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MI Kids Matter

provider reading to group of smiling engaged children in classroom

MI Kids Matter

mother holding and smiling at newborn as dad holds arm around her and looks over her shoulder at baby

90% of a Child's Brain Develops by Age 5

The human brain, the command center of the entire body, is the only organ not fully developed at birth. At birth, the average baby's brain is about a quarter of the size of the average adult brain. Incredibly, it doubles in size the first year and keeps growing to about 80% of adult size by age 3 and 90% - nearly full grown - by age 5.


A newborn baby has all of the brain cells (neurons) they'll have for the rest of their life, but what really makes the brain work - and enables us to move, think, communicate and just about everything else - are the connections between those cells. And the early years of a child's life are a crucial time for making those connections - at least one million new neural connections (synapses) every second, far more than at any other time in life.

Get Early Learning Info and Tools

Need Free PreK for your 4-year old?

Michigan offers two quality free preschool programs designed to support school readiness. Many families qualify for these programs at no cost. Learn more about Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) and Head Start below and find a location near you.

MiPreKForAll.org 

Need Help Finding Child Care?

Great Start to Quality helps families find the best early learning settings for their children. Once you choose a child care provider, there will be many positive experiences. You may also have some concerns. Our Concerns in Child Care page has resources for those special situations

Find Child Care

Need Help Paying for Child Care?

To receive help covering child care costs, families must be working or going to school (have an approved need reason) and meet the following income guidelines:

  • Family of 2 making less than: $40,872 annually, or $19.65/hour full-time
  • Family of 3 making less than: $51,648 annually, or $24.83/hour full-time
  • Family of 4 making less than: $62,400 annually, or $30.00/hour full-time

Families can see if they’re eligible for low or no cost child care by using the calculator available at  greatstarttoquality.org/calculator

Families can apply for the Child Development and Care Program by visiting Michigan.gov/MiBridges. Eligibility specialists will ask applications questions about their child support arrangements, but these questions are not required and if parents decline to answer, it will not harm their eligibility for child care assistance.

Help MI KIDS

Whether you are a parent, a caregiver, an organization, a physician or just a concerned citizen, there are a lot of ways you can get involved in helping Michigan kids get a great start on life. Find information on groups, events, the Steps initiative, actions you can take and more. 

Visit Community Page