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Allgean County Great Start Families Connected

Newsletter - April 2021

Great Start Families Connected
COFFEE CHAT EVENTS

Come chat with other parents and caregivers about self-care and positive social connections to get support as a parent! Bring a cup of coffee and talk about what is on your mind! Our previous Coffee Chats have consisted of swapping ideas, advice, and lending supports to others. You can come to both as every Coffee Chat is different! Please join us even if you can stay for 15 minutes!

Join both chats via Zoom here:
https://bit.ly/alleganchat

WEDNESDAY APRIL 14th at 6:30pm to 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY APRIL 28th at 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Join Our Allegan County Families Facebook Group!
Join our Facebook group to see future events, newsletters, early childhood activities, parenting and self-care tips, and a place to connect with other parents, caregivers, and grandparents locally!
Take Our Families Connected Survey!
Click here to take our short Families Connected survey to help decide days, times, and topics for future meetings!
April is Let's Talk About Nature Month!
 
Nature Walk Activity
Items Needed:
- 2 toilet paper rolls OR 1 paper towel roll, cut in half
- Yarn
- Tape
- An egg carton OR sack
 
  1. Make binoculars by taping the rolls together and thread yarn through the tubes to make a neck strap.
  2. Go on a walk with your child and have them use the egg carton or sack to store things that you find interesting.
  3. Looks for animals and bugs while walking.
  4. Talk about the shapes, colors, and how each item feels. Is it hard, soft, rough, etc.

Come to our Play and Learn Groups!

 

ALLEGAN - April 6th @ 6pm http://bit.ly/2YXEmSs

PLAINWELL & HOPKINS - April 15th @ 10am http://bit.ly/3jEeyCy

MARTIN & FENNVILLE - April 21st @ 11am http://bit.ly/3biEv7Q

WAYLAND - April 13th @ 10am http://bit.ly/31QkFxF

OTSEGO - April 28th @ 10am http://www.facebook.com/LearnNGrowECEC
Come to our Play and Learn groups for a chance to win one of two gift baskets! This basket includes: sunblock, flower seeds, watering can, gardening gloves, bubbles, fairy garden set, plastic tweezers, plastic bug kit.

2021-2022 Preschool Registration

 

To see if your child qualifies for free preschool visit:
https://www.helpmegrowallegan.org/preschool
or call (269) 512-7775.

If your child does not quality for free preschool, one of our Great Start Family Coaches will reach out to you and connect you to other Preschool Partners in Allegan County.

Parent Workshops & Webinars

 

Arbor Circle
Nurturing Parent Class - Wednesdays April 14th to June 16th @ 1pm-2:30pm
Identifying Child Abuse & Neglect & Mental Health Needs - April 14th @ 9am to 11am
Screenagers: Skills for Stress & Resilience - April 19th @ 12pm to 2pm
Engaging Fathers in Prevention - April 21st @ 9am to 10:30am

Allegan County Community Mental Health
Parent Support Group - April 13th @ 7pm to 8pm

Michigan Alliance For Families
Building Parent Leaderdhip Skills in Early Childhood - Every other Monday April 12th to May 24th @ 7pm to 8pm

Michigan State University Extension
Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting - Thursdays April 1st to 29th
RELAX Alternatives to Anger for Parents & Caregivers - April 6th @ 8pm to 9:30pm
Learning to Talk - April 13th @ 8pm to 9:30pm
RELAX Alternatives to Anger Series - Thursdays April 15th to May 6th @ 10am to 11am
More than 123: Math & Early Childhood - April 20th @8pm to 9:30pm
Parent & Provider Communication - April 27th @8pm to 9:30pm

Spring Break Staycation Activities

April is Autism Awareness Month!

 
What is Autumn?

These are some activities for any young child to engage in to build skills that include:
Play Pretend
Explore with Your Senses
Take Turns
Share Experiences
Encourage Imitation

You can find examples of each activity here:
https://autism.lovetoknow.com/Preschool_Activities_for_Autistic_Children
 

April is Stress Awareness Month!

 
Here are two calendars you can use to help you deal with stress by doing just a little each day. Try to do at least 20 this month!

April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month!

 
Safe Harbor Children's Advocacy Center has provided some helpful resources and information to prevent child abuse and how to receive help.
https://safeharborcac.org/

Safe Harbor YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCodmsIW2VZ3I4pxaKG9KnAA/videos
 
Darkness to Light for children: https://www.d2l.org/
Love is Respect for teens: https://www.loveisrespect.org/

The following Allegan County libraries will be putting out body safety books for parents to check out and help prevent abuse:
  • Ransom District Library
  • Allegan District Library
  • Fennville Library
  • Otsego District Library
  • Hopkins District Library
  • J.C. Wheeler Public Library
 
Hopkins Library - Body Safety Presentations for Kids and Parent Q&A
April 24th at 11am. Event is in-person. *MASKS REQUIRED.
Zoom option will be available as well. Check Hopkins Library Facebook page for more details when they are available
https://www.facebook.com/hopkinslibrarymi

For more resources or questions about recognizing child abuse, contact Safe Harbor
269-673-3791

Report Suspected Child Abuse at Central Intake
855-444-3911 or 911
 
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Copyright © 2021 Help Me Grow Allegan, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
310 Thomas Street,
Allegan, MI 49010

For questions, contact:
Stormie Drake
Great Start Parent Liaison
Stormie.Drake@AlleganAESA.org
(269) 512-7747
http://bit.ly/alleganGSFC

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Help Me Grow · 310 Thomas St · Allegan, MI 49010-9158 · USA

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