Early On of Barry County

09/21/2025

From Breastfeeding to Buckling Up: Keeping Baby Safe Every Step of the Way. Join us for a special drop-in session on car seat safety, where a certified technician will share expert tips on correct installation, harnessing, and common mistakes to avoid.

📍 Barry County: Tuesday, September 23 | 10 AM – 12 PM
(Presentation will begin at 11:00 am)

📍 Eaton County: Wednesday, September 24 | 10 AM – 12 PM

No registration needed—just drop in! Let’s keep our little ones safe from the very first ride

09/17/2025

Teaching Consent from a Young Age

Talking about consent isn’t just for older children—it’s an important lesson to start at a young age. From toddlerhood, children can learn that their bodies and feelings belong to them, and that they have a right to say yes or no.

Simple practices like asking before hugs, kisses, or sharing personal space teach children that their choices matter. Phrases like, “Do you want a hug?” or “Can I tickle your tummy?” reinforce respect for autonomy.

Teaching consent helps children understand that others also have boundaries. They learn to notice and honor feelings, creating empathy and awareness from an early age.

When children practice saying no and respecting no, they develop confidence in expressing their wants and needs. They also begin to understand limits, which sets the stage for healthy relationships as they grow.

Starting early makes these lessons a natural part of everyday life, rather than a reactive conversation after a problem arises. It fosters trust, communication, and emotional safety in your parent-child relationship.

By teaching consent early, you’re helping your child develop strong boundaries, autonomy, and respect—for themselves and for others—skills that last a lifetime.

09/12/2025

Helping Young Children Assert Their Boundaries

Teaching children to assert their boundaries is an important life skill that starts early. It helps them develop confidence, self-respect, and the ability to communicate their needs clearly.

Begin by modeling healthy boundaries yourself. For example, saying “I need a moment to finish this work, then I’ll play with you” shows your child that it’s okay to express limits respectfully.

Encourage your child to use simple phrases like, “I don’t like that,” or “Please stop,” when someone crosses their personal space. Practice these phrases during role-play, games, or daily routines so they feel natural.

Validate their feelings when they assert themselves: “I see that you didn’t want to share your toy, and that’s okay.” Positive reinforcement teaches them that their voice matters.

Help them recognize physical and emotional cues. If they feel uncomfortable, teach them to take a step back, say no, or seek an adult’s help.

Storytelling and reading books about personal space, consent, and respect can also make learning boundary-setting engaging and relatable.

By giving children the language, confidence, and support to assert their limits, you are fostering independence, self-awareness, and strong communication skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

09/12/2025

09/10/2025

Stages of Social-Emotional Development: Birth to 3 Years

The first three years of life are full of rapid growth, especially in social and emotional development. From birth, babies begin bonding through eye contact, crying to express needs, and soothing when held. This stage builds trust and security, forming the foundation for later relationships.

By around 6–12 months, infants start showing stranger anxiety, recognizing familiar faces, and responding to the emotions of those around them. They begin to learn that their feelings are connected to others, which is an important step in empathy development.

Between 12–24 months, toddlers start to test independence. They may say “no” often, show frustration, and have big emotional outbursts. While this can be challenging, it’s a normal and healthy part of learning boundaries and autonomy. At the same time, they begin showing affection, seeking comfort, and imitating social behaviors.

By age 2–3, children develop stronger self-awareness. They start understanding turn-taking, playing alongside peers (parallel play), and expressing a wider range of emotions with words. They may also begin to show early problem-solving skills and empathy, like offering comfort when someone is upset.

Supporting children through these stages means meeting their emotions with patience, guiding them with love, and modeling regulation. Each stage builds the skills needed for resilience, healthy relationships, and confidence as they grow.

09/05/2025

The Power of Co-Regulation

Co-regulation is the art of helping a child calm down by sharing your own calm presence. When a child is upset, your steady voice, gentle touch, or patient posture can guide them back to a sense of safety and balance.

But co-regulation has its limits. It won’t work if you’re feeling dysregulated yourself. Children pick up on our tension, so taking a moment to breathe, slow your heartbeat, or pause for a few deep breaths is essential before you engage.

It also struggles in over-stimulating environments. Bright lights, loud noises, or chaotic spaces make it harder for both you and your child to settle. Sometimes simply moving to a quieter corner or dimming the lights is the first step.

Finally, if emotions have escalated too far, co-regulation may not work immediately. Your role then is to stay present, offer consistent support, and wait for the moment when your child can receive your calm energy.

Simple tools like singing softly, mirroring slow breathing, or offering a gentle hand on their back can help bridge the gap between chaos and calm. With patience and practice, co-regulation strengthens your connection and helps your child learn to self-regulate over time.



The Therapist Parent

09/05/2025

The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Michigan Family to Family is pleased to announce the next webinar in our Learning Connections series, Children with Special Needs (CSN) Fund 101 on September 24th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST).

The CSN Fund provides family-centered support to help families obtain equipment to enhance quality of life and promote health and mobility for their child. Please join us to hear from Program Coordinator, Marcia Franks, and Jacque Lett as they share information about eligibility, the application process, and types of items covered by the CSN Fund.

To register for this event, please use the following link: https://redcap.link/lcsept24

Learning Connections Webinars - These webinars are open to anyone (parent, family member, professional, youth, educator, etc.) interested in a variety of topics of interest. These webinars provide resources, information, or skill development on relevant topics related to children with disabilities or special health care needs. They are led by seasoned parent staff and/or guest speakers with expertise in the topic.

We appreciate you sharing this information and flyer with interested families or professionals in your networks.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

07/16/2025

Some fun in the sun (and rain!) at the Barry County Fair until 3:00 today in the community tent! Come see us!

07/11/2025

Behind every data point is a child with potential, a family seeking support, and a team committed to opening doors.

Michigan's early intervention system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities, Early On, has earned the highest possible federal distinction - for the second year in a row.

Read the full release: https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/press-releases/2025/07/08/michigan-early-on-program-receives-federal-distinction

07/05/2025

🗣️ Parent Talk System is a six-week series to improve communication & discipline
🗓 Thursdays, July 10–Aug 14
🕢 7:30–9:00 p.m.
📍 Register at the link in the comments.

06/07/2025

Reframing Parenting Guilt

Parenting guilt often shows up when we feel like we’re not doing enough, being enough, or getting everything right. But guilt is not always a signal of failure—it can be a reminder of how deeply you care. Instead of letting it spiral into shame, reframe it as an opportunity for reflection and growth.

Ask yourself: What values am I trying to uphold? What expectations can I release? You are human, and your children don’t need perfection. They need presence, honesty, and love. When you repair after a hard moment and show up again tomorrow, you’re modeling resilience and emotional responsibility.

You don’t need to be a perfect parent—just a present one.

06/07/2025

What Your Child's Tantrum Is Really Saying

A tantrum is not your child trying to give you a hard time—they're having a hard time. Beneath the screaming, crying, or flailing is a message: “I’m overwhelmed,” “I don’t know how to handle this,” or “I need help feeling safe.” Young children haven’t yet developed the skills to express big emotions with words, so their behavior becomes their communication.

When we pause to look beyond the behavior, we can respond with connection rather than correction. Offering calm, empathy, and support teaches them how to move through intense emotions safely. Over time, this helps them build emotional resilience and trust in their relationship with you.

Your presence is the anchor they need in their storm.