Links:
First time searching for childcare? Here are some articles to help you find a program that fits your needs, and to prepare your child and family for the transition:
--Parent Aware Parent Toolkit
-- Parentaware.org Is the one-stop shop for RESOURCES regarding health and nutrition help for families, low income support, financial help covering medical expenses, housing assistance, and other state-wide resources for children in child care and their families.
Helpful Articles & Websites about Child Development:
- "Teaching your child about feelings (age 0 - 2)", an article from The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/documents/teaching_your_child-feeling.pdf
- Help Me Grow of Minnesota, is an one-stop-shop for information about your child's development. It contains information about developmental milestones, ways to encourage healthy development, in-depth informational articles about all things related to children age birth-5, and access to referral for anyone who has concerns about a child's development.
- Kindergarten Enrollment Guide for Rochester Public Schools: Information about neighborhood schools and district-wide school options, how to start preparing for Kindergarten, preschool screening (should take place shortly after a child's 3rd birthday), family engagement opportunities in the community, and much more. Click here.
Other Helpful Websites:
- The Love and Logic website. This is one of my favorites. Lots of wonderful ideas regarding discipline. Read articles, listen to podcasts, browse the catalog, order materials, or sign up for the free "weekly tip" via e-mail. I have a few of the books in my parent resource library. www.loveandlogic.com
- Family Child Care Inc. A website for the local association of family childcare providers. It offers several resources for parents looking for child care, including a "child care openings" page and a Family Child Care Directory.
- Families First of Minnesota, formerly Child Care Resource and Referral, has been a non-profit organization in our community working for parents, child care programs, and community members in all areas of early childhood.
- RochesterFamilies is a website for parents in Rochester, MN. It highlights kid classes, parent classes, parent support groups, summer camps, winter fun, and many other resources.
- IMom and AllProDad are websites to go to for help, hope, and inspiration to love your family well. You can also sign up for daily inspiring e-mails.
ASL Visual Dictionary websites:
- ASL Pro main video dictionary. This is my favorite one, but there are other dictionaries at the website (www.aslpro.com).
- Signingsavvy.com. Any visitor can browse by letter and see a list of vocabulary linked to video demonstrations. You must register to use the quicker look-up tools.
- American Sign Language Video Dictionary (www.handspeak.com) This is a new one I am not as familiar with, but it looks quite extensive.
- Lifeprint.com. This one sometimes demonstrates signs through videos and sometimes through pictures. They do a nice job providing written descriptions of how each sign is made. There are other resources on the website as well, such as ASL video classes and fingerspelling learning & practicing tools. Fun website!
*Click here for the Circle of Friends Resource Library
A list of resources I have available for parents to borrow regarding sleep, development, discipline, sign language, and more.