Created by Great Lakes Bay Parents - Informing parents since 2012! |
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Let’s Talk about SPORTS!
Build healthy habits as a family by spending time playing together outdoors. Use any ball at home and let your child make up the rules. Fun outdoor activities like this provide opportunities for your child to boost their creative thinking! It’s also a wonderful way to bond and spend quality time together as a family.
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HOME VISITING
The intimacy of visiting in the home can make parents more comfortable about opening up and identifying their needs. It also helps home visitors to better tailor their support and guidance to the families’ needs. From observing the family in their home, home visitors can build on their strengths and can also identify risk factors in the children’s growth and development, such as maternal depression, poor parenting practices, and lack of support. Many parents can sometimes feel isolated and home visits from a trained service provider can offer a valuable connection to the outside community and the services available.
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LENDING LIBRARY
The Great Start to Quality Easter Resource Center offers materials and resources for parents, center based programs, school teachers and others to check out at no cost. The lending library offers age-appropriate, hands-on learning materials for children birth to five. It's the same concept as checking out a book from your local library. Fill out a request online or stop in to see what we have.
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SCHOOL READINESS
School Readiness means that children are ready for schools, families are ready to support their children's learning, and schools are ready for children.
Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development are all essential ingredients of school readiness. Including:
- Approaches to Learning
- Social and Emotional Development
- Language and Literacy
- Cognition
- Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development
Implementing and measuring progress toward school readiness goals and preparing children for kindergarten.
School readiness means children possess the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning and life.
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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.
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IN-PERSON CLASSES
Read Association & Jolt Credit Union
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ONLINE PARENTING CLASSES
MSU Extension
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Extension Extras Parenting Hour
WHEN: Tuesdays at 8 - 9:30 PM
November 1 - Essential Skills For Learning and Life
November 9 - Positive Discipline
November 15 - ABC's of Early Literacy
November 22 - Responding to Your Child's Cues
November 29 - Together We Can: Co-Parenting
Online Extension Extras Family
November 11 at 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - FAQ's Sibling Squabbles
The Parent Talk System Webinar Series - September - October Webinar
November 3 – December 15 at 7:30 - 9 PM
Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting Webinar Series: October
November 9 - December 7 at 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Lunch & Learn
November 14 at 11:30 AM - 12:30PM - Mindfulness for Parents and Caregivers Monday
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Family Holiday Guide
Great Lakes Bay Parents
The Family Holiday Guide list Holiday Events, Santa Houses, Christmas Tree Farms, Light Shows, and STEM gift ideas.
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STEM Passport App
The Great Lakes Bay Region is home to a variety of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) destinations and programs. The Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport is a learning resource for 19 different hands-on, dynamic STEM organizations in the community. Now locating them is easy!
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READING CHALLENGE
Michigan Learning
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Hemlock: FREE – Storyland Explorers (age 2-5)*RSVP @ Rauchholz Memorial Library |
DATE: Mondays at 10:30 AM
LOCATION: 1140 N Hemlock Rd., Hemlock
A fun storytime program that features stories from books and on the flannel board, interactive songs and rhymes, and sensory play and learning!
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Frankenmuth: FREE – Story Time with Mrs. Emmons @ Frankenmuth Wickson District Library |
DATE: Mondays & Tuesdays at 10 AM
LOCATION: 359 S Franklin St.
Frankenmuth
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Bridgeport: FREE – Story Hour @ Bridgeport Public Library
Location: 3399 Williamson Rd., Saginaw
Dates: 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.
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Chesaning: FREE – Children’s Story Hour (age 3-4) @ River Rapids District Library
Location: 227 E Broad St., Chesaning
Dates: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Sign up now for your child ages 3-4 to participate in our morning Children’s Story Hour. Space is limited so sign up now! Each hour includes stories, songs, crafts and snacks.
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Saginaw: FREE – Fall Storytime @ Carolyn R. Otto Family Literacy Center
Location: 100 South Jefferson Avenue, Suite #203, Saginaw
Dates: Wednesdays at 11 AM
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Chesaning: FREE – Children’s Story Hour (age 5-8) @ River Rapids District Library
Location: 227 E Broad St., Chesaning
Dates: Thursdays at 6 - 7 PM
Don’t miss this story hour for children of all ages. No Pre-registration needed. Bring your child and come prepared to hear a fun story and enjoy snacks and a craft.
