Agency Resources

Resources for Parents and Caregivers

There are three sections:

Early Literacy / Reading Resources
Early Childhood Mental Health / Social-emotional Learning Resources
Early Childhood Health Resources

Early Literacy / Reading Resources

“Children’s picture books are like maps, maps to islands of safety in tough times. They hold meanings that scaffold lives imagined but not thought about before. Children’s picture books carry wisdom and know-hows that could help us navigate the treacherous times with utmost gentleness and creative tricks. They offer soft spaces for hard conversations.”

— Narrative Practices India

Please check out our book corner.

Canadian Pediatric Society: Early Literacy Information and Resources

Children’s early experiences with books and reading help prepare them for school and set them up for success later in life. Exposing babies to books and reading increases vocabulary and makes it easier for them to learn to read later on. Just as important, sharing books provides babies and children with warm and nurturing interactions with the adults they care about. Early exposure to language—whether through books, words, or songs—can help prevent problems and promote health.

Early Literacy Resources

Decoda: LEAP BC™

A set of resources that promotes healthy child development and integrates Literacy, Education, Activity and Play, and is designed for families, caregivers and early learning practitioners who engage with young children.

Early literacy activity cards (activities for children ages 1-5)
Reading Success at Home [pdf]

How To Read to Your Child

How it helps your child feel calm and secure.

Video

KidCareCanada: ABC's for New Parents

This book presents the science of social and emotional development along with practical tips. It is ideal for expecting and new parents, parents of toddlers, caregivers and health professionals and educators who work with families. It was written in collaboration with the Health Authority and many early childhood experts, including four Indigenous early childhood specialists. The format is appealing, it looks like a children’s story book! Babies like looking at the images of real parents and babies, and the hard copy of this ABCs can also be used to support early literacy.

ABC's for New Parents (available as e-book and hard copy)

Meta-analysis on Psychosocial Effects of Parent-Child Reading

A recent publication by the American Academy of Pediatrics on the benefits of reading with children on language, literacy, brain, and cognitive development.

AAP: Psychosocial Effects of Parent-Child Book Reading Interventions: A Meta-analysis

Montreal Children's Hospital: Early Literacy Resources

A collection of literacy resources for parents with children of all ages. Some of these have been translated to languages including Tamil, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian, Haitian Creole, and Russian.