Burleson Babies by City of Burleson

Content

Welcome

Be Healthy Burleson . . . . . . . . 4 Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Burleson Recreation Center . . 8 Public Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

10 12

Child Car Safety . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Poison Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Family Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Community Events . . . . . . . . 22

Burleson Babies

18 20

We would like to welcome your baby as the newest resident to Burleson. We are so happy your family is part of our community. We are proud to be a city that supports families and want to make sure everyone has the right tools to succeed. While having a baby is a joyful time, we know it can also be stressful. But remember that you are not alone - your community is here for you.

Russell Farm Art Center . . . . 12 Drowning Prevention . . . . . . 14

Congratulations!

Share the Love

Perhaps the most important thing I can share with you is the importance of making sure, from the very start, your baby grows up in an environment that gives them the best chance to succeed in life. When babies and young children are exposed to stress and trauma (things like violence, drug or alcohol abuse or mental illness in the home) it can have devastating consequences. No child should grow up in an unsafe or unhealthy home. If you need help, NOW is the time to reach out. The resources listed on page 5 are a great place to start.

Post your little one on social media in their “BTX Made” onesie #BurlesonBabies #BeHealthyBurleson #BTXMade

Finally, keep in mind that even in the age of constant technological connectivity, Burleson’s parks will always provide a great place to unwind, unplug and forge life’s most important connections. We have a great trail system for you to push that stroller on and wonderful library programs to promote early childhood development. And don’t neglect yourself--we offer free childcare at the BRiCk to make it easier to focus on your own health and wellness. On behalf of everyone at the City of Burleson, I wish you and your family health and happiness and hope Burleson will always be the place you call home. If you need help connecting to resources or have ideas about how Burleson can be an even better place for families, don’t hesitate to reach out at mayor@burlesontx.com.

Mayor Chris Fletcher

Welcome Home

Be Healthy

Be Healthy Burleson

Without caring adults to buffer children, the unrelenting stress caused by extreme poverty, neglect, abuse, or severe maternal depression can weaken the architecture of the developing brain with long-term consequences for learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health.

Toxic stress derails healthy development In severe situations, such as ongoing abuse and neglect, the stress response stays activated.

This program, Burleson Babies, is made possible via the Be Healthy Burleson initiative. Be Healthy Burleson is dedicated to the education, promotion, participation and growth of healthy lifestyles and choices for all of its residents. We provide the community with fitness opportunities, education programs/seminars, monthly health awareness events/activities and so much more.

Healthy You. Healthy Babies. We started this program to give our newest residents and their families a healthy start. The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University notes that children’s brain development from zero to three years old plays an incredibly important role in their future development.

Burleson Babies

“

Brain development from zero to three years old plays an incredibly important role in their future development.

This is why it is so important for adults to reach out and get help, if they need it. Learning how to cope with adversity is an important part of healthy development. While moderate, short-lived stress responses in the body can promote growth, toxic stress is the strong, unrelieved activation of the body’s stress management system in the absence of protective adult support.

Even when there is no apparent physical harm, the extended absence of response from adults can harm the child’s developing system. Constant activation of the stress response overloads developing systems with serious, lifelong consequences for the child.

Over time, this results in the stress response system being set permanently on high alert. In the areas of the brain dedicated to learning and reasoning, the neural connections that comprise brain architecture are weaker and fewer in number. Science shows that the prolonged activation of stress hormones in early childhood can actually reduce neural connections in these important areas of the brain at just the time when they should be growing new ones. Toxic stress can be avoided if we ensure that the environments in which children grow and develop are nurturing, stable and engaging. If you feel like you might be in a stressful situation or are experiencing postpartum depression, please ask for help.

If a child is pre-occupied with fears or anxiety or is dealing with considerable stress, no matter how intellectually gifted that child may be, his or her learning is going to be impaired by that kind of emotional interference.

