April 2022 - COMMUNITY

Talk, Read, and Sing - Talking is Teaching
Created by Great Lakes Bay Parents - Informing parents since 2012!
You are your child's lifelong teacher.

"Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" is a public awareness and action campaign that helps parents recognize their power to boost their children’s early brain and vocabulary development through simple, everyday actions ... "
LET'S TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY!
Let’s talk about COMMUNITY! When children feel like they are a part of a community, they feel a sense of belonging! You can ask your child, “What are some of your favorite areas in our community?” and “How can we be helpers in our community?” 

Talking is Teaching has tips and resources to help parents talk to their children, even those who are very young. 
LET'S TALK TOGETHER
Activities
Your little one learns meaningful language from their surroundings. Point to the traffic light as it changes and ask questions like, “What color is the light now?” and “What do you think a red light means?”
The Big Idea: Getting from here to there can be a journey filled with new words and interesting conversations
Sesame Street in Communities
Talking is Teaching's Calendar of Activities
Simple interaction like the ones listed on the Talking is Teaching Tips calendar helps your child's brain and language development, setting them up for success in school and beyond.

Check out the COMMUNITY activities on this calendar that you and your little one can do together.
LET'S READ TOGETHER
Talking is Teaching Recommended Books & Videos
Books are a great way to explore and talk about different aspects of COMMUNITY with your young child. Snuggle up together with one of the Talking is Teaching recommended books or visit your local library to find other books about community.

Reading books and watching videos with your child is a great way to get the conversation started. Check out the book/ video recommendations from Talking Is Teaching.
More Book & Video Resources
Visit or Contact Your Local Librarian
ARENAC COUNTY
Au Gres Community Library
989-876-8818

Mary Johnston Memorial Library (Standish)
989-846-6611

Omer Little Eagles Nest Library
989-653-2230
BAY COUNTY
Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library
(Bay City)
989-893-9566 ext. 2111

Auburn Area Branch Library
989-662-2381 ext. 207

Pinconning Branch Library
989-879-3283

Historical Sage Library
Bay City
989-892-8555 ext. 207
LET'S SING TOGETHER
SESAME STREET: BEN STILLER SINGS ABOUT FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Let’s sing about COMMUNITY!

Join Sesame Street characters and Ben Stiller sing about friends and neighbors.
WHY TALKING IS TEACHING
Talking Is Teaching - Social and Emotional Resources

Like all skills, social and emotional development takes nurturing. Check out our new resources for simple ways parents and caregivers can help foster children’s healthy social and emotional development right from birth.

Read more
talkingisteaching.org
PARENT SUPPORT & CLASSES
LENA Start
Communication is key to learning about how your child feels.

Bay County Library System's LENA Start is a FREE 10-week class for families with children ages birth to 36 months old. The goal of the program is to help parents increase talk, which encourages their babies' literacy and brain growth.

MSU Extension Parenting Classes
Extension Extras Parenting Hour:
DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-CONTROL
April 27 at 11 am

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE
May 3 at 8 pm

YOUNG AT ART
May 10 at 8 pm

TALKING WITH KIDS ABOUT RACE
May 17 at 8 pm
Bay City: FREE – MotherBaby Cafe @ Bay City Town Center

DATES: Every Thursday at 10 am - 12 pm

LOCATION: 4101 East Wilder Rd., Bay City

Join other mothers and their children for weekly themes, Question and Answers, and guest presenters. Meetings will be at the Bay City Town Center in the Community Room near Game Stop.
Prizes will be raffled.
Standish: FREE – Bay-Arenac Great Start Family Network @ Arenac Community Center

DATE: 1st & 3rd Wednesday at 4:30 pm.

LOCATION: 583 E. Cedar Street, Standish

Drop in for an evening of fun. Connect with other parents, and learn about upcoming events and local resources. Each family will receive a meal kit to make at home.
RESOURCES
FREE Summer Activity Books
Michigan Learning Chanel
Summer is full of opportunities to play and learn and we want to make it easy to find inspiring, kid-friendly activities! That’s why we’ve worked with PBS stations and content creators from across the country to bundle up some of our favorite activities into one, easy-to-carry-anywhere book. We hope you and your kids will use this to inspire learning all summer long!

Activity Books are available to print for grades
  • Preschool & Kindergarten
  • 1st - 3rd Grade
  • 4th - 6th Grade
STEM Passport App
STEM Pipeline
Locate STEM events & programs near you by using the STEM Passport App.

The app is currently available on Android / Google Play Store, and iOS / Apple App Store.

FREE
SAVE THE DATE: Affirmation Day
Self Love Beauty
On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, join in the movement and spread positivity to everyone you meet. Our FREE toolkit, provided to you after signing up, includes ways to join in and the steps to take. Some examples include:
- Write on bathroom mirrors at home
- Hand out affirmation cards to friends or family
- Send out emails to individuals with positive talk
- Put post-its with affirmations around your business or school
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STAY INFORMED
*This newsletter was supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0055-01-0090TP0002, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

**Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.