Early Learning Programs

High-quality early learning experiences nurture a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. Programs in this area ensure all children have access to quality learning opportunities and to build literacy and language skills. Multiple programs are offered to ensure groups are available to families living in all areas of Kent County.  

Play and Learn Communities guide parents and/or caregivers with young children through group and individual play activities that build an understanding of child development. Ready by Five Play and Learn providers include: 

• Little Learners playgroups are for caregivers, parents, of children ages 0-5. Groups are offered through partnerships with child care providers (family, relative, licensed homes), schools, and community-based settings. The Little Learners programming integrates child development strategies along with literacy enhancements into a play-based context that nurtures a child’s cognitive, language, literacy, social and emotional development. This program is run by Vibrant Futures. 

• Therapeutic Play and Learn Groups are inclusive playgroups offering activities that are tailored to nurture the development of all children – including children ages 0-5 with a developmental disability. Groups are facilitated by trained pediatric therapists from across a variety of disciplines that ensure caregivers and parents are equipped with the knowledge and skills to better understand how to support their child’s growth at home. This is a program of the Comprehensive Therapy Center.  

• Play and Learn GRCC groups are collaborative, community-based playgroups that strengthen the skills of parents and caregivers using household materials and daily routines to support their child’s developmental milestones. Playgroups include materials and activities that support approaches to learning, language and literacy, creative arts, math, science, social studies, and technology. These play-to-learn groups are run by Grand Rapids Community College. 

• Bright Beginnings offers playgroups throughout Kent County to foster social connections and build community among families in three primary areas: parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-being. Playgroups offer an organized setting for families to interact with one another, share common experiences, learn about child development, and best of all, learn through play. Bright Beginnings is a program of Kent ISD. 
  
• THE PLAYGROUNDgr's program Healing Through Play, PRE-K Programming, uses play therapy and theraplay-based research models to support ongoing healing through weekly strategies and tools in pre-K and child care settings. The program focuses on various play therapy strategies, addressing brain stem, midbrain, limbic, and cortical levels of play. It is designed to meet the community's need for trauma-informed and mental health-focused play therapy.