Calendar of Events › Caregivers

Parents, childcare providers, and teachers can explore social and emotional behaviors in children. Anne King, a Prevention, Education, Motivation Consultant, will present social and emotional behavior expectations for normal growth and development in infants, toddlers and elementary-aged children. Learn what to expect at each age and get strategies for interactions that will help children form close, warm relationships with other people. Sarah McCarville of GRPL and Judy Freeman of Great Start/First Steps will share book recommendations for children that teach appropriate behavior solutions. This program may provide 1.5 hours of professional development credit for childcare providers. Co-sponsored by the Great Start Parent Coalition of Kent County.

Parents and child care providers will learn tips for more pleasant mealtimes. The importance of family-style meals will be reviewed along with the ages and stages of feeding development. Participants will learn that picky eating is common (and frustrating!) and what strategies will help and those that hinder children’s acceptance of new foods.

Learn fun and engaging activities using a parachute that will stimulate children’s development and help them learn important skills.

Elizabeth Topliffe, Interim Head of School at Stepping Stones Montessori, will discuss how science is now able to explain many of the pieces for children’s learning and development, and how the Montessori method incorporates so many of those pieces.

“He seems so smart, but he is not doing well in school. Does my child have a learning disability?” Teacher and parent trainer of 30 years, JoAnn Hubach will use simulations to demonstrate what it looks like and feels like to have a learning disability. Get information on what you need to know if you suspect your child learns differently, discover warning signs and ways you can help.

Parents and caregivers can learn about appropriate expectations of young children, and the stages of infant and toddler growth and development. This workshop is based on Stephen Bavolek’s Nurturing Parenting Community Based Education Program.

In this workshop, we will be looking at anger and strong emotions in infants, toddlers and preschoolers. We will discuss the developmental stages in children’s self-control and how parents and caregivers can assist children at each stage. This workshop will provide tools that can be immediately used by parents and caregivers.

Library staff will discuss the Public Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read guidelines. Come learn the five skills needed to prepare kids to learn to read and get tips on how to use them in everyday situations and the activities that GRPL has for children under 5.

This workshop, taught by MSU Extension instructor Holly Tiret focuses on anger triggers for parents and caregivers and helps adult participants learn to manage their own anger in constructive ways. It also helps parents and caregivers find ways to help children learn ways to recognize, and express their anger in appropriate ways.

Caregivers have stresses brought about by the continuing need for their caregiving services. These stresses vary from person to person in regard to the intensity of the stresses, the duration of the stresses, and the availability of respite from those stresses. At the same time it is also true that caregivers do benefit from the caregiving process and those benefits should be emphasized and understood. Dr. Henry Holstege, author of The Complete Guide to Caring for Aging Loved Ones will discuss balancing the stresses with the benefits, and using the help that is available from the numerous community service organizations. Registration is required.