Welcome to the Parent Discussion & Resources Board! by Melinda Y.

Share Your Toilet Learning Tips

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 16:09:57 UTC

What has worked well for your family when introducing toilet learning?

How did you know your child was ready?

What do you do when your child resists or has setbacks?

Drop your tips, stories, or questions below!

Helping Children Manage Big Feelings

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 16:09:58 UTC

How do you help your child deal with feelings like anger, frustration, or fear?

What’s your go-to strategy for helping your child calm down?

Have you found any books or activities that work well for your family?
Share below!

Teaching Routines at Home

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 17:57:28 UTC

What daily routines have helped your child feel secure?
Do you use charts, songs, or visuals to support routines?
How do you adjust routines when schedules change?

Is It Time for Toilet Training?

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 18:04:18 UTC

This helpful article from Stanford Children’s Health walks through how to tell when a child might be ready for potty learning — and offers gentle, research-based tips to make the process smoother. You’ll find:

Signs of readiness (e.g. being able to dress themselves, understand instructions)
Practical steps to introduce the potty without pressure
Advice on handling accidents, setbacks, and timing
Realistic expectations (it often takes time — even years)

Read Aloud Book Reading For Kids

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 18:29:23 UTC

Welcome to Once Upon a Storybook! In this video, we bring you a fun and engaging children's book - "Potty" by Leslie Patricelli.

Read Aloud Book - Big Girl Panties by Fran Manushkin

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 18:33:33 UTC

Big Girl Panties

by Fran Manushkin

Big Girl Panties! features a light, positive approach to motivate toddlers to become toilet trained. What could be more rewarding for a little girl than wearing big girl panties, just like mommy? Adult caregivers and toddlers alike will love the snappy, rhyming text and colorful, hip illustrations. Valeria Petrone's stylized artwork ensures that this commercial yet heartwarming book will have a special place on little girls' favorite bookshelves. Soon they'll all be saying, "Bye, bye diapers!" Description from Goodreads

Free Printable Feelings Wheel PDF for Kids

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 18:35:36 UTC

Feelings wheels are visual tools that categorize emotions into distinct categories, allowing children to pinpoint and articulate their feelings accurately. These wheels typically include a range of emotions, from basic to complex, providing a comprehensive framework for emotional exploration. The primary objective is to enhance a child’s emotional intelligence, promoting self-awareness and empathy.

Promoting Children's Self-regulation with Tucker the Turtle

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 18:41:51 UTC

Get ready to think like a turtle! Tucker the Turtle is a fun interactive resource created to help children and families learn strategies to work through big feelings like anger. Tucker helps parents and caregivers support their children in learning what they can do to calm their body and emotions down. This user-friendly resource helps teach emotional regulation with a few simple steps. Tucker the Turtle also promotes emotional literacy, problem-solving, and self-regulation in an engaging way. Use the scripted story and song and finger play activities linked below to support young children to develop strategies for coping with strong feelings.

11 Ways to Help Children Say Goodbye

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:14:14 UTC

Saying goodbye to a parent or caregiver—even for just a few hours—can be a difficult moment for young children. In “11 Ways to Help Children Say Goodbye,” NAEYC offers thoughtful, practical strategies to ease those transitions in a nurturing and predictable way. Whether through establishing familiar routines, giving children comfort objects, or coordinating with caregivers, these tips help foster security and confidence as children move into their day.

Big Jobs at Home

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:22:03 UTC

Children love to help — and “Big Jobs” are meaningful tasks at home that go beyond chores. In this NAEYC article, you’ll find how everyday chores like setting the table, watering plants, or tidying up become powerful opportunities:

to build cooperation, responsibility, and family teamwork
to let children contribute to their home in ways that matter
to turn simple tasks into meaningful learning experiences

Early Support for Children’s Growth

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:26:56 UTC

Have you ever used Early Intervention services or wondered if your child could benefit?

What questions do you have about the process?
If you’ve been through it, what helped you most as a parent?
What advice would you give other families starting out?