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Saginaw: FREE – Preschool Storytime @ Butman-Fish Library |
Location: 1716 Hancock, 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!
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Saginaw: FREE – Preschool Storytime @ Zauel Library
Location: 3100 N Center Rd., Saginaw
Dates: Saturdays at 10:30am – 11:00am
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Hemlock: FREE – Play to Learn (age 0-5) @ Rauchholz Memorial Library |
Location: 1140 N Hemlock Rd., Hemlock
Date: November 1, 8, 15 & 29 at 10:30 AM
An opportunity for children to learn to socialize, share toys, and play together.
For kids ages 0-5 years and their adult helper.
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Saginaw: FREE – Tales for Twos @ Zauel Library
Location: 3100 N Center Rd., Saginaw
Dates: November 1, 8, 15 & 29 at 10:30 AM
Come read, laugh, and play at our story time program designed for toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years. Our story time provides active young children and their caregivers with stories, fingerplays and songs based on simple concepts, repetition, and lots of movement.
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Hemlock: FREE – Play Dough Club (age 0-5) @ Rauchholz Memorial Library |
Location: 1140 N Hemlock Rd., Hemlock
Date: November 1 & 15
Kids age 3-1st grade, come have fun with play dough at the library! Be a play dough chef and make play dough cookies, play dough ice cream, and play dough pizza. Or be a play dough barber and give the play dough people fantastic haircuts! Or be extra creative and make whatever you want!
We ask that caregivers remain in the library during this program, however, you are not required to stay in the program corner unless you want to.
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St. Charles: FREE – CIDER AND DOUGHNUT HIKE *RSVP @ Ringwood Forest Trail |
Location: Ring Rd., St. Charles
Date: November 2 at 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Enjoy some fresh fall air. Join Saginaw County Parks staff on a hike through Ringwood Forest. After the hike, wrap up your evening with cider and dough- nuts!
Reservations are required. Call (989)790-5280
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Online: FREE – “Creative Coping: An art-based workshop for kids and parents” *RSVP with Michigan.gov |
Location: Online
Date: November 2 & 9 at 6 - 7 PM
It takes time for children to develop emotional intelligence — the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions. Parents can play a key role in this development by helping their child learn the words and feelings associated with various emotions. This series of four online workshops paves the way by involving family members in creative art projects centered around identity, self-awareness, and emotional expression.
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Saginaw: LEGOS @ Butman-Fish Library |
Location: 1716 Hancock, Saginaw
Date: November 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 4 - 5 PM
Looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon? Join us for LEGOS@THE LIBRARY! Build something cool of your own design or take on one of our challenges. This activity is open to all school-age children. Those under 7 will need an adult helper.
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Saginaw: FREE – Preschool Story Time: Hockey Edition @ Castle Museum |
Location: 500 Federal Avenue, Saginaw
Dates: November 3 & 17 at 10:30 AM
This event is free but registration is a MUST.
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Hemlock: FREE – Jumping Jammers (age 2-5) @ Rauchholz Memorial Library |
Location: 1140 N Hemlock Rd., Hemlock
Date: Fridays at 10:30-11:15 AM
A fun interactive music program where kids will sing, dance, and make music!
For kids ages 2-5 years and their adult helper.
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Saginaw: FREE – Kids Workshops @ Home Depot |
Location: 3132 Bueker Dr., 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.
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Saginaw: Try Hockey For Free *RSVP @ Saginaw-Bay Ice Arena |
Location: 6129 Bay Rd., Saginaw
Date: November 5 at 10 - 11 AM
Join us at our Try Hockey for Free Event. Equipment provided (as available). Show 30 minutes early to allow for efficient check in and equipment sizing.
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Freeland: Free – Snakes Alive @ Freeland SportsZone |
Location: 5690 Midland Rd. Freeland
Date: November 5 at 11 AM & 1 PM
Snakes may be one of the most feared and misunderstood animals, but after attending this program you’ll learn how fascinating and beneficial these beautiful reptiles can be. Join CNC Interpretive Naturalist and snake enthusiast Michelle Fournier for this live snake program. All are welcome to get as close a look at the snakes as you feel comfortable!
