SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS & FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
Each year a significant portion of KGD’s outreach efforts and garden development support is aimed at educators, organizations and families invested in the health, wellness and development of children birth to 5. Whether at home, at school or in the community where these children interact and play, KGD works to create spaces and teachable moments for young Detroiters to develop healthy habits.
GARDEN BASED LEARNING
Keep Growing Detroit’s GARDEN BASED LEARNING GUIDE is designed to support caregivers with practical and accessible support to establish and maintain garden-based learning spaces for young children. The Guide includes tips for parent engagement, connection to community resources, and opportunities for local procurement of fruits and vegetables for meals and snacks. It also highlights opportunities to achieve program quality standards across the Great Start to Quality Program Quality Indicators.
OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
- GROW WITH ME GARDENING ACTIVITIES
- GROW WITH ME COOKING ACTIVITIES
- GROW WITH ME ACTIVITIES IN SPANISH
- GROW WITH ME SCHOOL DAYS GARDEN PLAN
FRESH SNACKS, MEALS, & TASTING ACTIVITIES
Keep Growing Detroit works with early childcare providers to increase procurement of Detroit-grown fruits and vegetables for meals, snacks and tasting activities. Fresh and locally-grown vegetables taste AMAZING, enticing our littlest eaters to try and develop familiarity with fruits and vegetables at this critical young age. Furthermore, encouraging relationships and the local circulation of dollars between our early childhood institutions and farmers promotes resiliency and reliability in Detroit’s food system.
New to sourcing seasonally? The SEASONAL AVAILABILITY CHART for Grown in Detroit is a great resource to support providers in their menu planning. KGD’s staff is also available to support providers with suggestions for meals, snacks and tasting activities. Early childcare providers that participate in KGD’s Garden Resource Program are eligible for a discounted rate on fruits and vegetables procured through the KGD ONLINE FARM STORE.
THE GARDEN AT THE END OF REGIE’S RAINBOW
In Partnership with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Keep Growing Detroit created “The Garden at the End of Regie’s Rainbow which builds on the adventures children go on with the REGIE’S RAINBOW ADVENTURE® PROGRAM.
USEFUL LINKS: