Sept. 18, 2026
Grand Rapids Community College will continue helping young children learn and grow, and giving their caregivers tools to support that development at home, with funding from the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners approved the 2026–27 Ready by Five funding recommendations on August 27, awarding GRCC funding for its Play and Learn program.
Play and Learn GRCC (PAL GRCC) offers playgroups for Kent County families and other caregivers of children from infancy through age five at locations throughout the county. GRCC currently offers seven to eight playgroups each week, providing opportunities for children to learn through play while their caregivers gain a better understanding of child development and developmental milestones.
“The playgroups are designed to support both children and the adults who care for them,” said Kathleen Neumann, PAL GRCC coordinator. “Children are exploring, interacting and learning, while caregivers are learning about their child’s development and activities they can continue at home. Our goal is to give families practical ways to support their children’s growth and help prepare them for success in school.”
GRCC has received Ready by Five funding for PAL GRCC since 2020.
Bringing Play and Learn Into Communities Across Kent County
The program reaches families where they already live, learn and gather. Playgroups are offered at community partner locations across Kent County, including the Grand Rapids Public Library and Kent District Library locations, Boys & Girls Club sites and community centers.
Partners and locations also include the Rockford Community Center, Lighthouse Community Center in Byron Center, Streams of Hope in Kentwood and Neland Church. Grand Rapids Public Schools has been a partner in the program since PAL GRCC began in 2008.
GRCC also hosts playgroups at our Early Childhood Learning Laboratory (ECLL) and Leslie E. Tassell MTEC, with additional programming offered at Grand Rapids and Kent County parks during the summer.
The program is open to all Kent County families and caregivers, including GRCC students and employees. Any family with a Kent County zip code and a child from infancy through age five can participate.
Helping Caregivers Support Learning Beyond the Playgroup
The Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage supports programs aimed at improving the health, school readiness and well-being of Kent County children through age five and their families.
For GRCC, the continued funding means PAL GRCC can maintain a network of accessible, community-based opportunities for families while helping caregivers build skills they can use long after a playgroup ends.
“Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most important teachers,” Neumann said. “By giving families opportunities to learn together and helping adults better understand how everyday play supports development, we can make an impact that extends far beyond the time they spend with us at playgroup.”
To learn more about Play and Learn GRCC or to enroll for the program, visit the Play and Learn GRCC web page.