ECE Resources for Families and Children - City of Longmont Skip to main content

A variety of brightly-colored toys

 

ECE Resources for Families and Children

 

Español

 

Family members, friends, or neighbors who provide child care are collectively known as FFN care. These license-exempt caregivers play a foundational role in delivering quality early childhood education (ECE). Benefitting from the lower child-to-adult ratios typical in FFN settings, these caregivers are well-positioned to create nurturing environments that lay the groundwork for future learning. This setting allows for more personalized attention, fostering engaging activities, interactive play, and consistent communication. As a result, they help stimulate cognitive, social, and emotional development.

 

FFN caregivers often face stress and disconnection. To help, it’s vital they have access to educational resources, activities, and enhanced knowledge in early child development to support their essential role. The following resources specifically address these needs, offer guidance on quality ECE practices, provide tips for creating conducive home environments, and share information on play-based learning.

 

Resources to Support Quality Early Childhood Education

Safety Guidelines for Childproofing

Knowledge of how to childproof a home or care environment is crucial to prevent accidents and ensure the child’s safety.

 

 

Emergency Preparedness

Being prepared for emergencies is essential for any caregiver. Be equipped with the knowledge to respond effectively in unexpected situations and safeguard children. Explore this Emergency Preparedness Manual prepared by the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness.

 

Child Development Stage Resources

Understanding the developmental stages of infants and toddlers helps caregivers provide age-appropriate care and stimulation, fostering optimal growth and learning.

 

Below are some relevant resources from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (EDEC):

 

The CDEC also offers related resources in other languages. For details, view the first drop down menu on their Learning and Development Guidelines page.

 

Nutrition Information for Young Children

Proper nutrition is fundamental for a child’s growth and development. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers early nutrition guidance on their Good Nutrition Starts Early webpage.

 

Health and Hygiene Practices

Knowledge of health and hygiene practices is essential for maintaining the child’s well-being and preventing the spread of illnesses, especially in a caregiving setting. Find Child Care Health Regulations from the Colorado Department of Public Health.

 

Family Support Programs

These programs offer vital support, address mental health, strengthen family relationships, and provide access to community resources. They also enhance overall family well-being and help caregivers become more self-reliant. Learn more about Family Support Programs from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.

 

PASO, Providers Advancing Student Outcomes

PASO offers an intensive 120-hour early childhood education program that helps support informal childcare providers, who are often the aunts, grandmas, uncles, best friends, and neighbors of the family.

 

Educational Materials

Longmont cares about its youngest community members. The following local resources and education materials are provided for free or low cost to all families.

 

Early Childhood Education Survey

Please complete our survey to help improve our website and serve you better in the future.

Take Our ECE Website Survey