Parenting Resources

• St. Croix River Education District (SCRED) Calming Strategies Tool kit: https://sites.google.com/scred.k12.mn.us/scredsel/calming-strategies-toolbox

• Video: Just Breathe:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVA2N6tX2cg

• Video: Rainbow Breath: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O29e4rRMrV4

Links to guidance when you have to help your child through difficult moments. Another resource is Sesame Workshop, which offers help on a wide variety of topics, including foster care, incarceration, trauma/violence, and displacement/resettlement.

Children develop at their own pace. The developmental milestones below will give you a general idea of when your child will learn a certain skill. If you are concerned about your child’s development, visit HelpMeGrowMN.org to begin the process of evaluation.

New Resource! EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY TOOLKIT: A family guide to creating a culture of achievement at home, beginning prenatally through a scholar's transition to kindergarten.

This is a comprehensive toolkit from the Northside Achievement Zone reviewing developmental milestones from prenatal - age 5. Download the PDF here.

Under Construction - more to come!

As parents, we come the table (literally) having varied histories with and feelings about food. How can we teach our children to develop positive experiences at mealtime? Here are a few things to think about:

Division of responsibility

As a caregiver,  you are responsible for

• what your child eats
• where your child eats
• when your child eats

Your child is responsible for:

• how much to eat
• whether to eat or not

Questions to ask yourself as the caregiver

• What relationship do you want your child to have with food?
• What memories do you want your child to have about mealtimes?

How big is a toddler helping of food? (ages 1-3)

• Meat, poultry, fish: 1-2 tablespoons
• Eggs: 1/4 of an egg
• Pasta, rice, potatoes: 1-2 tablespoons
• Cooked beans: 1-2 tablespoons
• Bread: 1/4 slice
• Fruit: 1-2 tablespoons
• Vegetables: 1-2 tablespoons
• Milk: 1/4-1/2 cup

Your child may eat more than this, but this is what to start with. Look at how much your child eats over the past week rather than focusing on how much they ate on a particular day.

Adapted from The Ellyn Satter Institute. Ellyn Satter is an internationally recognized authority on eating and feeding.

Practicing Positive Discipline

Challenging behavior is a natural part of a young child's development, and it requires a lot of patience when disciplining. Children at this age are beginning to establish independence and try to push boundaries, which results in new behaviors. Here are some tips for practicing positive discipline at home.

• Be a good role model

As parents we are our child's first teacher and learning appropriate behavior starts at home. Children observe everything we do and say, so modeling positive behaviors, kindness, and compassion helps to set a positive example for children to follow.

• What is the cause of the behavior?

Sometimes as parents we can be quick to react to a behavior without thinking about what the underlying cause of our child's behavior is. Children don't misbehave for no reason and there are always triggers for why children misbehave. Try to find out what triggered the behavior before giving a consequence. Was your child trying to get your attention? Are they having trouble communicating their needs? Did their sibling break their favorite toy and now they are upset?

• Use empathy

Instead of getting angry or yelling when your child misbehaves, try approaching the behavior with empathy. You can do this by staying calm and labeling the emotion your child is feeling. You can say something like, "I see you are upset because your brother knocked over your tower. That would make me upset too. It's okay to be upset, but we cannot hit."

Toilet training is one of those childhood phases that seem to last forever but are really just a small moment in childhood. Here are our favorite tips if you’re having trouble getting your child on board with using the potty:

• Make sure they’re ready physically. Are they able to stay dry for 2 hours or more at a time? Are they already responding to their body’s signals - like holding themselves when they need to pee or hiding to poop?

• Highlight the benefits of being out of diapers

• Work with your child’s schedule. Note the times of day you need to change diapers and schedule your child’s “potty breaks” at those times.

• Keep a potty nearby, since your child won’t be considering how long it takes to get to the bathroom, remove clothing, sit down, etc. You want to be able to get them on the potty as soon as they notice they need to go.

• Dress your child for potty training. No complicated buttons or zippers that can delay your child getting onto the potty.

• Encourage your child through demonstration. Tell your child when you need to use the bathroom, and invite them to sit on their potty while you sit on yours.

• Have your child sit on the potty on a regular schedule - maybe just a minute or two every few hours. Encourage them to stay put by reading a story or watching a short video.

• Celebrate success. Some parents will provide stickers, candy, or other incentives. Sometimes counting up towards a larger incentive - like a trip to the zoo or a special toy - is a better option if you don’t want to have to carry candy in your pocket all day, every day!

• If it’s not going well, take a break.

Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution, has created a potty training readiness quiz to help you determine if your child is ready physically, cognitively, and socially. You can find the quiz on her website: https://www.nocrysolution.com/books/the-no-cry-potty-training-solution/readiness-quiz/

Fostering Sibling Relationships

Studies show that positive sibling relationships provide many benefits to children including ability to make friendships and increased emotional awareness.
 

• Be in check with your emotions when managing conflict

Young children observe their caregivers to learn how to manage their emotions. When siblings are arguing or fighting over something, use this as an opportunity to model how to manage emotions and resolve conflict in a calm way

• Encourage siblings to help each other

When a sibling gets hurt or needs help completing a task, encourage the other sibling to check in on them. This will help to foster a strong unconditional love between them.

• Implement special sibling time to foster a strong bond 

Find a time during the week when the kids can play with each other without interruption. Encourage them to create something together, use each other’s ideas and have fun!

• Use the nighttime routine as a time to bond

Encourage siblings to read a book to one another, sing each other a song, or give each other a hug before bed. This routine can help establish a strong bond before they go to sleep.

Tips to help prepare your child for a new baby sibling:

• Tell your child about the pregnancy. Your child needs to hear the news from you and not someone else.

• Look at pictures of your older child as a baby and tell them what they were like as a baby. Show them how excited you were when they were born!

• Let your child be a part of the process of getting ready for the new baby to arrive. For example, maybe they can help pick out a coming home outfit for the baby.

• Be honest with them that once the baby arrives you are going to be tired, and the baby is going to take up a lot of your time. But still try to set aside 10 minutes of uninterrupted one-on-one time with your child every day to help with the adjustment!

Sleep plays a crucial role in the development of your child's mental and physical health. The amount of sleep a child needs varies from child to child. 

How much sleep do children need:

• babies (up to 1 year): 12-16 hours
• toddlers (12-24 months): 11-14 hours
• preschoolers: 10-14 hours

Research shows a regular and predictable bedtime routine can help your child get enough sleep. Ideas to build into your child’s bedtime routine:

• Turn off TV, phones, etc
• Dim the lights
• Turn on soothing music (such as lullabies)
• Bathe
• Brush teeth
• Spend quiet time together
• Talk about your day
• Read stories

Some children benefit from a bedtime social story. Social stories help children know what the expectations are and using them can help promote self regulation skills. Whatever activities you choose before bed try to make sure it is the same routine everyday

Parents today face the challenge of raising children in a digital world like never before. So, how can you know what is best for your children? 

Possible ways to support your children to have a healthy and appropriate relationship with technology:

• Use good quality content

• Sit with your children while they use technology

• Use what your children view on technology as talking points

• Be a role model -If you don’t want them constantly connected - put your phone away, turn off the television, etc.

• Create screen free times and places in your lives

• Consider your child's overall “digital diet”

Several researchers have referred to the term “digital diet,” in which we think about a child’s use of digital media in the same way we think about a healthy diet (Bidgood et al., 2021; Orben, 2021). Technology is comparable to a sugary dessert or candy—it stimulates a quick hit of dopamine and reward, so, the question is, how much sugar should your child be consuming? The answer—it depends. The goal of any healthy diet is balance.

How much screen time is OK?

Several factors must be considered, such as:

• Type of digital media and content (Facetime with Grandma is different than watching YouTube videos)

• Your own family values 

• When and why technology is used

• Children's brain development is experience-dependent, thus diverse experiences (more than screen time) are essential.

• The most important thing for your child's development and communications skills is you.

Research suggests that too much tech and too little talk could delay communication skills development.

Please see this page for what Centennial kindergarten teachers are hoping their students know/can do on the first day of school.

Sing and dance along with Centennial Early Childhood and Preschool teachers! See our YouTube playlist here. 

Join your favorite Centennial Early Childhood and Preschool staff for story time! See our YouTube playlist here.

• Do counting calisthenics!  Choose a number between 1-20 and practice counting as you move your body a certain way that many times.  Ex: clap your hands 5 times, counting up by 1 each time you clap.

• Build numbers & shapes using materials around your house (playdough, legos, blocks, q-tips & sticks are a few ideas to get you started.  What else could you use to build with?)

• Go on a shape hunt (inside or outside)!  Talk about what shapes you found.  Feel and count the sides/corners on each shape.  Make a chart to keep a tally of how many of each shape you find.  Which shape did you find the most/least of?  Which shapes were easy/hard to find? 

• Gather objects that can get wet. Fill the sink or tub with water. See which objects sink and which will float.

• Cook a favorite recipe with an adult. 

• Collect rocks, leaves, and twigs outdoors. Make patterns with them.

• Count how many doors/windows there are in your home.

• Use chalk to make the biggest hopscotch you can!

• Draw a picture of a place you have visited before or would like to visit.

• Gather recycled boxes and containers. Build something.

• Turn an old shoe box into a playhouse or fort for your small toy figures.

• Fill up a bucket with water and grab a paintbrush.  Go outside and have fun water painting EVERYTHING!  Paint your house, sidewalk, trees, the possibilities are endless!

• Make paper bag puppets and put on a puppet show.

• Tear or cut colored paper into small pieces and make a collage by gluing the pieces on paper.

• Paint with various types of brushes and on various surfaces (wax paper, tin foil, sidewalk).

• Draw thick black lines on paper for your child to cut along.

• Draw different shapes on paper and have your child cut them out.

• Make playdough prints by using objects found around the house (ex: buttons, coins, blocks, legos, etc.)  See what shape/print it makes when you push the object into the playdough.

• Look out the window. Make a list or draw a picture of all the things you can see.

• Ready a book with a caregiving and draw a picture of what you read about. 

• Make a card for someone in your family.

• Start a journal by using an old notebook or stapling pieces of paper together.  Draw, write or use stickers to create stories/journal entries.

• Say a word. Clap, stomp, or jump to count how many syllables are in the word. Repeat with different words.

• Cook a favorite recipe with an adult. 

• Flash light reading: Turn off the lights and read a story with a flashlight! 

• Read a book to your favorite stuffed animal or pet. 

• Put shaving cream on the table and practice writing words or letters (Can be done in the bathtub for easier clean up)

• Use legos to try and make letters

• Make a cozy reading nook with pillows, soft chairs and/or stuffed animals.  Add a basket of your child’s favorite books, magazine, tablet, etc.

• Make a writing basket!  Fill it with fun tools your child can use for writing.  Some ideas include: crayons, markers, pens, pencils, post-it notes, index cards, note pads, envelopes, stickers, tape, etc.

• Go on a letter walk. Find all the things that start with a specific letter.

• Play emotions charades.  Act out different emotions and see if others can correctly guess the emotion you are acting out. 

• Work together with a sibling or parent on a puzzle. Make sure to use team work!

• Build a tower with a family member by taking turns putting on a block. Work together to see how tall you can make the tower.

• Use play dough to make faces that look like different emotions 

• Start an Emotions Journal.  Everyday write/draw about how you are feeling and why.

• Play a board game and practice waiting and taking turns. 

• Make a quiet corner or calm down space in your house.  Add a few of your child’s favorite quiet activities (books, stuffed animals, timer, etc).

• Work together to build a fort out of blankets, chairs and pillows.

• Sesame Street Video and Activity Library: https://sesameworkshop.org/topics/social-emotional-skills/

Follow these links to take a virtual trip to the museum or a famous landmark.

My Virtual Field Trips (developed by Little Bins for Little Hands)

Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips

The Nature Conservancy Virtual Field Trips

• Go on a bug hunt

• Hunt for dinosaur bones (sticks)

• Write names, shapes, letters with chalk 

• Go on a nature walk/scavenger hunt- make a nature collage

• Eat snack outside

• Read a book outside

• Collect, stack and balance rocks

• Go on a sound safari (what sounds do you hear?)

• Find and sort leaves

• Make a treasure map and find a treasure. 

• Create an obstacle course

• Blow bubbles

• Create a chalk road and bring cars/blocks outside to make a city

• Play Hopscotch

• Measure the trees with a string

• Bring paper and pencils out- draw pictures of what they see- clouds, vehicles…

• Draw around your child’s shadow

• Play:

• Simon Says

• Red Light, green light

• Doggie, Doggie, where’s your bone?

• Bring puzzles or simple board games outside

• Crayon rubbings- tree bark, leaves…

Tucker the Turtle is a character who appears in the classroom as a stuffed puppet and figure in a story which teaches children to calm their bodies in times of stress. These PDF downloads include the Tucker story and additional ways to play and practice with Tucker.

Tucker the Turtle - English

Tucker the Turtle - Spanish

The Turtle Technique 

Tucker song with finger movements

Tucker the Turtle coloring book

Download and print these visual cue cards for use when children are not responding to verbal cues or reminders.

English

Hmong

Somali

Spanish

Amanda Carrera, parenting coach and licensed early childhood parent educator, Conscious Parenting begins and ends with connection. Imagine a home that values collaboration over control, empathy rather than judgments, and calm instead of chaos. Step away from fear and into loving trust; where the needs of each family member will be acknowledged and respectfully addressed. You will develop an understanding of conscious parenting, discover how connection first-parenting brings collaboration, peace and unity to your home, learn the six basic freedoms of every child and how to support them and gain useful tools to implement immediately.

October 2021

Sarah Holmboe, former coordinator for Centennial Early Childhood, Our youngest children are exposed to more and more technology and screen time every day. In this workshop, explore the risks of excessive screen time and its impacts on early childhood development, and learn new ways to balance technology in your own life and your child’s. What role does technology play in our household? What values do we share around screen time and technology? What are alternative activities for our children? How can we find a better balance with screen time?

May 2021

Lisa Giebink, former speech pathologist with Centennial Early Childhood, helps parents identify what triggers big emotions in both you and your child and how to manage them in the moment.

April 2021

Matt Youngbauer, Children's Librarian at the Centennial Library, Come explore why early literacy is so important for young learners and how to raise a child who loves reading and learning! 

November 2020

Join Lauren Robbins, clinical director at Wildtree Wellness for a discussion on perinatal mental health including postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, therapy approaches, and resources available to support new moms and dads alike.

December 2020

For all entries, $ indicates that there is an admission fee.

Splash Pads and Pools

• Andrews Park splash pad, 7200 117th Ave N, Champlin, 55316

• Boulevard Plaza Park, 11000 Crooked Lake Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, 55433

• $ Bunker Beach, 701 County Rd A, Coon Rapids 55448

• $ Lakeside Commons Park, 3020 Lakes Pkwy, Blaine, 55449

• Rosebrook Park (wading pool & playground), 1645 Rose Pl, Roseville, 55113

• $ Como Park Pool, 1151 Wynne Ave, St. Paul, 55108

• Mounds View splash pad, City Hall Park, 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View 55112

• Madison's Place Playground (splash pad good for toddlers), 4125 Radio Dr, Woodbury, 55125

• $ Battle Creek Water Works, 2401 Upper Afton Rd, Maplewood, 55109

• $ Anoka Aquatic Center, 1551 7th Ave, Anoka, 55303

• Central Park Maple Grove splash pad & playground, 12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, 55369

• Huset Park splash pad, 530 Mill St NE, Columbia Heights, 55421

• Emerald Park splash pad & playground, 3925 MacAlaster Dr NE, St. Anthony, 55421

• Central Park splash pad & playground, 3503 Silver Lake Rd, St. Anthony, 55421 

Beaches

• Golden Lake Park, 67 W. Golden Lake Rd, Circle Pines, 55014

• $ Elm Creek Park Reserve, 12400 James Dean Pkwy, Maple Grove, 55369 - chlorinated artificial pond

• $ Lakeside Commons Park, 3020 Lakes Pkwy, Blaine, 55449 - artificial pond

• $ Centerville Lake Beach, 7373 Main St, Lino Lakes, 55038

• Turtle Lake Park (shallow & good for toddlers), 4979 Hodgson Rd, Shoreview, 55127

