Teller Park Early Childhood Council

06/19/2026

Anxiety coping skills are often taught for worry and fear, but they support many big emotions too.
Deep breathing, grounding, and movement help calm the nervous system no matter what the feeling is.
Anger, sadness, frustration, and overwhelm all activate the body in similar ways.
When a child learns how to regulate anxiety, they are also learning how to slow their heart rate and quiet their mind.
Skills like naming feelings, taking a pause, or using sensory tools work across emotional experiences.
These tools help children feel more in control when emotions feel intense or confusing.
Regulation isn’t about eliminating emotions, but about learning how to move through them safely.
Practicing coping skills during calm moments makes them easier to access during hard ones.
Over time, children begin to recognize what their body needs in different emotional states.
This builds confidence and resilience across all areas of emotional growth.
When children learn regulation skills early, they gain lifelong tools for emotional well-being.

06/19/2026

Milestones in Action photo and video library - a FREE library of photos and videos of developmental milestones. 🧠💛Every child develops at their own pace, but these milestones offer a helpful guide. If something feels different or you have questions, trust your instincts — you know your child best. ❤️
Learn more at cdc.gov/ActEarly

06/18/2026

Mental health is everyone's business
According to experts, around 1 in 10 children under the age of 5 experience mental health issues.
These can be the result of biological or environmental factors, or traumatic experiences such as witnessing violence, experiencing abuse or neglect, or surviving a natural disaster or accident.

Babies and toddlers can and do suffer from mental health problems caused by trauma, neglect, biological factors, or environmental situations.

06/17/2026

How to Start Playing On-the-Go Literacy Games ~

Driving to school. Waiting for the bus. Standing in line at the grocery store. Taking a walk around the block. Sitting around the dinner table.These are great moments to play simple games that delight kids and engage their brains. Word games can boost children’s literacy skills by helping them recognize sounds, master letter identification, and build attention and working memory.

Here are four other simple games that don’t require any materials — so you can play them anywhere!

Find simple games that don’t require any materials — so you can play them anywhere!

06/16/2026

Encouraging Two-Word Phrases in Toddler Speech Development
Toddlers typically begin combining words into simple two-word phrases as a natural part of language development.
These early combinations might sound like “more milk,” “mommy go,” or “big truck.”
Two-word phrases are an important milestone because they show growing understanding of how words connect to meaning.
Instead of focusing on perfect speech, the goal is to encourage communication in any form.
You can support this by modeling short phrases throughout the day in simple, natural ways.
For example, if your child says “ball,” you might respond with “big ball” or “roll ball” to expand their language.
Give your child time to respond instead of rushing to fill in silence or correct them.
Repeat and emphasize key words during play, routines, and daily interactions.
Offer choices that encourage language, such as “want juice or water?” to invite responses.
Celebrate all attempts at communication to build confidence and motivation to speak more.
Reading books, singing songs, and narrating daily routines all help reinforce word combinations.
With patience and repetition, toddlers naturally begin to expand their phrases and communication skills grow.

06/12/2026

Coping Skills Change Behavior
When a child’s behavior feels big, it’s usually because their emotions feel even bigger.
If we respond to problem behavior by dismissing or invalidating their feelings, the emotion often grows louder. A child who hears, “You’re fine” or “Stop overreacting,” doesn’t suddenly calm down—they feel misunderstood. Those feelings intensify, their nervous system stays activated, and the behavior escalates.
But when we pause and say, “I see you’re really frustrated,” something shifts. Validation doesn’t mean agreeing with the behavior; it means acknowledging the emotion underneath it. When we soothe first—through calm words, steady presence, or a gentle touch—the child’s body begins to regulate.
Once regulated, their brain is more open to problem-solving and learning. Over time, children internalize this process and begin to calm themselves more independently.
Helping a child cope teaches them what to do with big feelings instead of acting them out. When we focus on regulation instead of reaction, problem behaviors decrease and connection grows.
Lindsay Braman - Therapist & Psychoeducator

06/12/2026

The research is clear that children who don’t read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress and that loss has a cumulative, long-term effect. The following resources and articles provide information about summer reading and summer learning loss. Plus you’ll discover great activities to encourage kids to learn, read, and have fun in the summer sun.
Resources for Summer Reading:

Summer is a great time to encourage kids to read and actively explore the world. Books can be the perfect springboard to building background knowledge and a love of reading.

06/10/2026

Wednesday Affirmations ☀️

06/10/2026

Understanding the Difference Between Speech & Language Development
Speech and language are closely connected, but they are not the same thing.
Speech refers to how a child says sounds and words, including pronunciation, voice, and clarity.
Language refers to how a child understands and uses communication to express thoughts, needs, and ideas.
A child can have strong language skills but still struggle with speech sounds.
For example, a toddler may know many words and communicate well, but their words may be difficult to understand.
On the other hand, a child may speak clearly but have difficulty understanding directions or forming sentences.
Speech delays may involve trouble producing sounds, stuttering, or limited clarity for their age.
Language delays may involve fewer words, difficulty understanding language, or challenges using words socially.
Early signs of delays can look different in every child, which is why early support matters.
Responsive interaction, play, reading, and everyday conversation all help support communication development.
If concerns arise, reaching out for an evaluation can provide guidance and support without waiting for a child to “grow out of it.”
Understanding the difference between speech and language helps families better support their child’s unique communication needs.
If your child is between 0-3 years old and you have concerns about a delay Click the link for Early Intervention Referral Form (birth-3 years) or call 719-577-9190
https://portal.tre.org/inquirycreate/

06/09/2026

Infant Brains Begin Visual Awareness as Early as 2-Months of Age
Recent neuroscience research shows that our brain's organization of the visual world occurs much earlier than previously thought by scientists. As early as 2 months of age, babies exhibit clear evidence of distinguishing and grouping the objects they see within their environment. Read or listen to this article at Infant brains begin visual awareness as early as 2 months of age - The Brighter Side of News

New brain scans show infants can recognize object categories by 2 months, earlier than scientists once believed