Little Ones Learning Early Education

Carnival at Comstock Park high School tonight

Free meals for children birth to age 18 through Comstock Park Public Schools for the summer.

It's summer finally. We are loving the sunshine and warmer temperatures. We had our tiff tray filled with bubble solution today. We filled our outdoor sensory table with water, number bubbles, dishes, and tongs. I've also been saving bottles with pumps( I'm looking for more) to use at our mid kitchen. The kiddos had so much fun making soup. I refilled the bottles multiple times.

Updates to WIC (Women Infants and Children) Guidelines

New WIC Food Types and Amounts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made science-based updates to WIC food packages — the foods and beverages WIC provides to participants to support nutrition needs during important life stages and to foster healthy growth and development.

The updates align the food packages with the latest nutrition science and are designed to support equitable access to nutritious foods during critical life stages by providing:

More choices to ensure participants have access to essential nutrients that support healthy growth and development.

Greater balance to address key nutritional needs and support healthy dietary patterns.

Greater flexibility and variety to accommodate personal and cultural food preferences and special dietary needs.

More support for individual breastfeeding goals to help establish and sustain long-term breastfeeding.

New food guides, which became effective March 1, along with additional resources are available at Michigan.gov/wicfoods.

Michigan Ticks

As an early childhood advocate I am watching this. I strongly encourage every single early childhood educator and parent to advocate for enrollment based because this will have a negative effect on early childhood education programs and availability in the state of Michigan if it goes back to attendance base. Early education programs across the state will close, lay off staff, and stop accepting families with DHS Scholarship. I've lived through attendance based before and I won't do it again!

CPAOM is closely monitoring proposed changes to Michigan’s Child Development and Care (CDC) payment structure.

Currently, Michigan providers serving CDC families are reimbursed based on enrollment. The House proposal would revise that language and move toward attendance-based reimbursement instead.

During discussions with House leadership, CPAOM raised concerns about how this could impact providers in a state already facing child care deserts, workforce shortages, and extremely thin operating margins. We asked how shifting financial instability onto providers might affect access to care for Michigan families.

Speaker Matt Hall indicated that the proposal is intended to address fraud concerns and “root out fraud” by moving away from enrollment-based payments.

CPAOM absolutely supports strong oversight and responsible stewardship of public funds. Fraud prevention matters. At the same time, child care providers still carry fixed costs when children are absent due to illness, transportation issues, family emergencies, or schedule fluctuations. Staffing ratios, payroll, rent, insurance, licensing, and compliance requirements do not disappear when attendance fluctuates.

As these discussions continue, CPAOM will keep bringing provider perspectives and operational realities directly into conversations with lawmakers. We will also continue gathering feedback and impact statements from providers and partner organizations across Michigan to ensure those voices are part of the discussion moving forward.

Thank you to E and J for letting me be a part of your family and trusting Me with the care and education of your little.

One of my wonderful families submitted this comment for an early childhood education teacher appreciation week campaign. This made my day.

Recall Alert

Crayola toys recalled over possible asbestos contamination

Crayola toys recalled over possible asbestos contamination People should stop using the products immediately and keep out of the reach of children, the government says.

As an early childhood educator of nearly 21 years, if I have made a difference in your child's life please scan the QR code and share your story.