From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Important Milestones: Your Baby by 2 Months
Important Milestones: Your Baby by 4 Months
Important Milestones: Your Baby by 6 Months
Important Milestones: Your Baby by 9 Months
Important Milestones: Your Child by 1 Year
Important Milestones: Your Child by 18 Months
Important Milestone: Your Child by Age 2
Important Milestones: Your Child by Age 3
Important Milestone: Your Child by Age 4
Important Milestone: Your Child by Age 5
Tips for How to Calm a Crying Baby
Calming Techniques for Crying Baby
SEVA Community: In this Weld County program, parents and grandparents of children age 0-5 who are interested in learning strategies for promoting healthy brain development through meaningful interactions are eligible. A volunteer works with the caregiver to develop strategies that increase meaningful interactions between the adult and child that support early literacy and language development. Each child receives a “Brain Bag” with books and learning toys to promote healthy brain development. Contact information is at (970) 302-9539 or at sevacommunity.org
Spark! Discovery Preschool encourages students to participate in 5210… What’s that?
5 = 5 fruits / vegetables a day
2 = 2 hours or less of screen time (no screen time under 2)
1 = 1 hour physical exercise a day
0 = 0 soda or sweetened drinks a day (more water or low fat milk instead)
Our preschool program implements guidelines and regulations from Boulder County Health Department. Our goal is to help promote, support, and educate families in the areas of nutrition and exercise. Ongoing education and information will be provided to families as part of our program each year. The following guidelines and regulations are effective immediately. Please read through the information below. We are excited about helping in creating lifelong healthy habits for families!
We at Spark! Discovery Preschool support your child’s healthy food choices by:
- Gently encouraging children to try fruits and vegetables and giving positive reinforcement when the do.
- Role modeling positive behaviors for eating fruits and vegetables or other healthy snacks in the presence of children.
- Observing and supporting hunger and fullness cues.
- Providing opportunities for nutrition education for parents and staff.
- During celebrations and holiday parties, our program will offer fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods.
- Not using food as a reward.
Providing good nutrition for your child is a partnership. We at Spark! Discovery Preschool ask for your support:
- For celebrations and holiday parties, please provide healthy foods (especially fruits and vegetables).
Healthy Guidelines for Celebrations: Please help us encourage lifelong healthy habits among our children. We encourage parents to join us for their child’s birthday or other special occasions and bring food to help celebrate. Please select or prepare healthier food options your child enjoys. Suggestions include:
- Favorite fruits and vegetables (pre-packaged)
- Lower fat baked goods (muffins)
- Goldfish crackers
- Wheat bread that can be cut into fun shapes by the children with cheese
- Whole wheat bread sticks with pizza sauce
- Waldorf salad: apples, grapes, pears (pre-packaged)
- Whole wheat mini bagels
- Trail mix
- Jolly Time Healthy Pop popcorn
- Pretzels
Also, consider celebrating with favorite stories, music, games, or activities. Often the most important thing to your child is that you took the time to help plan something special. Please talk to us if you have questions or need ideas.
Health and Nutrition
We understand the importance of providing age appropriate food and beverages and because of this:
- 1% milk will be used for children aged 3 years and older.
- 100% fruit juice will be served.
- Water will be clearly visible and available to children at all times.
We are committed to our children’s health and nutrition. We recognize the importance of the staff as positive role models for the children as they learn to live healthy lives. Therefore:
- Staff will not drink soda and sugary beverages in front of the children in their care.
- During functions or meetings at the center, we will only permit water, milk, and 100% fruit juice to be served.
Physical Activity
Active Play and Interactive Time:
- We provide active playtime to all children each day.
- We provide opportunities for outdoor play.
- We do not withhold active playtime for children who misbehave.
- We rarely show television and videos. All screen time will be related to curriculum.
Play Environment
- We provide fixed play equipment (tunnels, climbing, and balancing equipment) that is extensive and varied for all children.
- We provide portable play equipment (wheeled toys, balls, hoops, ribbons) that is diverse and available for children to use at the same time.
- Outdoor play space includes an open, grassy area and a space for wheeled toys.
- Indoor space is available for all activities, including running, when weather does not permit outdoor play.
