The first five years of a child’s life are a time of tremendous physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth. Children enter the world with many needs in order to grow. Children also enter the world with a great capacity to learn.

From birth through age 5, children are developing the language, thinking, physical, emotional, and social skills that they will need for the rest of their lives. A child who enters school without these skills runs the risk of starting behind and staying behind.

Children develop language and cognitive skills only if they have many opportunities to use and experience language, to practice solving problems, and to learn about the world and how it works. 

• Provide your child with opportunities for play and provide guidance for your child as he explores new things.

• Talk to your child, beginning at birth. 

• Read aloud to your child every day.

Children who eat nutritious food, get enough exercise, and receive regular medical care have a good start in life which lessens the chances that he will have serious health problems or trouble learning later on

• Access high quality prenatal care for a healthy pregnancy. 

• Establish a medical home for your child and keep well-child checkups with your primary care physician.

• Expose your child to healthy and nutritious foods. Encourage them to try new tastes.

Children start school with different degrees of social and emotional maturity. Qualities such as confidence, independence, motivation, curiosity, persistence, cooperation, self-control, and empathy take time and practice to learn

• Make sure your child receives regular developmental and social-emotional screenings.

• Spend time with your child, including playing, cuddling, and hugging.

• Create and follow routines within your home for your child to follow (mealtime, nap time, bedtime, etc.)

Family environment is important in shaping children’s early development. Children from families who are actively engaged with their children and know where to find the supports they need are more prepared to begin school.

• Access help for substance abuse, mental health, or domestic violence issues.

• Access high quality child care and early education programs that support social and cognitive development and provide resources for family support.

• Ask your primary care physician or contact one of the programs on the back of this brochure for a list of programs that provide support for you in your role as a parent.