Playgroups, Parent Connection, and Family Fun
NEW! Developmental and Social and Emotional Screening Tools for Parents
The Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ3 and the ASQ SE2) are fun to take as well as confidential and secure! Answer the questions about your child and in a day or two, you’ll receive feedback to help celebrate your child’s abilities along with age-appropriate activities and even suggested resources to support your family. 
United Way of Northwest Michigan
Parent Coffee Hour
The United Way of Northwest Michigan is an integral part of the early childhood system in our region. Learn about the possiblities emerging around pediatric dentistry, toy lending library, and childcare access all connected to the United Way!

Join us tomorrow from 10:30-11:30 for Coffee at the United Way of Northwest Michigan with Seth Johnson, Executive Director of the United Way. Parents are invited to come have coffee and snacks (on us!) and have casual conversation to learn about this important resource for families with young children at the new United Way building in Copper Ridge. Your parent host is Clara Kolle and we are looking forward to learning lots about how the United Way supports families with young children in the community.
May is Maternal Mental Health Month
Great Start Parent and Family Coalition Meeting Next Tuesday
We will be celebrating our parent work this year and packing boxes and talking about all the finishing details for the Family Adventure challenge. We need your help! Know that we will be excited to see you!
Family Adventure Challenge Help Needed
Do you like making scavenger hunts? Live in Antrim County? We are looking for parents to help us write clues for our Family Outdoor Challenge that launches June 1. We have selected our parks-now for the fun writing part! Email Missy to volunteer for this fun way to help more families discover new parks and spend time together.
May Calendar and Activities
Looking for a tool to give you an idea of something fun to do each day in our region? These activities can help enrich development in lots of different areas. This calendar and activities were thoughtfully prepared by our Early Childhood Preschool Department at Northwest Educational Services. Have fun learning and playing all year long!
Fun for Babies from Buckley (and Beyond)
Join us on Friday, June 2 from 10-11:30 for playgroup as we gather to particularly celebrate babies! Babies and baby dolls alike! All families and ages are welcome.
Strength and Question of the Week
Social and Emotional Competence in Children is one of five strengths all families can develop to improve outcomes for children. The good news is you can build these strengths by thinking and talking about your answers to the questions we will ask in this weekly update. Share your answer with your partner, spouse, or a friend. And see how they might answer it, too! These questions will be part of our parent discussions at playgroups to get to know each other better and think more deeply about our families.
How do you address challenging behaviors in your child?

Check out these resources from Zero to Three to help with social emotional and challenging behaviors.
Place Matters: What Surrounds Us Shapes Us
A wide range of conditions in the places where children live, grow, play, and learn can get "under the skin" and affect their developing brains and other biological systems. Beginning before birth, these environmental conditions shape how children develop, which shapes their lifelong physical and mental health.

Learn more about this working paper from the Harvard Center for the Developing Child that explains inclear language how these environmental influences shape development and lifelong health.
Tri-Share: Lower Your Child Care Costs by 66%
MI TriShare Child Care Pilot Program

The MI TriShare Child Care Pilot Program (TriShare) is an innovative approach to increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care for working families, while also helping to retain talent and removing one major barrier to employment.
Through TriShare, the cost of an employee’s child care is shared equally among the employer, the employee, and the State of Michigan — a three-way split — with coordination being provided regionally by a TriShare facilitator hub which in northern Michigan is United Way of Northwest Michigan!
Upcoming Playgroups
Our 5toONE playgroups now operate with the assistance of an electronic registration process. Registration links are always available for families to register in advance for all playgroups. In addition to a simple registration for each group, families will complete a 30 second check in upon arrival at any 5toONE event. Some groups are reaching capacity so advance registration is strongly recommended.
Thursday, May 18
Planting seediings will happen at this playgroup! "Little Sprouts Time" happens the1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month
Please register in advance or upon arrival. Our partners from Early Head Start always bring a terrific snack, fun activities, and engaging parenting materials.
Friday, May 19
This group happens the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month from 10-11:30, join us for playgroup at the Lake Ann United Methodist Church Community Center. Please register in advance when possible.
Friday, May 19
Come for story time at 10:30 and stay for playgroup from 11:00-12:00 on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month. Please register in advance or upon arrival.
Friday, May 19
Playgroup will happen the 3rd Friday of the month from 12-1:30, join us for playgroup in an early childhood classroom space. Register in advance or upon arrival.
Friday, May 19
Playgroup will usually happen the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 10-12:00. Join us for playgroup in a variety of school settings. Register in advance or at the door.
Wednesday, May 24
This group happens on the second Wednesday of each month in Kalkaska at the Early Head Start building. Details on registration link.
Wednesday, May 24
This playgroup happens on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 10-11:30. Although this registration form will remain open, it is entirely possible that if many people register for a single group, a waitlist will be created. This group frequently reaches capacity. Advance registration is needed to guarantee a spot.
Friday, May 26
This group typically meets the last Friday of the month (4th or 5th). Please register in advance when possible.
Friday, June 2
"Baby Bear Time" Playgroup will usually happen the first Friday of the month from 10-11:30. Join us for playgroup in our preschool classroom building. Register in advance or upon arrival.
Thursday, June 8
Playgroup will happen the 2nd Thursday of the month from 8:45-10:00 at Rapid City Elementary School. Join us for playgroup in the library at 8:45. We will move to the gym from 9-10:00. Register in advance or upon arrival.
Would you like a general playgroup schedule to print or share? Try this!
Learn Something New From MSU Extension
Great Start Parents meets 10 months of the year to build strong families, understanding of the early childhood system, and leadership skills in parents. Our meetings are open to anyone parenting a young child, including grandparents. Lead parents attend most meetings throughout the year and help projects relating to our with our 4 purposes:

  1. Providing a "customer" and "real time" parenting perspective to agencies and organizations in our region.
  2. Educate others about the importance of early childhood.
  3. Support the work of the Great Start Collaborative and 5toONE Project.
  4. Provide information, education, and resources to parents.

Stipends to participate, meals, and unique opportunities tend to arise for those who partake in our work together and we hope you will consider joining us this year.
Tell us which communications you would like from us by clicking the button below:
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After while, Crocodile!
How have you used rhyming with your child today?