Early Childhood Resource Guide

Talk, Read, Play, an informational campaign to support families with children ages birth to five, maintains a great resource guide over on http://www.talkreadplay.org. We've linked to some of their offerings below and thrown in a few selections of our own. (Note: Talk, Read, Play pages open in a new window!)

Talk, Read, Play is a product of Countdown to Kindergarten, in collaboration with Thrive in 5.

  • Early Intervention and Special Needs
    If you have questions or concerns about your child's development or obtaining resources, click here for information on screenings and parent advocacy groups.
     
  • Education and Child Care
    There are many choices for families who need full or part-time childcare and early childhood education. Click here to learn about your options for public and private childcare and schools.
     
  • Family Support
    Raising a child is hard work! Click here to learn about organizations that support families with parenting programs, hotlines, workshops, and health initiatives.
     
  • Free and Low-Cost Activities
    Boston is a great place for families to have fun on a budget! Click here to find out about discounted or free cultural offerings, museums, and enrichment activities across the city.
     
  • Healthcare and Social Services
    Click here to find out about healthcare, nutrition, housing, mental health, and other social services that may be available to your family.
     
  • Outdoor Recreation
    Your family can enjoy all the seasons in Boston. Click here for a list of parks, playgrounds, and other outdoor recreation offerings citywide.

You might also want to check out:

  • MyDorchester.org's Community Guide: Our very own community guide, with program and contact information for hundreds of local schools, businesses, service providers and public agencies.
  • CAST - Read With Me: Interactive eBooks for Parents, Teachers, Children. Instructional approach guides teachers and parents in how to “talk” to children when they read storybooks to them. View a pdf here or go to http://readwithme.cast.org/ to learn more. 
  • Mass Resources - Child Care/Early Childhood: Preschool, care and early literacy resources statewide.
  • KinderArt Littles: Several activities to try with your children are categorized under themes that include sensory play, health and sorting/matching.
  • Health Sheets: Primers on every imaginable health issue (and proactive/preventative steps) for all ages.
  • Back to School Helpful Hints: Health and safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)! Use or excerpt these tips in any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of source.