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Great Start Collaborative

Hillsdale County - May 2026

Great StartCollaborative Hillsdale County - May 2026
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Please follow our website and Facebook page for updates, news, and tips.

Great Start Collaborative Funding Great Start Collaborative Funding

The Hillsdale County Intermediate School District (HCISD) has chosen to continue operations “business as usual” for the remainder of the school year. All current initiatives, programs, and events will continue as planned through June 30, 2027.

Family Fun Family Fun

22 Easy Mother's Day Crafts for Kids to Make - The Yellow Birdhouse

22 Easy Mother's Day crafts for kids to make. The best Mother's Day craft ideas. Mother's Day crafts for 3-5 year olds. What can kids give as gifts for Mother's Day. DIY Mother's Day gift ideas from kids.

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Easy Mothers' Day Craft Idea for Kids with Paint Resist

Here's fun way to show a MOM how colorful and special she is to you. We're making a resist paint art project for an easy mother's day craft and poem

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Spring Activities: Cress Heads - Red Ted Art - Kids Crafts

Cress Heads are such a CLASSIC Spring activity for kids – they are quick, easy and so so fun. Oh and they are quite inexpensive too!!! This is something you can do year in year out and kids will never tire of making their own Cress Head characters. In fact… you could have a competition...

launch redtedart.com

Outdoor activities for kids of all ages

List of easy and fun outdoor activities for kids to do in all seasons and all weathers! Ultimate outdoor activity list for kids!

launch thimbleandtwig.com

55 Easy No-Bake Recipes For Kids (Healthy Snacks & Treats)

Fun, easy no-bake recipes for kids, from snacks, treats and cooking activities, to no-bake recipes for the classroom: sweet, savory, healthy, frozen and more!

launch busylittlechefs.com

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

7 Ways to Help Your Kids Develop Good Mental Health

You know how to protect your child’s physical health, but what about their mental wellbeing? See what experts say you should be doing to make sure your child grows up to have good mental health.

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Top 10 Mental Health Activities to Boost Kids’ Wellness

Empower your mind with top 10 mental health activities, where fun meets growth, creativity and confidence. Shape your future stronger and happier.

launch 21kschool.com

Breathing Exercises for Kids - The OT Toolbox

These breathing exercises for kids cover themes for a whole year. Use these deep breathing activities as self-regulation strategies.

launch theottoolbox.com

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

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2026 Literacy Pop up flyer - May.pdf
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1.0 MB
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Click here to register for the Family Coalition Meeting
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Story Walk 2026 (1).pdf
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2.6 MB
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1000 Books Before Kindergarten 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

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New locations recently added!

Sign up at any of the participating libraries to start your 1000 book journey!

Talking is Teaching Talking is Teaching

Research shows that talking, reading, and singing with your children regularly from birth helps build important language, math, and social-emotional skills, preparing them for success in school and beyond!

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Check out the Talking is Teaching website for additional resources.

Welcome Baby Home Visit! Welcome Baby Home Visit!

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Click Here to Register for a Welcome Baby Home Visit
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Welcome Baby Visits (Poster) (9).pdf
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7.2 MB

Developmental Milestones Developmental Milestones

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CDC’s Developmental Milestones

Is your baby’s or young child’s development on track for his or her age? Young

children grow so fast it can be hard to know what to expect. With the newly updated

FREE Milestone Tracker app from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), you can learn how children play, learn, speak, act, and move as they grow

and how you can support your child’s development.

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CDC’s FREE app for parents and care providers offers:

• Interactive milestone checklists in English and Spanish for children ages 2 months

through 5 years;

• The ability to adjust the checklist age if your child was born prematurely;

• Photos and videos that illustrate each milestone and make tracking them for your

child easy and fun;

• Your child’s milestone summary to share with others, like your child’s health care

provider;

• Tips and activities that can help your child’s development;

• Information on what to do if you have a concern about your child’s development;

• Reminders for appointments and developmental screening; and

• New milestone countdowns and custom user profiles

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/MilestoneTracker.

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CDC also offers an Information for Families section that includes some additional topics such as:

  • Free tools
  • Books for families
  • Resources to support developmental screeners
  • Helpful resources for parents
  • Resources to help promote your child development

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/index

Little Free Library Little Free Library

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Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition Little Free Library Initiative

Did you know that there are many Little Free Libraries in Hillsdale County... 18 of which we monitor.

The Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition members volunteer to help keep our Little Free Libraries stocked with children's books throughout the year.


For more information on Little Free Library please visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/

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Hillsdale County Resource Guide Hillsdale County Resource Guide

Hillsdale County Resource Guide

Check out this design designed by Wendy Playford.

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South Michigan Food Bank Mobile Markets South Michigan Food Bank Mobile Markets

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Mom Meet Up Mom Meet Up

When: Every Friday at 10am
Who: Moms and their little rascals
Where: Hillsdale First Baptist (across from the library)
What: A chance to spill coffee while chatting, and see who can stack the most toy blocks while making new mom friends

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Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center

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BHSJ Community Health Agency BHSJ Community Health Agency

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Click Here for The Nursing Nest (BHSJ) | Facebook
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For more information on "Lock it Up"

Lock It Up | Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency

Looking for a secure, lockable bag to keep your Marijuana or THC products out of reach from your child or teenager? Visit one of these locations to receive a free lockable bag.

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For more information on "Lock it Up"

Lock It Up | Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency

Community Action Agency Community Action Agency

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MDHHS MDHHS

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Karen's House Karen's House

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Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness (CAPA) Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness (CAPA)

FREE Babysitting 101 & CPR Certification | capahillsdale

Join us for Babysitting 101 on May 30! This hands-on class will teach you the essentials of caring for an infant, from feeding and diapering to soothing and safety and more! Then you will be taught CPR.

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Free CPR & Heimlich Training for Caregivers | capahillsdale

Would you know what to do if a child stopped breathing or began choking? This free, hands-on training is designed to teach everyday caregivers the lifesaving basics of CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. 18 years & older.

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Triple P Parenting Class - May/June Sessions | capahillsdale

3 Online Sessions | 1 Hour Each | FREE! Parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but Triple P can help! Join our Positive Parenting Program to strengthen your bond with your children, encourage positive behavior, and make parenting less stressful and more confident

launch capahillsdale.net

Perennial Park Perennial Park

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MSU Extension MSU Extension

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

Child Care Child Care

Looking for child care in Hillsdale County?


Great Start to Quality allows you to search for all licensed programs in Michigan. You can search in the ways that are most important to you, whether it is by area, cost, or specific needs.


https://greatstarttoquality.org/find-programs/

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Join Us! Join Us!

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The End The End

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Hillsdale Co. Great Start Collaborative
http://www.greatstarthillsdale.com/
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