Parents Resources

826 Michigan is a non-profit tutoring and writing center that hosts free writing workshops on everything from writing college entrance essays to poetry and developing fictional characters. The organization also provides drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-school tutoring, and help for those learning English.

The Detroit Parent Network works to improve parent involvement in education by offering workshops, practical tools, written materials, and leadership development to parents and primary caregivers of school-age children (ages four to 17) who live in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park.

Parents interested in joining the organization should fill out a membership form, found on the website, and submit it with a minimum $5 contribution. It is expected that members give at least five hours of volunteer time per year.

Arts & Scraps is a nonprofit organization that recycles industrial scraps to provide children with affordable and creative arts and crafts learning experiences. In addition to public shopping times, the organization also provides programs for scouts and does birthday parties.

The ScrapMobile, a 26-foot bus loaded with recycled materials and activities, comes to your location. Call or check the website for details.

Arts & Scraps is always looking for volunteers. Children as young as age six can come in with a parent and help pack kits and prepare materials or families can check the website for other volunteer opportunities throughout the metro area.

Mills Gymnastics USA offers a wide-range of recreational and team gymnastics programs, including a Tumble Bear program for kids age 18 months through five years old and a homeschool gymnastics and tumbling program. The facility encourages parent viewing of classes and its staff is safety certified in all areas.

Birthday parties are available starting at $125 on Saturday evenings and Sunday during the day. Unique summer days camps with various themes and different field trips are scheduled during the summer months.

Seven Ponds Nature Center is a huge bird and wildlife preserve with great walking trails around its 468 acres that includes glacial lakes, ponds, marshes, fields, woodland, and prairie.

The nature center provides a diverse calendar of year-round programs and special events for families, as well as a summer field school sessions beginning at age two and continuing on up to ninth grade. The center also offers programs for scouts and homeschool students.

Animal Magic performs exotic animal magic with seldom-seen rare animals from around the world. Performances are suitable for all ages is a fully licensed, non-profit group. Animal Magic is available for performances around metro Detroit.

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital is one of the nation's leading pediatric health care institutions. More than 170,000 patients annually from Michigan and around the world seek general and specialized inpatient and outpatient treatment at the hospital.

The hospital prides itself on putting families first and providing comprehensive and compassionate care for its patients. Construction is currently underway on a new 1.1 million square-foot Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital facility, allowing speciality services such as a pediatric liver transplant program, craniofacial anomalies program, and more.

For the middle-of-the-night gotta-have-some-cough-syrup kind of emergency. Walgreens has a full service pharmacy and a good selection of over-the-counter medications, as well as seasonal and health/beauty items. Most stores also have one hour photo/digital developing.
Check Walgreens' website for details and locations.

For the middle-of-the-night gotta-have-some-cough-syrup kind of emergency. Walgreens has a full service pharmacy and a good selection of over-the-counter medications, as well as seasonal and health/beauty items. Most stores also have one hour photo/digital developing.
Check Walgreens' website for details and locations.

The brain child of a couple of entrepreneurial moms, Super Suppers is a hot concept for busy families. The premise is simple: assemble meals for your family using pre-measured, prepared ingredients. Then grab a cooler, sign up for a supper-making soiree, and voila, you've got meals for a month.

The menus vary from month to month, so they're not boring. Unfortunately, the casserole-type entrees tend to be bland, and some of the other dishes get watered down after being frozen. Nonetheless, it's a good "what's for dinner?" solution for busy soccer moms and dads.

Private parties are available for groups of twelve or more. Visit the website or call for details and scheduling information.