Newcomers Club Activities For Children—

Local Mom Works To Help Kids And

Parents Establish Connections In Newtown

By Nancy K. Crevier

Laura Terry joined the Newtown Newcomers and Neighbors Club when her first child, Ben, was born five years ago. She and her husband, Bruce, had moved to Newtown a year earlier, but working in Stamford did not give her much opportunity to make connections. At home with her new baby, she felt a need to interact with others in the community and the Newtown Newcomers group filled that need with its myriad activities.

Before long, she found herself instigating a walking group and attending to the special programs for the adults in the club. By 2004, she was serving as president of Newtown Newcomers and Neighbors, but it has been this past year, as coordinator of children’s activities, that she has really stood out, says fellow Newcomer Layne Lescault. “Even if [members] have lived in Newtown previously, having little ones can change your whole social framework. That’s why we’re so proud of Laura and all the time and effort she puts into the children’s events,” she says.

“[The children’s program] is a vital part of the group,” says Mrs Terry, “and I thought I could do a lot with it.”

The Terrys have two children, Ben, 5, and Annabel, 3. It would be easy for her to schedule activities around her own children’s preschool and kindergarten schedules, but she realizes that the diverse group needs more options than that would encompass. “I try to alternate activities by morning and afternoon and by varying the days, so that everyone has an opportunity to work around their schedules and take part,” she says. That way, she feels, while not everyone can fit in every event, no one will be excluded by the events being “pigeon-holed” into just mornings or just afternoons.

Currently there are six active playgroups, averaging five to six families per group. “I revamped things a little,” says Mrs Terry. “Now I send out email reminders. That’s a big plus with the toddler activities.”

In order to keep track of the many parents and children involved, Mrs Terry also set up a playgroup system in which families interested in joining a playgroup contact her with the children’s ages. She picked a group leader for each playgroup who is responsible for letting her know when a playgroup is full and a new one must be founded. “It is up to the group to decide the number in the playgroup, though,” she says, noting that some are more comfortable with a large group than are others.

New to the Newcomers and Neighbors children’s activities this year is the weekly excursion to the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. Parents of babies and toddlers pay a $25 fee for eight weeks of unstructured time in the gym; walkers, balls, and bikes help the youngsters burn off excess energy during the cold months. It gives the parents time to connect, as well, although Mrs Terry admits that the rambunctious playtime takes “a little bit of managing.” She quickly decided that bikes would not be encouraged for toddlers over the age of 4. “Things can get a little crazy,” she confesses.

The tot activities, though, mainly for children between birth and 5 years of age, are dear to this mother. “I like being involved in the tot activities, since it’s centered around my children, yet gives me a way to be involved,” she says. “I need to keep busy and I enjoy organizing.”

Tot Tours are particularly popular with the children and their parents. This past fall, Tot Tours visited Express Yourself in Bethel for crafts, and took part in a special story time with Marie Walker at Booth Library. The Booth Library also hosted the passel of children for a Halloween craft party and trick-or-treating. In November, Tot Tours visited Jumpin’ Jax in Southbury and Playtime Village in Monroe. Kindermusik of Brookfield gave toddlers a chance to get in touch with their musical side.

While it helps newcomers to familiarize themselves with the options offered in surrounding towns, Mrs Terry does not forget that people new to the area are still learning about Newtown. “People contact me with ideas and I put notes in the newsletter like, ‘Go to Main Street for Halloween.’ You forget when people are new, they don’t know the traditions [of the town].” Being a part of the children’s activities and Newcomers and Neighbors Club helps people to discover the specialties of their new hometown of which they might otherwise remain oblivious.

Toddlers and parents can look forward to some local action in January and February, when Tot Tours visits the Newtown Police Department and the post office on Commerce Street, says Mrs Terry.

Playgroups are a whole network system for newcomers to the town, Mrs Terry asserts. She looks forward to another banner year of new fun and new friendships, which is what the club is all about. “It’s a great way to meet other people,” she concludes.

For information on or to join the Newtown Newcomers and Neighbors Club, call membership chairperson Kiplyn Duffy, 426-0606, or visit the website at www.newtownnewcomers.com.