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Let’s talk about SPRING! Take some time this spring to relax with your little one. On a warm day, talk about the shapes and pictures you see in the clouds! “I see a teddy bear! What do you see in the clouds?” This calming activity will also help build your child’s communication skills.
For more ideas on how to talk, read, and sing together visit: TALKING IS TEACHING
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Kindergarten Readiness Goal:
- Uses a fork and spoon.
- Suggests solutions to social problems.
- Produces correct sound for 10-20 letters.
- Orients book correctly, turns pages from front to back, recognizes familiar books by their cover.
- Compares and orders a small set of objects according to size, length, weight; knows usual sequence of basic daily events.
- Understands physical properties of objects (heavy, light, rough, smooth).
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Cooking Matters Recipe:
FRESH FRUIT WITH WARM HONEY YOGURT TOPPING
15 Minutes 4 Servings
Kids love to help in the kitchen. Let your child clean the fruit. As you cut the fruit ask what color each one is. Together count how many pieces each fruit is cut into.
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh fruit, such as berries, melons, pears, plums, peaches, or a combination
1 lemon
1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
2 Tablespoons honey
Instructions:
- Wash and cut fruits. Rinse and zest lemon using the small holes on a box grater.
- Divide fruit evenly among 4 bowls.
- Combine yogurt, honey, and lemon zest in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir well.
- Drizzle honey yogurt topping over the fruit and serve.
View the Recipe: FRESH FRUIT WITH WARM YOGURT TOPPING
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FOOD & CLOTHING RESOURCES | |
BRAIN BUILDING THROUGH PLAY: ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS
Center on Developing Children, Harvard University
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SUMMER LEARNING
Michigan Learning Channel
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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!
View the Fun Activity Books:
EARLY LEARNERS
Activities for Preschool – Kindergarten students.
ELEMENTARY
Activities for 1st Grade – 3rd Grade students.
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TIP SHEET - LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EARTH
Talking is Teaching
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Let’s talk about SPRING! It is a perfect opportunity to teach children about the environment. It is an chance to help them appreciate the world around them and make a difference in protecting it. Use this tip sheet to talk, read, and sing with children about
the earth and show them ways we can all do our part to keep it healthy.
View and print: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EARTH
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HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME IS OK FOR MY KIDS?
Common Sense Media
"Kids are spending more time with digital devices -- and at younger ages -- than ever before. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have helpful guidelines for limiting screen time for young kids. The reality is, there's no magic number that's just right for every child. What's important is the quality of kids' content, how your kids engage with it, and balancing their time with and without screens in ways that are healthy and support their development.”
Read full article: COMMON SENSE MEDIA
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Families with children between the ages of 2 months and five residing in Saginaw County can complete a FREE Ages and Stages developmental screening or a social-emotional screening. Screenings take ten minutes to complete and the results are back within a week. Results tell parents what to expect at each state of development. Often times, early diagnosis can help give a child the best opportunity to reach their potential.
Learn more: AGES & STAGES QUESTIONNAIRES
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One out of every 169 pregnancies ends in stillbirth in the U.S., and that rate is two times higher for Black expectant parents.
The link between fetal movement and a healthy baby is clear, but research continues to uncover more about the importance of tracking baby’s movements. Count the Kicks uses the latest research to help achieve our mission.
Count the Kicks provides free, evidence-based resources for expectant parents to stay informed and monitor their baby’s well-being.
Learn more about: COUNT THE KICKS
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Great Start to Quality
Children learn so much in their first five years. Quality licensed programs, for children 0-12, help children learn, grow, and develop. The foundation is set for children to be successful in school, work, and life when they have a safe place to learn, explore their world, and build relationships. Great Start to Quality is committed to helping Michigan families find child care that fits their budget and schedule.
Great Start to Quality is Michigan’s quality rating and improvement system that evaluates the quality of licensed programs, for children 0-12. As a Michigan family, you can use Great Start to Quality as a tool to help you look up and compare early childhood programs to find the best child care. On a scale of one- to five-stars, Michigan child care, preschool, and afterschool programs are scored in different areas, and those scores are combined to give them their Star rating.
Learn More: GREAT START TO QUALITY
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FREE Online Parenting Classes
Extension Extras Parenting Hour
Tuesdays at 8 - 9:30 PM
May 14 - Unlock the Conversation:
Safety from Guns for Parents
May 21 - Mindfulness for Children
May 28 - ABC's of Early Literacy
Online Kinship Caregiver Workshops: Introduction to Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACES)
May 8, 7 - 8:30 PM
Online Parent Talk System Series - May-June 2024
Thursdays, May 16 - June 30, 7:30-9 PM
Online Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting Webinar Series - May-June 2024
Wednesdays, May 29 - June 26, 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Learn More & Register: MSU EXTENSION PARENT CLASSES
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Visit Great Lakes Bay Parents' KIDS DAILY CALENDAR for a full listing of story times, family/ kid events, and new places to discover in the Great Lakes Bay Region. | | |
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Start planning your summer with the Summer Camps guide, sponsored by Bay Shore Camps. Explore camps by county or type.
