This website is for parents looking for information about child care in Arkansas or for details about what quality care looks like. It’s also for providers and teachers who want to elevate the quality of care they provide or who need additional resources.
Better Beginnings wants all children in Arkansas to have access to quality care. There are many options available to Arkansas families struggling to pay for child care.
The Office of Early Childhood (formerly known as Division of Child Care & Early Childhood Education) knows that the earliest years are critical for brain development and learning so they work to ensure children and families have access to a safe, high-quality, and nurturing care. The office ensures that Arkansas children and families have access to a safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate early-learning environment. The office accomplishes this by educating and assisting parents; licensing, regulating, and supporting child care providers, and working with communities to prepare children for future success. It also works closely with the Early Childhood Commission
The Northeast Arkansas Children's Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization that serves child victims of abuse and their families by providing a haven for interviewing and examining the child. NEACAC is a safe place for kids who may have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused to tell their story. By bringing together all the professionals, under one roof, we avoid re-traumatizing children who are already suffering from pain, fear, or confusion.
We want your little one to learn self coping skills and social emotional learning. Conscious Discipline addresses the adult's emotional intelligence as well as the child's.
The first five years are incredibly important to the development of children. Here you will see the expected developmental domains and levels for children birth to 5 years of age.
Our mission is to support and encourage each individual in the foster care reunification process. This includes the foster child AND their biological family, the foster parents, and the agencies that are working for the best interest of the child. We advocate for and bring awareness to the needs of these groups so they are surrounded with support and can successfully fulfill their purpose.
Important non-emergency numbers, teaching resources and more!
“Container baby syndrome” is the name used to describe a range of conditions caused by a baby or infant spending too much time in such containers. These conditions can cause movement, cognitive, and social interaction problems, and may even cause deformity.
ChildCare Aware NEA provides many child care resources including a calculator for budgeting child care, state by state resources, ask the expert column and videos for child care best practices.
The PRC is located in Jonesboro. Unexpected pregnancy comes with a rush of thoughts and feelings. When you meet with one of the experienced and understanding pregnancy decision consultants, you'll get answers to your questions & so much more. The confidential, cost-free services include: Abortion Information, Adoption Agency Referrals, Adoption Information, Maternity & Infant Supplies, Medical Referrals, Parenting Education, Post-Abortion Support, Pregnancy Options Information, Pregnancy Tests, Support for Men, and Ultrasound (where available).
Recalls of products
National PTA® is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. For 125 years, PTA has worked with school communities and decision makers to solve the toughest problems in our nation’s history.
All of the resources offered by the State of Arkansas Health Department. . It is responsible for protecting health and well-being for all Arkansans.
The Arkansas Foodbank is the foundation in the fight against hunger. We find pathways to connect people, resources and food to reach those in need, providing dignity, hope and a brighter future for all Arkansans.
Check out the attached chart to see more ways families can play with their child during other everyday activities.
Young children develop their social skills through the six stages of play, all of which are important for their development. All of the stages of play involve exploring, being creative, and having fun. Watch to see how children’s play changes by age as they grow and develop social skills.
New parents experience a lot of firsts with their baby! It can be overwhelming at times… Not to worry; Pathways.org is here to help! We try to make all this information a little easier to find and understand.
Our Parents’ Guide video series is designed specifically for busy parents, so each video is about a minute long. The videos cover important areas of child development.
For over 35 years, Pathways.org has been a positive, trusted, inclusive partner to parents everywhere.
Pathways.org materials are used 33,000 times each day.
Our videos have been viewed over 30 million times.
We provide free, trusted resources so that every parent is fully empowered to support their child’s development, and take advantage of their child’s neuroplasticity at the earliest age.
Immunizations are a very important tool in preventing serious childhood diseases. In the state of Arkansas, immunizations are required to maintain enrollment in licensed daycare centers and prior to school admission.
Courtesy of The Children's Clinic in Jonesboro. This Dosing Guide gives dosages for common over-the-counter medications used in children. These medications are dosed according to weight.
Courtesy of the Children's Clinic in Jonesboro. This page has links to common illnesses and general information on them.
This article discusses working with the biter and consoling the victim. It explains both sides in a neutral manner.
