Supporting You Every Step of the Way
Welcome to our Parent Resources page: a dedicated space designed to support you throughout your child’s early learning journey. Here, you'll find helpful articles, tips, and tools on topics like child development, health and safety, parenting strategies, and school readiness. Whether you're looking for guidance, inspiration, or community connections, we’re here to provide resources that empower you as a parent and partner in your child’s growth.
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a developmental screening tool used to help monitor children’s growth in key areas such as communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and social development. It’s a simple, parent-completed questionnaire that helps you better understand your child’s strengths and identify any areas where they may need additional support.
Help Me Grow Referral Form
If you feel your child requires additional developmental support, please complete the referral form linked above and submit it to Referral@HelpMeGrowNorthTexas.org. This form connects families with Help Me Grow North Texas, a free program that offers developmental screenings, guidance on parenting and child development, and referrals to community resources. Taking this step can ensure your child receives the support they need to thrive.
8 Activities to Encourage Preschool Independence
Like any new skill, independence-building activities can take time to master and preschoolers need ample opportunities to practice these skills and feel autonomous. Start with these independence-building activities.
6 Little Things You Can Do Every Day to Make Your Child More Independent
As parents, one of our primary parenting goals is to teach our children to be independent. But it's not always easy for them to become more self-sufficient and responsible—or for parents to let go. Some of this is because our instinct as parents is often to make things easier for them, rescue them from their mistakes, and limit their experiences with struggle or (gasp) failure.
However, kids need to be challenged in order to develop the skills, tenacity, grit, and self-reliance needed to (eventually) function in the world on their own. It takes time, effort, and trust to guide your child to become more independent, but the rewards are well worth it.
Responding to Your Child’s Bite
Biting is a common but challenging behavior among toddlers, often caused by frustration, teething, curiosity, or difficulty communicating needs. While normal for young children, it can harm relationships and cause concern for families and caregivers. This resource from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning offers practical strategies to understand why children bite, prevent it, and teach positive alternatives. It emphasizes observing patterns, addressing triggers, staying calm in the moment, and working consistently with all caregivers to support a child’s social and emotional growth.
Early Childhood Texas: Resources for Raising Kids
The Early Childhood Texas website is a state managed resource hub that brings together essential information and supports for families with young children. It makes it easy to access programs and services spanning health and development, parenting guidance, child care and education options (including Pre-K, Head Start, and after-school care), and state-sponsored assistance opportunities. The site serves as a centralized resource connecting families to services from agencies like the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Health and Human Services, and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
How Much Sleep Kids Need: Recommended Hours by Age
Kids go through a lot of phases growing up especially when it comes to sleep.
Recommendations for how much sleep children need change by age. They require a lot of downtime during their early months and years. Slowly over time, though, those hours of needed ZZZs decrease.
But no matter their age, getting the right amount of sleep is critically important for their healthy childhood development.
So, how much is enough at various ages? Let’s find out from pediatric sleep specialist Vaishal Shah, MD.
3 Day Potty Training Method
How to Potty Train in 3 Days: This video is about how to potty train your toddler in 3 days. I used the 3 Day Potty Training method by Lora Jenson to potty train all five of my kids when they were just 2 years old. I go over what supplies you need, how to prepare yourself, how to prepare your child, and some potty training tips and tricks for having a positive experience as you celebrate this important milestone with your toddler.
Transforming the Toddler Years (Podcast)
Intentional Parenting is H.A.R.D, but you're committed to being present and raising a whole child: body, mind & spirit.
Join Cara, Early Child Educator and mom of three, on her bi-weekly podcast that teaches you her groundbreaking program prioritizing your early relationship with your toddlers as the foundation for applying her cycle-breaking Collaborative Parenting Methodology(™).
Mealtime Memo Insight
The Mealtime Memo from the Institute of Child Nutrition provides evidence-based tips for planning, preparing, and serving nutritious, safe, and child-friendly meals in early education settings. It's a great resource for families interested in understanding meal best practices and how our program meets high nutritional standards
How Reading Aloud Can Help You Bond With Your Kids and Make Them Better Readers
The NPR article “The benefits of reading aloud to your kids” highlights how daily read‑aloud sessions not only strengthen vocabulary and listening skills but also build emotional connection and resilience. It’s a simple yet powerful way to support your child’s literacy and well-being. Just a few minutes each day make a big impact.
7 Reasons Why a Daily Routine is Important for Children
Establishing a daily routine can have a powerful impact on your child’s development and overall well-being. The attached article, "7 Reasons Why a Daily Routine is Important for Children," highlights how consistent daily structure helps children feel secure, build confidence, develop independence, and form healthy habits.
Want to create a stronger bond with your kids?
First relinquish control
The NPR article “Build a Stronger Connection with Your Kids” highlights simple yet powerful ways to deepen your bond like setting aside uninterrupted one-on-one time, practicing active listening, asking open-ended questions, and showing empathy. These small, intentional efforts, repeated consistently, help children feel heard, respected, and more emotionally secure.
