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First Things Blog

Information and inspiration for parents and caregivers of babies, toddlers and preschoolers

Best Gifts 2019

Our interactive guide to the best toys and gifts for your baby, toddler or preschooler

    Young kids don’t need fancy toys or electronic gadgets. Simple toys and household objects are great for what they need most: quality play time with you.

    Family on couch smiling

    Encouraging young kids to consider the needs and feelings of others

    • parenting

    FTF encourages parents to start planting the seeds of service early with toddlers and preschoolers by involving them in family volunteering.

    woman with puppet playing with toddler boy

    Raising a bilingual baby

    • early learning

    Many parents cite positive research that says a second language aids brain development as a reason to raise a bilingual child.

    Father and daughter playing with household toys

    Use household objects as toys for young kids

    • parenting

    To encourage imaginative play at home, parents and caregivers only have to look around the house to keep little ones entertained and learning.

    Mom and baby play with mirror

    Reflecting on babies and mirror play

    • play

    Mirror play helps your baby develop self-awareness, part of their social-emotional development. And they love it.

    Boy dressed as a bear with Halloween candy bowl

    Protect kids’ teeth on Halloween

    • oral health

    This Halloween, the best bet for avoiding tooth decay is to keep little ones on a set oral health routine.

    parents and young children play with scarves

    It’s scarf season! Bonding and brain building with your baby

    • play

    Playing with scarves is fun, easy, and you can do it almost anywhere. Plus, it’s a great way to enhance a child’s development.

    baby sleeping on his back

    Creating a safe sleep environment at home for baby

    • safety

    Governor Doug Ducey has proclaimed October as Safe Sleep Awareness Month in Arizona, which aims to educate families with babies about safe sleep practices.

    grandparents play an important role

    Celebrating the power of grandparents

      Grandparents can play a very important role in the lives of families with young children. Free child care is often at the top of that list, but the benefits…

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