As a parent, it’s hard to have balance in our lives. Between supporting our kids, working or going to school, managing the household tasks, and all of our other responsibilities — parenting is stressful in the best of times. But over the past year, stress has increased significantly. And not just parenting stress. For many […]
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Early Childhood News (Blog)
Connect to Jeffco’s Network of Family Support — Even Before Baby Is Born!
If you or someone you love is expecting a baby, you know how much there is to prepare. You might be thinking about the labor and delivery, or how you will keep your baby safe at home. Or you may be thinking about who will care for your child when you go back to work […]
Read MoreTalking to Kids About Racism
Jeffco Public Library will host a free virtual workshop on Feb. 17 at 6-7:30 p.m. called “How to Talk to Kids About Race” Save your spot here! In light of a renewed awareness of racial inequality, many of us are talking to our children about race, racism, and racial inequality. Though they are essential, these […]
Read MoreThe Most Effective Parenting Support You Probably Haven’t Heard Of
Since the pandemic began, we’ve heard a lot about telehealth and the ability for health care and mental health providers to see patients via videoconference. Another service that has adapted to our new normal is home visiting — also called in-home parenting support. Home visiting is for pregnant people, as well as families with new […]
Read MorePutting Families First
By Mary Margaret Fouse-Bishop, Nurse Supervisor, Jefferson County Public Health After having my first child, I remember feeling a lot of emotions: joy and amazement of bringing a human being into the world, fear of caring for a baby, anxiety about child care needs, guilt about going back to work, and thinking “HOW AM I […]
Read MoreTransitioning Back to School
Here in Jeffco, schools will start with remote learning and slowly transition students back into the classroom. It’s been a long six months for all of us — but we may still have mixed feelings about sending our children back to school. Some families will decide not to send children to school at all this […]
Read MoreRoutine Care Is Essential — Now More than Ever!
COVID-19 has changed many things. But one thing has stayed the same—children still need their check-ups. Jefferson County families have been doing their part by staying home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Getting well-child care is not only safe but essential to your child’s health. It’s more important than ever […]
Read MorePersonalized Support for Your Family: Meet the Early Childhood Family Navigator!
Raising a child can be the most rewarding and most difficult thing you will ever do. Children do not come with instruction manuals, and all parents need support from our community to raise happy, healthy children. Parenting is a journey. It can be exciting and wonderful at times and scary and overwhelming at other times. […]
Read MoreStay at Home, Play at Home: List of the BEST Free Learning Resources
COVID-19 has upended the daily routines of just about everyone – no one more so than families with young children. With no clear end to “safer at home” orders in sight, we could all use some new ideas for entertaining restless little ones. Between caring for children, homeschooling, and keeping up with our own […]
Read MoreSupport & Connection for Parents During COVID-19
One of the biggest challenges parents are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic is the feeling of isolation and disconnection from the supports that we usually rely on, such as friends, neighbors, and the communities that help us take great care of our kids. We’ve highlighted a few resources below that you can explore to find […]
Read MoreColorado Emergency Child Care Collaborative
The state has taken courageous efforts to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and “flatten the curve” by closing bars, restaurants, ski resorts and gyms. The hope is that these necessary precautions will give our health care workers, including critical support staff, and emergency first responders enough time and capacity to build the infrastructure we […]
Read MoreTalking With Kids about Coronavirus
By Catherine Greisch, PsyD As the public conversation about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) grows and significant steps are being taken to reduce the spread of the illness in our community, young children may start to worry about themselves and the people they know. As an important grown-up in a young child’s life, you can help […]
Read MoreSHAPE OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE….START WITH THE 2020 CENSUS!
Young children experience new adventures each day, and little ones need all of the support they can get during these early years. Responding to the 2020 Census is an easy, safe, and important way to help provide resources for children and their communities for the next 10 years. Everyone living in the United States is […]
Read MoreJeffco’s Vision: A Bright Future for All
Healthy, thriving children and families are key to Jeffco’s success, today and into the future. The Jeffco Bright Futures Roadmap reflects a shared community vision to best support the county’s children (prenatal through age 8) and their families. The Roadmap was developed between January and December of 2019 by a diverse group of Jeffco leaders […]
Read MoreFree Professional Tax Help for Families!
