Give your child the best start in life
Learn about toxic stress response
Watch our video series to better understand how toxic stress affects kids.
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Don't Cry | First 5 California
We can’t always change the past, but we can help our kids grow into happy and healthy teens and adults. When a child goes through trauma, your support helps stop toxic stress from affecting their health. Watch how one father changed the story to help his son heal and thrive.
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Your Guide to Recovery After a C-SectionWelcoming your baby into the world through a C-section is a major life event. While you are likely focused on your new little one, it is just as important to focus on you. A C-section is a significant surgery, and your body needs time, rest, and plenty of grace to heal.
By taking small, intentional steps each day, you can support your recovery and feel stronger as you begin this new chapter with your baby.
Supporting Your Sensory Seeker: Understanding the Need for MovementIt’s a great time to celebrate the different ways children see and feel the world. You might notice that while some kids are happy sitting quietly with a book, others are always on the go. They might jump off the couch, crash into pillows, or want tight bear hugs.
If this sounds familiar, your child might be a sensory seeker. This isn’t just about having a lot of energy. It’s about how your child’s brain handles what they feel, hear, and touch. When you understand the “why” behind these actions, you can help your child feel more balanced and ready to learn.
Growing Together: Connecting With Your Foster or Adopted ChildOpening your heart and home to a child through foster care or adoption is a journey of incredible courage and love. Whether you are just beginning to think about foster parenting, or you’ve recently adopted a child under age 5 into your family, you are stepping into an important role: You get the opportunity to provide the safety a child needs to grow.
Building a connection doesn’t always happen fast, and that’s okay. It’s a process of small moments that can lead to a lifelong bond. As you start this journey, remember to give yourself grace. You are learning and growing right along with your child.
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