Thrive From Home
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Build Up Michigan

Children grow and develop at different rates, but most will reach several milestones between the ages of 3 and 5. Developmental milestones can help identify when a child is struggling and provide direction to find out why. Children who are not meeting milestones and/or are struggling to learn may need additional supports to help them prepare for kindergarten. And with preschools currently closed because of the ongoing global pandemic, hundreds of thousands of Michigan children don’t have access to the vital resources they need to hit their developmental milestones.

There are areas of development that are important skills for children to have in order to build a strong foundation for learning. These areas of development include cognitive (thinking), communication (speech and language), social/emotional (interactions and feelings), independence (self-help), and physical (vision, hearing, and movement). It is important for children to learn and grow in all areas. The new Thrive from Home program was created to help parents and caregivers across the state provide their preschoolers with essential skill-building activities while at home.

Build Up Michigan PBS Playtime Pad Giveaway Winners List

Angelica Flores, Lake Elsinore, California

Julie Orth, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kyndal Warner, Port Huron, Michigan

Tiffany Jones, Detroit, Michigan

Logan Caszatt, Manchester, Michigan

Kenneth Moore, Albion, Michigan

Toyai Caudill, Munith, Michigan

Audrey Boerma, Mecosta, Michigan

Chelsea Keyser, Vassar, Michigan

Mike Yarnott, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ashley Wilcott, Okemos, Michigan

Shawn Thome, Wyoming, Michigan

Build Up MichiganExpressing Emotions

Young children have a lot of feelings, but they may not understand them or express them well. Help your child understand their emotions with these easy drawing and play activities.

Build Up MichiganMove like an animal – Gross Motor

Balance, coordination and movement are developing during early childhood. It’s important to get your kids moving every day. Help your child build and keep strong muscles with these fun animal play activities.

Build Up MichiganIdentify The World Around You – Science

Preschoolers are naturally curious. Identifying colors, shapes, animals, sounds, numbers, “how many” and relationships are the building blocks of science. Help your child identify the world around them with these daily play and language activities.

Build Up MichiganShow or Tell – Language

Young children communicate with words and without words (gestures, facial expressions, etc.). It is important that children are able to communicate what they want and need as well as their thoughts and ideas. Help your child express themselves with these homemade activities.

Build Up MichiganPractice Makes Better Letters – Fine Motor

The small muscles in children’s hands and fingers need practice to become strong and controlled. Help your child develop hand grip and control while practicing early literacy skills with these daily writing and play activities.

Build Up MichiganSay It Out Loud – Literacy

Children who hear and see more words daily become better readers and writers. Help your child make connections among letters, words and sounds with these easy early literacy activities.

Build Up MichiganLetter Tracing – Writing

Help your preschooler develop and improve writing skills with daily practice using common household items.

Build Up MichiganDo the math! – Math

Number awareness is a natural part of child development from the age of 6 months, and it is the core building block for math skills. Help your child develop and communicate number awareness and counting skills with these daily math activities.

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