Parents

Healthy Development

As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. The bond that you form with your child helps to build a strong foundation for your child’s healthy social and emotional development. Engaging in “serve and return” with your child (engaging with your child in play, conversation, and affection) contributes to a nurturing and supportive relationship. Social-emotional health is foundational to academic achievement, lifelong health and success.

One in five children and adolescents may have a mental health problem. Yet an estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need, in part due to a shortage of quality early childhood mental health service. Roughly 13% of women experience depression after child birth. Maternal depression makes it harder for women to nurture their babies and impacts the overall quality of family life. There is growing evidence that mental health of fathers and other care-givers is as important to young children’s well-being.

As a parent, you can help to ensure that your child has a strong social-emotional foundation and that your own mental health care needs are met.

You can:

  • Participate in rich, interactive relationships between you and your child
  • Read daily to your child from birth on
  • Pay attention to your child’s temperament and feelings
  • Take care of your own mental health
  • Ensure that you and your child get appropriate social-emotional /mental health screens
  • Learn about, prevent or address “toxic stress” in your life
  • Advocate for investments in healthy development by telling your story and communicating with elected officials

Priority Issues

Champions

First Time Mom Turns to Help Me Grow – Long Island for Help During Pregnancy

by Blanca Franco, Docs for Tots HMG-LI Family Resource Specialist I want to give big thanks to Help Me Grow – Long Island. They were a big part of my journey during my pregnancy. I was scared, nervous, to

Latest News

Potty Training: What Should We Know?

Help Me Grow Long Island helps promote the important developmental milestones in a child’s life such as Potty Training. We’ve compiled some resources to . . .
Read More

Alan Muraoka to Serve as Master of Ceremonies at Docs for Tots 20th Anniversary Celebration

Docs for Tots is pleased that Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka (of Hooper’s store) – will join us as Master of Ceremonies at our 20th . . .
Read More

Breastfeeding – We’re here to help!

Breastfeeding can be a daunting journey for new and expecting parents. We’ve compiled some resources across Long Island that can provide extra support for . . .
Read More

What happens during the first months and years of life sets either a sturdy or fragile stage for what follows.

Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development