About
The Family Support Center (FSC) offers comprehensive, family centered, community-based preventive programs for parents, caregivers and their children ages birth to five. Through its services the FSC promotes the full development and wellbeing of children, enhances the quality of parent and child interactions, and is the link to services for overall parent and family self-sufficiency and sustainability. Program highlights include child development, parent education, and health education, as well as resources and referrals.
Featured Programming at the Family Support Center
Zoo to You: The Maryland Zoo
Waddle Wiggle is a lively Zoo program where children explore animals by naming them, counting their legs, and moving just like them! This fun, interactive activity promotes learning through movement, creativity, and play. During the program, children will have the opportunity to meet some of our animal ambassadors!
Tuesday April 1, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Drop in Play Groups
Children and their families are invited to explore and play at our Family Support Center! Parents must stay with their children. This is a great opportunity for children to meet new friends and parents to network!
Wednesday, April 2, 10 -11 a.m.
Tot’s Creative Corner
Join us for an engaging weekly series for children ages 18–36 months! Each session includes a fun song, craft, and sensory activity to promote your child’s development. Parents and toddlers will bond while exploring creative activities that boost motor skills, language, and imagination in a joyful and interactive setting!
Thursdays, April 3 – 17, 10 – 11 a.m.
Healthy Little Cooks
Engage your 2-4-year-olds in interactive healthy cooking and nutrition education class facilitated by Healthy Little Cooks! Tailored for a parent and child, these sessions focus on promoting healthy eating habits through cooking, reading, movement, and kindergarten readiness assessment (KRA) skills. Each class typically includes 1-2 quick recipes alongside fun activities like crafts, physical activities, or coloring pages. This program offers a holistic healthy learning environment for families. April Topic “Celebrating the Young Child.”
3 sessions: April 7, 14 and 28, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
PAWS and Think! Author Visit
Author Mirana Mittleman, a Howard County author, will be coming to read some of her heartwarming social emotional books about her dog Weaver. Each family will take home a signed book. Donuts and juice will be provided.
Tuesday April 8, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Would You Hire You?” Financial Workshop
The goal of the workshop is to introduce all participants to a company that they are both the CEO and CFO of. This is the company of “Me, Inc.” Me, Inc. captures the idea that you are the boss of and have the final say regarding the actions of every single one of your employees. Your employees are every single dollar of your income coming into your household.
The participants will get a brief overview of the Seven Baby Steps to their financial success which all will encounter at different times on their road to financial freedom. The participants will then be introduced to Zero-Based Budgeting which will be the foundation for their financial journey. Thursday
April, 10, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
My Gym Fitness Classes
My Gym has created an extraordinary fitness program devised to help children develop physically, cognitively and emotionally. Our structured, age-appropriate classes incorporate fitness, music, dance, puppets, relays, games, gymnastics, sports and other original activities. The children have fun as they exercise and gain strength, balance, coordination, agility, flexibility and social skills. The most important benefit we offer, however, is the building of confidence and self-esteem. A child who feels good about him/herself has a jumpstart on the path to becoming a healthy, well-adjusted young adult.
4 Month – 3.5 Year old Class Monday April 7, 2 – 2:45pm
Pre-K Class 3.5 – 5 Year Olds Monday April 21, 2 -2:45pm
Legos with My Dad: Calling all Dads!
Join us for a fun filled Lego Night at the Family Support Center! Fathers and their children will team up for exciting building challenges, creative free play, and lots of laughs. Build memories, bond with your child, and show off your Lego master skills.
Wednesday, April 16, 6 -7 p.m.
Kindergarten Readiness Sessions
This 4-week series will help parents prepare their children for Kindergarten. Parents will take home educational books and home activities.
Week 1. Literacy Readiness Workshop – Parents will learn how to build their child's early reading and writing skills through letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and storytelling. Hands-on activities may include interactive read-alouds, letter tracing, and fun word games to foster a love for reading at home.
Week 2. Math Readiness Workshop – This session will focus on foundational math skills, including number recognition, counting, patterns, and basic problem-solving. Parents will engage in hands-on activities like sorting, matching, and counting games to make learning math fun and engaging for their child.
Week 3. Social-Emotional Development Workshop – Parents will explore strategies to help their child develop self-regulation, confidence, and positive social interactions. Through role-playing, storytelling, and emotion recognition activities, they will learn how to nurture their child's ability to express feelings, build relationships, and navigate social situations.
Week 4. Motor Skills Development Workshop – This workshop will focus on fine and gross motor skills necessary for school success, such as pencil grip, cutting with scissors, and coordination for physical activities. Parents will participate in hands-on exercises like prewriting activities, sorting games, and movement-based tasks to support their child's physical development.
Wednesdays: April 9– April 30, 10 – 11:00 a.m.
Month of the Military Child Story Time
Join us at the Family Support Center for a Special Storytime event in honor of the Month of the Military Child! This heartwarming session will feature special guest readers sharing stories that highlight the unique experiences of military children. In addition to the readings, there will be fun crafts and exciting giveaways for all to enjoy. We will also provide food for the entire family. As a special treat, each family will get to take home a new book to continue the celebration of our military kids! Don’t miss this memorable, family-friendly event!
Monday, April 28, 4-6 p.m.
Infant Massage Series
We invite you to join our five-week Infant Massage Series, featuring one-hour sessions each week. This program is designed to help you deepen the bond with your baby while learning gentle massage techniques that you can easily practice at home. These techniques can support better sleep, relaxation, and overall well-being for your little one.
Infant massage also offers meaningful benefits for parents and caregivers, such as reduced stress, postnatal wellness support, and strengthened connections with your baby.
After each session, you will receive a detailed information sheet summarizing the techniques covered, empowering you to continue these practices confidently at home. Please bring a soft blanket for your baby to rest on during class.
This class is perfect for newborns up to 6 months of age and will be conducted in both English and Spanish. We look forward to supporting you on this special journey of connection and care!
Tuesdays April 15 – May 13, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Computer Basics with Marylanders Online- For Spanish Speakers
This four-week computer basics course will help learners go from absolutely no experience in using computers to feeling comfortable using Microsoft Word, managing files and folders, and searching on the internet.
- The first week will cover turning on computers, moving applications, and understanding files and folders.
- The second will contain an introduction to Microsoft Word with a lot of time to practice.
- The third week will contain more advanced Word options before starting to talk about the Internet.
The fourth and final week will continue the discussion on using the Internet and conclude with a discussion about internet safety.
Tuesdays April 29 – May 20, 1-2:30 p.m.
Spring Family Open House
Come to the family support center to enjoy an afternoon of games, face painting, giveaways, and an ice-cream bar!
Thursday, April 24, 4 - 6 p.m.
Questions?
All programs will be held at the Family Support Center located at 9790 Patuxent Woods Drive Columbia, MD 21046
*Parents must remain on site with children for all programs!
Contact Family Support Center Director Ashton Sullivan asullivan@howardcountymd.gov
Upcoming Events
Monthly Calendars
Inclement Weather Poilcy
Call the Emergency Status Hotline, 410-313-7777, for the operational status of the Howard County Family Support Center related to weather and other safety concerns.
All DCRS facilities will adhere to Howard County’s delayed opening/closing announcements as it relates to opening/closing facilities during inclement weather.
Family Support Center Plus
