Family Information & Early Learning Resources
Enhance Learning
At STAR NET, we believe that access to high-quality resources empowers educators, caregivers, and families to support young children in reaching their fullest potential. Search our Recommended Resources for more.
Brightpoint
Brightpoint (formerly Children’s Home and Aid) works to help families, children, and youth in Illinois by providing early education, mental health and wellness services, youth programs, parent support and child welfare.
CDC’s Healthy Habits: Child Development
The Center for Disease Control provides useful information for families on Healthy Development, Effective Parenting Practices, Positive Parenting Tips, Developmental Milestones, Early Brain Development and much more. Information in Spanish, also.
Child Development Institute
Child Development Institute was formed in 1999 and has been providing information to parents through its website ever since. The website currently receives over 2 million visitors per year. The website was recommended for parents by the American Psychological Association and Psychology Today during its first year of operation. The site is linked to by thousands of sites including universities, school districts, professional organizations and public agencies.
Children and Screens
Our vision is to understand and address compelling questions regarding media’s impact on child development through interdisciplinary dialogue, public information, and rigorous, objective research bridging the medical, neuroscientific, social science, education and academic communities.
Colorin Colorado
Sister site top Reading Rockets, is a bilingual site for educators and families of English Language learners. It focuses on research-based and best-practice information about teaching reading to English language learners (ELLs).
Common Sense Media
Reviews for what your kids are into (before they get into it). Trusted ratings created with families in mind.
Conscious Discipline
Embraced in 101 countries and 25 languages, Conscious Discipline’s foundation of safety, connection and problem-solving is leading a revolution of the heart as concepts initially applied in the classroom extend to every facet of our lives. Based on Four Key Components: Conscious Discipline Brain State Model, Seven Powers for Conscious Adults, Creating the School Family and Seven Skills of Discipline, the mission of Loving Guidance is to provide every adult with the inspiration, knowledge and skills to implement Conscious Discipline, improving children’s lives for generations.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Imagination Library has lots of experience with caregivers, children, and reading. We encourage good reading habits for parents, caregivers, and their children. When your child receives their Imagination Library books, we ask you to do the following:
- Begin reading to your child immediately
- Read to your child at least five days per week
- Read books multiple times
Snuggle, ask questions, notice letters, make sounds, have fun!