Children's Collaboration Center

01/20/2023

Friday 01/20/23 - CCC is closed today due to the storm. Have a great weekend! 🌨☃️❄️

09/14/2022

Super powerful episode for any of us reparenting ourselves, attempting to parent small humans, working with small humans, or trying to love big humans who were once small humans. So, all of us 💛

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TJagwLiVlN7azAbwnpFmN?si=ex_2KI12TRe1gkoya-xBAw&utm_source=copy-link

Listen to this episode from We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle on Spotify. 1. The 3 most important things to say to your kids and partners every day. 2. Why our kids trigger us – and a fail-proof strategy to use when you’re triggered. 3. Why “poorly-behaved kids” can be a sign of good ...

08/31/2022

❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

Reposted from Our next Q***r Outing Club hike is this Saturday, September 3, at Hidden Valley Nature Center at 10am--join us!
More info on the Events page of the website.

08/26/2022

Reposted from
A sincere hope I often hear from stressed out students during my author visits is this:

Kids want their parents to see beyond grades, appearance, performance, and schedules to WHO they are and what they need to thrive. I believe one way we can do this is by greeting our kids as fully human.

Let me explain…

When our kids enter our space after school, we tend to ask questions like:

• Did you get any tests back?
• How did the quiz go?
• What homework do you have tonight?
• Did you take out the trash like I asked?

If we were to greet each other as fully human, this would mean changing the dialogue to inquire about FEELINGS before PERFORMANCE.

Think about it. What questions would YOU like to be greeted with when you come home after a long day. I’m guessing it’s not: What were your sales numbers today? Did you drink 8 glasses of water? Why is that pile of laundry still sitting there?

By considering what questions make YOU feel seen and valued upon reuniting with your family, you can come up with your own set of ‘heart check-in questions’.

Feel free to get started with these…

(Younger kids)
• Who were you a helper to today?
• Do you feel comfortable in your classroom?
• Who did you sit by at lunch?
• Who did you play with?
• What is your favorite thing to do at recess?

(Older kids)
• What did you notice today that most people probably didn't?
• What would you change about school?
• Tell me something funny that happened.
• Did something surprise you today?
• What did you like best about your day?

(Anyone)
• Is there anything you would like help with?
• What makes someone a good friend?
• What do you like about yourself?
• What is something you would like to do differently?
• If you could be anyone for a week, who would you be? Why?

🖊 Friends, the beautiful artwork accompanying this post was created by . Jenna surprised me last week by remembering my HEART QUESTIONS from years ago and creating this gorgeous design.

08/23/2022

It's about that time. Keep it simple. And remember what's best for your small humans 💛

Reposted from

06/25/2022

Looking for help:
Last June one of our "kids" died after a fast and furious fight with cancer. Many people chipped in to have this bench cut and engraved. It is meant to be placed at Erickson Field preserve in Rockport where he and his dad walked each Thursday before coming to OT. The board of the trust graciously allowed for it to be placed on the trail. However, as with all things these days there is limited workforce to help clear the spot and install it. The spot is accessible by an access road but is still a little bit of a walk and this stone is HEAVY. There also needs to be crushed stone installed.

My husband and I will figure it out if we have to but I also thought it wouldn't hurt to ask if there was a local landscaper that might be able to donate a few hours of work. With a small backhoe it would probably be 4 hours of work.
Please message us or email info@cccmaine.us
Grateful in advance 💛

06/10/2022

WE'RE HIRING!!! COME PLAY AND LEARN WITH US

06/06/2022

Spotted on the wall of one of the schools we visit. This concept of looking beyond the behaviors is one that comes up A LOT these days. It's such a flip from the authoritarian ways of the recent past. It allows humanity for even the smallest of small humans. All behaviors are communication. This doesn't mean we "give in" or let them "get their way" it means we acknowledge their personhood - that even children have the right to a bad day, a crappy mood, a tired spirit.

Connection before correction. Don't take the bait that behaviors offer. Pause. Breathe. Get to the feelings. Then collaborate to figure out how to move forward.

06/04/2022

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

Kick off Pride month with the whole family this weekend at the Strand! We're so thrilled to host this LIVE show from Q***r Kid Stuff this Sunday, 6/5 at 3pm...and even MORE thrilled to have community support for this event from our friends at OUT Maine! They'll be hanging out in our lobby pre and post show. This sing-a-long program will take you through a family-friendly retelling of the history of Pride -- all led by Maine Arts Commission's Maine Artist Fellowship 2021 award winner, Lindz Amer! Join in-person OR over livestream, both are Pay-What-You-Can ($0-20) admission. See you there! 🌈

05/25/2022

While the grownups figure out how to fix this, the small humans still have to go to school. There will likely be lots of questions and worries shared at the dinner table tonight. For tallking points and guidance you can find info from Child Mind Institute

https://childmind.org/article/caring-for-kids-after-a-school-shooting/

Stay open, curious, and connected. They will lead you where the conversation needs to go.

05/20/2022

Love this reminder from .and.sew Before we can help the small humans regulate we need to make sure our own sensory regulation systems are content. Walking and dance parties are a favorite here.

What works for your sensory regulation?

05/14/2022

The month of May feels impossibility jam packed and hectic. Before we can help the small humans regulate we need to self-regulate. Be sure to take a beat for yourself in the midst of this season of busy. We got this.

Reposted from Let them see you slow down, my friend. 💛