I can’t even count the number of times I have turned to Google when desperate to figure something out for my kids. Sometimes I find exactly what I need, but mostly it just makes me question things even more. With a daughter who has failed to hit speech and development milestones, I’m extra sensitive to her needs. I am constantly looking for ways to advocate for her and see how I can help get her to the place she needs to be before starting school.
I’ve written about our experience with Early On Michigan, but what about other FREE programs for parents to turn to when faced with developmental parenting questions?
I recently learned about the Bib to Backpack program from United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and wanted to share about this wonderful resource for parents of young children in Greater Detroit.
For starters, this is an enlightening statistic:
Only 60 percent of children locally are developmentally on track.
Bib to Backpack is different from any other early childhood development work because its focus is on parents and caregivers, providing support to help kids get ready to learn and succeed in kindergarten. I love this because many of our state programs only help until age 3. This helps fill in ALL the gaps. Best of all? There is no need to “qualify” for anything. Each resource is FREE.
A few ways Bib to Backpack can help:
- Parents can take a 10-minute questionnaire to ensure their child is developing as needed
- Parents can use the 2-1-1 number to access a professional who can help connect them to the resources they need — libraries, food pantries, local parenting networks and more
- Parents can easily search for quality daycare centers and preschools
There are lots of testimonials on the site. This one was especially great: http://www.liveunitedsem.org/stories/entry/empowering-parents-at-every-stage
As a parent, I am passionate about making sure my kids are where they need to be developmentally. If you have even the slightest question if your child is on the right track, talk to your pediatrician and take the questionnaire to see what you can learn. Early intervention is critical to school success. I’m beyond thankful for programs like Bib to Backpack for helping local kids!
What resources have you turned to for help with your child’s development?
[…] readers: I highly recommend contacting Early On Michigan and/or the Bib to Backpack program if you have development questions about your child. Mama’s instincts are usually spot-on, and […]