Helpful Links

Cognitive

• Brain Connection - Multitude of information on cognitive and brain development, and readers can sign up for a free bi-weekly newsletter about the brain.
• Cognitive Milestones - Checklist that includes information on memory, means-end, object concept, and pre-academic skills.

Gifted

• NAGC Resources for Parents - Is your child gifted?  If yes, what next? The National Association for Gifted Children works to provide you the tools you need to help your child succeed.

Language

• Ear Infections and Language Development
• Language Milestones - A chart listing language skills from 6 months to 8 years, as well as links to more detailed information about each stage.
• Language Milestone Chart - A language milestone chart for children birth to age 6, and includes activities and strategies to encourage language development.
• Oral Language Development - Oral language development in young children and offers parents and teachers suggestions to foster communication.
• Talking Milestones - Toddlers' use of language and presents activities for encouraging language development and pre-reading skills.
• Welcome to the World, An Overview of Your Growing Child - formerly the "Grow to 5" materials

Literacy

• Helping Parents Promote Literacy Skills
• Just Read, Florida!
• Pre-K Programs in Florida

Motor

• Gross Motor Activities - Activities to help children develop fitness and body/spatial awareness are presented along with a chart that focuses on promoting locomotion, manipulation and stabilization.
• Motor Milestones Checklist - Information on gross and fine motor development for birth to age 6 in a checklist format useful for parents and early childhood professionals.
• Preschool Kids Do Better When They Talk To Themselves - According to a recent study, parents shouldn't worry about young children talking to themselves, in fact 5 year-olds perform better on motor tasks!

Physical

• Does Size Really Matter? - Everyone talks about how tall -- or short -- a child is; this article discusses whether size really matters.
• Encouraging Physical Development of Toddlers -Fine and gross motor activities are discussed along with developmental milestones and suggestions for parents.
• Hearing Loss in Children Information
• Learn the Signs. Act Early- What you should know
• Quick Reference Guide - Physical development chart that is broken down in months beginning with birth then in years from 1 to 5 years of age.
• See How They Grow - How to tell whether your child is growing properly and provides information on how to help your child achieve optimum growth.
• Vaccine Resources for Parents
• Vision Loss Fact Sheet

Self-Help

• Adaptive Milestones Checklist - Self-help milestones for ages birth to 6 and includes information on eating, drinking and dressing.
• Teaching Self-Care Skills - Teach self-care skills to children includes information on toileting skills, guides to healthy eating habits, and developmental delays.
• Teaching Your Young Child Specific Self-Help Skills - Fun interactive ways to teach self-help skills using picture cues, rhymes and song, and motor activities.

Social / Emotional

• Bedtime Strategies for Your Child with Special Needs - Steps that parents can take to have a better time at bedtime. (We do NOT endorse any products you may find on this website, we only share the article above)
• Developing Social Competence - Research articles on assessing social competence, developing social competence, and peer relationships and conflicts with children. Also, the home page offers various aspects of parenting.
• Emotional Development - The social and emotional development for different ages. Each file is easy to read for parents and caregivers about what to expect and when to seek help.
• Linking Social Development and Behavior to School Readiness
• Positive Solutions for Families of Young Children with Challenging Behaviors
• Promoting Social Emotional Development - Tips and tools that will help you promote social emotional development in infants and toddlers, as well as a link to Zero to Three's most popular resources.
• Social Skills Milestones - Checklist of the development of social skills from birth to age 6.
• Stages of Social Development - Social development in twelve stages and information is presented in a parent friendly manner. Activities that can be performed at home are included which not only improve social development, but language as well.

• Assessments in VPK and Kindergarten Screening - Florida law requires all private and public VPK providers to administer pre- and post-assessments to all children attending a VPK program
• Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) - Promotes evidence-based early literacy learning practices by early childhood intervention practitioners, parents, and other caregivers
• Challenging Behavior - Promotes the use of evidence-based practice to meet the needs of young children who have, or are at risk for, problem behavior
• Center for Parent Information and Resources - central hub of information and products created for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities (houses resources formerly on the NICHCY website)
• Children's Forum - Private, not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality, affordability, and availability of child care and early education through programs, services, and publications
• Children's Medical Services - FL Dept. of Health program serving children with special health care needs
• Early Learning Coalitions in Florida
• Florida Department of Education - Building a Strong Foundation for Florida's Children - The Bright Beginnings Web site offers information for early success in reading and math and it covers expectations, instruction, assessment, and parent resources
• Florida's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) - this site provides RtI news and includes a parent brochure
• Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Parent-Infant Program - Intervention in a family's natural environment and daily routines.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - Focus on quality educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8
• Office of Early Learning - Florida Department of Education administering the VPK program
• Technical Assistance and Training System (TATS) - Supports programs serving Pre-K children with disabilities through training and technical assistance
• Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program - Office of Early Learning Florida VPK site for families and more
• Zero to Three - National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families resources on development, school readiness, and more.

