Child Development & Caregiver Resources
Our children do not come with instruction manuals yet most of their brain development happens between 0-3 years!
Find local organizations who provide parent education on child development and trusted on-line state, national, and non-profit resources featuring great information and activities to add new experiences and knowledge to your child’s development.
Local Resources
Blue Ridge Community College
Blue Ridge Community College offers courses on Child Development toward certificates and various degrees. Early childhood education courses are great for parents and caregivers to learn about child development...because kids don’t come with instructions!
Center for Women
The Center for Women offers parenting classes on child development, parenting toddlers, and prenatal/newborn care.
Children's Center of Transylvania County
The Children's Center offers two programs: Nurturing Parenting Support Group/Playgroup and The Nurturing Program; to assist caregivers feel more confident of their parenting capabilities.
Creating a Family
Creating a Family is the national adoption, foster, and kinship care education and support nonprofit based in our own Transylvania County. Their mission is to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents in raising children exposed to trauma. They provide free online expert-based resources and training for parents & professionals.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library your child receives a book once a month that helps to promote communication and pre-reading skills.
GetSet Transylvania Toolkits
The free toolkits are designed for families and caregivers with children who are five-years-old and younger. Each toolkit will provide a book from Sesame Street, local resource information and fun extra items about a specific topic relevant to families with young children, and will highlight activities and opportunities in Transylvania County that are age-appropriate and engaging for youngsters and their families.
The Family Place
The Family Place offers two types of parent learning courses: The Incredible Years and Circle of Security.
Transylvania County Library Youth Services Desk
The Transylvania County Library Youth Services Desk has many resources and programs to promote early literacy skills.
Trillium Learning Center
Trillium Learning Center believes that all families need TLC! Trillium offers private and group Lamaze based childbirth education classes (group classes available upon request). Birth and postpartum doula support, nutrition support for pregnancy and postpartum, and so much more. Trillium believes in supporting families where they are and helping them work through the many facets of preparing for birth, becoming parents, and healing from and being supported emotionally, physically, and mentally after the birth and beyond.
WNCSource
WNCSource provides free quality early childhood education and care for qualifying families with children ages zero to five through our Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) programs. EHS and HS classroom programs available Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Child Care voucher and or family paid early and late care also available. Don’t want to leave your home? Home-Based services bring the classroom into the home. During a weekly 90-minute visit, the family and parent educator focus on learning through play and kindergarten readiness.
State + National Resources
Bright by Text
Bright by Text is a texting service delivering developmental tips, activities, and encouragement tailored to your child/ren’s age. Texts cover a range of topics to nurture social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Unsubscribe anytime.
CDC Milestones
The Center For Disease Control developed a downloadable app to look for typical behaviors and skills at each age and stage of development. A great resource for tracking your child’s development and springboard for discussions with your pediatrician in the event something feels off.
Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute provides a wealth of research-based resources on children’s social, emotional, and mental development.
PBS Parents
PBS Parents allows caregivers to find ideas and resources for promoting learning and development.
Prevent Child Abuse NC
Prevent Child Abuse NC has developed several one-hour trainings to help concerned adults know the signs of child abuse and neglect and how to take action.
Sesame Street in Communities
Sesame Street in Communities provides articles, activities, and videos on a spectrum of topics such as literacy, daily routines, asthma, resilience, divorce, parental addiction, and so much more.
Zero to Three
Zero to Three features wealth of resources on early development/well-being, early learning, parenting, and policy & advocacy.