Chaffee County Early Childhood Council

06/13/2026

06/12/2026

As babies grow, they learn to use their bodies to make discoveries. Find out what your baby is learning as they play with you, and activities you can do to support their development!

06/11/2026

Whether your child is learning to read sight words, needs work on vocabulary lists, or is simply bored with the same old spelling activities, these five word games will inject an element of fun into the learning process.

For each game, you'll need a list of focus words — you can look online for sight word lists or use the spelling or vocabulary words that your child's teacher has sent home or assigned for review. Play these games with as many or as few words as you'd like. Be guided by the age and concentration span of your child. I recommend starting with between eight and ten words and then adding more if your child has the patience for it. You can mix up the words regularly too, replacing those that your child has mastered with some new challenges.

06/10/2026

Generation AI starts early: A guide to technologies already shaping young children's lives
A baby is sleeping under a camera that monitors her breathing. A toddler is asking Alexa to play a song. A 5-year-old is sounding out words through a tablet app that adjusts to her pace. A 7-year-old's YouTube queue is curated by an algorithm based on his preferences. AI is not arriving in the lives of young children. It is already there.
Read More Here:

AI is already in young children's lives. Sweta Shah explains the current landscape of AI-enabled products affecting young children.

06/09/2026

Nervous System Regulating Activities for Children ~ Sensory Activities
Some children seek movement, pressure, or heavy sensory input because their nervous system is trying to feel more organized and safe.
Activities that provide deep pressure and proprioceptive input can help the body feel calmer and more regulated.
Tools like weighted vests give gentle, steady pressure that may help some children feel more grounded and aware of their body.
Rolling a yoga ball firmly but gently over a child while they lie on the floor can provide calming deep pressure input.
Wrapping a child snugly in a blanket like a “burrito” can help create feelings of security and body awareness.
Stacking pillows to climb, crawl over, or crash into gives the body heavy work and movement input at the same time.
These activities support the nervous system by helping the brain better process sensory information.
Many children become more focused, calm, and organized after receiving the type of input their body is seeking.
Sensory regulation activities are not about controlling behavior—they are about supporting the child’s nervous system needs.
Every child responds differently, so it’s important to notice what helps your child feel safe and settled.
These playful activities can also strengthen connection, trust, and co-regulation with caregivers.
When the body feels regulated, children are often better able to learn, connect, and participate in daily life.

06/08/2026

This group offers a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental space to gather with other local parents and will provide empathy, information and resources, and practical help to parents as they navigate the ups and downs of raising children.

06/06/2026

7 Day-One Priorities That Support Infant Mental Health
The Critical Competencies for Infant–Toddler Educators offer a helpful roadmap: build warm relationships, support communication and regulation, and foster safe exploration.
Enjoy this short article that highlights some of the most important considerations.

When opening a new infant room at a child care center, here are 7 things to keep in mind to ensure positive infant mental health.

06/05/2026

Parenting is about connection, not perfection.
We can be so hard on ourselves as parents—especially when we love deeply and want to get it right. But the truth is, we will fall short of our intentions. We will say things we regret. Our emotions will get the better of us. We will make mistakes.
And yet, nature never asked for perfection.
What matters is that we keep showing up—again and again—endeavouring to be the answer our children seek for closeness, contact, and togetherness.
Surely we can offer ourselves some grace when we fall short. Because it was never meant to be about getting it right all the time. It has always been about holding on to our kids. Preserving connection. Finding a way through the impasses between us.
We will feel guilt. We may feel shame.
But those feelings don’t mean we are failing.
They mean we are struggling to be the answer.
Parents have always struggled. Across time, across generations—this has never been easy. And yet nature, in her wisdom, did not require perfection for children to grow.
If she had, she would have made us perfect. Instead, she made room for learning, for coming back together.
We tell our children it’s okay to make mistakes and begin again. We deserve that same kindness too.
One step at a time.
One mistake at a time.
We grow into being the answer they need.

06/05/2026

For the rainy days indoors ~ When the weather outside says “stay in,” it’s easy to reach for screens. But indoor time doesn’t have to mean sitting still! Young children need daily movement to build strength, coordination and confidence — and you can make that happen right in your living room. These playful, screen-free activities are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and they’ll turn any day indoors into an adventure.

Discover fun, screen-free indoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Keep kids active, creative, and entertained when outdoor play isn’t an option.

06/01/2026

Life can feel heavy at times, but there are still good things all around us: moments of kindness, beauty, joy and connection. When we notice and appreciate them, we feel more resilient and hopeful.