Resources Postpartum Support International postpartum.net Helpline: (800) 944-4773 Text to: (503) 894-9453 2020 Mom 2020mom.org

Johnson County Family Crisis Center familycrisisjc.org 24-hr crisis hotline (800) 848-3206 One Safe Place onesafeplace.org Domestic Violence Help (817) 916-4323 Crazy8 Ministries crazy8ministries.com (817) 202-8408 Mind Above Matter mindabovematter.com (817) 447-3001 Tarrant County National Alliance on Mental Illness namitarrant.org (817) 332-6677 Pecan Valley Centers for Behavioral & Development Healthcare

pecanvalley.org (800) 772-5987 Welcome Home

Parks

With over 14 miles of biking and walking trails and a 10-mile bike loop in progress there are some great places to walk, run, bike or push a stroller. View the interactive map of hiking and biking trails, www.burlesontx.com/trailmaps

Claudia’s Playground, 933 West Bend Boulevard • Drinking Fountain • Park Benches • Playground

Elk Ridge Estates Park, 1016 Dorsey Street

The city has 18 parks to offer your family. Some of the most popular family parks are:

Bailey Lake, 280 W. Hidden Creek Parkway • • • • •

Covered Pavilion Fishing Nature Trail Walking Trails Restrooms

Centennial Park, 1100 Scarlet Sage Parkway • • • • •

All-inclusive Playground Shade Canopy Restrooms Walking Trail Little Free Library, managed by Mayor’s Youth Council

Clark Park, 124 N. Clark Street

• • • •

Burleson Babies

Shade Canopies Picnic Area Playground Cornhole boards

• • • • •

Climbing Boulders Covered Pavilion Picnic Area Toddler Playground Walking Trail

Mistletoe Hill, 960 NE McAlister Road • • • • •

Exercise Stations Pavilion Picnic Area Playground with Shade Structure Walking Trail

Oak Valley Park North, 2804 Parkridge Boulevard • Picnic Area • Playground • Nature Trail

Warren Park, 301 SW Johnson Avenue • • • •

Lighted Basketball Courts Lighted Tennis Courts Parent/Child Swings Playground with Shade Structure

• • • •

Picnic Area Restrooms Skating Area Pavilion

Burleson Recreation Center

BRiCk

Drowning Prevention The BRiCk offers a variety of swim lessons, drowning prevention lessons and Infant Swimming Resources (ISR) Self-Rescue lessons.

Children as young as six months old can start ISR Self-Rescue lessons. Sigma Swim School at the BRiCk offers year-round swim lessons. For more information: www.burlesontx.com/brick Scholarships for drowning prevention lessons are available.

The city’s recreation center is here to serve your family before and after your newest addition arrives.

Classes

KidZone For more information on any of the BRiCk’ classes or programs

The BRiCk is passionate about supporting, building and serving families in our community through fitness and nutrition first.

550 NW Summercrest Blvd

• Postpartum Mom/Dad & Baby Water Class • Postpartum Mom & Baby – Learn Grow Heal • Prenatal Water Aerobics • Prenatal Restore – Nutrition, Toning, Flexibility • Prenatal Combo – Cardio, Toning, Yoga 8

Burleson Babies

(817) 426-9104

/BurlesonRecreationCenter

Kid Zone at the BRiCk is a complimentary service extended to patrons with children ages 6 months to 12 years old and a current family membership. The staff in the Kid Zone provide a safe and fun play area and appropriate care for these children.

/BurlesonRecCenter

Welcome Home

Burleson Public Library

Library

Parent-Child Play and Learn The Parent-Child Play and Learn is a fiveweek workshop featuring local professionals who serve as resources for parents.

This workshop is for ages 12-36 months. Play, learn and grow with your toddler (12-36 months) in an informal setting with other parents and toddlers.

The library has a variety of children’s programs designed to encourage literacy, creativity, teamwork and a general love of learning. Their regular programs include story times, home school support and even a club for young builders.

A Family Place Library builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent involvement and supportive communities play a critical role in young children’s growth and development. The Burleson Library is a Family Place Library™ which means it is a center for early childhood information, parent education, emergent literacy, socialization and family support. Family Place Libraries™ is a network of children’s librarians nationwide who believe that literacy begins at birth, and that libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families.

Burleson Babies

Session topics include early literacy; speech, hearing and development; child development; nutrition; and music, play and movement. Someone who knows about each topic will be on hand to answer questions. Offered a variety of times throughout the year. Registration required; for more information visit the library’s website.

Story Times

Baby Story Time

Thursdays 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

For more information on any of the Library’s classes or programs

248 SW Johnson Ave. (817) 426-9210 burlesontx.com/library

Baby Time is for babies up to 18 months.

