May 2022
Created by Great Lakes Bay Parents - Informing parents since 2012!
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Talking is Teaching
Let’s talk about POTTY TIME! 

Potty training means spending lots of time in the bathroom with your little one! Make it fun by asking silly questions that get your child thinking and giggling like, “How many watermelons do you think would fit in the bathtub?” and “Why do you think toilets are on the ground and not the ceiling?”

Bedtime Math
BEDTIME MATH is a FREE "app for iPhone/iPad or Android, available in both English and Spanish, is a great way for families with kids ages 3-9 to have fun with math together! "

Bedtime Math's Mission "is to help kids love numbers so they can handle the math in real life."

FREE Summer Activity Books
Michigan Learning Channel
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

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.

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS
Great Start to Quality Resources Center helps parents find quality licensed programs, for children ages 0-12.

CAN COUNCIL
Make Parenting a Pleasure
Free parent support series for
caregivers, parents, and
grandparents of children ages 0-8.

Wednesdays | May 11th - August 24th
5-7pm | Classes held over Zoom

Thursdays | May 12th - August 25th
5-7pm | Classes held over Zoom

Wednesdays | May 25th - September 7th
12-2pm | Classes held over Zoom

Register by calling 989.752.7226.
MSU EXTENSION
The Parent Talk System Webinar Series
May 18 - June 22 at 12:30 - 2 PM

Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting Webinar Series: May-June
May 26, 2022 - June 23 at 8 -9 :30 PM

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour:
Young at Art
May 10 at 8 - 9:30 PM

Talking With Kids About Race
May 17 at 8 - 9:30 pm

Managing Milestones: Walking, Talking, Potty Training, and More!
May 19 at 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Reducing Challenging Behaviors in Toddlers
May 24 at 8 - 9:30 PM

Co-Parenting
May 31 at 8 - 9:30 PM

Covenant HealthCare
Infant & Child CPR Class
May 4 at 7 - 9 PM
May 24 at 7 - 9 PM

Breastfeeding Support Group
Mondays at 6:30 pm

FREE KID/ FAMILY EVENTS
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.
Start Planning Your Child's Summer
Summer Camp Page Sponsor: Bay Shore Camp & Ministries

The 2022 Summer Camps is a directory that list hundreds of camps located in the Great Lakes Bay Region (Arenac, Bay, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw County). Find in-person and virtual camps, over-night camps, and special needs camps.

2022 STEM Passport Mobile

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! The app is a great resource to access information about current STEM-based activities and events in the region.

May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
Saginaw: FREE – Tales for Twos @ Zauel Library
Location: 3100 N Center Rd., Saginaw
Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 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.

May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12
Story Time @ Frankenmuth Wickson District Library
Location: 359 S Franklin St.,Frankenmuth
Dates: Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursday at 10 - 11:40 AM

Young children can explore early literacy through stories, games, songs, and activities.

May 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 & 31
Chesaning: FREE – Children’s Story Hour *RSVP @ River Rapid Library
Location: 227 E Broad St., Chesaning
Dates: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM &
Thursdays at 6 PM

Preschool reading fun with Jan.

REGISTER: call 989-845-3211

May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
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.

May 5 & 19
Saginaw: FREE - Preschool Story Time @ Castle Museum
Location: 500 Federal Avenue, Saginaw
Dates: May 5 & 19 at 10:30 AM

This event is free but registration is a MUST.

REGISTER: contact Kristi at kfurtaw@castlemuseum.org or 989-752-2861 ext. 311

May 5
Saginaw: FREE – Beyond the Book: Frida Kahlo & Piñata Crafting! *RSVP @ Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum
7400 Bay Rd., Saginaw
May 5, 2022 at 4:30 – 6:00 PM

Dive into the life of Frida Kahlo with this little golden book, perfect for kids of any age! Then learn to create your own piñata!

Children are invited to gather for a book reading and art activity with Bay City teacher, Brandy Wilk! Each child will receive an free copy of the selected book.

BOOK: Mi Little Golden Book sobre Frida Kahlo by Silvia Lopez and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

ART ACTIVITY: Make Your Own Piñata!

