What are positive childhood experiences (PCEs)?
Every parent, caregiver, and member of a child’s community has the power to provide positive experiences. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are activities that supports a child’s physical, mental, social, and emotional health and wellbeing. There are many ways that adults can promote PCEs in children’s lives, including building strong and meaningful relationships, engaging in fun activities together, and making them feel safe and nurtured at home and in their community.
Research has shown that children who experience PCEs are more likely to develop strong social skills, better academic performance, and better physical and mental health outcomes later in life. In addition, PCEs also play an important role in helping children reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). These are traumatic experiences that can happen during childhood, including experiencing abuse or neglect, witnessing violence, or other events that cause toxic stress. The more PCEs a child has in their life, the more likely they can build the resilience and coping skills to navigate challenges and stressful times.
Creating positive childhood experiences (PCEs) for children goes a long way towards helping them build the knowledge and skills they need to thrive throughout their lives. Learn about ways you can create positive childhood experiences for children that can help support their health, growth, and development for a lifetime.
Infants (ages 0-1)
Parents and caregiver(s):
- Talk, sing, read, and play with your baby. Talking with your baby helps them learn about language and feelings. Hearing you talk and seeing you smile and laugh can help teach them about emotions.
- Cuddle and hold your baby. Babies feel secure and loved when held by their parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Holding your baby close with skin-to-skin contact can be calming, relaxing, and joyful for you and your baby.
- Comfort your baby. As a parent or caregiver, it can be difficult to hear your baby cry especially when you’re unsure of why. When your baby cries, they’re trying to communicate their needs and discomfort. They may feel hungry, upset, or want to be close to you. Comforting your baby when they cry not only helps soothe them, but also strengthens your bond with them. Whether it's through gentle rocking, humming, or singing, find what works best for you and your baby.
- Prioritize your health and wellbeing and practice self-care. Practicing self-care is essential for our own mental and physical health and for the well-being of our families. It's important for parents to remember that they deserve and need self-care, and that it's not selfish to prioritize our own needs. Taking care of yourself can mean different things to different people, but it often involves taking breaks, getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and staying connected with friends, family, or your community. Remember to make time and space for yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Engaging with your community:
- Reach out to your friends or family. Becoming a parent or caregiver can be one of life’s greatest joys but can also be a challenging time. Remember that it's okay to ask for help, and there are many people who are willing and eager to support you.
- Talk to your child’s healthcare provider. In addition to friends and family, your child’s healthcare provider can be an important part of your support system. Share concerns or questions you may have about your child’s health, growth, or development with them. They can provide the support, guidance, and resources you may need during challenging or stressful times.
- Share your experiences with other parents and caregivers. Joining a parent support group can provide you with a sense of community and valuable information to help you navigate the challenges of parenting. These groups offer a safe and supportive environment where parents can share their concerns, ask questions, and receive emotional support and encouragement. Sharing your experiences with other parents at a support group can help you feel heard, validated, and supported, and can also provide an opportunity for you to learn from others who may have faced similar challenges.
- Find a family resource center near you. Family resource centers can provide valuable support for helping parents promote their child’s health and wellbeing and strengthen their family. These community-based organizations offer a wide variety of resources including parenting classes, childcare services, early childhood education, housing assistance, and referrals to other community supports to help meet your family’s needs.
Toddlers (ages 1-3)
Parents and caregiver(s):
- Read to your toddler. Reading to your child helps them learn new words, gets them ready to learn to read, and teaches them how to listen and communicate.
- Create routines. Creating routines for bath time, bedtime, and meals can make your child feel secure and calm. When toddlers know what comes next, they have an easier time changing to that part of their day.
- Spend quality time together. Children learn from all the different ways they play. Going to the playground, drawing, or building with blocks can help support their physical health and creativity. Let them lead play time and praise them when you like what they are doing.
- Prioritize your health and wellbeing and practice self-care. Practicing self-care is essential for our own mental and physical health and for the well-being of our families. It's important for parents to remember that they deserve and need self-care, and that it's not selfish to prioritize our own needs. Taking care of yourself can mean different things to different people, but it often involves taking breaks, getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and staying connected with friends, family, or your community. Remember to make time and space for yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Engaging with your community:
- Make time for play groups. As children grow older, they get interested in playing with other children. Inviting another child to play can give your toddler a way to learn social and emotional skills.
- Reach out to your friends or family. When your child becomes a toddler there is so much to keep up with. They begin to get a lot more active, more social and able to communicate their wants and needs. Parents can schedule playdates with friends and family members who also have young children. This allows toddlers to socialize and gives parents a chance to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
- Talk to your child’s healthcare provider. In addition to friends and family, your child’s healthcare provider can be an important part of your support system. Share concerns or questions you may have about your child’s health, growth, or development with them. They can provide the support, guidance, and resources you may need during challenging or stressful times.
- Share your experiences with other parents and caregivers. Joining a parent support group can provide you with a sense of community and valuable information to help you navigate the challenges of parenting. These groups offer a safe and supportive environment where parents can share their concerns, ask questions, and receive emotional support and encouragement. Sharing your experiences with other parents at a support group can help you feel heard, validated, and supported, and can also provide an opportunity for you to learn from others who may have faced similar challenges.
