Monthly Newsletter

January 2026

Director’s Thoughts

Happy New Year! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful holiday break filled with time spent with loved ones and the activities that bring you joy. As we look ahead to the new year, our team is feeling deeply inspired by the incredible generosity demonstrated by our community this past fall. During the uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits, individuals and organizations across Bristol mobilized quickly to meet community needs – organizing food drives, delivering meals, and updating resource guides with the most current information.

In December, this generosity continued, resulting in hundreds of donations to support the needs of children and families in Bristol. Because of this overwhelming compassion, the FRCs were able to provide holiday gifts and warm winter clothing to 152 families and 282 children. As we enter 2026, we do so with immense gratitude and a renewed sense of confidence that, regardless of circumstance, we are a strong and resilient community, dedicated to supporting our friends, neighbors, and all those who may need an extra hand!

We look forward to our continued partnership in the year ahead!

Shout Outs!

During the holiday season, the Bristol FRC proudly coordinates Holiday Gift Sponsoring at our three locations: Greene-Hills School, South Side School, and West Bristol School. Through the kindness and generosity of our community partners and individual community members, we are able to bring holiday magic and joy to families facing financial hardship. This year, we were honored to support 152 families and 282 children.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors; Bristol Board Of Education Business Department, Starkweather and Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc., Girl Scouts of Connecticut Troops 60479, 66440, 66607, & 66712,  Morris Group Inc, Richards Corporation, UCONN staff, South Side School staff, Greene-Hills School staff, West Bristol School staff, Bristol Central High School staff, Bristol Central All Sport Booster Club, First Congregational Church, and every individual community member who contributed.

Donation Requests

We are accepting gift cards to local grocery/department stores and transportation services (e.g. Stop & Shop, Aldi, ShopRite, Walmart, Uber/Lyft, Cumberland Farms/ gas stations).  Several BPS families have experienced major losses this year (house fires, serious illness/injuries, etc).  In addition, the rising costs of food and other basic living expenses has hit many members of our community extra hard.  Having gift cards on hand allows us to provide direct assistance quickly, when needed.  Please contact your FRC for more information.

We are also ALWAYS in need of children's socks, underwear, and sweatpants/leggings, in sizes 5-18!  (Gently used is absolutely fine for clothing; socks/underwear must be new only, please).  Each FRC has several children come down to see us every single day, due to various types of mishaps occuring before or during the school day.  It can be a hardship for parents to be able to get here to bring in a clothing change during the day, especially those who need to travel for work.  

Parenting Support

January symbolizes a fresh start and is the perfect time to reflect on your parenting journey and embrace new opportunities that focus on family connection.  Here are a few ideas to strengthen family bonds.

• Prioritize Sleep:  Re-establish consistent bedtimes after holidays to support healthy, calm lifestyles.

• Start a Family Night: Dedicate one night weekly for games, cooking, or movies, letting kids choose activities to build bonds and traditions.

• Create a Family Media Plan: Set screen time boundaries to balance digital life with outdoor and hands-on activities.

• Make Reading Daily: Integrate reading into bedtime for younger kids or find quiet reading times to foster a love for books.

• Practice Mindfulness: Teach deep breathing, journaling, or simple meditations to help kids manage winter stress and anxiety.

• Cook Together: Turn holiday baking into year-round cooking to build skills and family time.

• Get Outside (Even When Cold!): Bundle up for walks, hikes, or park visits to boost moods and fight winter blues.

Let this year be a fresh start for your parenting journey. You can create lasting memories, nurture stronger bonds, and empower your family to thrive.

All Around the Town

Playful Learners Group

10:30-11:30 AM, Imagine Nation A Museum Early Learning Center, ages 3 and under

$10 per session

Jan 9- Hide & Seek with the Moon!

Jan 16- Snow Dough Sensory Play

Jan 23- Musical Storytime

Jan 30- Snowflake Suncatchers

Registration required – imaginenationct@gmail.com

This is a 4 week program for children under 3 years old! Each week, children and their parents will explore play-based learning in our museum studios. The hour-long program includes gross motor fun in the kinetic studio, an educator-led activity or experience, and time to explore the museum together. 

The Soul Session 2026

Rockwell Theater, Sat. January 17, 5pm-10:30pm

Tickets $30/$35/$45 (determined by seating selection)

A place where artists and audiences connect, and where new talent is discovered. The Soul Session is an evening dedicated to celebrating music through live performance art, and spoken word. This year’s theme is Motown & Soul. 

This experience is a true immersion, where art comes to life at every turn. From the captivating sounds of live music and spoken word to the mesmerizing creation of paintings unfolding before your eyes, every corner of the theater is alive with beauty, inviting you to feel its magic in every moment.

