By: Stephanie Fritzsching, Early Head Start Child Development Coordinator

Each year, Early Head Start offers a Grand Socialization – an event where our home visitation families join together and enjoy a day at the park. This year’s event took place at Trolley Creek Park.

Throughout the day, EHS staff provided a variety of fun and developmentally appropriate activities for families and their children including creative arts, bubbles, parachute play, water play, an infant play area, reading and books, music and movement, buggy rides, and bikes and wagons; nutritious and healthy snack were also offered. EHS philosophy is based on “following the child’s lead,” therefore, parents and their children were encouraged to explore the activities at their child’s own pace and interest.

The event was well attended and families commented on the fun they had. For many families this was their first experience at Trolley Creek Park and they plan on returning. The park is unique because it offers handicap accessible equipment and also has many items that represent the history of Fresno, such as replica of Fresno’s historic Water Tower, a trolley car – which was the mode of transportation in Fresno many years ago, and a replica of the Meux Mansion. The park also has two picnic shelters, lots of open space for children to explore and age appropriate play equipment for both toddlers and older children.

As an extra bonus, families were given a live goldfish when they departed. The children delighted in taking home, what may have been for many, their first pet. We look forward to returning next year to host our annual EHS Grand Socialization at Trolley Creek Park.