Parents and Caregivers
Caring for an infant or young child can sometimes feel overwhelming and parents may need extra help and support. Caregivers who are stressed, depressed, or socially isolated, for example, have fewer resources available to help them to support and meet the needs of a growing child. The well-being of the adults who care for young children is critical: we need to attend not only to young children’s development, but also the behavioral health needs of their caregivers.
Adults caring for young children not only nurture healthy development, they also can be the first to detect emerging social, emotional, and behavioral issues. About 1 in 6 children (ages 2-8 years) has a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, including attachment and relationship disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Young children living in poverty, exposed to violence and other traumatic events, and living in families struggling with mental health or substance use challenges, are at increased risk of developing mental health issues.
When adult caregivers have information about child development and know where they can turn with their concerns about children’s behavior, early signs of distress in young children can be addressed and more serious mental health issues can often be prevented from occurring. In addition, early care and education providers can help families to access screenings and assessments, and other services and supports that can help identify and address children’s social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Caregivers of young children can also get support and recommendations for how to help children cope with challenging situations and build resilience so they can thrive even when faced with difficult circumstances.
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Videos
- ACF Video Series on Early Childhood Social Emotional Development and Mental Health and Caregiver Well-being: Features a series of short videos to spotlight the importance of robust social emotional development and mental health support strategies within programs serving young children and their families.
Program Locator
- Head Start Locator : Head Start programs support children's growth from birth to age 5 through services that address early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program as key to strong child outcomes. Enter your zip code in the Head Start locator to find a program in your community.
- Parent Training and Information Centers: Parent Training and Information Centers offer a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities (including those related to mental health), their families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. Look up centers in your area using the link provided. Supported by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), US Department of Education.
Understanding Social and Emotional Development
- Social and Emotional Development: This Head Start webpage provides resources on positive social and emotional development in the early years. Social development refers to a child’s ability to create and sustain meaningful relationships with adults and other children.
Developmental and Behavioral Screening
- Learn the Signs Act Early — Information for Families : 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 share that progress with your child’s doctor at every check-up. Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Helping Young Children Learn Self-Regulation Skills
“Tucker the Turtle Takes Time to Tuck and Think ”: This scripted story is helpful in teaching young children how to calm down when they have strong feelings.
- Information for Parents on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Contains information for parents about children’s mental health needs, services provided by mental health consultants, and the role of family members in a child’s social and emotional development.
Coping with Stress
- Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Pregnancy and a new baby can bring a range of emotions. Many new moms feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or exhausted at different times during their pregnancy or after their baby is born. If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline can help. Call or text 1-833-943-5749. Supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
- How are you feeling right now? Includes a variety of resources compiled by CDC to help individuals and families cope and be resilient.
- CDC Mental Health Resources : Many of us face challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions. It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient. This page provides tools to help build resilience and cope with challenging situations.
Mental Health, Trauma, Depression and Substance Use Disorders
- Understanding Depression : Use this tip sheet to identify the signs of depression. Parents can use this resource to help them care for themselves and each other and seek help when necessary.
- Parenting Through Tough Times: Coping with Depression (PDF) (PDF): Many people do not know how to recognize or talk about depression — yet it is one of the most common mental illnesses that caregivers, including parents, experience. This resource helps families understand signs of depression and how to seek help.
- Trauma: Responding to Crises and Fostering Recovery : These resources help caregivers and families understand the signs and impacts of stress in young children.
- Substance Use Disorder and Recovery : Resources providing families access to referrals for substance use treatment, mental health services, and parenting classes.