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Learn about toxic stress response
Watch our video series to better understand how toxic stress affects kids.
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Don't Cry | First 5 California
We can’t always change the past, but we can help our kids grow into happy and healthy teens and adults. When a child goes through trauma, your support helps stop toxic stress from affecting their health. Watch how one father changed the story to help his son heal and thrive.
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Thinking About Pregnancy After the Loss of Your BabyLosing a baby to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death is heartbreaking. Your baby mattered, and everything you’re feeling right now matters too. If you’re also thinking about having another baby someday, this guide can help you move forward at your own pace.
Fall Activities for Fine Motor SkillsFall is one of the easiest seasons to sneak fine motor practice into everyday play. Crunchy leaves, pumpkins, sunflower seeds, and cooler afternoons spent outside all double as ready-made tools for building the small hand movements kids rely on every day. Here’s what to know about why these skills matter, plus a full lineup of low-prep fall activities sorted by age and ability.
The Strong Bond Between Children and Comfort ObjectsWhether it’s a velvety blankie or a well-loved teddy with one eye missing, comfort objects hold a special place in a child’s world. They travel to childcare, get tucked in at nap time, and somehow always need to be found before the family can leave the house. For parents, it can raise plenty of questions: Is this normal? Is it healthy? And when, if ever, should a child give it up?
The answer is reassuring. Comfort objects have a special way of supporting babies and children as they rest, play, and grow, and over time these well-loved items become part of the family. Here’s what parents should know about how these bonds form, why they matter, and how to manage them well.
What is Toxic Stress?
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