Supporting Physical Activity
- Our staff often encourages children to be active and often joins in active play.
- We provide visible support for physical activity in the classroom through the use of posters, picture, and displayed books.
Physical Activity Education
- We provide teacher-directed physical activity education for children through a standardized curriculum.
- We offer physical education/nutrition training/information to parents.
We hope this information has been helpful and supportive. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns at 720-652-7906. Links to resources follow:
Go Out and Play Kit — see page 13 for parent suggestions
No child should go hungry, and there are resources within our community for assistance:
Program Coordinator: Robin Monthei, 150 Buchanan Ave, Firestone, CO 80520, 303-833-6626, [email protected]
The Carbon Valley Help Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 3pm, with appointments recommended. Walk-ins accepted based on availability.
1108 H Street, Greeley, CO 80631, 970-356-2199
Provides a weekly food pantry and emergency food boxes, as needed at 451 Oak St (The Life Fellowship Church), 1st Thursday, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m
For more information, or to schedule an appointment about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP–formerly known as Food Stamps), call Outreach Specialist Pauline Montalvo, at (970)-356-2199, ext. 319 — Fridays only or leave a message. The Dacono Public Library is a service center for the food bank, but by appointment only. The following types of information will be needed to qualify: proof of identity, earned and unearned income statements, proof of residency, medical expense deduction, and immigration papers, if born outside the United States.
ILLNESS POLICY for Spark! Discovery Preschool and St. Vrain Valley Schools:
In English: How Sick is Too Sick?
In Spanish: ¿Qué tan enfermo es muy enfermo?
Hearing and Vision Screenings:
The school provides annual hearing and vision screenings for 3 and 4 year olds to make sure these are issues not impacting a child’s learning. If you want your child excluded from this screening families must contact your preschool teacher. There are many reasons, to ensure your child’s educational success, to make sure they are seeing and hearing.
Dental Screening:
Our school also partners with the Longmont Sunshine Club to provide a free dental screenings. The Sunshine Club, Longmont’s longest-running philanthropic organization, has hosted dental clinics in St. Vrain Valley Schools for elementary students since the 1950s. This screening is meant for preschoolers without dental insurance or who are on Medicaid, who have not seen a dentist. To take advantage of this screening, families must opt-in, using the form, which will come in your Thursday/Friday folder.
Health Appraisal Form:
A “Health Appraisal Form” from a doctor stating that your child is healthy enough to attend preschool is due 30 days after the start of school. We do not want obtaining this to prevent a child from attending preschool. If a family without access to health care is struggling to complete the required Health Appraisal, call the school’s health clerk who can coordinate a nurse practitioner to conduct a general check up, with the parent present, at school in the health office.
Salud’s services include the full scope of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care, all under one roof. We also collaborate with area hospitals, specialty physician groups, specialty mental health agencies, and public health departments to ensure a comprehensive referral network and access to a variety of services for patients.
Payment: ”We do not discriminate based on ability to pay – we welcome anyone in need of quality, affordable healthcare. We accept all insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. For people without insurance, we offer discounted services based on ability to pay. Salud has a strong commitment to provide care to all people, and does not turn patients away based on income, insurance coverage, or ability to pay.”
