First Things First

Kids don’t come with an instruction manual. First Things First funds the Southwest Human Development Birth to Five Helpline, a free service for all Arizona families of young children ages birth to five.

Call or text 1-877-705-KIDS (5437) to speak with an early childhood specialist. Learn more
at BirthToFivehelpline.org

Los niños no vienen con un manual de instrucciones. El Birth to Five Helpline de Southwest Human Development es un servicio gratuito para todas las familias de Arizona con niños desde el nacimiento hasta los 5 años de edad.

Llame o envíe un texto al 1-877-705-KIDS (5437) para hablar con una especialista en la primera infancia. Aprenda más en BirthToFivehelpline.org.

80% of Arizonans support an update to Arizona's early childhood funding model — because without it, children and families across the state are at risk of losing access to programs and services.

This conversation is a great explanation of how the early childhood funding landscape has changed over the past two decades, and why we need change now.

Learn how you can take action: https://www.FirstThingsFirst.org/Advocate-Early-Childhood/

How Child Care Costs Are Affecting Working Families in Yavapai County Child care costs continue to create challenges for working families...

We know parenting can be tough and it’s faster and easier to pour the cereal, pick up the toys or pack the backpack yourself. But whenever it’s safe and age-appropriate, giving children a chance to do things on their own helps them practice much more than the task itself.

They’ll learn to solve problems, work through frustration and discover confidence, “I can do this.” So give them a little time to try something on their own before stepping in. Yes, independence can be messy at first, and you might have to clean it up now. But the benefits for your children later in life are huge. Get more tips about child development at First Things First’s parenting blog.

Building literacy skills starts early, but early literacy doesn’t mean teaching a baby or toddler to read early. It means building the language and communication skills that reading will grow from later. Talking, reading to and singing matter — but so does responding when your child babbles, points, smiles, or asks questions. Those everyday back-and-forth moments build vocabulary, communication skills and brain connections. The foundation of early literacy. No flash cards required.

Learn how you can build early literacy skills with your child at First Things First’s parent blog.

How Child Care Costs Are Affecting Working Families in Yavapai County Child care costs continue to create challenges for working families...

Long before children can explain what they want or need, they’re communicating with us.

The more we notice their expressions, sounds, gestures and behavior, the better we become at understanding what they may be telling us. And when caring adults respond consistently and sensitively, those everyday interactions can support a child’s sense of safety, connection and development. You don’t have to read every cue perfectly. What matters is paying attention, responding and continuing to learn about your child. First Things First has more info on your child’s cues over on their parent blog.

Doctor visits can feel like a lot when you’re small (and for parents too!). A little preparation can make the experience more familiar for them and give parents and caregivers a better chance to get the answers you need. For more information on preparing for a well visit, check out FirstThingsFirst.org’s parent blog.

A screen can absolutely get a family through a tough moment. The question is what children learn to do when a screen isn’t there. Young children are still learning to handle boredom, frustration and disappointment. With the right approach over time, those moments can help children learn how to calm themselves, a skill we use as adults! The First Things First blog has more on the topic of screens and our kids.

To***co revenues help fund Arizona’s early childhood programs today, but the funding model hasn’t kept pace as consumer use has shifted toward cessation or va**ng and other ni****ne products.

A strong majority of Arizonans support modernizing the model so these products play by the same rules as traditional to***co. ✅

90% of a child’s brain grows in the first 5 years of life. And when young kids get to kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed, it sets the foundation for success later on in life. Early language and literacy, critical thinking, social and motor skills all correlate to the future success of our communities.

Learn more at www.FirstThingsFirst.org/advocate-early-childhood/