Play and Learns

As a new parent, ensuring your baby is hitting developmental milestones can be intimidating. Taniah started taking her one-year-old daughter to Play and Learn GRCC so she could socialize with other children, but she quickly realized she benefitted from being around other parents and early childhood experts.

Play and learn programs, including Play and Learn GRCC, offer children through age five an avenue to community-based early learning outside of child care or preschool. Programs are available to children to attend a 90-minute session along with their caregivers, which includes parents, relative-caregivers, licensed in home child care providers, child care center staff, and preschool teachers.

After attending regularly, Taniah noticed her child getting excited about new toys, engaging in the activities, and developing social skills.

Taniah also found peace of mind knowing she was part of group of parents figuring things out together. The facilitators help by suggesting activities they can do at home, providing information about child development, and connecting them to other community resources.

Play and learn groups are offered on a drop-in basis at a variety of times and locations, including many schools and library branches. In 2023, 8,600 attendees participated in play and learn programming.