Babies Need Humans, Not Screens
The UNICEF article on baby screen time explains why infants need human interaction to grow and learn. It highlights that excessive screen use in early childhood can hinder empathy, reduce attention spans, and delay the ability to read facial expressions and form social connections. The article also emphasizes that babies learn best through direct engagement like eye contact, talking, and play rather than passive screen viewing. It's essential reading for any parent aiming to support healthy early development.
The 5-Minute Daily Playtime Ritual That Can Get Your Kids to Listen Better
The NPR article “The 5‑Minute Daily Playtime Ritual That Can Get Your Kids to Listen Better” introduces "special time" short, child-led play sessions that experts say reduce behavioral issues and improve attention . Spending just five focused minutes a day following your child's lead and reflecting their words back can boost connection, cooperation, and listening skills, a small habit that makes a big difference.
Is it Disruptive or Age Appropriate?
A Look at Common Early Childhood Behaviors
The article from Ally Pediatric explains how understanding typical behaviors like tantrums, defiance, and aggressive outbursts can help parents differentiate between developmentally appropriate actions and those that may require further attention. This article offers clear descriptions of age‑appropriate milestones across infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, and early school years. It also provides practical strategies for managing challenging behaviors, setting realistic expectations, and identifying when to seek professional help empowering caregivers to support their child’s social and emotional growth with confidence and compassion.
Parents, Are You Overindulging Your Kid?
This 4-Question Test Can Help You Find Out
The NPR Life Kit article, “Parents, are you overindulging your kid?”, shares how giving in to tantrums, spoiling, and lenient rules can lead to children who struggle with self-control, dependency, anxiety, and difficulty delaying gratification. It offers a “test of four” questions to help parents set healthy limits and foster independence.
The Art of Children Falling and When it Might Be a Problem
Lumiere Children’s Therapy explains why occasional stumbles and falls are actually crucial to a child’s development. It clarifies that while falling is a normal part of learning balance and spatial awareness, frequent or uncontrolled falls can sometimes signal underlying coordination or balance concerns. The piece also details warning signs to watch for and highlights how physical therapy can support children in building stability, confidence, and motor skills. This thoughtful resource can help parents understand when to encourage natural movement and when to seek extra support.
The Key to Raising Brilliant Kids?
Play a Game
This NPR article shares how playful learning builds the “6 C’s” of child development: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creativity, and confidence. Instead of drills or screens, simple games and imaginative play help children grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively. This short read is a great reminder that learning through play is one of the best ways to support your child’s success.
Toddler Biting
Biting is a common behavior during the toddler years often used to cope with strong emotions, teething discomfort, or an underdeveloped ability to communicate. This article offers gentle, effective strategies such as calmly stating “No biting—biting hurts,” redirecting your child to appropriate outlets like teething tools or crayons, and teaching words to express their feelings. These tips help support healthy emotional development while reducing stressful or harmful behaviors. It’s a valuable read for any parent working through this stage.
A Lost Secret: How To Get Kids To Pay Attention
The NPR article “A Lost Secret: How To Get Kids To Pay Attention” explains that giving children choices and independence can significantly boost their focus and engagement. When kids feel in control, they're more likely to stay attentive and enjoy learning, an encouraging reminder for parents and caregivers.
What can too much screen time do to kids?
Impact and recommendations
This Children’s Minnesota article explores how excessive screen use can affect children’s physical and mental health. It highlights consequences such as attention difficulties, lower academic performance, behavioral issues, irregular sleep patterns, and even obesity due to sedentary behavior. The article emphasizes that while screens can offer valuable educational and entertainment benefits, maintaining balance with physical activity, face-to-face interaction, and sleep is essential for healthy development. It provides helpful guidance for parents on managing screen habits to support their child’s overall well-being.
My brother-in-law is incarcerated.
When should I tell my kids?
The NPR article “How to Talk About Prison With Kids” offers compassionate advice on discussing incarceration with children in an honest yet age-appropriate way. It highlights the importance of using simple, neutral language, inviting questions, and reassuring kids of their safety and that the situation isn't their fault. This thoughtful resource can help parents approach a sensitive topic with care and clarity.
What Your Child Should Know.
The Parent’s Guide to a Successful School Year
This document offers a checklist of skills to help your child start the school year strong. It covers specifically what your child needs to know in order to start the school year off strong and confident. A helpful read for back-to-school prep!
Is Your Kid Misbehaving?
Instead of Time-out, Try 'Connecting' With Them First
The NPR podcast “Why You Should Connect with Your Kid, Not Correct Them” stresses that building a strong emotional bond through empathy, active listening, and validating feelings helps children feel understood and supported. Focusing on connection first improves behavior and strengthens trust, offering a foundation for guidance and learning.