Start planning: SUMMER CAMPS
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The Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport compiles information for hands-on, dynamic STEM organizations in the community. Now locating current STEM-based activities and events in the region is easy!
Learn more: STEM PASSPORT
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May 2, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 & 30 - Tales For Two | | |
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WHERE: Zauel Memorial Library, Saginaw
DATE: Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Come read, laugh, and play at our storytime program designed for toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years. Our storytime provides active young children and their caregivers with stories, fingerplays and songs based on simple concepts, repetition, and lots of movement. This storytime will engage toddlers while fostering early literacy and fine motor skills development.
Meets Tuesdays, with a repeat of the same program on Thursdays.
Learn More: TALES FOR TWO
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May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 - Story Hour (5-8 Year Olds) | | |
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WHERE: River Rapids Library, Chesaning
DATE: Thursdays, 6-7 PM
Stories, Crafts, food and fun for 5 to 8 years old. Join with Bethany and James every Thursday during the school year except for holidays. Children must be pre-registered and Story Hour fills up fast so be sure to call or step in to see if we have any openings
Learn More: STORY HOUR
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May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 - Preschool Storytime | | |
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WHERE: Butman-Fish Library, Saginaw
DATE: Fridays at 10:30 AM
Drop-in storytime fun! We can't wait to have you join us for stories, music, crafts, games, and more!
Learn More: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
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May 3, 10, 17, 23 & 30 - Jumping Jammers | | |
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WHERE: Rauchholz Library, Hemlock
DATE: Fridays at 10:30 AM
Jumping Jammers: Music Time at the Library!
For kids ages 2-5. Drop-ins are welcome!
Learn More: JUMPING JAMMERS
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WHERE: Zauel Memorial Library, Saginaw
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 9-5 PM
Come celebrate May the 4th at Hoyt Library! We'll have Star Wars coloring stations in the children's area as well as a showing of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983, PG) in our auditorium at 1pm!
May the 4th Be With You!
Learn More: MAY THE 4TH
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May 4, 11 & 18 - Preschool Storytimes | | |
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WHERE: Zauel Library, Saginaw
DATE: Saturdays
at 10:30 AM
Preschool Storytime at Zauel
Learn More: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
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WHERE: Home Depot, Saginaw
DATE: First Saturday at 9 AM – 12 PM
Join us the first Saturday of each month between 9 am – 12 pm for free in-person Kids Workshops.
Learn more: KIDS WORKSHOP
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WHERE: Lowes, Saginaw
DATE: May 4 at 10 AM - 12 PM
Butterfly Biome
Your little scientist's first butterfly biome is also a great gift for Mom! Just in time for Mother's Day kids will create a gift that is sure to make your garden smile.
Workshops are hosted by our Red Vests are held from 10:00am – 1:00pm, in-store only.
Learn More & Register: LOWES
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May 4, 11, 18, & 25 - Free Saturdays @ Saginaw Art Museum | | |
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WHERE: Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw
DATE: Saturdays at 12 - 5 PM
In an effort to increase accessibility to the museum, we have extended our regular hours to include Saturday afternoons Noon-5pm starting this week, for FREE! We look forward to welcoming you and yours into our gem of a museum to explore our collection, exhibitions, and gardens.
Learn More: FREE SATURDAYS
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WHERE: River Rapids Library, Chesaning
DATE: May 4, 12-1 PM
Lego Club for kids of all ages. No registration required. Just come to enjoy time with other Lego Enthusiasts. We have 30 minutes of free build, then a 30 minute challenge build. Snack provided.
Learn More: LEGO CLUB
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May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 & 28 - Story Time with Mrs. Emmons | | |
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WHERE: Frankenmuth Wickson District Library, Frankenmuth
DATE: Mondays & Tuesdays
at 9:30 AM & 11 AM
Learn More: STORY TIME
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May 6, 13 & 20 - Kindergarten Boot Camp: Preschool Story Time | | |
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WHERE: Zauel Memorial Library, Saginaw
DATE: Mondays at 10:30 AM
This story time is an interactive learning experience that helps preschool aged children strengthen the skills necessary for a successful transition to kindergarten. Story time and activities focus on early literacy and kindergarten readiness skills such as colors, shapes, numbers, counting, letters, and scissors practice. Stories, activities, and crafts are prepared for children ages 3 to 6.
Learn More: KINDERGARTEN BOOT CAMP
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May 6, 13 & 20 - Story Hour | | |
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WHERE: Rauchholz Library, Hemlock
DATE: Mondays at 10:30 AM
For kids ages 2-5. Drop-ins are welcome!
