You Got This.

The last few months have upended many – if not most – of our routines. That is especially true for parents, who suddenly had to balance the closure of schools, preschools, and child care centers with all their other responsibilities for work and home. While the school year may have come to an end, summer looks different, with kids and parents spending more time at home together.

It can all be overwhelming. First Steps Kent, KConnect, and other community partners want to help reassure parents “You Got This!” We are launching a social media campaign with simple tips to help parents and caregivers nurture their child’s learning and development and support their own mental health.

The first part of the campaign is based on scientific research that shows the first few years of life – between birth and kindergarten – are when the most rapid brain development occurs. Little interactions during everyday moments make a big difference in helping young children learn and grow. The campaign includes ideas from early childhood experts about how to turn seemingly mundane tasks, like folding laundry or making lunch, into learning opportunities that will help children pick up new words, practice counting, and identify shapes and colors.

Later in the summer, the campaign will focus on ideas to support social/emotional development and strengthen bonds between parents and young children. There are also suggestions for self-care, a recognition of the importance of parents taking care of their own needs as well as the needs of their children.

Many of the ideas and recommendations will be things parents already do every day, affirming they are their children’s first and most important teachers. Parents may also find some new suggestions that don’t cost anything and can easily be incorporated into their day.

You can get more information about the You Got This campaign at www.firststepskent.org and by following First Steps Kent, KConnect, and other partners on social media.