Parent and Caregiver Resources - Early Childhood

Reading Tip

Tip #1

Make book time a special time, just for you and your little one.

« Prev   |   Next »

Tips for ParentsPreparing for SchoolPlay It SafeNutritionHealth & FitnessSTEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, & MathJust for Kids

Tips for Parents

  • Adventures in Parenting (pdf)
    Stories that demonstrate good Parenting Skills.
  • Just In Time Parenting eNewsletters
    Parents can sign up for a monthly email that helps them track their child's progress and ensure that they are receiving proper care and development opportunities.
  • Words to Use with Your Kids Every Day
    Everyday phrases to instill confidence, self-respect, and thoughtfulness in your children.
  • Parent's Guide to Helping your Child Learn
    Take an active role in your child's learning. Tips on how to help them using language, listen, write, read, develop social skills, think, and math concepts.
  • A Place of Our Own
    These two companion resources offer online resources for early childhood educators and parents. The Web sites provide activities appropriate for toddlers to preschoolers and range in topic from Health & Safety to Language & Literacy to Science & Environment and more. (en Español)
  • BabyWatch - Early Intervention Services
    Baby Watch Early Intervention is a statewide program which provides services to infants and toddlers, birth to three, with developmental delay or disability, and their families.
  • Wonderopolis
    Check out the "Wonder of the Day" - simple activities for parents to share and explore the wonders of everyday life with children.
Top

Preparing for School

  • Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
    A checklist that will give you an idea on what areas your child is doing well in, and where they may need some extra attention.
  • Reading Rockets Bookfinder
    Search for a book by age level or theme.
  • Reading Tips for Parents of Preschoolers
    Read early and read often. The early years are critical to developing a lifelong love of reading. Here are some tips to help your child become a happy and confident reader. (en Español)
  • Reading Rockets
    Here is a lot of great information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
  • PBS Early Math
    A site that helps nurture development of your child's early math skills.
  • PBS Fun and Games
    Search for excellent activities and games from PBS.
  • Get Ready to Read!
    Resources to help your preschooler get ready to learn to read. As your child’s first teacher, you can set him or her in the right direction for a lifetime of reading and learning.
  • Learning at Home: 9 Early Literacy Activities
    Quick tips and simple games that can make everyday chores more fun and at the same time support your child's language and literacy skills.
  • Sesame Street: Parents
    Learn how to use the Sesame Street website with your child and reading articles about a wide variety of parenting topics.
  • Utah Kids Ready to Read!
    Utah State Library's resources for parents and caregivers to help them nurture their children's early literacy skills.
  • Child Development Literacy Milestones: Age 5
    Learn what to expect of how children this age learning to read.
  • Is my Child Ready to enter Kindergarten?
    The expectations of children who enter kindergarten can vary from school to school. However, here are some general social and educational guidelines about the skills children should develop by the time they start a kindergarten program.
Top

Play It Safe

Top

Nutrition

  • MyPlate for Preschoolers
    Use the MyPyramid as a guide to help you feed your preschool child as well as resources to help you preschooler grow up healthy, develop good eating habits and try new foods.
  • Win Over Picky Eaters
    Here are some effective ways you can help make healthy foods like fruits and vegetables all-time favorite choices in your home.
  • Strategies for Feeding a Preschooler
    Preschoolers want to do things themselves, but they are willing to learn from caregivers. This give-and-take creates opportunities to teach kids about healthy food choices in new and exciting ways.
  • Healthy Eating
    5 strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits. (en Español)
  • Cooking With Preschoolers
    Cooking can help young children learn and practice some basic math concepts and build language skills.
  • After-School Snacks
    Learn how you can make sure your child gets nourished but still has room for a healthy dinner. 
Top

Health & Fitness

  • Sleep and Preschoolers
    Help your child develop good habits for getting to sleep. (en Español)
  • Eating Right = Healthy Children
    Good nutrition is basic for supporting preschoolers’ healthy growth while avoiding obesity. Parents can offer the foods that children need and help them develop good eating habits
  • Raising a Fit Preschooler
    Instead of just running around in the backyard, a preschooler has the physical skills and coordination to ride a tricycle or chase a butterfly.
  • Flu Prevention Tips
    Find out more about the immunizations your baby needs with this chart from the CDC, National Immunization Program.
  • Immunizations and Checkups
    Find out more about the immunizations your baby needs with this chart from the CDC, National Immunization Program.
  • Practice Mindful Eating
    Mindful eating is a great way to practice mindfulness infused with gratitude and work on your appreciation for our food.
  • Building Endurance: Let’s Get Physical!
    Building endurance (increasing the length of time that one can continue a physical activity) is a central part of physical fitness.
Top

STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

Top

Just for Kids

Top