Your child may be eligible for Head Start or the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP). Oakland Schools offers free preschool to residents who qualify. To find out whether or not you qualify for this program, Oakland Schools has set up a phone line that is open until September to help families determine if they qualify for free preschool in Oakland County.

Great Start Collaborative of Oakland County and Oakland Schools provide free parenting workshops and free parent and child workshops. The free workshops are a wonderful resource and cover a variety of parent/child issues and topics. Workshops take place throughout Oakland County.

Upcoming Great Start Free Parenting Workshops Include:

Many parents find that one of the biggest fears when raising a child is whether or not he is developing appropriately for his age. When should he clap, point, sit up by himself, speak... how should he behave socially, emotionally, etc.

Children enter Kindergarten at different levels. What Kindergarten intends to do is prepare all of the children so that they're all on the same level when they leave.

Farmington Hills Department of Special Services will host Homeschool Nature Programs every Wednesday at the Heritage Park Nature Center beginning April 17 and running every Wednesday through May 22 from 1p-2:30p.

It's exciting as parents to see young children soak up things around them, learning and remembering and growing into smart little beings. Sometimes, the pace and level for which this happens is higher than average and considered "gifted" or a "quick learner."

But how are parents to know if their child is gifted or a quick learner? And, if the child is gifted or a quick learner, what can parents do to enhance these gifts?

Many families don't realize how fulfilling and rewarding it can be to host an international high school exchange student. Hosting an international high school exchange student gives families a chance to enrich the community, inspire your family, and bring a new member into your family.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

What starts off as a cute innocent question for little ones eventually morphs into a life changing decision.

The younger ones usually reply with an answer such as doctor, teacher... my 10-year-old says Chef (because he likes to help me cook) and my 8-year-old says artist (because she loves to draw and color). Responses are usually based on something they've seen in action and admire. As the children get older and are exposed to more careers, as well as what might go into achieving the careers, they become more cautious with their decision.

Now that the USDA has made mandatory changes to school lunches and school meals, some questions remain. Are the changes effective? What do current school lunch meal options look like now? What other tweaks to school lunch / school meal programs can be made to further the cause for healthy options in schools?