Make the Most of May with Great Start Livingston!
Make the Most of May with Great Start Livingston!
Read our FULL MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER here: https://conta.cc/3EJa7GS
Livingston County families, this month is bursting with opportunities to learn, play, and grow together—without spending a dime. Whether you’re looking for creative ways to connect with your child or just need some fresh ideas to beat the boredom blues, we’ve got you covered.
🌟 May Family Coalition Meeting: Family Fun on a Budget
Date: Thursday, May 1
Time: 5:45–7:45 p.m.
Location: Livingston ESA, 1425 W. Grand River, Howell
This month’s Family Coalition is all about enjoying life together—without the price tag. You’ll leave with tons of free or low-cost activity ideas, local resources, and take-home goodies. We’ll play games, share tips, and build connections with other parents and caregivers. Free dinner and childcare provided!
👉 Register here
📚 StoryWalk® Adventures
Looking for a literacy activity with built-in exercise? Visit one of our five StoryWalk® trails across the county. Plus, mark your calendar for the June 2 kickoff of our newest StoryWalk in downtown Howell, featuring local author Denise Brennan-Nelson and her book Tallulah the Mermaid and The Great Lakes Pledge. There will be free books and activities for families!
📍 StoryWalk Locations & Details
🎉 Summer Playdates – Mark Your Calendar!
Bring your little ones (ages 0–8) to our FREE summer playdates, packed with fun, learning, and community:
- June 10 – Oceola Township Park, Howell
- June 26 – Pinckney Town Square
- July 17 – SELCRA Meijer Park, Brighton
- July 30 – Genoa Township Park
- August 12 – Manly W. Bennett Park, Hamburg
🎶 Save the Date: Books & Beats Family Concert
Join us June 16 at 11 a.m. at the 2|42 Community Center Auditorium for an interactive musical concert with Evan Haller (Music at the Blissful). Each child will receive a free book while supplies last. This event is especially for families with children ages 0–5.
📝 Literacy with Lisa: Boredom Busters
Summer is almost here! Get ahead of the boredom complaints with these simple steps:
- Create a “Summer Adventure List” with your child before break begins
- Let kids help write the list. Remember, they can:
- Sound out letters
- Draw pictures of activities
- Practice writing letters their own way
- Display the list where everyone can see it
- Do activities from the list throughout summer
- Rate each activity after trying it (thumbs up/down or 1-10 scale)
This fun process shows kids how reading and writing connect to real life while teaching them to plan, do, and review — important skills for growing minds!
🙌 Congrats, Breanne Green!
Join us in celebrating Breanne Green, our Great Start Family Liaison, for her appointment to the statewide Great Start Collaborative & Family Coalition Advisory Board. Her leadership continues to uplift family voices in Livingston County and beyond!
💬 Featured Partner: Livingston County United Way
| At Livingston County United Way, we know that family engagement plays a critical role in keeping kids in school and ensuring that they graduate prepared to thrive. Whether your child is just learning to walk or heading into high school, we partner with local programs that support your family’s needs—from early learning and school readiness to health, food access, and more. Great Start Livingston is only one of our FANTASIC program partners. Want to know what’s available for your family? Head to lcunitedway.org to explore resources made just for families like yours. You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media to get helpful tips, info on local events, and more. If you, a friend, or family member are ever in need of assistance, you can call 2-1-1 to receive free referrals to local resources. This is a national service that United Way is proud to support. | Have a question? Reach out anytime! Stop by our Brighton office at 2980 Dorr Road, call us at (810) 494-3000, or email lcuw@lcunitedway.org. We’re here for you! We believe United is the Way to give every child a safe place to grow. |
Learn about local programs that support your family—from early learning to food access—and connect with services 24/7 by dialing 2-1-1.
🔗 Visit lcunitedway.org
🧠 Help Me Grow Livingston
Need help with a developmental screening or finding resources for your child? Visit our new Help Me Grow website or connect with a Care Coordinator at 844-464-0005.
📅 Don’t Miss the May Community Calendar
Our calendar is full of free and low-cost events for families across Livingston County.
📅 Check it out
This May, Great Start Livingston invites you to connect, explore, and enjoy all our community has to offer. We’re here to support families raising children ages 0–8 in Livingston County, because every child deserves a great start.