May 6, 13, 20 & 27
Saginaw: FREE – Preschool Storytime @ Butman-Fish Library
Location: 1716 Hancock, Saginaw
May 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Drop-in storytime presented by Miss Beth. We can’t wait to have you join us for stories, music, crafts, games, and more!

Saginaw: FREE Feed Your Feathered Friends Workshop *RSVP @ Lowes
Location: 2258 Tittabawasee Rd, Saginaw
Date: May 7 at 9 AM – 12 PM

Bring your mini-DIYer into Lowe’s at one of the select time slots. Workshops hosted by one of our experts are held from 9:00am – 12:00pm. Wasn’t able to sign up for one of the expert hosted workshops? Choose the 12:00pm – 8:00pm time slot to stop by to pick up a kit from Customer Service and enjoy building your kit at home.

May 7
Chesaning: FREE – Lego Club @ River Rapid Library
Location: 227 E Broad St., Chesaning
Date: May 7at 12 PM

Lego club with Daya. A different theme each week. What Lego creation will you come up with? Snacks and Beverages Provided. Bring Your own Legos or use ours.

*except for Holidays

May 7
Saginaw: BUZZ BIN & NORTH STREET BAND – FREE COMIC BOOK DAY CELEBRATION @ Coy’s Comics
Location: 2258 Tittabawasee Rd, Saginaw
Date: May 7 at 5 - 8 PM

Catch North Street Band at 5 pm and Buzz Bin at 6 pm for live music. GREAT DEALS AND FREE COMICS ALL DAY!

May 10
Online: FREE – Affirmation Day with Self Love Beauty
Date: May 10 all day

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

May 14
Saginaw: FREE – Second Saturdays @ Saginaw Art Museum
Location: 1126 N Michigan Ave., Saginaw
Date: May 14 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.

May 21
Saginaw: FREE – PLEIN AIR PAINT OUT @ Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
Location: 6975 Mower Road, Saginaw
Date: May 21 at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Enjoy the outdoors and watch as artists paint Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge during our Plein Air Paint Out.

Refuge visitors are invited to walk the Wildlife Drive Auto Tour which will only be available for hiking traffic only. The Ferguson Bayou Trail will remain open and allow visitors to interact with participating artists.

May 27
Frankenmuth: FREE – FRIDAY FUN NIGHTS @ Downtown Frankenmuth
Location:Main St., Frankenmuth
Date: Fridays at 6-9 PM

Main Street comes alive from 6pm – 9pm with live music and street performers EVERY FRIDAY from May 27th thru September 2nd. Discover talented musicians from around the state as well as some local favorites. Face painting, balloon twisting and magicians, oh my!

May 27, 28, 29 & 30
Frankenmuth: FREE – Balloons Over Bavarian Inn @ Frankenmuth River Place Shops
Location: 925 S Main St, Frankenmuth
Date: April 28 - May 1
May 27 at 6:30 – 9:30 PM
May 28 at 7 – 8:30 AM & 6:30 – 9 PM
May 29 at 7 – 8:30 AM & 6:30 – 9 PM
May 30 at 7 – 8:30 AM

Witness beautiful morning and evening flights by over 20 hot air balloons over Frankenmuth, Michigan! Nightly balloon glows take place near River Place Shops, this is a must-see event you don’t want to miss at the Frankenmuth Dog Bowl!

May 28, 29 & 30
Frankenmuth: FREE – Frankenmuth Dog Bowl 2022 @ Frankenmuth River Place Shops
Location: 925 S Main St, Frankenmuth
Date: May 28 – 29 at 8 AM – 11 PM

The world’s largest Olympic-style festival for dogs returns with dock and disc dog competitions, sheep herding demonstrations, balloon glows and flights, wiener dog races, a pet costume parade and so much more!

The FREE two-day family event takes place Memorial Day weekend – May 28 and 29, 2022 – and is the same weekend as Balloons over Bavarian Inn, with daily competitions and nightly balloon glow events in the grassy field near River Place Shops. Dogs are welcome but please note – all dogs must be on leashes!

May 30
Memorial Day Parades
Downtown Frankenmuth on May 30 at 10 AM - LEARN MORE

Saginaw's Memorial Day Parade @ Starts S. Washington & ends at Hoyt Park on May 30 at 11 AM - LEARN MORE
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