MENU
 

For Parents: In-Depth

Welcome Parents!

If you are looking for simple and fun ways to spend time with your children, while helping them grow and learn, you have come to the right place. This section has been designed to help you understand and nurture your child.

In addition to fresh activity ideas and how-to videos, you will also find useful tips, information about child development, and exciting ways you can make every day a learning adventure for your child.

The Parent resources are organized into three sections. Each of these sections is explained in detail below:

  1. Topics/Skills Activities appropriate (ages birth to 33 months)
  2. Theme/Skills Activities (ages 3 to 5 years)
  3. Parenting Videos (ages birth to 5 years)

1. TOPICS / SKILLS ACTIVITIES
For Parents of Children Ages Birth to 33 Months

The Topic/Skills activities have been written for a variety of parents in mind—from first-time to experienced parents. They are inexpensive, easy to do, and can be adapted to fit your particular needs and interests. Whether you are turning ordinary, everyday time into learning opportunities or discovering brand-new adventures, these activities will also help you enjoy and appreciate your child’s early growth and development.

The Topics/Skills activities are separated into two age groups (birth to 15 months and 12 to 33 months) and organized around seven key topic areas:

  • Listening & Talking
  • Playing
  • Reading
  • Music & Dance
  • Science
  • Math
  • Writing

When you click on a Topic, you will have two options to choose from: Overview and Activities. These options are described below.

Overview

Overview contains a brief summary of what the topic is and why it is important, as well as relevant child development information. It also includes:

  • Learning Guidelines—Information on Learning Guidelines and/or Standards.
  • Child Development—Information on child development resources.
  • Resources—A list of resources containing general early childhood education and topic-specific books and websites.
  • Tips—16 summaries, available in English and Spanish, provide a quick look at issues and topics of importance to parents of young children. You can download these PDFs to reread them or share them with family members and friends.

Tips for Parents of Children Ages Birth to 33 Months

  1. Big, Bigger, Biggest: Measuring (English) (Spanish)
  2. Count Me In! Learning about Numbers (English) (Spanish)
  3. Good Books for Babies (English) (Spanish)
  4. Good Books for Toddlers (English) (Spanish)
  5. Let’s Go for a Walk! (English) (Spanish)
  6. Let’s Go To the Library! (English) (Spanish)
  7. Let’s Pretend! (English) (Spanish)
  8. Listen To the Beat: Music for Toddlers (English) (Spanish)
  9. Play Ball! (English) (Spanish)
  10. Raising a Reader (English) (Spanish)
  11. Screen Time (English) (Spanish)
  12. Songs & Lullabies: Music for Babies (English) (Spanish)
  13. Splish, Splash: Water and Bathtime Fun (English) (Spanish)
  14. Talk, Talk, Talk! (English) (Spanish)
  15. Time to Play (English) (Spanish)
  16. What’s That? Everyday Science (English) (Spanish)

Activities

Three key activities for each age group are explained in depth with detailed instructions. Included is information on the skills and development that are targeted in each activity. Also included:

  • More Ideas—A bulleted list of 10–15 additional fun and easy ideas to give parents more activity options to enjoy with their children.

2. THEMES / SKILLS ACTIVITIES
For Parents of Children Ages 3 to 5 Years

The Themes/Skills activities cover the seven key topic areas (Listening & Talking; Playing; Reading; Music & Dance; Science; Math; Writing) but are organized around the following concept themes:

  • Family and Friends
  • Colors All Around
  • Stop and Listen
  • Making Music
  • Ramps and Rolling
  • Building Houses and Homes
  • Watch Them Grow
  • Plants We Eat
  • Wonderful Water

These topics and themes form the foundation of knowledge and skills that make up the MA Early Learning Curriculum (in the Educator section on this site.) Engaging in these activities will help you form a closer bond with your child as you are preparing him for success in school and beyond.

When you click on a Theme, you will have two options to choose from: Overview and Activities. These options are described below.