Get ahead with a cash-back refund worth up to $6,500! It’s your money. You earned it. The Earned Income Tax Credit Helps you get it back. Whether you need to catch up on bills, pay down debt or buy something for your children, the EITC puts money back in your pocket—up to $6,500. Don’t pay […]
Read MoreStress-Free Eating with Kids
By Rakia Ranney, RDN Feeding young children can be one of the most challenging parts of parenting, but it doesn’t have to be! Starting our children off on the right foot with food can set them up for a lifetime of making their own healthy choices. Here are some of my favorite tips and resources […]
Read MoreMany Different Kinds of “Special Needs”
The term “special needs” covers a broad range of diagnoses – from those that will resolve quickly to others that will impact a child for life. It’s important that parents understand the different types of special needs – medical, behavioral, learning, developmental – so that we can support our children effectively, work in partnership with […]
Read MoreTips to Make Sure Even Picky Eaters Eat Healthy
You’ve followed all the nutrition advice by experts and well-meaning friends or family members. You’ve carefully shopped for and planned healthy meals but no matter what you do, the only thing your toddler will eat is mac ‘n cheese. What do you do? The good news is, you’re not alone. There are many reasons a […]
Read MoreVisit or Volunteer with an Urban Community Farm
Sprout City Farms is an urban agriculture non-profit organization with farms across the Denver Metro area. Sprout City Farms engages the community in our efforts to increase food security and food literacy through education and environmentally sound farming techniques. Each year, our farm sites host an average of 5,000 visitors – and we’d like to […]
Read MoreReducing Waste in your Family
By Rakia Raney, RDN You’ve heard it before: Reduce, reuse and recycle. But why does it matter? There are lots of reasons to focus on reducing waste, including saving scarce landfill space, decreasing air and water pollution and conserving valuable resources. Reducing means changing our habits. Think about buying products that don’t make as much […]
Read MoreMake Sure Your Baby Is Sleeping Safely
To ensure that babies are sleeping safely, you only need to remember A, B, C, which helps us remember that babies should always sleep ALONE on their BACK in a CRIB. ALONE Babies sleep the safest when they are ALONE in their crib, without blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads, toys or sleep positioners. BACK […]
Read MoreHealthy Sexual Development and Body Safety
Many parents wonder how to handle their young child’s sexual behavior, such as genital touching, pulling or exploration. It can be an uncomfortable topic, but it’s important for you, as their primary caregiver, to be knowledgeable about healthy sexual development in order to know what’s normal and what might be a red flag. You might […]
Read MoreEven Superheroes Need Support
By: Mary Margaret Fouse-Bishop, RN, BSN Supervisor-Jefferson County Public Health HCP Program Someone once said, “Parenting is the hardest job you will ever have.” As a parent or caregiver, you know there is truth to that statement! All kids are unique and no two are just alike. Parenting a child with different abilities in a […]
Read MoreHealthy Sleep Habits
Ask any new parent to name their greatest parenting challenges and, without a doubt, sleep will be at the top of the list. Concerns about sleep may start with how much or how little their infant is sleeping, lack of consistent sleep routines and sheer exhaustion from night awakenings and feedings. As young children grow […]
Read MoreMoving Together: Being Active as a Family Can Lead to a Lifetime of Wellness
By Marius Nielsen, MSM Getting active is something that many families think about and want to do. But busy schedules, lack of equipment or injury/illness can stop us from being successful. We know that physical activity, especially if it gets your heart rate up, provides lifelong benefits for everyone. Recommended Physical Activity by Age Toddlers […]
Read MoreWhat Does a Doula Do?
By Sara Santa Cruz Some of you reading this may already know what a doula is by word of mouth or personal experience. Maybe you had a doula (or know someone who did) during labor or in the days and weeks following their birth. Others may be thinking…what is a doula and why should I […]
Read MoreKeeping Kids Safe Online
Whether we like it or not, young children are growing up in a high-tech world and our job as caregivers is to ensure that exposure to online content is helping and not harming their development. There are many great online tools available to support children’s learning but it’s best to limit screen time for children […]
Read MoreMilk Matters: Breastfeeding 101 for New Families
By Marius Nielsen, MSM When looking forward to the birth of a new baby, most parents in Colorado plan to breastfeed. The World Health Organization states, “Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, […]
Read MoreTantrums: When Children Most Need Our Kindness (and Respect)
Tantrums are a normal part of development. Tantrums happen most between ages 1 and 3 years. Often tantrums happen before children can talk and around the time of language development. Before they can express themselves verbally, children get frustrated and a tantrum can result. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some great tips to prevent – […]
Read MoreReflections on adoptive parenting in Jeffco
By Jennifer Anton, LPC This fall, I launched my son off to college, a milestone I wasn’t always so sure we would achieve. As I reflect on the joys and challenges of the past 18 years, here are six things I’ve learned from the front lines of adoptive parenting that have made me a more […]
Read MoreHow Much Is Too Much Screen Time? Why Every Family Needs a Media Plan
Screen time, used thoughtfully and appropriately depending on a child’s age, can enhance daily life for families. But if overused or used inappropriately, screen time can also be detrimental. Sometimes screen time – also called “media” to refer to time spent with television, tablets, smartphones and/or video games — can take the place of other, […]
Read MoreKeeping Your Child Safe from Sexual Assault: Prevention Teams
Keeping children safe from sexual assault is the responsibility of adults. It’s a difficult topic, but you can start by educating yourself, inviting others to be a part of your “prevention team” and teaching your children about boundaries and consent. All children are vulnerable and offenders can be anyone, usually someone the victim knows. In […]
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