Play, Interact & Learn
Age-appropriate play, interaction, and learning experiences are fundamental for young children, supporting essential social, emotional, and cognitive development.
The Basics Movement in Virginia – Our communities are part of a national Basics Learning Network of communities, all dedicated to The Basics vision which aims to help every family help every child reach their full potential. The network is led by The Basics, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Boston, where the movement began.
- Alexandria: Kids’ First Years
- Norfolk/Hampton Roads: Minus 9 to 5
- Richmond: The Basics Virginia
Reach Out & Read – Provides resources to encourage families to experience the power of shared reading.
Read to Them – Uses the power of reading aloud together to build connections across families, schools, and communities to cultivate students’ learning and success.
VPM – Early Childhood Care & Education – working towards equitable learning opportunities for all families in our community.
Zero to Three – provides child development resources for families, addressing critical early childhood issues, shaping a world where every young child thrives.
Healthy Children
A young child’s physical and mental health is vital for their overall well-being, laying the foundation for them to grow, learn, socialize, and cope with challenges effectively.
Autism Society – Education, advocacy, services, and support for individuals with autism, their families and friends, and professionals.
ChildSavers – Guides our community’s children through life’s critical moments with trauma-informed mental health and child development services.
Children’s Assistive Technology Service C.A.T. S – Provides assistive technology to families and children, no-cost pediatric adaptive and rehabilitative equipment.
Early Impact Virginia – Virginia’s home visiting programs have been a cornerstone in improving maternal and child health, strengthening family resilience, fostering healthier communities and supporting children’s school-readiness.
Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia – (ITCVA) is Virginia’s early intervention system for infants and toddlers (age 0-36 months) with disabilities and their families.
Learn the Signs. Act Early – Provides information to help you track your child’s developmental milestones from age 2 months to 5 years, tips for encouraging development, and information on what to do if you are concerned about your child’s development.
Virginia Down Syndrome Association, The – Committed to providing support to all individuals with Down syndrome in our community as well as their family caregivers, guardians, grandparents, professionals, and siblings.
Woman, Infant & Children (WIC) – The goal of Virginia WIC is to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children (under 5 years) through better nutrition and access to health care.
Help Finding Early Care & Education
High-quality early care and education programs promote a safe, fun environment where children can play and see themselves reflected in their learning experiences.
ChildCare Aware of Virginia – Child Care Aware of Virginia is a community-based network of childcare and early education specialists. We deliver services to families, childcare professionals and communities, working to increase the accessibility, availability and quality of childcare in Virginia.
Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) – VQB5 Quality Profiles Website are available for publicly-funded sites, including child care centers, family day homes, Head Start, and public school preschools in Virginia.
Healthy Families
The mental and physical health of a parent or caregiver is essential for providing a stable and supportive environment for a family to thrive.
211 VIRGINIA – Provides information and referral for basic human needs: Food banks, shelters, rent, utility assistance, physical and mental health resources.
Learn the Signs. Act Early. – As a parent, you already have what it takes to help your young child learn and grow. Watch your child’s amazing progress by tracking his or her developmental milestones —how he or she plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves – and sharing that progress with your child’s doctor at every check-up.
Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB) – Community Service Boards are the public provider of services for mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health (VAIMH) – VAIMH offers education, training, and resources to assist parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, educators, and other professionals in their everyday interactions with infants, young children, and their families.
Woman, Infant & Children (WIC) – Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children – Provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and nutritional foods to qualifying applicants.
Healthy Pregnancy
A healthy pregnancy increases the chances of having a healthy baby.
Early Impact Virginia – Ensuring that pregnant and parenting families have access to high-quality home visiting services tailored to their unique needs.
Maternal Health in your area:
- Birth in Color – A community that champions cultural inclusivity and supports maternal health and reproductive justice. offering classes, workshops, and services to ensure your journey through pregnancy, childbirth, and labor.
- Educated Birth Foundation, The – The Educated Birth creates teaching tools for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum health education that are effective, accessible, inclusive and high-quality.
- Urban Baby Beginnings – Providing community support services for pregnant and parenting families.
These resources for parents and caregivers are presented by:
In partnership with
VPM Early Childhood Care & Education
