyjcc.com. JCC has a pool, fitness programs and camp programs for younger and older kids.
- Main Line Art Center: http://www.mainlineart.org/ Camp runs in 8 one-week sessions June 24-August 16 for ages 4-5 in half days (am only) and ages 6-13 in full and half days, and takes place at the Middle School at The Shipley School (Bryn Mawr) while the Art Center undergoes an exciting renovation. Scholarships are available.
- Riverbend Environmental Education Center or Nature Trekking and Camps
- www.riverbendeec.org or call 610-527-5234
- LM Conservancy's Stream Camp
- www.lmconservancy.org or call 610-645-9030
- Theater Horizon Drama Camp, see LMT Parks and Recreation for information.
- Multi-Sports Camp: LMT in conjunction with US Sports Institute is offering half day and full day sports camp at South Ardmore Park.
- Special Recreation Day Camp for children with special needs is available at the Bryn Mawr Community Center. Check the LMT Recreation for information. Transportation provided by LMSD.
- Music Program applications available through www.lowermerion.org.
- SPIES (Succeed – Progress – Improve and Enjoy your Summer)
- Summer Support Program Pre-K – 5th grade offered through LMSD.
- Free for children whose families qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch program.
- Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts – Free for children 16 and under - $12 for adults - http://www.brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com/
Kids' Sports in Lower Merion
- Narberth Athletic Association
- Lower Merion Little League
- Penn Valley Junior Sports Association
- Barry Ashbee Lacrosse
- Lower Merion Soccer Club
- Main Line Girls Basketball Association
- Lower Merion Ice Hockey Club
- Next Level Sports
- Lower Merion Girls LAX
Local Farmer's Markets
- Bryn Mawr Farmer's Market open on Saturdays
- Oakmont Farmer's Markets in Havertown open on Wednesdays
- Bala Cynwyd Farmer's Market open on Thursdays
Philly Phun, all of these organizations offer special summer programs for children:
- The Franklin Institute - http://www2.fi.edu/
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Academy of Natural Sciences
- Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
- The Arden Theater Company
- The Girl Scouts
Or how about: a free self-guided tour of mint in Philly
Something to think about:
Nearly all of the 90 private school in Montgomery and Delaware County offer summer fun for children. Most offer discounts or special assistance for families in need. The biggest challenge is transportation and the timing for working parents.