September 2026
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No images? Click here  September 2026 NewsletterPlayful Learning Summit highlights the power of play for children and adults What happens when educators, families, community leaders, and children come together to celebrate play? The Playful Learning Summit showed just how powerful play can be in supporting learning, connection, creativity, and well-being for people of all ages. Explore key takeaways, inspiring moments, and how playful learning is helping build healthier, more vibrant communities. Fringe Festival Play Days are coming to town! Join Healthi Kids and the Rochester Fringe Festival as we celebrate the National Day of Play with three free, family-friendly Play Days across Rochester. Enjoy hands-on activities, games, creative play experiences, and opportunities for children and families to learn, connect, and have fun together. Find us at Parcel 5 on September 18 and 19 from 5 to 7 p.m., and at Spiegel Garden on September 26 from noon to 3 p.m. Learn more about the future of food Join the Rochester Food Policy Council for a special screening of Feeding Tomorrow, a documentary about the leaders working across agriculture, healthcare, and education to build a more just, regenerative, and resilient food system. The evening includes a panel discussion, giving attendees an opportunity to connect the film’s themes to local efforts and opportunities here in Rochester.
Join us for a free Infant-Toddler Play Day! Calling all caregivers and little ones! Designed for children ages 0 to 3 and their caregivers, this interactive event will feature playful activities that support healthy relationships, early learning, and brain development. Come ready to get on the floor and play together while building connections that can last a lifetime. 📅Saturday, September 26 ⏰ 10:30 a.m. to noon📍The Center at Greece Town Hall Come on out, or contact Anna Laurenza if you have questions. Help bring a new playspace to life  Every child deserves a welcoming place to play, connect, and grow. From October 7–9, volunteers will come together at West High Field to build a new playground for children and families. Volunteers must be 16 or older, and no special construction experience is needed. Grab a friend and help us create something our community can enjoy for years to come! Partner Spotlight: Society for the Protection and Care of Children For more than 145 years, SPCC has been a leader in supporting children and families in the Rochester community. Through its commitment to infant and early childhood mental health, SPCC helps caregivers, providers, and families build the strong, nurturing relationships that are the foundation for healthy child development.
This fall, SPCC's Mary Ellen Institute is holding two free Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health trainings--one for parents, another for those who work with or on behalf of children. Both series were developed with input from parents and community partners, including Healthi Kids. The training explores how relationships shape children's development and offers opportunities to reflect, learn, and build skills that support healthy growth for children ages 0 to 5. Parents who are interested in the free training, contact SPCC Family Specialist Beth Russell at ERussell@spee-roch.org. Read about their trainings for those who work with or on behalf of children here, and fill out the interest form to get started.  For September's Culture Corner we're honoring Deaf Awareness Month. This month’s family-friendly recommendations include: 📚 Read: Butterfly on the Wind, written by Adam Pottle and illustrated by Ziyue Chen. 🎬 Watch: Teeny Tales by CBC Kids. 💡 Keep Learning: Explore American Sign Language and Rochester's vibrant Deaf community. In the headlinesRBJ's Power List for Healthcare, Rochester Business Journal.      |