Overview

Overview contains a brief summary of the topic and why it is important, as well as relevant child development information. Contents also include:

  • Learning Guidelines—Information on Learning Guidelines and/or Standards.
  • Child Development—Information on child development resources.
  • Resources—A list of resources containing general early childhood education and topic-specific books and websites. These resources can be used across all topics and skills.
  • Tips—16 summaries, available in English and Spanish, provide a quick look at issues and topics of importance to parents of young children. You can download these PDFs to reread them or share them with family members and friends.

Tips for Parents of Ages Children 3 to 5 Years

  1. Books, Books, Books (English) (Spanish)                 
  2. Conversations Count (English) (Spanish)                 
  3. Draw It! Write It! (English) (Spanish)                       
  4. Everyday Math (English) (Spanish)                    
  5. Ready for School (English) (Spanish)                         
  6. Get Ready to Read (English) (Spanish)             
  7. Good Books for Children (English) (Spanish)
  8. Indoor Science Fun (English) (Spanish)            
  9. Outdoor Science Fun (English) (Spanish)                 
  10. Let’s Go To the Library (English) (Spanish)              
  11. Listen To the Music (English) (Spanish)           
  12. Media Ideas for Children (English) (Spanish)   
  13. Play Time! (English) (Spanish)                                    
  14. Screen Time (English) (Spanish)                       
  15. Stories and Traditions (English) (Spanish)               
  16. Time to Pretend (English) (Spanish)                          

Activities

Three key activities are explained in depth with detailed instructions. Included is information on the skills and development that are targeted in each activity. Also included:

  • More Ideas—A bulleted list of 10–15 additional fun and easy ideas to give parents more activity options to enjoy with their children.

Media Playlists for Parents of Children Ages 3 to 5 Years

Media Playlists for each Theme can be found in the section for Children.

Each playlist is a collection of videos and interactive games. (These were created as part of the theme units in the MA Early Learning Curriculum.) Each playlist gives you easy access to fun, interactive, and educational resources. Included on each playlist are the following media:

  • Full length videos from PEEP and BTL
  • Live-action videos from PEEP that show real children exploring STEM concepts
  • Video clips from BTL focusing on ELA concepts, letters, and letter sounds
  • Video poem and songs
  • Interactive games

For information on recommended screen time for children and using media as an educational tool with your child, go to: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PS_technology_WEB2.pdf.

3. PARENTING VIDEOS
For Parents of Children Ages Birth to 5 Years

These 10 short videos will help you discover ways to understand your child’s development and support your child’s learning style. As you watch parents and caregivers put good parenting strategies into action, you’ll also see new ways to help your child’s progress. You can watch these videos on your own. The videos can also be used by facilitators as the basis for parenting workshops.

The ten topics covered in the videos form the foundation of knowledge and skills that are essential for children’s healthy growth and development.

Topics for Parents of Children Ages Birth to 33 Months

  • Discovering & Exploring
  • Playing & Learning
  • Reading & Writing
  • Singing & Dancing
  • Talking & Listening

Topics for Parents of Children Ages 3 to 5 Years

  • Words & Stories
  • Relationships & Community
  • Play & Imagination
  • Media & Technology
  • Investigation & Discovery

For parents or caregivers watching the videos on their own, the “Before Watching” text above the video gives a brief introduction to the topic. The “After Watching” section offers an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve seen, make personal connections to the ideas in the video, and learn some easy suggestions for putting ideas into practice.

If you are creating a parenting workshop, use the Facilitator’s Guide. There is a guide provided for each topic. Available as PDFs to download and print out, each guide contains background information on the topic, how to organize the workshop, extensive discussion questions, and hands-on activities to try during the workshop. You will also want to read the “Parenting Videos Workshop Overview” in the Tips section before you begin a workshop or a series of workshops. Related handouts for parents that are noted in each Facilitator’s Guide can also be found in the Tips section.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Email this page Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Email this page