Behavior Management/Social-Emotional Development

• Infant-Toddler Social/Emotional Well Being
• Positive Solutions for Families of Young Children with Challenging Behaviors
• Tips for Parents-13 Reasons Why - Tips for parents for talking with their children about 13 Reasons Why and suicide

Disability Information

• About Our Kids - NYU Child Study Center for awareness of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders and research to advance the prevention, identification, and treatment
• Autism Information Center - Center for Disease Control and Intervention - Articles, Updates, FAQs and more
• Bright Expectations - Bright Expectations is the Department of Health's website to provide resources and information on developmental disabilities for pregnant women, health care providers, parents and families.
• Center for Parent Information and Resources - central hub of information and products created for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities (houses resources formerly on the NICHCY website)
• CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Education, advocacy and support
• Do2Learn - Communication cards, print resources and more for children with special needs
• Florida Developmental Disabilities Council - Encourages opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and families to enhance their quality of life within their communities
• Safer Smarter Kids - developed by Lauren's Kids, a free resource that provides educators, parents, and individuals with disabilities a tool to keep children and young adults safe from abuse
• TA Live! - Monthly series of Technical Assistance (TA) calls happening on the second Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM., provided by Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, a special project funded by the State of Florida

Getting Involved with Your Child's School

• 100 Ways for Parents to be Involved in Schools - PTA Publication

High School Transition / Adolescence to Adulthood

• FloridaShines.org - Florida's official online student advising system to help students make informed choices about their education
• FYI Transition - Where will you work? Where will you live? Who will help you? Website principally for parents and students to teach them about transition and employment
• Office of Student Financial Assistance - Florida Department of Education information on financial aid
• Secondary Transition Roadmap for Families

Pre-K / Early Childhood

• Help Your Kindergartner Learn to Read - Booklet from National Institute for Literacy
• Parent Tips for Reading to Your Child - Tips to make story time a learning time
• Parent Tips for Motivating Young Writers - Ways to encourage your child to write more

Reading and Math

• 7 Apps & Websites for Reading at Home - Class Tech Tips from Tech & Learning for supporting reading at home.
• A Child Becomes a Reader Booklet - Parent help for kindergarten through 3rd grade
• Big Dreams - Family Booklet about Reading from National Institute for Literacy
• Book List - Recommended for parents and educators on learning disabilities, ADHD and other topics.
• Dad's Playbook: Coaching Kids to Read - Simple skills from National Institute for Literacy
• Exploring Technology and Learning Connections - This resource was developed by the Technology & Learning Connections Team, a part of the PS/RtI Project at the University of South Florida. Includes effective resources for math, reading, and most content areas, as well as universal design resources
• Help Your Child Learn to Read - Booklet for parents to help preschool - grade 3
• Help Your 1st Grade Child Learn to Read - Booklet from National Institute for Literacy
• Help Your 2nd & 3rd Grade Child Learn to Read - Booklet from National Institute for Literacy
• La Lectura es lo Primero - Cómo ayudar a su hijo a aprender a leer, National Institute for Literacy
• Top Ten Reading Tips for Parents - Ways to help your child learn to read
• Top Ten Math Tips for Parents - Ways to help your child with math

Tips for all Subjects: Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies

• The Brain Connection - Fun online games to help build memory and exercise the brain
• Cool Math - An amusement park of math and more
• Fact Monster - Online homework help and more
• Figure This! - Math challenges for families of middle school children
• First School - Preschool activities and crafts, alphabet and theme worksheets and ideas
• Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) - Interventions for struggling readers, grades K-3
• Florida Students - resources to support student learning in language arts, mathematics, science, civics, and U.S. History
• Get Ready to Read! - Resources to help your preschooler get ready to learn to read
• Internet4Classrooms - Sites to help parents help their children. Something for every grade level
• Just Read Families! - Department of Education recommended websites for children ages 2-17
• KidSites.com - Tons of cool, approved website links for science and math
• Math Cats - Promotes open-ended and playful explorations of important math concepts
• Math is Fun! - Math activities and tips for students
• National Geographic for Kids - Online magazine for students
• Reading is Fundamental (RIF) - Tips and activity ideas to help you motivate your kids to read
• Reading Rockets - Offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities to "Launch young readers" and teach those who struggle with reading
• Starfall.com - Engaging games and activities for children from Kindergarten to Grade 3

Autism

• Autism Information Center - Center for Disease Control and Intervention - Articles, Updates, FAQ's and more
• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - Signs and symptoms and more information from the Mayo Clinic
• National Autism Association - A variety of resources for families, educators, providers, and ASD individuals
• The Center for Autism and Related Disorders - Provides assistance and support, professional training programs, public education activities, and information on CARD service regions and local support groups for families and professionals

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - a resource on the characteristics and frequently asked questions related to fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Signs and Symptoms of FAS - Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, and prevention of these preventable birth defects

Language Impairment

• Concerns for Language Delays - Information for parents who suspect there may be developmental delays with language and other areas
• Language Development in Internationally Adopted Children - Difficulties in language development for children who are adopted and speak another language. The site offers information on what to do if delays are suspected as well as typical language development and milestones
• National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders - The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducts and supports research in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language
• Child Speech and Language Development - Learn more about what to expect from your child from birth to 5 years old from the American Speech Language Hearing Association