
With the pressures of work and family, we know that families of all walks of life need support and encouragement. We know parents want to do the best job for their kids as possible, but some don't know where to start or how to start. In an effort to help families raise children who are safe, healthy, eager to learn and ready to succeed by the time they enter school, we have developed this part of our site as a resource for families.
RESOURCES & LINKS*The websites and resources listed do not necessarily reflect Smart Start Oklahoma's official position. Other websites and resources listed on the Smart Start Oklahoma website do not constitute endorsement or promotion.
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FitKids Act
Information on the FitKids Act brought to you by the American Heart Association.
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BRAIN DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AND WEBSITES
The importance of early brain architecture and its impact on the success of young children throughout their lives is critical. Parents and professionals working with young children need to understand brain development and how it affects the school readiness of young children.
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Abecedarian Study
This presentation of North Carolina University's Abecedarian study links quality educational child care in infancy with positive adult outcomes.
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The Secret Life of the Brain
This five-part series has exciting new information in the brain sciences. It uses visual images and human stories to help the audience understand difficult scientific concepts. The first two episodes are dedicated to babies and children's brain development.
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UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities
This website attempts to answer questions from legislators, service providers, and families about the science of brain development. It explores how early brain research can provide the information needed to make decisions for young children.
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EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND SAFETY WEBSITES
The following websites are particularly helpful child health and safety resources for families, as well as for professionals who work with young children and their families.
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American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP is the leading authority in child health. The website includes health resources such as the Health Topics Index and the Parenting Corner which can be accessed through the toolbar at the top of the home page.
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Bright Futures
This site includes publications on general child health, mental health, physical activity and nutrition, and oral health for professionals, as well as family materials. All publications are downloadable free of charge.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This link goes straight to the A-Z Health topics index and provides information on practically every health topic.
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Healthy Kids, Healthy Care
This site offers a new web-based tool, Healthy Kids, Healthy Care that contains 34 key health and safety practices for parents and families to look for when evaluating and choosing child care/early education programs.
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KidsHealth
Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, the award-winning KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use.
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La Leche League
This site helps mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and promotes a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
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National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center
This site is provides information and resources about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), how to create a safe sleeping environment for your baby and infant and other unexpected infant death, stillbirth, and miscarriage.
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PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT WEBSITES
The following websites provide parents and caregivers information and parenting tips on the physical, mental and emotional development of young children.
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Born Learning
Born Learning is a public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities. This site offers parents simple ways to facilitate a child's learning.
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Child Development Institute
This site offers Information on the physical, mental and emotional growth and development in children. Information on prenatal development is also provided.
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March of Dimes
March of Dimes works to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, and low birthweight. This site offers great tips and tools for parents before, during, and after pregnancy, and has a special section just for dads.
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Parents Action for Children
This site provides helpful tips and insights from leading experts on topics that affect parents and their children such as child development and discipline health.
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Talaris Research Institute
Talaris has research studies on social and emotional development that are easy-to-read and summarized for parents and caregivers.
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Zero to Three
Zero to Three connects the fields of medicine, child development, research science and human behavior, and focuses exclusively on the first three years of life. The site offers parents Parenting A-Z, a list of topics covering a variety of areas important to parents.
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FATHERHOOD
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National Fatherhood Initiative
NFI's mission is to improve the well being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. This site offers information, support, and parenting tips for dads.
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EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WEBSITES
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Administration for Children and Families
The Administration for Children and Families is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The provide a wide rage of services from Child Care to Head Start to TANF.
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U.S. Department of Education, Early Learning Initiative
Led by the Senior Advisor on Early Learning to the Secretary of Education Jacqueline Jones, the Early Learning Initiative team works in collaboration with various program offices at ED and other Federal and State agencies.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
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National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
NACCRRA works with more than 700 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies statewide. Their mission is to promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership, and support to community Child Care Resource & Referral agencies.