What is Early Intervention? – Services that support children (birth to age 3)

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:29:16 UTC

🧩 What is Early Intervention? – Services that support children (birth to age 3) with developmental delays or disabilities.
📞 Illinois Early Intervention Program: 1-800-843-6154
🌐 Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse

What You Need to Know: Early Intervention

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:35:23 UTC

Early Intervention provides support for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) who may have developmental delays or disabilities. This ZERO TO THREE article explains what Early Intervention is, why it matters, who qualifies, and how families can access services to help children thrive in everyday settings. Read more here.

Toddler Biting: Finding the Right Response

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:41:43 UTC

Toddler biting is a very common behavior, but there is a lot that parents and caregivers can do to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate biting.

A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:46:43 UTC

“A Day With No Words” is a children’s book that reflects on what life can look like for families who use alternative or augmentative communication.

Children’s Read Aloud 🖍️ | Broken Crayons Still Color by Toni Collier

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:48:52 UTC

Join the Robinsons as we dive into "Broken Crayons Still Color" by Toni Collier and Whitney Bak, with fantastic illustrations by Natalie Vasilica! Get ready for a heartwarming tale about embracing imperfections, conquering big emotions, and discovering that even the most smashed-up crayon can create a masterpiece.

No, David! - Animated Read Aloud Book

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:51:17 UTC

by David Shannon (Author, Illustrator) Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orchard Books When David Shannon was five years old, he wrote and illustrated his first book. On every page were these words: NO, DAVID!... and a picture of David doing things he was not supposed to do. Now David is all grown up. But some things never change...

🐒Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang (Read Aloud)for children | Storytime | Emotions |Miss Jill

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:53:41 UTC

Grumpy Monkey is well, grumpy. Sometimes we feel this way. Find out what he does and how his friends try to help him out. Please join us for a dramatic read of Grumpy Monkey🐒 by Suzanne Lang read by Miss Jill. #grumpymonkey #kidsbooksonline #readaloud

Just Go to Bed by Mercer Mayer - Little Critter - Read Aloud Books for Children - Storytime

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:55:43 UTC

Bedtime has never been this fun (or funny)! Mercer Mayer’s "Just Go to Bed" is the perfect story for winding down the day with smiles and giggles. From imaginative dress-ups to playful antics, Little Critter’s journey to bed captures all the charm and humor parents and kids love. Whether your child is a natural night owl or loves storytime, this beloved tale is sure to make bedtime a little easier—and a lot more fun!

Why do We Brush Our Teeth? | Health for Kids | SciShow Kids

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:57:34 UTC

We all need to do it! Learn why we all should brush our teeth, and how brushing keeps our teeth strong and healthy!

Pete the Kitty: Wash Your Hands! | Fun Read Aloud for Kids

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 19:58:43 UTC

🧼🖐 Get ready to sing, scrub, and smile with Pete the Kitty! In this fun and helpful read-aloud, Pete the Kitty: Wash Your Hands! by Kimberly and James Dean, Pete shows us how to stay clean and healthy by washing our hands the right way!

The Pigeon Explains How to Clean Your Room | Video for Kids | Mo Willems Workshop

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 20:00:25 UTC

Join the Pigeon in The Pigeon Explains as we learn how to clean a bedroom with Blaze on the Mo Willems Workshop Channel!

Taking Care of Yourself While Parenting

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 20:03:43 UTC

Parenting is rewarding—but also exhausting.

What helps you recharge after a stressful day?
How do you make space for your own needs while caring for your child?
What self-care routines actually feel doable for you right now?

Mental Health Resources for Parents

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 20:08:28 UTC

General Parenting Mental Health Resources

Find resources on caregiving as a parent – whether caring for children or your own parents.

Strategies Families Can Use for Dealing with Stress

melyoung1519 — 2025-10-02 20:11:20 UTC

Stress is a reality in our lives, but when it regularly interferes with our daily functioning or well-being, it becomes important to address. This is particularly true for families: Research has shown that children tune in to the stress levels of the adults around them. When stress is ongoing, it can impact children’s emotions, relationships, and learning. Here are some ways that you can recognize stress and lessen it.