Family Resources

Child Care Resources

• Need child care in Denver for a child younger than 4-years-old?
  Call 2-1-1- to connect with United Way, which offers a free child care resource and referral service. 
• Need child care or preschool outside of Denver?
  Contact Colorado Shines for a full list of available licensed care programs in the state at http://www.coloradoshines.com/ or by calling 1-877-388-2273.
• Need help choosing a preschool?
  Read our guide to choosing a preschool for your child.

Early Learning Resources

The Denver Preschool Program is a national leader in early childhood education. We champion, advocate and partner to advance early childhood education policies and strategies, and respond to community needs that help our youngest learners succeed.

Explore the links below for more information about local and national preschool resources for parents.

Early Learning Resources for the Transition to Kindergarten

We can help build healthy brains in children by providing fun and engaging early learning experiences.

• Tips for ensuring your child is kindergarten ready
  • Easing the transition to kindergarten
  • More kindergarten readiness resources from the Colorado Department of Education
• Activities you can do at home with your preschooler 
  • Turn any walk into a Nature Walk
  • Outdoor activities for kids
  • Easy at-home art activities
  • Science Experiments to do with your preschooler
  • “Kid approved” recipes you can make together at home
  • The Playbook: Learning Through Play for Colorado’s Families and Caregivers
• 2021 free museum days

Early Learning Resources in Colorado

Colorado Shines

Colorado Shines, a quality rating and improvement system used to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. http://www.coloradoshines.com/

Parent Possible

Parent Possible promotes and oversees delivery of three research informed and evidence-based parent engagement programs throughout our state – Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), Parents as Teachers (PAT) and Vroom.

·         HIPPY is an evidence-based parent involvement, school-readiness program for families of children ages three through kindergarten.

·         PAT is an evidence-based parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child’s kindergarten completion.

·         Vroom translates the science behind the brain’s executive functions into easy, actionable tips and messages that encourage back and forth interaction between parents and their young children.

Clayton Early Learning

Clayton Early Learning provides national leadership to advance the field of early childhood education by researching, implementing and disseminating innovative teaching models.  http://www.claytonearlylearning.org/

Child Find

Child Find is part of Colorado’s system for identifying children suspected of having a delay in development. 

Colorado Child Care Assistance Program

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) helps low-income families that are homeless, working, searching for work or in school find child care assistance.

THRIVE Center

The THRIVE Center helps children with disabilities by helping their parents with information, support and resources.

Denver Great Kids Head Start

Denver Great Kids Head Start (DGKHS) is an award-winning program that prepares children to enter kindergarten confidently with the social, physical, emotional, cognitive skills and competencies necessary for continued school success.

Colorado Office of Early Childhood

The Colorado Office of Early Childhood (OEC) provides collaborative leadership to align resources for children, families and early childhood professionals to best prepare Coloradoans for future success, through access to coordinated and quality early childhood programs and family supports.

Colorado Preschool Program

The Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) is a state-funded early childhood education program administered by the Colorado Department of Education.

Denver’s Early Childhood Council

Denver’s Early Childhood Council (DECC) is a coalition of leaders across Denver committed to working together on behalf of our youngest children.  http://denverearlychildhood.org/about/

Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists Program

The Colorado Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists (ECMH) program seeks to create nurturing environments and relationships that encourage mental health and well-being among children, families and staff. 

Early Intervention Colorado

Early Intervention Colorado is Colorado’s Infant and Toddler Initiative under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. http://www.eicolorado.org/

Family Resource Center Association

The Family Resource Center Association (FRCA) provides public advocacy, capacity building and resource development to strengthen our statewide network of Family Resource Centers.   http://www.cofamilycenters.org/

National Early Learning Resources

Chalkbeat

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to a quality education. http://www.chalkbeat.org/

Child Care Aware® of America (Formerly the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies)

Child Care Aware® of America is a national membership-based nonprofit organization working to advance affordability, accessibility, development and learning of children in child care.

Child Care & Education Research Connections

Child Care & Early Education Research Connections promotes high quality research in child care and early education and the use of that research in policy making.   http://www.researchconnections.org/childcare/welcome

Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

The Federal Home Visiting Program gives pregnant women and families, particularly those considered at-risk, the necessary resources and skills to raise children who are physically, socially and emotionally healthy and ready to learn.

National Association for the Education of Young Children

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy and research. http://www.naeyc.org

National Institute for Early Education Research

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) conducts academic research to inform policy supporting high quality, early education for all young children.   http://nieer.org/

New York Times Education (Preschool)

News about Pre-School Education, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.   https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/education-preschool