Toddler Story Time

Wednesdays 11 to 11:30 a.m. Toddler Time is for children ages 18 months to 3 years old.

Preschool Story Time

/BurlesonLibraryTX

/BurlesonLibrary

Thursdays 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Preschool Time is for children ages 3 to 6 years old.

Welcome Home

Russell Farm

Russell Farm Art Center

Outdoor and Garden Activities

• Community Gardens are available in 5x16 plots • Gardening Workshops • Plant identification • Butterfly Garden • Bird Watching • Farm Animals • Nature Walks

History This 30-acre farm is open to the public and is the perfect place to get back to nature and see some farm animals.

Story Time at the Farm

The Farm hosts a variety of camps throughout the year including Fun on the Farm and art camps for children and teens.

Art Classes A variety of art classes are available for children and adults throughout the year. For more information visit Russell Farm’s website or Facebook page.

Burleson Babies

• Fiddlin’ on the Farm - Free Open Jam Session - on the 1st Friday evening of every month

Camps & Special Events

Every Friday at 11 a.m. Story Time at the Farm meets. Children will learn some of the words in the books in both Spanish and English and all books are farm related.

• Historical Home Tours and Demonstrations on the 1st Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yearly events include: • Easter Egg Hunt • Christmas on the Farm • And other holiday events

Rent the Farm

For more information on any of Russell Farm’s classes or programs

405 W County Road 714 (817) 447-3316

burlesontx.com/russellfarm

/RussellFarmArtCenter

Russell Farm can host a variety of private events from birthday parties to weddings or family reunions. For rental prices, please call (817) 4473316. Welcome Home

Public Safety

Community Risk Reduction Fire

Learn how to Lifeguard Your Child around water

Drowning Prevention The Burleson Drowning Prevention Initiative was started by the Burleson Fire Department in 2017 in an effort to end childhood drownings in our community. This group raises money for local children to receive drowning prevention lessons at no cost. Through this partnership, families who need financial assistance for swim lessons can receive assistance through the BRiCk, Sigma Swimming and Infant Swimming Resources (ISR) Self-Rescue. Shanon Murphy is an ISR Self-Rescue teacher at the BRiCk. In this photo she is holding her nephew, Ethan. Ethan and his grandfather died in a drowning accident on July 13, 2011. Ethan was under the supervision of his grandpa when this accident occurred in the family’s home swimming pool. Even with adult supervision, accidents happen. We celebrate Ethan’s life with every child that we teach to swim and self-rescue.

Burleson Babies

Drowning is silent

• • • • • • •

Install four-sided fences with self-latching gates. Use pool/door/child alarms. Wear life vests with U.S. Coast Guard-approved labels. Insist on adult, non-distracted Water Watchers. Take family CPR lessons. Schedule water safety and swim lessons. Create and follow all pool rules.

828 SW Alsbury (817) 426-9170 burlesontx.com/fire

Drowning deaths are the leading cause of accidental death for

/BurlesonFireDepartment

children ages 1 to 4.

More information: www.cookchildrens.org/safety

Welcome Home

Public Safety

Child Car Safety

Did you know that 4 out of 5 car seats are installed incorrectly?

Five seconds could save the life of a child. In 2007, it was estimated that there were 5,000 injuries and 205 deaths to children under age 14 as a result of being hit by a vehicle in a driveway or parking area in the United States. Follow these tips to help make sure that children remain safe around cars: • Before getting in the car and starting the engine – walk all the way around the parked vehicle to make sure children are not under or behind it. • Ensure that children are always accompanied by an adult when getting in and out of a vehicle. • Identify a safe play area for children to use far away from parked or moving vehicles. • Identify a safe spot for children to go when nearby vehicles are about to move. • When walking near moving vehicles, in driveways, in parking lots, or on sidewalks – make sure to firmly hold the hand of each child that is with you. • Avoid using driveways as play areas if moving cars have access entering or exiting these areas. • Pay close attention to cameras or sensors available in many vehicles when backing.

Burleson Babies

Check your child’s car seat Safe Kids Tarrant County has six car seat fitting stations around the metroplex where you can make an appointment with a certified technician for a FREE car seat fitting.

Visit cookchildrens.org/safety for more information or call

682-885-2634

to book your appointment.

