Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival

The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is focused on Kids in 2011!  With help from sponsors, we are planning events that are fun and free for kids and families!  On Saturday, July 30, the Kids Parade kicks off at 10:30am.  This is followed at 11:30 with a free hotdog/chips/bottled water lunch down on the waterfront for all kids and families.  At 1:00pm, the festival is holding a Circus in Waterfront Stadium!  Bring the kids down to watch great circus acts including the flying trapeze, juggling, and a little clowning around.   Help us celebrate Home Depot HOMER’s birthday with other known mascots during the circus.  Stay around after because the Lego Experience Tour will be along the waterfront next to the Stadium all weekend for kids to play at and have fun!  And don’t forget Kids Day on Tuesday, August 2, from 10:00 – 2:00 in Mulligan’s Hollow in Grand Haven.  Fun, games, crafts, tractor pull, etc.  For more information, please go to http://www.coastguardfest.org/

Parenting Sessions

The Great Start Parent Coaliton is sponsoring the following parenting sessions this summer:
Free!

The Importance of Reading to Our Children

Thursday, June 16 at the Allendale Township Offices from 6-8 p.m. Dinner and Childcare provided. Please RSVP by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15 to Jodi Glass, 616-396-2301 Ext. 132. * This will also include a tour of the new inclusive playground at Allendale Community Park.

Social Emotional Health in Little Ones

Thursday, August 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Pathways MI, 412 Century Lane, Holland. Dinner and Childcare provided. Please RSVP by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17th  to Jodi Glass, 616-396-2301 Ext. 132.

Farmers Market Activities for Kids!

The Farmers Market in Holland offers a storytime and free activities on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  for children over the summer. Come check it out sometime!

Super Summer Science & Market Story Time
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Honey: The Sweet Life & Market Story Time
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Make A Dutch Market Button & Market Story Time
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Michigan Wildlife & Market Story Time
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Wetland Exploration & Market Story Time
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

What’s Hiding in Your Food? & Market Story Time
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Come Grow With Us & Market Story Time
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Farmers Market Bingo & Market Story Time
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monet’s Garden
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Make Your Own Veggie Dolls
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Fur & Fiber
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Music At The Market
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Boats & Books
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
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Outdoor Discovery Center Playgroup

Join us on Monday, May 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  for a playgroup at the Outdoor Discovery Center. There will be lots of Spring Activities including trails to walk, sandboxes to play in, animals, bubbles, crafts, a snack and much more!

The Outdoor Discovery Center is located at A-4214 56th Street, Holland, MI  49423. Feel free to check out their website for all the programs they offer:
www.outdoordiscoverycenter.org/

You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch for your children and stay after the group for lunch. There is a large shaded area with tables.

FREE Event and no need to register ahead. Weather permitting. In case of rain playgroup is canceled.

Day of the Young Child

Join us tomorrow for Day of the Young Child in Downtown Zeeland!

FREE Event!

Cityside Middle School/Downtown Zeeland 
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
10am-1:30pm

 Indoor Activites:
Bead Necklaces
Bucket Bonanza
Coffee Filter
Dot Art
Face Painting
Foam Visors
Playdough
Scratch Art
Stamp Bags

Outdoor Activities:
• Ambulance
• Boat
• Bucket Truck
• Dump truck
• Fire Truck
• Flat Bed Truck
• Golf Cart
• Hearse
• Military Vehicles
• Pulling Vehicles
• Race Cars
• Rescue Truck
• School Bus
• Z-Bus

Nurturing Empathy in Toddlers

Empathy is the ability to imagine how someone else is feeling in a particular situation and respond with care. This is a very complex skill to develop but it is an important building block in your child’s social development.
What you can do:

• Empathize with your child:  “Are you feeling scared of that dog? He is a nice dog but he is barking really loud. That can be scary.”
• Talk about others’ feelings. “Kayla is feeling sad because you took her toy car. Please give Kayla back her car and then you choose another.”
• Be a role model. When you have strong, respectful relationships and interact with others in a kind and
   caring way, your child learns from your example.
• Validate your child’s difficult emotions. Sometimes when our child is sad, angry, or disappointed, we rush to try and fix it right away, to make the feelings go away because we want to protect him from any pain. However, these feelings are part of life and ones that children need to learn to cope with. In fact, labeling and validating difficult feelings actually helps children learn to handle them.
• Think through the use of “I’m sorry.” We often insist that our toddlers say “I’m sorry” as a way for them to take responsibility for their actions. But many toddlers don’t fully understand what these words mean. While it may feel “right” for them to say “I’m sorry”, it doesn’t necessarily help toddlers learn empathy.  A more meaningful approach can be to help children focus on the other person’s feelings: “Chandra, look at Sierra—she’s very sad.  She’s crying.  She’s rubbing her arm where you pushed her. Let’s see if she is okay.” This helps children make the connection between the action (shoving) and the reaction (a friend who is sad and crying). 
• Be patient. Developing empathy takes time. Remember, empathy is a complex skill and will continue to develop across your child’s life.

*Article taken from  http://www.zerotothree.org/

Challenge of Children Conference

Challenge of Children is a FREE conference for parents, grandparents and caregivers.

Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 9:15-3:00 p.m.
Hope College Campus. Holland

Nurturing the Hearts & Brains of Children: Igniting GreatnessBy Annie Lange, BSN, LMSW, ACSW
The challenges facing parents, teachers and children in a world of information overload, and limited financial, social emotional resources are tremendous. This stress can often be expressed in unhealthy acting out behavior. Join us explore the hope of healing through concepts related to neurobiology, attachment theory, mindfulness, and the Nurtured pproach model. Annie will share with humor and authenticity how understanding and implementing these concepts her from hopelessness to joy and possibility both personally and professionally.

For more information and to register online visit:

http://www.challengeofchildren.org/