Through positive day to day interactions with their parents like talking, reading, singing, and playing, children develop the skills they need to succeed. Discover tools and resources available to you to support your child’s development and build strong relationships.
Kit for New Parents
Babies don’t come with instruction manuals, that’s why First 5 offers the free Kit for New Parents. The Kit for New Parents is a resource that includes the Advice for New Parents DVD, Puppy and Friends touch-and-feel book, a guide for when your child gets sick, and much more. Kits are available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.
Care, Cope, Connect
The Care, Cope, Connect resource helps parents cope with stress and provide safety and security for their children.
Created by Sesame Street in Communities in collaboration with the First 5 Association of California, the resource includes self-care tips for parents/caregivers and activity pages for kids.
By using this guide: You can let kids know you care. Your family can learn ways to cope. And talking and listening will help you and your child connect.
Potter the Otter
Potter the Otter knows that eating good food, choosing water, and getting exercise helps little ones grow stronger. Curl up and read Potter’s favorite books or print out fun activities by visiting Potter the Otter’s new website.
You can also request for a copy of Potter the Otter, A Tale About Water, a bilingual children’s book, to be mailed to you.
Talk.Read.Sing. ®
When you talk, read, and sing with you child, even before they can use words, you’re building their brain and helping them prepare for success in school and in life. When done daily, you help boost your baby’s brainpower right from the start. Visit First 5 California to find simple and free activities encouraging you to Talk.Read.Sing. ®
- Download the new Talk.Read.Sing. ® parent app and receive daily activities to do with your child on your smartphone.
- Listen to music that the whole family can enjoy by visiting the First 5 California Pandora Kids Station.
Additional Resources
In addition to our funded community programs, we recommend the following local and national services to use as resources.
County of Riverside
Connection to the wide variety of services offered by the County of Riverside and its partner agencies.
2-1-1 Community Connect
Connecting people in need throughout Riverside County with those that can help.
Riverside County Department of Public Social Services
Services and assistance to protect and empower vulnerable families within Riverside County.
Riverside County Woman, Infants and Children (WIC)
Helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well, stay healthy, and be active.
Riverside County H.O.P.E. Collaborative
Support and resources for children and families who have been affected by child abuse and neglect.
Riverside County Library System
Find a library near you where you can engage with your child and increase their access to books.
EASE T1D
Support and education around how to treat and care for children with type 1 diabetes.
Zero to Three
Supports the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families with parenting tips and articles.
Talking is Teaching
Empowers parents and caregivers with fun and simple ways to improve their child’s learning.
Sesame Street in Communities
Multi-media tools to help you playfully and meaningfully engage with your children.
Heckman: The Economics of Human Potential
Research, data, lectures, advocacy and other resources on the value of investing in early childhood development based on the work of Nobel Prize winning Professor James Heckman.
First 5 Association
Supports First 5 commissions in all 58 counties to ensure collaboration with other public and nonprofit partners and a common statewide agenda that strives for the best future for California’s children.
First 5 California
Leads the effort across the state by creating campaigns and resources to educate parents/caregivers about the important role they play in their children’s first years.
Community Programs
Much of the work of First 5 Riverside is accomplished through the collective work of our funded partners. The programs listed in this section are currently receiving funding and/or support to implement activities that support children, ages 0 through 5, and their families in Riverside County.
If you wish to enroll your child or learn more information, please contact the program directly. They will work with you to get you connected to services that best meet your needs.