Welcome Home

Public Safety

Poison Control

60,000

Nearly children in the United States are accidentally poisoned by medicines each year

If a poisoning does happen

call the North Texas Poison Center at

800-222-1222

(add this number to your cell phone right now).

Calls are answered by nurses and pharmacists and

80 percent of them are handled

at home, without going to the Emergency Room.

Call 911

if your child won’t wake up, is having trouble breathing or is having seizures.

Medications

To a child, the colors and shapes of pills may not look harmful, instead, they may look more like candy or treats. The same goes for liquid medications. It doesn’t take much medication in a small body to cause a bad and sometimes tragic reaction. That’s why it’s so important to store cold medications, prescription drugs, over-the-counter pain medicine (especially those made for children because they are flavored and colored to help make it easier to dose children), and even vitamins up high in a locked or childproof cabinet. It’s also critical to follow directions when giving medicine to your child. Double dosing will NOT be twice as effective, and in some instances can cause an emergency reaction. Heed the warnings and follow package or physician directions.

Burleson Babies

If you can’t tell the difference between the two, how can a child?

Household Products There are many household products found both in and outside of the home that can pose risks to little ones. Before a small child is able to read, they associate things by vision. A brightly colored plastic bottle may look like the juice from the refrigerator instead of soap or antifreeze. Colorful liquids may appear to them to be a soft drink or sports drink instead of a household cleaner. Because little fingers go into mouths, noses and ears, just touching the residue on household chemical containers can be harmful. Also, be sure to check the bathroom and dressing areas of your home. Toothpaste, soaps, liquids like body wash, perfumes, lotions, mouthwash, etc., look pretty, but contain ingredients that can be harmful when swallowed by tots.

Toys Kids will put just about anything in their mouths, like bubble solution, clays, paints, crayons, etc. Be sure to read labels, follow manufacturer’s age recommendations and, when in doubt, keep these items up on higher shelves, out of reach of curious hands.

The city hosts two disposal events a year. For dates visit www. burlesontx.com/events As part of the Burleson Police Department’s commitment to providing a safe community, a drug drop box has been installed in the lobby at the police department, 1161 SW Wilshire Blvd. For additional information about this program, please call (817) 426-9951. Welcome Home

Public Safety

Family Safety

Guardian Program Residents with special needs family members can have peace of mind during times of crisis thanks to the Burleson Police Department’s Guardian Program.

Stopping Family Violence The Burleson Police Department is dedicated to stopping family violence. In the past two years, city council has passed two ordinances that will make Burleson families safer. One ordinance establishes protocol for public safety employees for how they respond to cases of strangulation. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect victims whose health, safety and welfare may be jeopardized through exposure to violence using strangulation.

The Guardian Program is a voluntary, and free, registry for those who may be unable to communicate basic personal information due to a diagnosed cognitive disorder, or are prone to wander away or run away from guardians, home, or school due to a diagnosed medical disorder. Special needs include Autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, or some other mental/intellectual disability. For more information www.burlesontx.com/guardian

1.4 million homes have firearms stored in a way that makes them most

Burleson was the first city in the United States to pass such an ordinance.

accessible to about 2.6

Burleson also passed an ordinance that makes it unlawful to physically attack anyone in front of a child, meaning abusers can be punished for a child’s anguish as well as for injuries.

million children.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call our victim assistance at (817) 426-9901. If it’s an emergency call 911. 20

Burleson Babies

1161 SW Wilshire Blvd (817) 426-9910 burlesontx.com/police

There are a variety of different locking and storage items available to firearms owners. To help you find the best safe storage solution for the firearms in your household, please visit www.safefirearmsstorage.org, which highlights some of the common options and details the advantages and features of the most readily available storage solutions. For more information www.safefirearmsstorage.org

/BurlesonTXPD

/BurlesonPolice

Welcome Home

Community

Community Events

The City of Burleson provides a wide array of events to meet the diverse needs of the community. These special events increase the quality of life, provide unique activities for families to participate in together, and create a sense of community.

un Fo

Boo Bash

arade and T P re s in ight

Chri

s of Summe rC

stm

nd ou

t cer on

The city offers multiple family-friendly events throughout the year.

Ho t

4th of July Parade and Celebration

der’s Da y

Family Valentine Dance 22

Burleson Babies

Easter Events

Santa’s Breakfast

www.burlesontx.com/events

Welcome Home