As loving parents and family members, we have no doubt that you wish to provide the best for your child. We care too. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips, tidbits, and instructional advice designed to help you make your child’s first years as productive and transformational as they can be.

Click through this section to learn more. And for additional ideas, please visit our Resources and Links page to access a variety of Web sites dedicated to enhancing early learning opportunities for your children.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Words and Pictures

• Spend time each day reading to your growing child, starting at birth. Watch for your child's cues to continue or quit.
• Talk about the pictures and the story and try different voices for the characters in the book.
• Help your child notice words and other print in the world around you.
• Reading sparks language development. Take your child to story time at the library or book store. Your child will enjoy sharing books with you as well as with peers.
• Get a free library card so that you can visit the library often and check out a variety of books.
• Play alphabet games to teach your child letters. Recite letters as you go up and down stairs, or give pushes on a swing.
• Use letter-play workbooks, games and puzzles to engage your child in learning the alphabet.
• Play word games to challenge your child to have fun with words.

Talking

• Talk to your baby even before he or she seems to understand what you are saying. Soon your child will talk to you.
• Listen to your child. Valuing your child's words will help him or her build confidence as a strong communicator.
• If your child tries to make the same sound you do, repeat the sound.
• When your child points to an object or gives you something, talk about the object.
• As your child gets older, encourage the use of short, simple sentences.

Singing

• Singing and listening to music are great for your child's development, and can be a good way to draw out your child’s feelings. Encourage expression—singing songs, making sounds, humming melodies.
• Sing or hum to your child. Infants and toddlers prefer their parents' voices to anyone else’s.
• Act out the songs you sing with your child (i.e., when singing Itsy-Bitsy Spider, use your fingers to show the spider climbing and the rain falling).
• Sing a lullaby to your child at bedtime.
• Dance with your child.

Playing

• Provide a safe place for your baby or toddler to roll, crawl and explore. If possible, child-proof your entire home.
• Recognize that daily supervised outdoor play including running, climbing, swinging and sliding helps children develop strong bodies and minds.
• Sit and play on the floor with your child daily. Children learn through play with simple toys and household items such as pots, bowls and wooden spoons.

FINDING QUALITY CARE

High quality early childhood programs do much more than help children learn numbers, shapes and colors. Good programs also help children learn how to learn—to ask why and discover alternative answers, to get along with others, and to use their developing language, thinking and motor skills. Here’s some general tips on choosing a child care solution that will be beneficial to your children:

• When choosing a child care program, ask if it is accredited or certified by a recognized, national agency such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC).
• Within Georgia, visit Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) for further information and help choosing a provider.
• DECAL's Standards of Care program is designed to guide child care centers in maximizing learning opportunities for children birth to five and to raise the level of awareness about appropriate for young children. Use it as a guide.
• Click here for a list of centers designated by Standards of Care as "Centers of Distinction,” an award recognizing centers that provide high quality care to young children.
• The Homes of Quality Program recognizes registered family child care providers and group day care providers who provide a rich, interactive environment for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers that enhance children’s ability to learn. Click here to find Homes of Distinction and Homes of Merit in your area.

Child Care Checklist for Parents

To ensure a good child care experience, make sure you can answer “yes” to each of these statements:

• The children in the program are generally comfortable, relaxed and happy.
• Daily schedules include active and quiet play, rest time and outdoor play.
• Teachers and administrative staff are educated and trained in areas such as physical, intellectual and emotional development; safety; nutrition; and child abuse prevention.
• In licensed and regulated settings in Georgia, caregivers meet the minimum annual training requirements of 12 hours.
• Staff turnover is low. (Low staff turnover is an important indication of the stability and quality of a child care provider.)
• Interactions between children and caregivers are pleasant and caring.
• Child care providers welcome a parent's active participation in the care provided for the child.
• The center is clean and safe.
• Rooms, play areas and playgrounds are uncluttered and free of barriers and obstructions.
• Toys and equipment are stored on easily accessible shelves.
• Bathrooms and diapering areas are sanitized continuously and smell clean.
• Child care providers are be warm and friendly to both children and parents, maintaining an open-door policy for visiting whenever parents or family members want.
• In a licensed and regulated center, the DECAL adult-child minimum ratio requirements (below) have been met.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends the following staff-to-child ratios and group sizes:

PROVIDING QUALITY CARE AT HOME

• Be warm, loving and responsive.
• Pay attention to your child's clues and cues.
• Talk and sing with your child.
• Read with your child every day.
• Help your child recognize that reading is important.
• Set up a reading area in your home.
• Provide your child with writing materials (e.g., crayons, markers, chalk).
• Limit television watching. When you allow your child to watch television, sit with him or her and talk about what you see, remembering that young children should not watch the news or adult programs.
• Establish routines and rituals.
• Feed your child nutritious meals and snacks for better concentration and healthy development.
• Recognize that your child is unique.
• Encourage your child to explore and play in a safe environment.

EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINING

• Know that discipline should teach, not punish; it is setting limits both firmly and kindly.
• Understand that children express themselves differently.
• Show respect for your child so that he or she will learn respect for others.
• Reinforce positive behavior.
• Learn about stages of child development and what is appropriate behavior for each stage so that you will know what behavior to expect at different ages.
• Prepare your child for new situations, so that he or she will feel confident and secure.
• Encourage exploration and curiosity, but keep your child safe.
• Create dependable and predictable routines for your child.
• Know that when your infant or toddler tests your limits, they’re doing this out of curiosity and eagerness to learn—not to make you angry.
• Avoid calling your child negative names when discussing bad behavior.
• Avoid labeling your child. Instead, label the behavior.
• Try to understand what your child is communicating and respond appropriately.
• Redirect your child's attention when he or she is doing something you don't like.
• Spanking, hitting or shouting may stop behavior immediately, but it does not help a child understand that the behavior is not acceptable. Instead, it may teach that violence is the way to settle issues.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (INCLUSION)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits child care programs from discriminating against children, employees or parents based on the fact that a person has a disability.

An inclusive child care program places children with disabilities into a typical learning environment and enables them to participate in all daily activities with typically developing children. Any support or services needed for the children with disabilities are brought to them in the classroom.

The Inclusion Project is a directive of the fourteen statewide members of the Georgia Association of Child Care Resource&Referral Agencies to create high quality inclusive child care for all children. The Inclusion Project offers a lending system of toys, books, puzzles and resource books for parents and child care providers of children with special needs. For more information, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (GACCRRA).

 Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs 

• Select activities that contribute to building skills and self-confidence.
• Activities should be meaningful; your child needs to feel that the family appreciates his or her efforts.
• Keep instructions clear and simple.
• Set routines and discuss desired outcomes and plan routines.
• Minimize distractions such as television and establish specific places for work that are distraction-free.
• Be patient and offer helpful reminders.
• Reward efforts and good work with positive feedback, praise, or prizes.
• Don't bribe with gifts and don't make promises that depend on factors outside of your control.
• Be consistent with discipline and praise.
• Keep a sense of humor and maintain a positive outlook.
• Seek out other parents with whom you can share experiences and gain new information.