Learn More: STORY HOUR
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May 6 & 20 - Bookmobile Stop | | |
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WHERE: First Ward Community Center, Saginaw
DATE: May 6 & 20, 5-6 PM
The PLOS Bookmobile is coming to First Ward Community Center! Families can bring their Public Libraries of Saginaw library card or sign up for a new card (ID with current address needed), then browse our mobile library to find the perfect book! You can also check out a Chromebook and get help with our digital services.
Learn More: BOOK MOBILE STOP
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May 7, 14 & 21 - Play to Learn | | |
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WHERE: Rauchholz Library, Hemlock
DATE: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Play to Learn: Playgroup at the Library
September 19th-May 14th (with some breaks)
For kids ages 0-5. Drop-ins are welcome!
Learn More: PLAY TO LEARN
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May 7, 14 & 21 - Story Hour | | |
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WHERE: River Rapids District Library,
St. Charles
DATE: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Story Hour (3&4 Yr Olds) with Janet Godfrey
Learn More: STORY HOUR
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May 7, 14, 21 & 28 - Story Hour | | |
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WHERE: Bridgeport Public Library, Bridgeport
DATE: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Have fun with stories as Miss Cindy reads and discusses each story. We also sing songs, learn rhymes and fingerplays and make crafts. We promote early literacy by teach the Ready to Read Michigan skills during each story hour.
Learn More: STORY HOUR
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May 11 - LEGOs at the Library | | |
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WHERE: Butman-Fish Library, Saginaw
DATE: May 11, 10 AM - 12 PM
Come test your creativity with our Legos. See what weird and wonderful things you can build!
Learn More: LEGOS AT THE LIBRARY
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WHERE: Boys and Girls Club, Saginaw
DATE: May 14, 4-5 PM
The PLOS Bookmobile is coming to the Boys & Girls Club at Stone Elementary School! Children and their friends can bring their Public Libraries of Saginaw library card or sign up for a new card (ID with current address needed), then browse our mobile library to find the perfect book! You can also check out a Chromebook and get help with our digital services.
Learn More: BOOK MOBILE STOP
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WHERE: YMCA, Saginaw
DATE: May 16, 3-5 PM
The PLOS Bookmobile is coming to the YMCA of Saginaw! Bring your Public Libraries of Saginaw library card or sign up for a new card (ID with current address needed), then browse our mobile library full of books for children, teens, and adults. You can also check out a Chromebook and get help with our digital services.
Learn More: BOOK MOBILE STOP
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May 18 - Teddy Bear Yoga by Miss Michelle | | |
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WHERE: Butman-Fish Library, Saginaw
As I work on my certification to become a children's yoga and mindfulness instructor I will be a teaching a few programs as I learn. The first is Teddy Bear Yoga! Bring your favorite teddy bear and learn how to breath and move like a bear with your teddy by your side. This is aimed at children ages 3-12 but all are welcome to try it out. This class is just a small sample of the fun to come. Children ages 6 and under need adult supervision. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a towel or a mat. Each child that attends will receive a free pair of yoga socks to be used for future classes.
DATE: May 18, 10:30-11 AM
Learn More: TEDDY BEAR YOGA
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May 18 - Together We Read | | |
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WHERE: Hoyt Main Library Library, Saginaw
DATE: May 18 at 2-3 PM
We'd LOVE to have you join us in the Hoyt Children's area for a fun time of stories, jumpy songs, a craft, and a snack!
Learn More: TOGETHER WE READ
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May 24 & 31 - Friday Fun Days | | |
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WHERE: Main St., Frankenmuth
DATE: Fridays, 6-9 PM
Main Street comes alive from 6PM – 9PM with live music and street performers EVERY FRIDAY from May 24th thru August 30th. Discover talented musicians from around the state as well as some local favorites. Face painting, balloon twisting, and magicians, oh my!
The lineup changes weekly, so be sure to stay tuned. Entertainment is free, but if you happen upon an act you enjoy, consider throwing them a few bucks to keep them coming back!
Learn More: FRIDAY FUN DAYS
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May 24-27 - Balloons Over Bavarian Inn | | |
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WHERE: Frankenmuth River Place Shops, Frankenmuth
DATE: May 24 -27
Witness beautiful morning and evening flights by 23 hot air balloons over Frankenmuth! Nightly balloon glows take place at the Frankenmuth Credit Union Event Field just behind Frankenmuth River Place Shops, this is a must-see event you don’t want to miss at the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl!
Learn More: BALLOONS OVER BAVARIAN INN
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May 25-26 - Frankenmuth Dog Bowl | | |
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WHERE: Frankenmuth River Place Shops, Frankenmuth
DATE: May 25 -26
Olympic-style festival for dogs featuring dock dog diving, disc dog competitions, wiener dog races, pet vendors and more! Pet and family friendly.
Learn More: DOG BOWL
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Visit Great Lakes Bay Parents' KIDS DAILY CALENDAR for a full listing of story times, family/ kid events, and new places to discover in the Great Lakes Bay Region. | | | | |
