Looking for some family-friendly Friday fun? Look no further than the Summer Carnival, to be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bright Alternatives, 3 Mechanic St.

Little ones are sure to light up with delight during this free event, which is a joint effort between Infant and Toddler Early Intervention and Bright Alternatives. The event is geared toward children up to five years old, but the whole family is sure to find something to enjoy.

“We will have lots of family activities, giveaways and information for families,” said Tabatha Johnson, service coordinator for early intervention. “In addition, we will be giving free developmental screenings and vision screenings to any child who needs them.”

The goal of the event is to both entertain and highlight early intervention services available within McKean County. For those little ones with developmental or educational issues, early intervention is of the utmost importance.

“When it comes to intervention for little ones, the earlier the better,” said Johnson. “Early intervention helps children reach developmental milestones they may otherwise struggle with.”

Early intervention services are free, regardless of income. Children who engage in early intervention often require fewer intensive services later in life. They show positive results academically, socially and emotionally, which leads to greater self-confidence and more positive outcomes overall, representatives noted. For those children who need it, early intervention is not just helpful, it is a foundation to build on.

“We support families by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to support their child and help them thrive,” said Johnson. “Early intervention helps give kids the best start possible.”

These services focus on several aspects including communication, motor skills, behavior modification and socialization. It can also help prevent small challenges from developing into bigger problems later on, Johnson said.

“We hope to reach these families and get screenings done now, before the new school year comes and winter starts,” said Johnson. “Many of our families walk everywhere and the bad weather makes it hard to come out and get screenings.”

Early intervention focuses on the entire family unit, not just the child. Parents are taught how to reinforce positive skills at home, manage challenges and advocate for their children’s needs.

“We want to encourage and support the families because they are with the children every day,” said Johnson. “We work with families through a coaching model to help them learn how to manage behaviors and adopt effective parenting strategies.”

Johnson noted that many people in McKean County do not realize how many services are out there to support children and their families.

“There are a lot of services available in McKean County but I think a lot of people don’t know about them,” said Johnson. “We will have service coordinators on-hand to answer questions and help walk families through the entire process.”