Mom Moments

For more information on the Great Start Collaborative follow THIS LINK  or to see their calendar of events CLICK HERE .

article published in The Monroe Evening News on 2-21-09

John and Amy Dillingham could smell the popcorn as soon as they arrived at the Preschool Pirates and Princesses’ fun night Friday at the Monroe County Intermediate School District.

The Temperance couple brought their three children – Devin, 8; Keira, 4, and Joel, 2 – with them and took in as many of the nine learning stations as they could. In the first activity room jammed with parents and youngsters, the three children were decorating paper bags with stickers and stars when the music therapists started with the Peg Harris Dance Studio. Little Keira, dressed in a blue dress like Cinderella, got distracted when she heard the theme song from “High School Musical,” one of her favorites, being played.

“This is a busy place,” Mr. Dillingham said as the room filled with visitors.

More than 700 people flooded the ISD’s campus for the three-hour event, with many of the visitors coming in costumes and eager for a night of exercise, entertainment and hands-on activities. The Monroe County Great Start Collaborative hosted the event, which drew raves from many parents, some of whom were attending for the first time.

Mrs. Dillingham said the family also attended last year’s fun night and have taken part in other Great Start events. She said Joel already is enrolled in an “Early On” readiness and play group program coordinated by Janice Dye, an ISD employee who taught all three of their kids.

“We like all of the (Great Start) activities. They have something for all ages,” Mrs. Dillingham said.

The aim of Great Start is to ensure that all children in Michigan enter school ready to succeed in school and life. Any family with a child 0-5 years of age, but not yet in kindergarten, can take part in the program. About 350 youngsters took part in Friday’s event that highlighted areas that are important in early childhood development and education, like motor skills, nutrition and literacy. Some of the stations involved dressing up, music, imagination and science.

Camden Schmidt, 3, of Monroe was in a sandbox and had a blast filling a funnel with rice and sparkling stars.

“He’s finding his treasures,” said his mother, Tammy. “This is our fourth station, but this is his favorite.”

Camden also made a pirate’s hat out of newspaper and filled a plastic bag with snacks such as goldfish, Cheerios, pretzels and chocolate chips.

“He ate the pretzels already,” Mrs. Schmidt said.

Glenn and Adele Lietaert of Monroe came with their daughter, Phoebe, 2, who also enjoyed playing with the rice. Mrs. Lietaert, a fourth-grade instructor at Central Elementary School in Erie, is expecting another child in March. She is a big fan of early education for preschoolers.

“I’m all for it,” she said. “This is all exploration and activity we wouldn’t have at home.”

Mr. Lietaert echoed her sentiments.

“When (Phoebe) needs support, I’ll be there to run after her,” he said.

Michael and Emma Helmstadter of Dundee have taken their daughter, Emma, 4, and son, Jonathon, 6, to the open gyms held on different nights by Great Start in Cantrick School, Dundee and the ISD. They also made a field trip to an animal hospital, also coordinated by Great Start. Friday night, Emma arrived in a princess outfit and got her face made up.

“This is just a fantastic program,” Mr. Helmstadter said while Emma got her haired curled by a volunteer. “What’s nice is they have so much for the younger kids … and parents together for early education.”

Even young children such as Ruby Adams got to take part in the fun and filled a bottle with rice and tiny jewels. Held by her parents, Justin and Misty Adams, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl also enjoyed the music blaring from the stage.

Children got plenty of exercise in the gym, where various motor skills were tested. Jared and Holly Swope knew they came to the right place to have their three boys tumble on mats, walk a balance beam and hop on an inflated rubber ball. While Zachary, 4, “walked the plank” on the beam, their middle son, Noah, 3, amused himself on the “limbo” exercise. The Monroe family also attended last year’s luau and went to a Great Start field trip to Milan Dragway.

“I would tell anyone to try it,” Mrs. Swope said. “We get family time, and it brings us together.”

Mike Parker caught a break from the action with his son, Kaden, 3, in the cafeteria while his wife, Heather, was in another room with their daughter, Victoria, 1. Kaden couldn’t stop shaking his bottle full of rice painted in his favorite colors – green and yellow.

“We had to be selective,” Mr. Parker said. “I like the look of amazement on his face when we came. When mama and the kids are happy, I’m happy.”

Among the more than 60 volunteers were about 27 youths from the Jefferson High School ROTC program. Amy Zarend, parent liaison for the collaborative, and Charles Friedline, another member, dressed like pirates along with other committee members. Ms. Zarend said the big turnout doubled last year’s attendance. A state grant funded the event, which stressed how important the first five years are in a child’s development. Visitors signed letters to state lawmakers urging them not to cut money that would benefit the smallest citizens in the region.

“Our (program) quadrupled in the past year, it’s gotten so popular,” Ms. Zarend said. “Our goal is education through fun. Parents are looking for things like this to do close to home and free.”