The Magic of Music for Infants and Toddlers
Once children are born, music and singing have important impacts on their early development, supporting brain development and skills across all areas of multiple learning areas.
Positive Parent-Child Relationships
These resources offer guidance on how Head Start programs can support parents and families in developing healthy relationships with their child from birth. These positive relationships help nurture a child’s health, development, and learning. In the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework, Positive Parent-Child Relationships is one of the seven family outcomes that affect child outcomes.
Early Social Interactions Build Connections in the Brain
Back-and-forth social interactions build babies' language skills and strengthen language regions in their brains.
Supporting Parenting: A Balancing Act
Personal and cultural background informs how people parent. Head Start programs can provide important support to parents who want the best for their children.
Staff-Parent Relationships That Honor and Support Parenting
Explore this resource to foster positive parent-child relationships through everyday staff-parent relationships. Find prompts and questions that invite partnership-building conversations with parents.
Carrying the Work Forward with Families
Head Start staff and parents bring unique elements to their relationship while they work with a focus on supporting children’s growth and learning.
Taking Steps to Strengthen Relationships and Support Parents
Head Start staff can use these three steps to build relationships with parents and support their learning and decision-making.
Using a Parallel Process
The positive, goal-directed relationships Head Start staff form with parents can strengthen the relationships parents have with their children. This parallel process supports parents in self-discovery.
Co-creating Strong Bonds
Secure relationships are the foundation of trust. By using positive, strengths-based attitudes, staff can create trusting, supportive partnerships with parents.
Home-Based Parent Video Series
In this set of videos, learn about the home-based program option. Find out how home visits work, what parents can expect from a home visitor, and the role parent's play in the development of their child.
Schedules and Routines at Home
Share this tip sheet with families to support the use of schedules and routines at home with their children. Learn why schedules are important for children's development.