This article discusses the psychological effects which can cause a child to bite and exhibit aggressive behaviors as growth occurs. It also discussed techniques to help limit biting in a healthy manner.
This article discusses reasons for infants and toddlers to bite and the typical measures child care providers take to find the reason for biting.
Browse a list of common topics that parents are looking for. From pregnancy, to infants and teens, list of developments milestones and ideas from videos. This site is sure to have something for you, straight from the Centers for Disease Control.
Arkansas State Police prepared this car seat safety brochure to educate on the importance of a correctly installed and fitted car seat for your child. It also provides the information of how to choose the correct seat for your child.
Helping new mothers in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri with a wide array of breastfeeding problems, experts are a phone call away at the Breastfeeding Help Line at 870-972-4436. Problems with which they may be of assistance include, but are not limited to:
The Period of PURPLE Crying is a new way to help parents understand this time in their baby's life, which is a normal part of every infant's development. It is confusing and concerning to be told your baby "has colic" because it sounds like it is an illness or a condition that is abnormal. The Period of PURPLE Crying begins at about 2 weeks of age and continues until about 3-4 months of age. There are other common characteristics of this phase, or period, which are better described by the acronym PURPLE. All babies go through this period. It is during this time that some babies can cry a lot and some far less, but they all go through it.
Starting school is a big step. Make sure that step is in the right direction by helping your children acquire the skills necessary to be successful. The School Readiness Committee has identified 38 indicators that will help get your children's educational experience off to a good start.
This article discusses what a "Container Baby Syndrome" is and how to prevent it.
This article from the Montessori Academy discusses the importance of healthy development of going outdoors for play time in all weather conditions
But a fall-related knock to the noggin is often largely due to a baby’s physical stature and development — not your parenting. Babies’ heads are often proportionally larger than their bodies, making it easier for them to lose their balance. (...read more
How many times have you heard this throughout your life? Probably a lot! It’s a part of human nature to enjoy the great outdoors (when the weather is to our liking, of course). But did you know being outside can have actual benefits for your child’s development?
Playing in nature can help children of all ages with their motor skills, communication, social-emotional skills, sensory integration, and so much more! Here are some of the benefits of playing in nature.
Cerebral Palsy Guide is a national support organization dedicated to educating individuals and families about cerebral palsy. We strive to provide answers and guidance to ensure that families receive the assistance that they need to help improve their overall quality of life.
Printable checklists and brochures in multiple languages for several topics including:
-Baby Physical Development
-Speech and Language Development
-Social and Emotional Development
-Sensory Integration / Processing
-Play
-Tummy Time
-Executive Functioning
-Feeding Development
-Massage
-Milestones
A screening is used to determine if pediatric physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy is needed. A therapist observes your child in various positions and completing activities to determine if a comprehensive evaluation is needed.
Detecting delays early and getting any therapy services your child may need will help your child reach their fullest potential. With intervention, children can overcome issues and increase their quality of life.
Parents Want to Learn
Research shows that most parents are interested in learning about child development. And when they do, children experience more positive parenting and are better prepared for school and life!
If you haven’t shared a TIP lately, take a look at the open access library to see how easy it can be.
The delights of the outdoors are among the deepest, most passionate joys of childhood. Very often, adults remember and draw inspiration from magical experiences in natural outdoor settings as their strongest, most powerful memories. The outdoors was, for many of us, an invaluable place for learning. It provided opportunities for us as children to explore, to discover and to develop an understanding of the nature around us.
Blog with Many Resources - Most people probably know me as the author of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life or as the founder of the blog Rain or Shine Mamma. Both the blog and the books are passion projects born out of my desire to get more kids (and adults!) outside and have engaged hundreds of thousands of parents, educators and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world.
If you too think that the best childhood memories are created outside, while jumping in puddles, digging in dirt, catching bugs and climbing trees, you're in the right place.
By the Pennsylvania Department of Health -
Outdoor winter play has long been blamed for colds and the flu. Our parents told us to “bundle up or you’ll catch a cold,” and their parents probably told them the same thing. But winter play gets a bad rap. Although going outside unprepared for the elements is unwise, viruses that are spread by other human beings and cause colds and the flu are indoors.