Spring is busy, busy, busy! Lots of fun opportunities and exciting things for families and children in northern Michigan.

• Creative Kids Day will take place in Boyne City on March 23, 2010 with fun crafts, activities and food.  Click here for the flyer to share with friends.

• Parents, children, grandparents and teachers will be headed down to Lansing on May 19, 2010 to show those in Lansing the importance of early childhood! Stay tuned for more information! Click here for the flyer and start spreading the word!

March is Parenting Awareness Month and the Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition would love to say,

“Good job mom, dad, grandparents and caregivers!”

Parenting is hard work and it is for a lifetime! We would like to help provide you with some tips, tools and solutions to help make your job easier. Downloadable information provided by the Prevention Network.

Safe Sleep for Baby

31 Ways to Build Your Child’s Self Esteem

Effective Parenting Tips

Infant Development

Toddler Development

Children and Second Hand Smoke

Toll Free Parent Help Line 24 Hours a Day-FREE

Free monthly classes for families with babies or young children!

When: 2nd Thursday of each Month
Time: 6:30 – 8:00pm
Location: Community Health Education Center

No registration required. For more information call 231.478.4762

Schedule:

• April 8th: A Handful of Language
  Signing for Infants and Toddlers
  Nina Wagner, MA
  Char-Em Intermediate School District
• May 13th: Baby in the Home
  Infant CPR/Infant Safety
  Tina Shawan
  LTBB Healthy Start Program
• June 10th: The Growing Baby
  Healthy Baby and Child Development
  Cathy Borowski, PT and Christine Calcaterra, PT
  Northern Michigan Regional Hospital
• July 8th: Bonding with Baby
  Infant Massage – Babies over 2 months old welcome
  Nicole Hibbler, CMT
  Northern Michigan Sports Medicine Center
• August 12th: Getting Your Body Back
  Postpartum exercise and body mechanics
  Sandy Willoughby, PT
  Northern Michigan Sports Medicine Center
• September 9th: Mom Goes Back to Work
  Choosing a Day Care Setting
  Luann Ameluxen
  Northern Michigan Child Development Center

Sponsored by Northern Michigan Sports Medicine Center and Northern Michigan Regional Hospital.

2010 Spring Schedule:

Appointments can be made starting on March 10, 2010 by calling 1-877-866-3714.

Day and Evening appointments are available.

March 29, 30 & 31st, 2010 in East Jordan
April 13 & 14th, 2010 in Alanson
April 15 & 16th, 2010 in Boyne City
April 19 & 20th, 2010 in Charlevoix
April 26 & 27th, 2010 in Petoskey
April 29 & 30th, 2010 in Pellston
April 30th, 2010 in Boyne Falls

Please bring the following to your appointment:

Your child’s: birth certificate and immunization record, Social Security numbers for all household members, Proof of income –current tax return , Proof of child care assistance and medical/dental insurance information or your blue Medicaid card.

The Petoskey News Review recently published a wonderful guide for parents on events, contacts, local happenings and more! Parenting Awareness Month is coming up in March and to start spreading the news view this wonderful down-loadable PDF I discovered at Northern Moms. Thanks Petoskey News Review for doing such a great job with this!

Come join us as we celebrate the joys of parenting and discuss how parents can be leaders and advocates in our communities.

Free lunch, giveaways, and door prizes.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 – 10am – 2pm

4 LOCATIONS to choose from:

• Traverse Bay Area ISD, Conference Center, 1101 Red Drive, Traverse City
• Charlevoix-Emmet ISD, 08568 Mercer Boulevard, Charlevoix
• Manistee ISD, 772 E. Parkdale Avenue, Manistee
• Wexford/Missaukee ISD, General Education Building, 9907 East 13th Street, Cadillac

Presenter, Author, and Early Childhood Advocate Dan Hodgins will be presenting the following two workshops on parenting:

• NEWS! Mothers and fathers raise children differently, and that’s a GOOD THING
• PARENTING: The most underrecognized, but THE most IMPORTANT job!

Register Today! CALL Child Care Connections

1-800-968-4228

Sponsored by: Child Care Connections • Manistee Intermediate School district • Charlevoix/Emmet Great Start Collaborative • Wexford/Missaukee Great
Start Collaborative • Charlevoix- Emmet Intermediate School District • Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency • Traverse Bay Area Intermediate
School District • Traverse Bay/Manistee Great Start Collaborative

Download pdf

The Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition of Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties value the importance of fatherhood. We have updated our resource page to include a special section just for links on fatherhood and we are proud to support the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition. They will be hosting a conference in Howell, Michigan February 19, 2010. For details please download the brochure to learn more about how you can become involved or attend and support the importance the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition.

Photo Credit: Michigan Fatherhood Coalition

February 20, 2010, 4pm-8pm

Have fun while benefiting your local community

Fun Filled Event for All Ages!

LTBB Government Center Common Area

Silent/Live Auction featuring Native American inspired food and entertainment.

Activities

• Free snow shoeing and tracking expeditions
• Free Kids Activities: Medicine Bags, Color Wheels, Jewelry Making
• Stroll the numerous silent auction items, donated by local businesses, while the kids are entertained
• 50/50 drawing
• Fry Bread, Corn Soup, Chili, Hot/Cold Beverages
• Smoked Fish from Bell’s Fishery
• Bid on a Dinner/Casino/Hotel package including Bill Cosby Tickets

For more information, call 231-347-6753

http://www.northernshoreloadfund.org

Social and Emotional Health

The Michigan State University Extension will be holding a training class that will assist you in teaching children about emotions. You will also explore ways to create a responsive child care environment.

March 22, 2010
6:00-8:00pm
Charlevoix Public Library
220 W. Clinton
Charlevoix, MI 49720