Investing in our Children / Invirtiendo en Nuestros Ninos


OUR VISION:

All Santa Cruz County children enter school ready to achieve to their greatest potential.

OUR MISSION:

To help children succeed in school and in life, First 5 Santa Cruz County invests in health, early learning and family support to promote optimal development of Santa Cruz County children.


ACEs Aware Series

"Learn More"

FOR FAMILIES

We're ready to help you and your family reach your goals for positive, nurturing, parent/child relationships.

 

 

TRIPLE P - POSITIVE
PARENTING PROGRAM

The Positive Parenting Program, Triple P, is here to help you meet your parenting goals. It is designed for every parent and can help you learn ways to

 

 

 

 

FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS

We encourage teachers to share their experiences and to learn evidence-based teaching strategies from each other.

Repeated Read Aloud and other demonstration videos

Repeated Read Aloud Lesson Plans and other instructional supports

  Big 5 Transition Songs & 5 Grandes Transiciones

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing in our Children / Invirtiendo en Nuestros Niños

30 Ways to Praise

In my line of work, I often hear people describe two communication patterns they’ve noticed in the workplace: 1) they have a hard time saying positive things about themselves, and 2) they tend to hear more “constructive criticism” than genuine praise and positive feedback from their colleagues. The two patterns are usually related and exist for many complicated reasons.

Promoting Self-Discipline in Teens

My oldest child is about to turn 18. Soon, he’ll leave our home and continue his own journey into adulthood. I can hardly believe it. When he was younger, he ran barefoot to the bus stop every morning – even in the winter – holding his socks and shoes because he’d lost track of time and was in danger of missing the bus. Every. Morning.

Your Presence Is the Best Present

My teenage daughter sometimes leaves me sweet notes on the whiteboard in my home office. She recently wrote, “Thank you for making time for me, even when you could be working.” It made my heart melt because I know she genuinely loves to spend time with me. I hope that doesn’t change as she gets older. The note was also heart-wrenching because it reminded me how she often gets disappointed when I have to work instead of spend time with her. I get disappointed, too. I took a picture of that message to remind myself that although my children are becoming increasingly independent, they still need me to be present in their lives.

Gearing Up for the Holidays

I love this time of the year. The holidays we celebrate serve as an important reminder to be thankful for what we have – including each other – and help others in need. I love how holiday celebrations from many religions and cultures share a similar purpose and bring out the best in people. However, holidays can also be a difficult time for many families, and heightened stress and tension can highlight our human flaws. Holidays can quickly become something “to get through” instead of a time for reflection and celebration. Sound familiar?

Raising Teens: Hovering or Guiding?

My teenage son recently announced he’d read an article on “helicopter parents” for his English class. This was stated while negotiating his weekend plans, and said with a look and tone that implied the article was about us. When asked what that term meant to him, he said, “Parents who hover over their kids so much that the kids don’t learn to do things on their own, so they’re not prepared to be independent.” Ouch.

 

Ready, Set, Back to School!

The start of a new school year is both an exciting and hectic time in my family. My kids look forward to reuniting with friends and meeting new teachers, and I look forward to the predictability of the school-year routine.

Tips for New Parents

Some days, I miss having babies. Not enough to actually have more babies, but I have many fond memories (and thousands of pictures) of my children’s early years. I spent hours gazing at my first-born son, captivated by his every expression and movement. But I also felt overwhelmed, uncertain and tired as an inexperienced parent. Very tired.

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