- Find a family resource center near you. Family resource centers can provide valuable support for helping parents promote their child’s health and wellbeing and strengthen their family. These community-based organizations offer a wide variety of resources including parenting classes, childcare services, early childhood education, housing assistance, and referrals to other community supports to help meet your family’s needs.
Young children (ages 4-12)
Parents and caregiver(s):
- Spend quality time together. Be silly, dance, sing, read a book, or watch a movie together. When possible, let your child choose what you do together. Following their lead and having fun doing it shows that you love and trust them.
- Have them help around at home. Asking children to help out with chores help them develop the sense that they matter to others. These experiences teach them lessons that will last when they become older and more responsible.
- Help them set goals. Children at this age build confidence when they finish a project, learn a new skill, or do well in school. Find activities your child wants to learn on their own or that you can do together.
Engaging with your community:
- Ask about the school day & homework. Talk about what your child did and learned in school each day. Set aside time in a quiet place for them to do any homework they may have. Some children want to do their work all on their own or need some help.
- Engage with your child’s school staff and community. Building relationships with your child’s teachers and support staff can help promote your child’s sense of belonging and create a positive learning environment. In addition, communicating with your child’s school staff can be important for sharing feedback and staying informed about your child’s challenges and successes in school.
- Talk about their friendships. Listen when they tell you about how they are getting along with their classmates and friends. Help them learn to solve their problems when they come up and check in on how they’re feeling.
- Reach out to your friends or family. As children start attending school and extracurricular activities, many parents need help with childcare, whether it's before or after school, on weekends, or during school holidays. Reach out to family and friends who can offer help or that can help can look for affordable and reliable childcare options in your community.
- Talk to your child’s healthcare provider. In addition to friends and family, your child’s healthcare provider can be an important part of your support system. Share concerns or questions you may have about your child’s health, growth, or development with them. They can provide the support, guidance, and resources you may need during challenging or stressful times.
- Share your experiences with other parents and caregivers. Joining a parent support group can provide you with a sense of community and valuable information to help you navigate the challenges of parenting. These groups offer a safe and supportive environment where parents can share their concerns, ask questions, and receive emotional support and encouragement. Sharing your experiences with other parents at a support group can help you feel heard, validated, and supported, and can also provide an opportunity for you to learn from others who may have faced similar challenges.
- Find a family resource center near you. Family resource centers can provide valuable support for helping parents promote their child’s health and wellbeing and strengthen their family. These community-based organizations offer a wide variety of resources including parenting classes, childcare services, early childhood education, housing assistance, and referrals to other community supports to help meet your family’s needs.
Teens (ages 13-18)
Parents and caregiver(s):
- Talk with your teen. As teens develop their independence, it can get harder to find time to talk. Chat in the car together, when doing dishes together, or any time you have a chance. Remember that no matter how big their problems seem, what most teens want is love, support, and respect.
- Engage with your child’s school staff and community. Proactively connecting with school staff to provide family voice and share strategies can be beneficial to supporting your child’s sense of belonging and build positive relationships.
- Spend quality time together. Family routines such as mealtime, watching TV together, or taking family walks can be important times where families check in with each other and children share how they’re feeling. This creates trust and understanding to help guide children through the challenges of the teen years.
- Find time to have fun together. Take time to have fun and enjoy each other's company. Relaxing together can help your child feel loved and valued.
- Prioritize your health and wellbeing and practice self-care. Practicing self-care is essential for our own mental and physical health and for the well-being of our families. It's important for parents to remember that they deserve and need self-care, and that it's not selfish to prioritize our own needs. Taking care of yourself can mean different things to different people, but it often involves taking breaks, getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and staying connected with friends, family, or your community. Remember to make time and space for yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Engaging with your community:
- Help them connect with their families and communities. Help your teen learn that their words and actions matter. Your teen may want to play sports, join after school activities, volunteer in their community, get involved in places of worship, or have more responsibilities at home.
- Engage with your child’s school staff and community. Building relationships with your child’s teachers and support staff can help promote your child’s sense of belonging and create a positive learning environment. In addition, communicating with your child’s school staff can be important for sharing feedback and staying informed about your child’s challenges and successes in school.
- Reach out to your friends or family. Raising teenagers can be both difficult and rewarding. They are becoming young adults, their bodies are maturing, and their brains are growing by leaps and bounds. Consider creating a support network of family and friends who can help you and your teenager through this time. This might involve scheduling regular check-ins or asking specific people to be part of your support team.
- Talk to your child’s healthcare provider. In addition to friends and family, your child’s healthcare provider can be an important part of your support system. Share concerns or questions you may have about your child’s health, growth, or development with them. They can provide the support, guidance, and resources you may need during challenging or stressful times.
- Share your experiences with other parents and caregivers. Joining a parent support group can provide you with a sense of community and valuable information to help you navigate the challenges of parenting. These groups offer a safe and supportive environment where parents can share their concerns, ask questions, and receive emotional support and encouragement. Sharing your experiences with other parents at a support group can help you feel heard, validated, and supported, and can also provide an opportunity for you to learn from others who may have faced similar challenges.
- Find a family resource center near you. Family resource centers can provide valuable support for helping parents promote their child’s health and wellbeing and strengthen their family. These community-based organizations offer a wide variety of resources including parenting classes, childcare services, early childhood education, housing assistance, and referrals to other community supports to help meet your family’s needs.