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Saginaw: Heroes Appreciation Breakfast @ Saginaw YMCA |
Location: 1915 Fordney St., Saginaw
Date: November 10 at 7 AM – 11 AM
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Saginaw: FREE – Second Saturdays @ Saginaw Art Museum |
Location: 1126 N Michigan Ave., Saginaw
Date: November 12 at 12 – 5 PM
As we work on creating increased access to the museum’s collection and exhibitions, we will be opening the second Saturday of the month into the Spring. There will be no admission to the museum, however special activities such as docent tours or classes may have cost. You can stay connected with all the happenings through our website and social media channels.
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Bridgeport: FREE – Holiday Cookie Decorating *RSVP @ Bridgeport Public Library |
Location: 3399 Williamson Rd., Saginaw
Date: November 15 at 6 - 7 PM
Ness will be demonstrating techniques on decorating holiday cookies and then you will get to try to decorate your own cookies. All ages are welcome, but there is a limit of 25. Please call the library to sign up.
Register: Call 989-777-6030
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Saginaw: FREE – Holidays in the Heart of the City @ Downtown Saginaw |
Location: Downtown Saginaw
Date: November 18 at 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Holidays in the Heart of the City is the Annual City Lighting Ceremonies. Included in this event are open houses at various locations including the Children’s Zoo, Japanese Tea House, Andersen Enrichment Center and others. Also included are free concerts in area churches, free horse drawn wagon rides on Ezra Rust Blvd., the HAP Cookie House Competition at the Andersen Enrichment Center, a live nativity at the Montague Inn, free pony rides in Borchard Park, Reindeer and, of course, Santa!
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Birch Run: FREE – 4TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION! @ Birch Run Premium Outlets |
Location: 12240 South Beyer Rd., Birch Run
Date: November 18 at 6 - 7:30 PM
Birch Run Premium Outlets invites you and your family to join us at our 4th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration!
Including:
-Santa will join as our special guest for the night for picture taking.
– Interactive glow wands for children to help light the tree.
& MORE! Stay Tuned….
Bring your Holiday Cheer!
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Saginaw: FREE – Kids Workshop *RSVP @ Lowes |
Location: 2258 Tittabawasee Rd., Saginaw
November 19 at 9 AM – 12 PM
Gobble Up the Fun with a Dancing Turkey Toy
Celebrate Thanksgiving in a unique way with your mini DIYer at this month’s Dancing Turkey Kit workshop. Whether it’s a fun toy for your table or a special gift for the host, this hand-made Dancing Turkey will make the holiday memorable.
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Saginaw: FREE – CHRISTMAS PARADE @ Downtown Saginaw
Location: Downtown Saginaw, Saginaw
Dates: November 19 at 11 AM - 12 PM
Christmas Parade featuring floats, marching bands, decorated vehicles, costumed characters and more.
Route: corner of Washington and Johnson. We will then go south on S. Washington to Ezra Rust Avenue and disband on Ojibway Island.
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Saginaw: FREE – Holiday Party @ Castle Museum
Location: 500 Federal Avenue, Saginaw
Dates: November 19 at 12 - 4 PM
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Frankenmuth: FREE – ‘Tis the Season Weekends @ Frankenmuth River Place Shops |
Location: 925 S Main St., Frankenmuth
Date: November 26 & 27 at 1- 5 PM
Experience the magic of the holiday season at River Place Shops – activities include strolling carol performances and a meet-and-greet opportunity with Santa and Mrs. Claus and his North Pole team. Free and open to the public; activity times are subject to change due to weather. 🎅
All activities take place outdoors in our elaborately decorated Santa’s Workshop and are weather-dependent.
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Frankenmuth: FREE – St. Nicholas to Santa Claus @ Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland
Location: 25 Christmas Ln., Frankenmuth
Dates: November 26 & 27 at 2 -3 PM
Join us in our Program Center as St. Nicholas tells the story of how he became Santa Claus. This half-hour performance, a tradition here at Bronner’s, involves audience participation. Don’t miss out on this memorable experience for children of all ages.
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