By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

Family resource organization Great Start Collaborative of Kent County is hosting a free in-person event to help parents learn more about the importance of play and developmental screening in children.

Taking place Saturday, Aug. 12 at Alger Head Start in Grand Rapids, the 4th annual “Books, Blocks and Balls” event will offer fun activities for the entire family from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..

Participants will receive a goodie bag filled with items proven to help with child development. Every child that attends, regardless of age, will receive a free book.

Families will also have the opportunity to complete a developmental screening onsite, which can help parents know what to look for at certain ages and stages in their children.

There will be a variety of activities, food options and family fun onsite, including: raffles for free prizes every 30 minutes, food trucks offering free food to participants, games and movement activities with The Zumba Lady, face painting and balloon twisting, interactive activities at each vendor table, and more.

Participating alongside Great Start Collaborative will be dozens of community organizations providing additional giveaways and resources to families in attendance.

One such organization is First Steps Kent, an independent non-profit that works to strengthen and coordinate the system of early childhood services through research and innovation.

First Steps Kent is leading a community-wide effort to develop a system of support for children ages 0-5 (and their families) that ensures every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life.

This event was made possible because of the generosity of Kent County taxpayers and the voter-approved Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage that provides dedicated and sustainable funding for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five in Kent County.