FAQ for Parents
I just found out I am pregnant, what should I do?
As soon as you know you are pregnant, schedule a visit with your doctor. He or she will be your best source of information on prenatal care.
Help Me Grow offers prenatal visits to eligible parents who are expecting a child to help ensure a good start for the baby. Momsfirst, also offers prenatal education through home-visits for parents who live within the City of Cleveland.
Special supportive home visiting services may be available to you at no charge to help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. For more information, call
Help Me Grow of Cuyahoga County at (216) 698-7500 or
MomsFirst (serving the City of Cleveland) at (216) 664-4194.
My baby has a developmental delay, who can I call for help?
If you are worried about how your child is growing, you and your family may be able to receive regular home visits through Help Me Grow. These visits will look at the healthy growth of your child and will include screenings, parenting and health care information and early learning activities. They will also connect you to services in the community. For more information, call
Help Me Grow at (216) 698-7500.
How do I find out about high quality child care?
Starting Point, Cuyahoga County’s child care resource and referral agency, can help you find a high quality center or family child care home for the care of your child. Starting Point works every day to improve child care quality and increase the number of centers and family child care homes. For more information, call
Starting Point at (216) 575-0061.
What should I do to ensure my child is ready for kindergarten?
There is no one quality or skill that children need to do well in school--a combination of factors contribute to school success. These include physical well-being, social and emotional maturity, language skills, an ability to solve problems and think creatively, and general knowledge about the world. School success also depends upon the "match" between children's skills and knowledge and the school's expectations. More children succeed when these expectations reflect knowledge of child development and early learning.
- Promote good health and physical well-being. Children obviously need nutritious food, enough sleep, safe places to play, and regular medical care. In addition to medical and dental checkups and immunizations, preschoolers need opportunities to exercise and develop physical coordination. Throwing balls, running, jumping, climbing, dancing to music--all of these activities will enhance coordination and help children learn important concepts such as up, down, inside, outside, over, and under.
- Support your child's social and emotional development. Children who are kind, helpful, patient, and loving generally do better in school, and feeling good about oneself is an important aspect of developing desirable social skills. Tell your child how glad you are to be his parents. Set a good example for your preschooler by showing what it means to get along with others and to be respectful. Give children chances to learn about sharing and caring, for example letting them feed hungry birds, or helping them make cookies to welcome a new neighbor.
- Build your child's language and general knowledge. There are many things you can do to help your child learn to communicate, and develop an understanding of the world. Don't underestimate the value of play! Play allows children to explore, be creative, and develop social skills. It also paves the way for academic learning. For example, children learn key concepts important in geometry while stacking blocks, and playing with others helps with negotiation skills. Talk to your children. Everyday activities, such as eating lunch, cleaning up toys, or taking a bath, provide opportunities to talk. Listening and responding to a child is the best way to learn what's on her mind, to discover what she knows and doesn't know, and how she thinks and learns. Listening also shows children that their feelings and ideas are valuable. Finally, read together frequently. Fostering your child's love of books is a gift that will last a lifetime!
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Ready_Not_Preparing/
Click here for information on
Universal Pre-Kindergarten.
Click here for a
List of County Universal Pre-Kindergarten Sites.
Where do I apply for free health insurance for my child?
Give your child the gift of good health. For families that qualify, Healthy Start can provide, your child with FREE well-child visits, dental exams and dental care, eye exams and glasses, medicines, immunizations, and hospital and emergency care. Call the
Healthy Start Assistance Line at (216) 987-7346.
At what age should my child get tested for lead?
Your child should be tested at 12 to 24 months of age. If your child is older and has never been tested, make an appointment with your child’s doctor or medical provider and request a lead screening.
I am interested in starting my own child care, where do I call?
Starting Point, Cuyahoga County’s child care resource and referral agency offers technical assistance to help you start your own child care center or family child care home. Offering trainings, scholarship opportunities to obtain the credentials necessary to become a quality child care provider. Call
Starting Point to learn how you can become a child care provider (216) 575-0061.