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Child development guidance for parents of young children

Parents and families are a child’s first teacher. These materials are designed to help the caregivers in a child’s life understand early childhood development and ways to foster it beginning at birth.
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How this guidance can help you

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) developed guidance for parents, families and other caregivers of young children that focuses on understanding and fostering healthy child development.  The guidance materials provide tips and suggested activities for families to help positively impact their child's growth and learning.

Child development guidance for parents of infants and toddlers

 

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1. Talk to me! You are your child's first teacher

2. Play with Me! Physical health and well-being

3. Think with me! Cognitive development

4. Help me grow! Social-emotional development

5. Learn with me! Approaches to learning

6. Families learn and grow together

Child development guidance for parents of preschoolers

 

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1. Talk! Oral language and literacy

2. Be Healthy! Physical health and well-being

3. Learn! Approaches to learning

4. Engage! Social emotional health

5. Explore! Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

6. Families learn and grow together

How to share books with your child (video)

This video by Raising a Reader Massachusetts explains how important reading with your child is and the benefits that it has on brain development and school readiness.

Video: Storytime: How to Share Books With Your Child

View transcript  of Storytime: How to Share Books With Your Child  
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