• Grand Slam Poetry Champions – Live and Unleashed

• Electrifying Performance by Independent Artists

• Silent Art Auction – Bid on Bold, Original Works

• Specialty Concessions – Sips, Bites and Creative Delights

Show & Tell Night

Bristol Public Library, Jan 14 from 6:30pm to 8pm, no charge

Get ready to share your passions, talents, and stories at our Show & Tell Night - it's your time to shine!

Do you have a special heirloom you want to show off? Are you an artist? Or a writer? Do you have a collection you’re proud of? Come and show it off at the library! Anyone can sign up to talk about the thing(s) they brought, and audience members are encouraged to ask questions.

Tell us your story!  RSVP: www.bristollib.com, 860.584.7787 x 3 or visit the library

Understanding Dreams

Worthwhile Reads, 1 Richmond Place Bristol, 

Friday, January 24 • 1–3 PM, $33.85

Discover the world of lucid dreaming with author Nikki Sleath, creator of Dream Sorcery. In this engaging session, Nikki will share insights and key points from her book, along with personal stories and practical techniques to help you explore and control your dreams.

Participants will learn foundational methods for achieving lucid dreams, understand how to strengthen dream recall, and gain tools for deeper self-awareness through dreaming.

The event will include an open Q&A session, offering the chance to ask questions and connect directly with Nikki. A book signing will follow the presentation (book not included in class price).

For tickets, click here

America 250: Connecticut Tunes & Tales of Revolution

Bristol Public Library, Jan 24 from 1:30pm to 3pm EST, no charge

Join us for a musical journey through Connecticut's revolutionary history at America 250: Connecticut Tunes & Tales of Revolution!

This hour-long musical program weaves together the state's rich tapestry of history, folklore, and legend from that tumultuous era. This unique performance blends engaging storytelling with beautifully crafted songs, each one a window into the lives of fascinating characters and significant historical events. From local heroes and forgotten figures to the dramatic moments that shaped the fight for freedom, you'll discover the hidden stories behind familiar places and uncover the secrets that lie just beneath the surface of this revolutionary period.

RSVP: bristollib.com, 860.584.7787 x 3, or visit the library 18+

River Tales: Little Fox in the Snow

Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main Street, Essex CT, 06426

Saturday January 3, 11am - 2pm

This January, we’ll read Little Fox in the Snow by Jonathan London. The poetic text and Impressionistic illustrations teach young learners about the behaviors of winter wildlife.

After the story, participants will make a paper fox to bring home and enjoy a special scavenger hunt. Young learners and their caregivers will have the opportunity to bring the fox from the book to life by using a paper cup and craft paper to create a 3D fox. Once built, children can explore the world around them like the fox from the book with their new creation by their side.

Members: FREE, Non-members: $3 per learner

Crafts and Fun!

Painted Fireworks

Materials Needed

1. Black or any dark-colored construction paper (12" x 18")

2. Pipe cleaners or drinking straws

3. Poster paint or tempera paint

4. Plastic plates or similar flat containers for the paint

5. Glitter (optional)

Instructions:

You will need 4 to 5 pipe cleaners to make the printing tool.

1. Gather the pipe cleaners together. Do not align them at the ends so that you can print fireworks with uneven rays.

2. Fold the bunch of pipe cleaners in half.

3. Take a half piece of pipe cleaner. Use this to bind the bunch of pipe cleaners from the folded end to about 3 inches up the length of the bunch.  

4. To complete your printing tool, spread open the pipe cleaner ends. Try to position them at the same level so that they lay completely flat when placed on a flat surface.

5. Make several printing tools, preferably one for each color of paint.

   1. To create smaller printing tools, cut the pipe cleaners in half in Step 1. The resulting printing tool will have a very short handle, but will still be easy to grip.

6.  Prepare a large sheet of black or dark-colored construction paper to print your fireworks on.

7. Prepare the paint.  Put tempera or poster paint in plastic plates, small trays, or similar shallow containers. Add just enough water to make the paint spreadable. Mix well.

8. Dip the printing tool onto the paint. Wiggle it around so that all the pipe cleaners touch the paint.

9. Press the printing tool onto the paper. You can press on any pipe cleaner that isn't touching the paper.  Lift the pipe cleaner tool to see the colored print on the paper.  Print one or more colors over your first print to come up with a colorful firework.

10. Fill your paper with firework prints. You can use the same color palette on all your fireworks (e.g. red, white and blue) or make the fireworks super colorful like the picture in Step 14.

11. To make sparkly fireworks, you can either sprinkle glitter while your firework prints are still wet or apply glitter glue after the paint on your firework prints dry.

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Bristol Family Resource Centers