Kent ISD Bright Beginnings

☔ Rain, rain, go away... today's playgroups are cancelled due to the weather.

The following playgroups will not meet today:
• Marlene & Esther's playgroup at Battjes Park in Wyoming
• Heidi's playgroups at Walker Community Park in Grand Rapids
• Ainot's playgroup at Calvin G. Hill Park in Middleville

While we're disappointed to miss seeing everyone, we hope you enjoy a cozy day! Splash in some puddles, play in the rain, or snuggle up inside with favorite books, games, and family time.

For this and all playgroup updates, visit us at BBplaygroups.kentisd.org.
We'll see you at the next playgroup! 💙📚🌧️

☀️ June Playgroups are here, and we are excited for sunshine, park playgroups, water fun, outdoor adventures, and making summer memories together! 🌳🫧🛝

We’ll be enjoying warm weather activities all month long, and we still have 2 more evening playgroups coming up before they take a short summer break and return in August — dinner is provided!

Whether you’re a returning family or joining us for the first time, we’d love to have you come play, learn, and connect with us. Join the fun this June! 💛

For these and all updates, especially if the playgroup has moved locations or the weather has caused us to cancel playgroup, be sure to bookmark BBplaygroups.kentisd.org.

Great ideas to try!

Teaching Self-Regulation Skills in Autistic Children

Self-regulation is the ability to notice, understand, and respond to emotions and sensory input in a way that feels manageable.

For autistic children, regulation often starts with understanding their unique sensory and emotional needs.

Dysregulation is not “misbehavior”—it is often a nervous system response to overwhelm, change, or sensory overload.

The first step in teaching regulation is co-regulation, where a calm, supportive adult helps the child feel safe.

This can look like offering quiet space, reducing noise or stimulation, or using gentle, predictable language.

Visual supports, routines, and social stories can help children understand what to expect and feel more secure.

Sensory tools like weighted items, fidgets, movement breaks, or deep pressure can support regulation needs.

It is also helpful to teach children to recognize early signs of overwhelm in their body.

Simple phrases like “my body feels tight” or “I need a break” can be modeled and practiced over time.

Regulation skills are built slowly through repetition, patience, and supportive relationships.

Every child learns at their own pace, and safety and connection always come first.

With consistent support, autistic children can grow stronger in understanding and managing their own nervous system.



Image credit: Simant Gautam

We are so sorry for the last-minute cancellation, but Laura is unable to offer the East Grand Rapids playgroup today at the library due to an emergency.

We have fun playgroups today at 10 am atWedgewood Park in Grandville, Godfrey Lee Early Childhood Center, and at Huff Park in NE Grand Rapids. We hope you can join us.

For all playgroup updates, be sure to check out BBplaygroups.kentisd.org

☀️ June Playgroups are starting soon, and we are SO excited for sunshine, park playgroups, water fun, outdoor adventures, and making summer memories together! 🌳🫧🛝

We’ll be enjoying warm weather activities all month long, and we still have 2 more evening playgroups coming up before they take a short summer break and return in August — dinner is provided!

Whether you’re a returning family or joining us for the first time, we’d love to have you come play, learn, and connect with us. Join the fun this June! 💛

For these and all updates, especially if the playgroup has moved locations or the weather has caused us to cancel playgroup, be sure to bookmark BBplaygroups.kentisd.org.

Home visiting is so much more than a visit. It’s a partnership!

Across Michigan, home visitors are building strong relationships with families, supporting parents, celebrating milestones, and helping children grow and thrive from the very beginning. From sharing resources to simply listening and showing up, these connections make a lasting difference.

It truly takes a village, and home visiting helps bring that village together.

Let's see how big the home visiting village is and share a shout out to your home visiting program in the comments!

Join Ainot and friends at Aberdeen park on Wednesday, May 20th from 10-11. This is due to Yankee Clipper Library temporary closure from flooding.
For all our playgroup updates, be sure to check out BBplaygroups.kentisd.org.

Infant Gestures & Early Developmental Milestones

Long before babies use words, they communicate through gestures and body language.

These early gestures are important developmental milestones and are part of building communication skills.

Around 6 to 9 months, babies may begin reaching for caregivers to be picked up or turning toward familiar voices.

By 9 to 12 months, many babies start pointing, waving “bye-bye,” or lifting their arms to communicate wants and needs.

These gestures show growing social awareness and understanding of communication.

Clapping, shaking their head, or handing objects to caregivers are also meaningful milestones.

Gestures help babies connect ideas, emotions, and interactions before spoken language fully develops.

Responding to these gestures encourages more communication and strengthens connection.

Simple things like waving back or naming what they point to helps build language skills.

Every smile, reach, and point is part of how babies learn to interact with the world.

These early milestones support social, emotional, and language development all at once.

Communication begins long before first words—and it starts with connection.



Image credit: .arjun18

Friday May 15th playgroup at Godfrey Lee has moved to Battjes Park, 1655 Blandford SW, Wyoming. Join Marlene and friends at 10am for some safari fun.

For this and all updates, check on BBplaygroups.kentisd.org.

Big feelings can follow scary or confusing events — and children often look to trusted grown-ups to help them feel safe again. 💙

Simple things like staying calm, listening to their questions, offering extra comfort, and keeping familiar routines can help children feel secure. Remind them that it’s okay to talk about their feelings and that they are loved and supported.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can say is: “I’m here with you.” 💛