Rainbow Center for Children and Proffitt's Sponsor Kid's Day Fair
The Rainbow Center for Children is a therapeutic nursery for children at domestic risk
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 hildren of all ages will be the guests of honor at a special Kids' Day Fair sponsored by Rainbow Center for Children and Proffitt's. The event is planned for Saturday, July 31, at Foothills Mall in Maryville.
 The first in a series of events to highlight the services of the Rainbow Center, this fair will also provide a safe and entertaining "end of summer" bash for the youth of Blount County.
Scheduled from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the mall's center stage, the event will include fun activities for children including face painting, coloring, games and prizes. Kids' Day Fair is free and open to the public.
Beginning at 9:45 a.m. is the Proffitt's Great Baby Race. Babies, 12 months and younger, are eligible to compete in a crawling contest. Only the first 50 registrants can participate. A small entry fee will be charged, with all proceeds benefiting the Rainbow Center. Prizes will be awarded.
"We are excited to work with Proffitt's to have this fun day for children. It gives us a chance to spread the word about the programs offered by Rainbow Center and at the same time provide a worthwhile service to the community," said Sue Mitchell, clinical leader for the Rainbow Center for Children.
The Rainbow Center, a therapeutic nursery, is a day treatment program designed for children ages 2 to 6 who have emotional and/or behavioral problems. These problems are often a result of abuse or neglect, being at-risk of abuse or neglect, or having parents with chemical dependencies or mental illness. The nursery, located in Maryville, serves children from throughout the entire East Tennessee region. The Rainbow Center is operated by Peninsula Behavioral Health.
Unfortunately for many children, the first six crucial years of their lives are unhappy, confusing, and disturbing because of the uncontrollable circumstances in their lives. Some children find it difficult to make friends, and their behaviors may include disturbances such as temper tantrums, withdrawal, and high levels of anxiety.
The therapeutic nursery provides early intervention/treatment services to facilitate the re-establishment of emotional stability before a child enters into another program, such as daycare, HeadStart, pre-school, or kindergarten.
Play therapy, behavior management techniques, and other age-appropriate activities, along with an intensive staff-to-child ratio, are the tools used to help build confidence and improve behaviors. Children attend the Rainbow Center program two days a week for four and a half hours, with the length of total treatment time varying for each child.
Parents are encouraged to participate in the program and use the Rainbow Center as a resource for support. Parent participation facilitates the development of alternative skills and attitudes to help improve the relationship with their children.
For more information on the Rainbow Center or the Kids' Day Fair at Foothills Mall, call 983-7030.
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