Southwest Missouri Childhood Community Leaders

Calling all dads, grandpas, and uncles!
Save the date for a special Donuts with Dad morning at Mornings With Mommy!
📅 Tuesday, June 23, 9:00–10:00 AM
Dads are always welcome at Mornings With Mommy, but this one is especially for them! Bring the kids and enjoy a fun morning of play, activities, treats, and time together.
Dude's Donuts LLC get a few dozen ready for us!
We can’t wait to celebrate all the amazing dads, grandpas, and uncles who make life extra sweet. Invite a friend and join us for the fun!

Morning with Mommy is FREE!
powered by The Vine Lutheran Church

Hey guys! Our Back to School Extravaganza registration starts today! 🎉
Call us starting today at 417-876-3543 to register your child!

On the last flier, we somehow put the wrong phone number, so this is an updated flier with the correct number! 😅
Sorry about the confusion!

Join Ms. Kelsey at the park on Saturday from 10am-11am!

Join us Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Third Floor East Tower Room at Citizens Memorial Hospital for an afternoon designed just for growing families.

The event, themed “Little Sprout Baby Fair: Growing Healthy Families Together,” is designed for expecting parents and families with young children. It will offer helpful information, hands-on learning and opportunities to connect with local resources.

Guests can meet physicians and nursing staff from The Birth Place, tour the unit and learn more about maternity and newborn care at CMH.

Inspired by the warmth and color of a farmer’s market, the fair will feature booths from local experts, health care professionals and community partners focused on pregnancy, infant care and early childhood. Attendees can explore baby care and maternity services, gain practical tips on nutrition and safety, and connect with community resources. The event will also include short learning sessions, refreshments, giveaways and activities for families and children.

Learn more at https://cmhbolivar.info/BabyFair2026

🎉🚒 Do you have a child who loves trucks?

Big rigs, fire trucks, trash trucks, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, race cars, police cars, buses, ambulances, mail trucks, and more will all be at this year's 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!

Bring the family to the Battlefield Mall North Parking Lot on 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟕, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM for this FREE, hands-on event. Kids can explore vehicles up close, climb into the driver's seat, and meet the real-life operators who keep our community moving every day.

Don't miss this exciting evening of family fun and discovery!

📅 July 7
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Battlefield Mall North Parking Lot

Events like 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 help bring families together and support our mission of building resilient children, healthy families, and strong neighborhoods.

Today’s the day!

Lace up those walking shoes and join us for some fresh air, fun conversations, and family connection! 👟☀️🌳

Our Joplin Parents as Teachers Walking Group is the perfect way to get moving, meet other families, and enjoy the beautiful spring mornings together! 💚

📍 Meet us at Mercy Park every Wednesday morning in May & June at 9:00 AM beginning May 20th!

Bring the kiddos, invite a friend, and enjoy a relaxing walk filled with laughter, community, and outdoor fun.

Walking together helps children build social skills, explore the world around them, and stay active — while parents get a chance to connect and recharge too! 🌼👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

✨ Friendly reminder: Rain will cancel.
We can’t wait to walk with you! 🐦💕

This weekend at Barco Drive-In ~ Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday: June 18 -23 Is Toy Story 5 (PG)! The second feature Friday, Saturday and Sunday only is The Breadwinner (PG13)!

The box office and snack bar will open at 8:15! The starting time is about 9:00! Admission Adults $10.00 & children 3-11 $5.00!

Byers Avenue UMC, in partnership with the Alliance of SW Missouri, will once again be distributing free fresh produce on Monday, July 13th at 5:30 p.m. The church is located at 1730 S. Byers Ave. in Joplin. Food will be distributed in the church parking lot on a first come, first serve basis. Please help spread the word!

Splash pads are the real MVP of summer and honestly… they deserve a trophy. 🏆

Free? Usually.
Tires kids out? Beautifully.
Requires very little planning? Bless.
Makes your child instantly forget they were “too hot to walk” 4 seconds ago? A miracle.

It’s the kind of summer outing where the bar is low, the joy is high, and someone will absolutely need a snack the moment their feet hit the parking lot.

So let’s hear it:
What’s your family’s favorite splash pad in the 417?

Bonus points if it has:
✔ shade
✔ bathrooms
✔ a playground nearby
✔ enough water pressure to humble a toddler

Drop your go-to spot below so another 417 parent can survive summer with slightly less sweating and slightly more sanity.