Childcare Finder

Child care is a vital resource for parents. Often, caregivers are some of the most present figures in your child’s life apart from you and are crucial to supporting the growth and development of little ones. When looking for caregivers, there are several options available to you depending on your family’s needs and resources.

• Childcare Finder: https://www.in.gov/fssa/childcarefinder/
• Brighter Futures: Home | Brighter Futures Indiana

Activities & Play

Kids love to play – and for good reason! Every time a child picks up a toy, plays pretend, or moves their body, they are learning more about themselves and the world around them. During play, they build brains and important life skills such as resiliency, creativity, confidence, and problem solving.

There are two forms of play: structured and unstructured. structured play is where a child follows directions guided by an adult, such as doing a puzzle or playing sports. Unstructured play is where children play however they want – on a jungle gym, playing make-believe, or simply running around outside. Kids should get a blend of structured and unstructured play everyday. As your child grows, so too does their stage of play.

• Talking is Teaching Indoor Activities Toolkit: Indoor Activities Toolkit – Talking Is Teaching
• PBS Kids Play: Crafts and Experiments for Kids | PBS KIDS for Parents

Child Development

Developmental milestones are behavioral or physical checkpoints in a child’s development. Monitoring your child’s milestones is crucial to know if they are on track with their developmental progress. If caught early, many delays in development can be addressed through specialized therapies aimed to support the growth of the child. Helpful tools like checklists can be used while coordinating with other caretakers in your child’s life to monitor your child’s progress. Over time, you can also help your little one develop though everyday activities like play, helping with basic tasks, and regular engagement.

• University of Florida Literacy Institute Parent Resource Hub Birth-PreK: Birth to Pre-K | UF Literacy Institute
• Free guides for popular books: Resource Search | Learning to Give
• Reading Partners Families & Caregivers Resource Hub- Free trainings and resources to support specific literacy skills at home: Families & Caregivers | Reading Partners Volunteer Hub
• PBS Kids for Parents Learn and Grow: Parent Resources, Tips, and Advice | PBS KIDS for Parents
• IDOE Early Learning Family Guide: Early-Learning-Family-Guides-July-2023.pdf
• Indiana Learning Lab: Free Educational Resources for Indiana Families: Learning Lab – Dashboard

Parenting Support 

Parenting young children can be challenging – even when doing everything right, kids can have difficulties working through their feelings. Positive parenting means taking an approach that is sensitive to your child’s needs and addressing challenges with empathy and respect. 

Parenting Support 

• Talking is Teaching Tipsheets: Social-Emotional Development – Talking Is Teaching

Developmental, Educational, & Behavioral Milestones

• University of Florida Literacy Institute Parent Resource Hub Birth-PreK: Birth to Pre-K | UF Literacy Institute
• Indiana Learning Lab Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Family Guides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LrgtzB1AfCtz0Cs07XjvD0ccMiDJ0KAq/view?usp=sharing
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Family Guides: USA Parent Resources – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• PBS Kids for Parents Learn and Grow: Parent Resources, Tips, and Advice | PBS KIDS for Parents
• IDOE Early Learning Family Guide: Early-Learning-Family-Guides-July-2023.pdf