5995 Iris Parkway, Frederick, 80530, Monday – Friday–7:30 am – 5 pm, 970-484-0999
1115 Second St., Ft. Lupton, 80621, Monday – Friday–7:30 am – 5 pm, 303-697-2583
Healthy Kids Initiative: Boulder County Healthy Kids has partnered with Saint Vrain Valley School District to provide health insurance liaisons to help students and their families enroll in health insurance and to access affordable health care. Healthy Kids helps families enroll in Medicaid, Children’s Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and links families to Connect for Health Colorado. Contact: Medical Program Specialist, 720-722-1454
SafeCare Colorado: This is a service for parents of children ages 0-5 needing health, safety, and parenting supports. It involves voluntary, home-based programming of weekly visits over the course of 6 weeks, focusing on child health and safety, and parent-child relationpships, to families from a variety of backgrounds. Services are offered in Spanish and English. Contact information at: (970) 247-1306 or at [email protected]
Nurse-Family partnership: This is a service for first-time mothers who earn less than 200% of Federal poverty level. The program includes 1-2 monthly bisits throughout pregnancy and the first 2 years of life from a registered nurse who monitors child development and helps parents learn skills for healthy pregnancy and positive parenting. Contact information: (970) 304-6417 or [email protected]
NCHA Prenatal Outreach and 1st Steps: A case manager or nurse assists women who are pregnant or have a baby up to 2 months old, with no eligibility requirements. Assistance includes resource referral, case management, and advocacy services to pregnant women and babies. Contact: (970) 346-2510 or [email protected]
NCHA/RCCO Pediatric Care Management: A case manager or nurse assists families with children 0 – 17 who live in Weld County with eligibility based on Medicaid enrollment, Medical Home attribution. Assistance includes resource referral, case management, and advocacy services to babies and children up to age 17. Contact: (970) 402-2197 or [email protected]
Click here for information on: Immunizations Birth to age 6
Click here for information on: Preventing Abusive Head Trauma / Shaken Baby Syndrome
Click here for information on: The period of “Purple Crying”
We host a SVVSD Child Find satellite office at Spark! Discovery Preschool to handle questions or concerns about child development, behavior, or mental health. Parents should call 720-652-7906, to talk to our School Psychologist, Dr. Sandy McTaggart. If parents want to pursue other public resources, we’ve developed a resource list here:
Mental Health Resources in Weld County
Payment: Insurance or Self-Pay
5890 W. 13th St., Ste. 114, Greeley, 80634, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-810-5454
5623 W. 19th St., Greeley, 80634, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-810-9011
222 Johnstown Center Dr., Johnstown, 80534, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-587-4974Chrysalis Center for Family Growth LLC
Payment: Sliding Scale, Self-Pay, or Private Insurance305 W. South 1st St., Johnstown, 80634, Monday – Friday — 9 am – 5 pm, 970-231-2681
Payment: Medicaid, Sliding Scale, Insurance, or Self-Pay
8989 Huron St., Thornton, 80260, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 303-853-8500
1850 E. Egbert St., Ste 200, Brighton, 80601, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 303-853-3600
Payment: Free
315 N. 11th Ave., Greeley 80631, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-352-1551
Payment: Sliding Scale or Self-Pay
3835 10th St. Ste 200L, Greeley 80634, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-381-8633
Payment: Medicaid, Sliding Scale, Insurance or Self-Pay
2350 W. 23rd St. Rd., Greeley, 80631, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-347-2120
928 12th St., Greeley, 80631, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-347-2120
145 1st St., Ft. Lupton, 80621, Monday – Friday — 8 am – 5 pm, 970-347-2120
Maternal Mental Health (For pregnant women only)
Payment: Medicaid, Sliding Scale, or Insurance
Self-Pay1610 29th Ave. Pl., Ste. 101, Greeley, 80631, By Appointment Only, 970-347-2452 or 970-302-2977
Payment: Self-pay, *Private, or Insurance–No Medicaid
3211 20th St., Ste. D, Greeley 80631, Monday – Thurs. from 9 am – 5 pm, 970-353-2000
Payment: Medicaid, Sliding Scale, Insurance, or Self-Pay
5995 Iris Parkway, Frederick, 80530, Monday – Friday–7:30 am – 5 pm, 970-484-0999
1115 Second St., Ft. Lupton, 80621, Monday – Friday–7:30 am – 5 pm, 303-697-2583
UNC Psychological Services Clinic
Payment: Sliding Scale,No Insurance
McKee Hall Rm 247, Greeley 80639, by appointment only, 970-351-1645
This is a statewide network that aims to provide Coloradans access to behavioral healthcare services in the right locations at the right times, including:
- The Colorado Crisis Services Line: 1-844-493-8255: a 24/7 toll-free hotline for anyone impacted by mental health, substance abuse, or emotional crisis
- Colorado Walk-In Services: 24/7 walk-in services are conficential, in person support, information, and referrals: http://coloradocrisisservices.org/
- Crisis Chat Services: http://coloradocrisisservices.org/ from 4pm – midnight, 7 days a week
- Crisis Text Services: Anyone can text the word TALK to 38255 from anywhere in Colorado about any type of crisis, 24/7.
Links to articles on the internet