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Oconee County First Steps

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Oconee County First Steps

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Oconee County First Steps is an early childhood education initiative to ensure children arrive at first grade healthy and ready to learn.

mailing address
Oconee County First Steps
135 E Main Street
Westminster, SC 29693

10/16/2026

Safe Sleep Awareness Month 🩷💙 Week 3: Keep the Crib Bare

The safest crib is a boring one. For every sleep, naps included baby’s space needs only a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet.

🩷 Nothing else in the crib. That means no bumpers, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or sleep positioners.
💙 Worried baby will get cold? Use a wearable blanket or sleep sack instead. Skip the weighted ones.
🩷 Swings, car seats, and loungers aren’t for routine sleep. If baby falls asleep in one, move them to a flat, safe surface.

Watch this 60-second video from Meant to Be Close, made with parents and health professionals to help families keep babies safe while they sleep:
https://vimeo.com/1086933569/2c75a92883

Want the whole story? Watch the full film (27 minutes):
https://vimeo.com/1086916183/e1ae749679

Learn more from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx

Please share with any new or expecting parents you know.

10/14/2026

❌ MYTH vs. FACT ✅

📚 Did you know that helping your child become a reader begins long before they can read independently?

It's true! Some of the most important early literacy skills develop through simple, everyday activities like reading together, talking about pictures, singing songs, and telling stories.

And the best part? You don't need expensive materials or special lessons to make a difference. Those little moments of learning add up!

👉 Swipe through as we separate a few common literacy myths from the facts and share simple ways you can help your child develop a lifelong love of reading!

10/10/2026

Safe Sleep Awareness Month 🩷💙 Week 2: Close but Separate

You want your baby close, and you can have that safely.

🩷 Share the room, not the bed. Keep baby's crib or bassinet in your room.

💙 Never sleep with baby on a couch or armchair. The risk of a sleep-related death is up to 67 times higher there.

🩷 Feeding in bed? Move baby back to their own space before you doze off. If you do fall asleep, move them as soon as you wake up.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx

Watch this 60-second video from Meant to Be Close, made with parents and health professionals to help families keep babies safe while they sleep:
https://vimeo.com/1086932986/8a86a0a74a

Want the whole story? Watch the full film (27 minutes):
https://vimeo.com/1086916183/e1ae749679

Please share with any new or expecting parents you know.

10/07/2026

October's roundup is here: safe sleep, $5 food boxes, and a free parenting class that starts Monday. Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/ecbe057922d4/safe-sleep-5-food-boxes-and-a-free-parenting-class

10/05/2026

We're looking for a part-time Parent Educator for Oconee County's new HIPPY program. If you love working with families and little ones, take a look. Details and the application link are in the post below.

10/02/2026

October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month 🩷💙

Every Friday this month, we're sharing one safe sleep topic and a short video. This week: the ABCs of Safe Sleep.

🩷 A is for Alone. Baby sleeps in their own space, in your room but not in your bed.
💙 B is for Back. On their back for every sleep, naps included.
🩷 C is for Crib. A flat, firm crib, bassinet, or play yard with nothing else in it.

Watch this 60-second video from Meant to Be Close, a film series made with parents and health professionals to help families keep babies safe while they sleep.

Watch here: https://vimeo.com/1086931783/8d868a75d1

Learn more from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx

Please share with any new or expecting parents you know.

10/01/2026

Child care support for SC families: wait list opens TODAY (Oct. 1)

SC DSS has launched an online child care scholarship wait list for families who don't qualify under the current program's protected categories. You don't have to be employed to sign up; parents in school, in job training, or with a disability may also qualify.

Who can apply:
-Children ages 0–5 who are not yet in kindergarten (limit 2 per household)
-Household income at or below 55% of State Median Income
-Parents/caregivers who are working, in school, in training, or disabled
-Plan ahead: When your name comes up, you'll get a link and have only 15 days to apply. You must already have a child care provider lined up by then, so start looking now.

Funding is limited and scholarships go out as money becomes available, so get on the list early.

👉 Learn more: scchildcare.org (top of the page for MORE INFORMATION)
Questions? Message us, we're happy to help you work through it.

09/30/2026

📚 Oconee parents — we need YOU!📚

Does your little one get books in the mail from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? We'd love to hear what it means to your family!

Send us a message: What's your child's favorite book, or how has Imagination Library made a difference at home?

We may feature your words in our annual report (first name only, or no name at all if you'd prefer). Pictures of your kiddo with their books are welcome too! 💛

09/29/2026

Thank You! 📖🦋👏

The Oconee County First Steps team would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by to see us on 9-25 Day at Blue Daisies Boutique !

Thanks to your generosity, we received:

🩷 $209.02 for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for Oconee County children
💜 $209.02 for the Walhalla Fire Relief Fund
Oconee County Chamber of Commerce City of Walhalla, SC

Your Imagination Library donations will provide an entire YEAR of books for SIX local kids! 📚👏

That’s six children receiving a brand-new, age-appropriate book in the mail every month—all because our community chose to give.

A heartfelt thank you as well to our friends at Blue Daisies Boutique for welcoming us outside their store and offering 50% OFF to everyone who donated a book for local children. 💙

If you weren’t able to make it on 9-25 Day, you can still help Oconee County children receive books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at: https://scfirststeps.givecloud.co/make-a-difference-today?svcid=tcs&formId=8e2ad916-51b7-428d-aa5d-06e252e0b35e&envid=p-piaNK2Q1DUGcXV5Lnn_-jg&zone=usa

Be sure to select Oconee County to keep your gift local.

Thanks again, everyone! You’re helping Oconee County children dream bigger—one book at a time. 📖

09/25/2026

Stop by to see us at Blue Daisies Boutique until 3:00 pm today to donate to the Oconee County chapter of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and to support the Walhalla Fire Relief Fund! City of Walhalla, SC

Thanks to a generous donor, donations today will be matched up to $1,000!

Bring a children’s book to donate and get 50% OFF any one item at Blue Daisies Boutique today! Blue Daisies are also donating 10% of all sales today to the Walhalla Fire Relief Fund!

Please share!

Address

104 Browns Square Drive
Seneca, SC
29691

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 3pm
Tuesday	9am - 3pm
Wednesday	9am - 3pm
Thursday	9am - 3pm

Telephone

(864) 985-3342

Website

http://oconeefirststeps.org/

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