• Long Lake Regional Park, 1500 Old Hwy 8, New Brighton, 55112

• $ Big Marine Park Reserve, 17495 Manning Trail N, Marine on St Crois, 55047

• Round Lake Park, 16691 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, 55346

• Lakeside Memorial Park, 95 East Broadway, Forest Lake, 55025

• Memorial Beach, 4980 Lake Ave N, White Bear Lake, 55110

• White Bear Lake County Park, 5050 Lake Ave, White Bear Lake, 55110

Playgrounds

• Lexington Athletic Complex, 4286 121st Ave, Blaine, 55014

• Shoreview Commons Park, 4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview 55126

• Lino Park, 7850 Lake Dr, Lino Lakes, 55014

• Lions Volunteer Park, 5524 Upper 146th St N, Hugo, 55038

• Shoreview Park, 4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview 55126

• Bucher Park, 5900 Mackubin St, Shoreview, 55126

• Hyland Play Area, aka "Chutes and Ladders Park," 10145 Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, 55438

• Elm Creek Park Reserve, 12400 James Deane Pkwy, Maple Grove, 55369

• French Regional Park,  12605 Rockford Rd, Plymouth, 55441

Zoos

• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr, St. Paul, 55103 (Thursdays toddler time)

• $ Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, 55124

• $ Sustainable Safari, Maplewood Mall, 3100 White Bear Ave N, Maplewood, 55109

• $ Wildlife Science Center, 22830 Sunrise Rd NE, Stacy, 55079

• $ Sea Life, Mall of America, 120 West Broadway, Bloomington, 55425

• $ Fawn-doe-rosa, 2131 US-8, St Croix Falls, WI 54024

Nature Centers

• see listings under indoor activities

Other Outdoor Destinations

• Franconia Sculpture Park, 29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, 55074
• Minneapolis-St Paul Airport viewing area, Cargo Rd, St Paul, 55111
• Anoka County Airport Viewing Pavilion, Airport Rd NE, Blaine, 55449
• $ Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd, Elk River, 55330
• Minnesota State Parks - see https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html

Family-Friendly Hikes

• $ Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Rd, St Paul, 55111
• Mill Ruins Park, 102 Portland Ave S, Minneapolis, 55401
• Minnehaha Regional Park, 4802 S. Minnehaha Park Dr, Minneapolis, 55417 (also playground & wading pool)
• Long Lake Regional Park, 1500 Old Hwy 8, New Brighton, 55112
• Rice Creek North Regional Trail Corridor - see https://www.anokacountyparks.com/rice-creek-north-regional-trail
• Blaine Wetland Sanctuary, 11980 Lexington Ave, Blaine, 55449

Museums

• Children’s Museum, St. Paul - Plan a full day to see all the hands-on activities. Includes a Sprouts area for under 3s

• Bakken Museum, Minneapolis - STEM-based activities for all ages 

• Bell Museum, St. Paul - Natural history museum with Touch and See Lab, Planetarium, wildlife dioramas

• Science Museum, St. Paul - While much of the information may go over the head of a 5-year-old, the visuals and hands-on activities will enchant them.

Nature Centers

Most nature centers have an indoor exhibits area with kid-friendly, hands-on activities in addition to outdoor play yards

• Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville - events, interpretive center, wildlife, environmental education

• Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley - easy to get to, near lunch spots and shopping

• Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington - combine with a trip to Chutes and Ladders park

• Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes - also offers classes through Anoka County Parks

Indoor Playgrounds/Activity Centers

• Maple Maze, Maple Grove Community Center

• Eagles Nest, New Brighton Community Center

• Backyard Indoor Playground, Golden Valley

• Playground Plaza, Maple Grove

• Tropical Adventures, Shoreview Community Center

• Inner Active - Mounds View

• Adventure Peak and The Summit, Edinborough Park, Edina

Bookstores for Children

• Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul

• Wild Rumpus Books, Minneapolis

Libraries

Most libraries have activity stations and/or play areas in their children's books area. They also offer regular story times and special events.

• Centennial, Circle Pines - Lego table, scavenger hunts

• Northtown, Blaine - events include "Preschooler Crafternoons" and toddler obstacle course

• Roseville - Tots obstacle course

• Shoreview - Games area, interactive wall art