Parent Information
Early Learning & Development
Every child develops at their own pace, but having the right guidance and resources can help support learning, curiosity, and overall growth. This section provides families with tools and information to nurture children’s development in fun, meaningful ways
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Developmental Milestones & Growth Tracking
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Play-Based Learning & Activities
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Early Literacy & Language Development
Developmental Milestones & Growth Tracking
Nurturing Potential With Evidence-Based Approaches
Their website offers information on child development, developmental milestones, positive parenting, play and learning, social-emotional development, and strategies for responding to challenging behaviors. Parents can also find age-specific guidance, practical tips, and tools to support their child’s healthy growth and development.
Working Together.
To help children thrive.
Help Me Grow WNY offers free developmental screenings, milestone tracking tools, and connections to local resources for children ages 0–5. The website helps parents learn about child development, identify potential concerns early, access referrals for evaluations and services, and find support to help their child grow and thrive.
Learn the Signs. Act Early.
Their Learn the Signs. Act Early. program helps parents track their child’s development from birth to age 5. It offers free milestone checklists, developmental screening information, videos, and tools to help families recognize developmental milestones and know when to seek additional support if concerns arise.
Supporting Families Right From the Start
Healthy Families New York offers free, voluntary home visiting services for expectant parents and families with young children. The website provides parenting information, child development resources, connections to community services, developmental screening support, and guidance to help families build healthy relationships and support their child’s growth from pregnancy through early childhood.
Play-Based Learning & Activities
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Kids Out and About | WNY
Kids Out and About Buffalo helps families find local classes, events, and activities for babies, toddlers, and young children throughout Western New York that support learning through play.
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New York State | Department of Education
New York State Education Department (NYSED) explains that play-based learning uses hands-on, engaging play experiences to help children build important skills across all areas of development. It supports learning through exploration, creativity, and active participation in meaningful play.
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Learning Through Play
Learning Through Play provides research, practical activities, and play ideas that help families support children’s learning, creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional development through everyday play experiences.
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Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop offers free, research-based activities, videos, games, and storybooks that support early learning through play. Families can explore fun ways to build skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotional development using familiar characters.
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WCNY | PBS Kids
PBS Kids offers free games, videos, and activities that support early learning through play, helping children build skills in literacy, math, and social-emotional development.
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NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) provides resources for families on how play supports early learning and development, with simple ideas for encouraging learning through everyday play at home.
Early Literacy & Language Development
EPIC | Ready. Set. Read!
EPIC Ready, Set, Read provides early literacy activities, books, and guided reading support to help young children build skills in letters, sounds, vocabulary, and early comprehension through engaging, play-based reading experiences.
Niagara University | Family Literacy Center
Niagara University Family Literacy Center is a community program that helps children improve reading, writing, and listening skills through hands-on, research-based support. It also provides literacy activities and family engagement opportunities to strengthen early reading development.
Niagara Falls Public Library
Niagara Falls Public Library offers free early literacy programs for young children, including story times, early learning activities, and access to books that help build language, vocabulary, and early reading skills.
Creative Therapies | WNY
Creative Therapies of WNY provides early intervention and preschool services such as speech, occupational, physical, and special instruction therapy to support children’s development. The website also offers information for families and emphasizes learning through play, early support, and caregiver involvement to help children reach developmental goals.
