When you care for, educate and raise children, you need to plan your activities. On this page you will find resources to use at home, on the internet and in the Kent County, Michigan community.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more ideas!

When children play and work, they are: being successful; practicing eye-hand coordination; strengthening their muscles; learning new words; solving problems; and getting along with others. The activities below are fun AND help your child learn:

Places to Go in Kent County, Michigan

• Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park: This facility has indoor and outdoor displays and activities for the whole family.
• Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: This museum is designed for young children to explore, play and discover.
• Grand Rapids Public Library:  The libraries offer great events for all ages to promote literacy development, including free books to borrow!
• Grand Rapids Public Museum: This regional museum is fun for the whole family.
• John Ball Zoo: The zoo features many animal exhibits and activities for children
• Kent District Library: The libraries offer great events for all ages to promote literacy development, including free books to borrow!
• MasterArts Theatre: Take your child to a theatrical production.
• Kent County Millennium Park:  This park offers a variety of activities including a beach and splash pad in the summer.
• Parks in Grand Rapids 
• Parks in Kent County

Helpful Resources – Information for Parents and Providers 

• Adoptive Family Support Network AFSN offers several education workshops and other events to support adoptive families.
• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning: Resources for child care professionals to help children develop socially and emotionally.
• Child Care Aware®:  Free resources and webinars for parents
• Community Playthings: Connect to this company’s free resources for child care.
• Consumer Product Safety Commission:  Find crib safety and safe sleep information at this site. Also locate recalls of equipment, materials, toys, etc of children’s products. 
• Do2Learn: This site offers downloadable pictures to use for schedules, rules, and other helpful visuals for children.
• Exchange Every Day: This site is hosted by Child Care Exchange, a leading support and resource company for child care and education programs.
• Healthy Child Care – American Academy of Pediatrics: Find information and tips for families and child care providers about healthy practices for children.
• KidsHealth:  Articles about children's health and development.
• Lets Move: This website has ways to help families and child care programs address healthy living through nutrition and movement.
• Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC): An early childhood professional membership organization that sponsors professional development opportunities and provides other resources.
• Michigan Family-to-Family Health Information & Education Center (F2FHIEC) helps to improve access to quality care and supports for children with special needs.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children: This membership professional organization offers resources and professional development for child care professionals. They also sponsor accreditation for child care centers and preschools.
• National Association for Family Child Care: This membership professional organization offers resources and professional development for family and group home child care providers. They also sponsor accreditation for family and group homes.
• National Network for Child Care: This organization offers resources for child care providers. 
• Prevention Network:  This Michigan agency provides resources for parenting children and youth.
• Safe Kids:  Look for tips for preventing accidental injuries in children.
• Washington Learning Systems: This web site has resources in English, Spanish and Somali to help children develop literacy skills.

Agencies in Kent County, Michigan that provide programming, support, and resources for families and child care providers

• Family Futures:  This agency supports families with parenting, and offers classes on Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) and Mandated Reporting of CAN.  (Formerly Child and Family Resource Council.
• Early On of Kent County: Connect here for information about resources for children birth to three years old who may have a developmental delay.
• Family Resource Guide: This directory is compiled by Family Futures, and contains a thorough guide to agencies in the West Michigan area.
• First Steps: This Great Start Collaboration in Kent County, Michigan supports initiatives and work with young children and their families. Parents, visit the Great Start Parent Coalition page!
• Grand Rapids – Our Community’s Children: Find resources and activities for families with children and youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
• Great Start Find resources for parents of young children by county in Michigan.  
• Kent County Tax Credit Coalition (KCTCC): This program helps families living in Kent County complete income tax returns and apply for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
• The Arbor Circle Corporation: This organization provides resources for infants through adults develop positive, healthy individuals.
• Healthy Homes Coalition: This group provides information about lead and other hazardous materials in homes.
• United Way 2-1-1: Referral service to find help and resources.  
• Bright Beginings: This program reaches out to parents of children birth to 5 in Kent County with home visits and play groups.

Kent Regional 4C assumes no responsibility for the content of other web sites.