All About Young Children
Parents are a child’s first teacher. Explore information to help understand children’s learning and discover new ways to support a growing child.

Baby Sign Language
Baby sign language is a great way to help you communicate with your pre-verbal baby. Baby sign language helps babies that are ready to communicate, but can’t quite bridge the gap to full speech.

Giving your baby a safe place to sleep is important. Safe sleep helps lower the risk of injury, breathing problems, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Sleep Safety ABC's 

Do not put your baby in your bed. He could roll out, or you could roll on top of him. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep:

• Alone, in a crib or bassinet, in your room.
• On their Backs.
• In safe Cribs.

For more sleep safety tips, check out the First 5 California Parent Guide.

Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Children - Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
From infancy on, play is an important part of a child’s life. Through games and playful activities, children practice and strengthen executive function skills that will help them throughout their lives. 

The California Department of Education, in partnership with Footsteps2Brilliance, Inc., is providing FREE access to a selection of 500 interactive and award-winning digital ebooks, songs, and activities.

Available in English and Spanish to all California children and families.

FREE Virtual Library

California Parent and Youth Helpline provides support and resource referrals to parent and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, 7-days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Call or text 1-855-4APARENT (855-427-2736) for services in English, Spanish and other languages.

Father Talk
A blog written by a father, for fathers. Ideas, tips, and information for all stages of fatherhood.  

Music helps boost language, math and social skills.

Tune into First 5's Pandora station today!

La Leche League
Helps mothers to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and promotes a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Live Beyond
Our past experiences don’t define us, but they can have a lasting impact on our mental and physical health and even our relationships. ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) are not our fault. We didn’t have control over when or why they happened, but we can live beyond ACEs and take steps toward healing. It begins with understanding how ACEs show up in our lives. And then we can start healing. Learn more or share your story at LiveBeyond.

National Parent Helpline - Being a parent is a critically important job, 24 hours a day. It’s not always easy. Call the National Parent Helpline® to get emotional support from a trained Advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent.

To get your FREE New Baby Kit, call (209)754-6914 or Download the Sign-Up Sheet and return to First 5 Calaveras.

Parenting Tip Sheets
Created in English and Spanish; several parenting topics are addressed including, but not limited to, Tantrums, Say What You Mean, The Power of Choice, and Parent Magic.

Raising Happiness Blog
Developed by Families and Work Institute (FWI), Through the Greater Good Science Center located at UC Berkeley, the Raising Happiness Blog offers science based tips for more joyful kids and happier parents.

What is Ready4K?

Text messages proven to boost your child's learning

Each week, you will receive fun facts and easy tips to build on the things that you already do with your child -- like getting your child dressed, meal time, and bath time -- to make boosting your child’s learning fast, fun, and easy.

• PBS Kids activities in Spanish
• Storyplace online ebook library and activities
• Brainpop English language learner activities
• Commonsense Media Spanish-language resources
• The Spanish Experiment classic children’s stories told by native Spanish speakers
• 101 Easy Spanish Activities for Kids Stuck at Home

A home base to support you and your family

Stay Play Grow was developed by the Early Learning Lab, a team of early childhood experts, women, and working moms.

We designed the app to ensure parents and caregivers of children ages 0-5 have quality and easy-to-access resources when they need them most.

The app offers content for families in English and Spanish.

Text 4 Baby
Join the thousands of moms who receive free text messages throughout their pregnancy and their baby’s first year. Receive critical health and safety tips timed to where you are in your pregnancy and timed to your baby’s age up till their first birthday.

The California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project provides a series of free, evidence-based video and print resources that caregivers and educators can use to teach their kids critical mental health and coping skills.

Babies are born ready to learn. And you already have what it takes to help them!

First 5 California has partnered with Vroom to provide you with over 1,000 fun and free tips and activities to help add learning to mealtime, bath time, bedtime, or anytime!

We know life gets busy, but with these fun activities, backed by science, you can turn everyday moments into brain-building moments! Get going with Vroom to try over 1,000 brain building activities with your child!

Visit Vroom.org to learn more or get started today!

Zero to Three Parent Resources
There is no such thing as a perfect parent. Parenting is an ongoing process of learning who your individual child is and what he needs to thrive. These resources are designed to help parents tune in to what makes children tick and to guide parents in thinking about the best way to meet their child’s individual needs.