We have pulled together some very interesting and informative links that, as a parent, you should find very valuable. Constantly on the lookout for developmental and informational websites, we will be always be adding to this page for you.
Development in the First Years of Life
Ross A. Thompson"Your child will learn more in their first five years of life than they will in five years of college"
Any discussion on how we care for infants and toddlers must begin with the interests and needs of the children themselves. Therefore, this article opens with an overview of the dramatic development that takes place during the first three years of life, which turns the dependent human newborn into a sophisticated three-year-old who walks, talks, solves problems, and manages relationships with adults and other children.
This article explains the new understanding of brain development that has captured public attention in recent years, and links it to developments in infant behavior that are equally impressive and influential: the growth of the body (size and coordination), the growth of the mind (language and problem-solving abilities), and the growth of the person (emotional and social mastery). It emphasizes how much early experiences and relationships matter.
www.futureofchildren.org Attribution: From the Future of Children, a publication of the David and Lucile Packard FoundationThe Role of Child Care Settings in Obesity Prevention
Mary Story, Karen M. Kaphingst, and Simone French"Reducing consumption of sweetened beverages, including juice, both in child care settings and at home may be an effective obesity prevention strategy."
The early years spent in child care are crucially important to a child's development. High-quality child care and early education help ensure that a child will develop skills and enter school ready to learn. For a young child, health and education are inseparable. Eating nutritious foods and engaging in physical activity on a daily basis are two essential elements for healthy well-being in the early years. Child care settings can and should provide an environment in which young children are offered nutritious foods and regular physical activity through structured and unstructured play so that they learn these healthful lifestyle behaviors at an early age. Child care centers offer many opportunities to form and support healthful eating habits and physical activity patterns in young children. Thus they can play a critical role in laying a foundation for healthy weight.
www.futureofchildren.org Attribution: From the Future of Children, a publication of the David and Lucile Packard FoundationMealtime memo - Beverages for Children
www.nfsmi.orgMealtime memo - Cooking with Kids
www.nfsmi.orgMealtime memo - Establishing Healthy Habits Early
www.nfsmi.orgMealtime memo - Healthy Snacks for Kids
www.nfsmi.org Attribution: National Food Service Management Institute. The University of MississippiGetting Your Child Ready For School
"Pre-School instruction promotes learning of many skills that are the foundation of the curriculum through Grade 12."
www.talaris.org Connecticut State Department of Education (relevant to other states)Five Ways a Child Learns To Grow
This research-based timeline is organized by a child's age. It serves as a general guide to the five amazing ways a child grows, from birth to 5.
- Social - Emotional - how children feel and how they learn to relate to others
- Cognitive - how children learn and think
- Language - how children learn sounds, words, and sentences
- Sensory - how children hear, see, taste, smell and feel
- Motor Skills - how children learn to skill to sit up, crawl, walk, and run
As you'll see, each milestone shows a range of ages typically seen in children's development, but a child may not meet every milestone and still be progressing normally. Don't be surprised if your child's growth is different from what's included on this timeline, or if your child develops more quickly in some areas than in others. Above all, enjoy learning about the many fascinating ways children develop. If you have any concerns about your child's growth and development, please seek a health care professional.
www.sde.ct.gov Talaris Research InstituteAsthma And Your Child
Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty. This chronic disease affects 20 million Americans. Asthma is commonly divided into two types: allergic (extrinsic) asthma and non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma. There is still much research that needs to be done to fully understand how to prevent, treat and cure asthma. But, with proper management, people can live healthy and active lives.
www.aafa.org Asthma and Allergy Foundation of AmericaFor Parents
