Building Family Bonds at CCC

Lakewood is a developing and welcoming community due to several factors, including small businesses, ethnic and cultural diversity, and families. The Cove Community Center (CCC) is a main component contributing to the strong family bonds displayed in Lakewood.

Origin of “Family Drop-Ins”

One of the CCC’s programs that contributes to this is the frequent event known as “Family Drop-Ins.” To understand the event, it’s important to know its origin and the people behind it.

The Family Drop-Ins are organized by Jessica Parker, the leader of early childhood development at the CCC. Parker has worked at the CCC for the last three years and for the city of Lakewood for 12 years.

Parker described how her interest in the CCC’s childhood development program began: “I actually was a participant of the programs in the Lakewood family room, which we celebrated 30 years in the family room last year. So I used to come as a mother with my young children, and then I visited. There was an opportunity to be employed, and so I had just finished a master’s in early childhood education, and I came to work for the city,” Parker said.

Overall, the drop-ins are a place for parents or guardians to bring their children, aged 0 to 5, where the children can connect with others their age while being kept safe and entertained.

“What we aim to do here is to actually connect the adults in the room, so we’re giving the kids a safe and wonderful place to play. But our goal is to make sure that the parents or other caregivers, because we have moms, dads, nannies, and grandparents, and that’s how they connect with each other and build friendships and a community here,” Parker said.

Parents also have positive feedback about the event, including CCC regular Sara Nell. Nell has been attending every available session since her child was about 10 months old. She had this to say about the event: “I was a new parent, and she’s my only child, so it was like, I kind of was at a loss of what to do and sort how of to parent in the way that I wanted to, and I knew I wanted to socialize her, but like, how do i meet mom friends and I was lucky enough to find this one.”

Positive Feedback and Community

Parents and guardians have shared positive feedback about the event.

CCC regular Sara Nell has been attending every available session since her child was about 10 months old. “I was a new parent, and she’s my only child, so it was like, I kind of was at a loss of what to do and sort how of to parent in the way that I wanted to, and I knew I wanted to socialize her, but like, how do i meet mom friends and I was lucky enough to find this one.”

The Family Drop-Ins provide a great environment for kids to interact with each other while parents can meet others who share common interests.

These events aren’t just for parents; they are for other guardians as well. Abbey Zellers, a nanny, shared her experience at the CCC this past year: “I’ve met a couple of other nannies, a couple other moms of kids of different ages, and it’s just such a nice resource to have, like, whenever we don’t know what to do, there’s somewhere to go indoors or outdoors.”

The CCC is an ideal place to bring children, especially during the upcoming winter months when it is more difficult to find a place for them to socialize and play indoors.

Hopes for the Future

Most people attending the drop-ins have high expectations and hopes for the future of the event. “My hope is that more people use this resource consistently. I know that I look forward to seeing the same, familiar faces at drop-in events and just getting to know people in the community. I would say that more of my hopes are that the parents really use it as a good resource to socialize with each other and especially reach out for support.”

Overall, the CCC is a community staple that constantly contributes to the city’s well-being by providing helpful resources. Family Drop-Ins are an event that brings children together to connect and bond, and simultaneously offers parents and guardians a place to reach out for support and build relationships with others.