The Early Childhood Conference provides quality local supports to support raising and caring for healthy children. This conference is intended for Montcalm County Parents (Biological, Foster, Adoptive, Grandparents) and Early Childhood Service Providers serving families with children ages 0-5 years of age (childcare providers, preschool teachers, home visitors, infant mental health professionals, health care professionals, social services professionals, school personnel and therapists). Registration is now open, workshops fill up quickly, so if you are interested in attending please send in your registration form soon.
Early Childhood Conference – Planting the Seeds For the Future Registration Materials 2016
Check out this article about the transformative power of early childhood development from The Huffington Post. The article can be found here: Link
Free parenting classes offered in Montcalm County. See below for the brochure and for June 2016 dates. Registration is required.
Love & Logic June
A three-year-old dressed in a superhero cape collapses in a corner and yells, “I can’t put on my shoes! I can’t!” A four-year-old proudly sets the table “all by myself,” only to fall apart when a glass of water tips over.
Preschool children are in the early stages of developing their self concept — their mental picture of who they are, what they can do, and who they are capable of becoming. During this pivotal time, the language parents and educators use with preschoolers — particularly when they face challenges or struggle to learn new skills — can help them shape a healthy mental model of how people learn and grow.
Read the rest of this article at: http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/06/10/preschoolers-and-praise-messages-that-can-help-kids-grow/
When children and their families enter the prekindergarten classroom, they see a room designed to engage children in intentional and active learning. Within the first 20 minutes of the day, children sign in, answer a yes-or-no poll question (“Do you like to swim?”), and then consult a chart to determine at which learning center they will start their morning. The teacher, Ms. Price, circulates to help children achieve specified learning goals. In the writing center she helps Angela print her name by referring to the alphabet chart to help her find the letter that makes the L sound. She asks José about his new shoes, which they will sing a song about later at circle time. She assists Steven by dictating words for a message he will share with his classmates during circle time. Ms. Price talks directly to the children (“Tell me about your new shoes”), offers reminders when needed (“We will start cleaning up in 10 minutes”), and comments on their work (“Angela, I see you wrote all of the letters in your name”).
To Read Article visit: Helping Others Understand Academic Rigor in Teachers’ Developmentally Appropriate Practices
The 2-1-1 service for Montcalm and Ionia Counties will be suspended effective January 2, 2016. Discussions have been ongoing for months regarding the importance of this service and the need for sustainable funding. 
On December 3, 2015 the Montcalm Human Services Coalition voted unanimously that it “does not support the continued diversion of local funds for 2-1-1 and recommends that the service be suspended until a sustainable source of funding can be found”.
Residents needing assistance may visit www.liveunitedm-i.org for a directory of community resources.
National Children’s Dental Health observances began with a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio and a one-week event in Akron, Ohio during February 1941. Since then, the concept has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a weeklong event in 1955. And in 1981, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. NCDHM messages reach millions of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed service bases. Local observances often include poster, coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations and dental office tours. Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. By participating in the annual celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, members of the dental team, parents, teachers and others can help keep children’s smiles beautiful now and for years to come.
This year’s NCDHM campaign slogan “Sugar Wars” is displayed on this Poster. The Smileys, McGrinns and K9 are in a spaceship, the USS SweetSwatter. It is equipped with toothbrush swatters, fighting against the Sweet Tooth Invaders for good oral health.
Dental Activity Book 2016 (American Dental Association)
A great resource for all of your families needs in Montcalm County.
Great Start Montcalm Resources Directory 2016
This brief first provides a summary of the developmental trajectory to bullying behavior and theories about social and environmental contributors to bullying. The remainder summarizes promising strategies and evidence-based intervention models designed to prevent bullying by addressing factors that contribute to the development of “mean” behavior and aggression in early childhood.
Read Full Report: http://www.childtrends.org/?publications=understanding-and-addressing-the-early-childhood-origins-of-mean-behavior-and-bullying-resources-for-practitioners
