Spring 2020 Parenting Guide: Navigating Parenting and COVID-19

Spring, 2020 has ushered in unprecedented challenges for families in Los Angeles County and the world. Between social distancing, sheltering in place and more handwashing and “family time” for many of us than we ever experienced before, staying safe and healthy has become our top priority in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak.

First 5 LA is working to be at the forefront of providing parents with useful information, resources and parenting ideas to help L.A. County families get through this period of time — and beyond. In this challenging time, First 5 LA celebrates all of the people who parent, and their hard work and commitment to the process. Visit First5LA.org/ parenting/ for more tips, activities and information on parenting during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Each family manages sheltering in place in their own way. But many parents face a common challenge: While parents are a diverse group, the people who are parenting these days face a common challenge: screen time for kids. In this issue, we look at the research on “screens” and development from prenatal to age 5, offering guidelines and tips for optimizing development. In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and Safety Month in June, we explore how to prevent abuse and keep kids safe. And as ever, we offer craft ideas to make as gifts (parents deserve them!), healthy recipes, parenting facts, book and activity ideas, and money-saving coupons.

In this Parenting Guide, First 5 LA celebrates mothers, fathers and all others who are parenting — and helping make a child’s life better. Happy spring

Past Parenting Guides:

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Oct 7, 2021 | Articles, Parents

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day Indigenous Peoples' Day — while not a federal holiday — is recognized on the second Monday in October by many cities and states in the United States, including the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and California. The day...

Celebrating Filipino American History Month

Sep 29, 2021 | Articles, Parents

Celebrating Filipino American History Month Each year, the United States recognizes Filipino American History during the month of October. As the second-largest Asian American group in the country and the third-largest ethnic group in California, Filipino Americans...

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15th – October 15th

Sep 14, 2021 | Articles, News & Resources, Parents

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15th – October 15th Hispanic communities — the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, according to Pew Research Center — have made enormous contributions to the history, culture and achievements of...

For This New Mom, a Doula was the Key to Joyous Childbirth

Aug 23, 2021 | Parents

For This New Mom, a Doula was the Key to Joyous Childbirth When Terika Hameth found out she was pregnant last year, her initial joy was soon overwhelmed by anxiety. “I thought, ‘What if I die?’” she said. Her fear was not misplaced. Black women in Los Angeles County...

Get Out & Play: How Often do Preschoolers Play Outside with Their Parents?

Aug 19, 2021 | Parents

Get Out & Play: How Often do Preschoolers Play Outside with Their Parents? Just more than half of preschool-aged children go outside to play with their parents daily, and whether or not they do often depends on factors like the child's gender, the mother's...

First 5 LA Hall of Heroes: Labor Day

Aug 18, 2021 | Games and Activities, Literacy, Parents

First 5 LA Hall of Heroes: Labor Day You are your child’s first teacher and are very important to their intellectual growth. From the beginning, your baby is learning language skills that will help with learning how to read, write and communicate out loud in the...

Raising Biliterate, Bilingual Kids Equals Double the Benefits

Aug 16, 2021 | Literacy, Parents, Ready for School

Raising Biliterate, Bilingual Kids Equals Double the Benefits My jaw dropped when I heard my little ones rattle off Spanish for the first time. Had all of that reading in Spanish finally paid off? The answer: yes. (Along with a little help from Dora.) In our house, we...

Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25-31!

Aug 3, 2021 | Parents, Race Equity

Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25-31! When it comes to breastfeeding, racial equity is an issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fewer than 60% of Black mothers have ever breastfed compared to 75% of white mothers. Breastfeeding builds immunities, is...

August is Immunization Awareness Month

Aug 3, 2021 | Parents, Physical Health, Ready for School

August is Immunization Awareness Month Thanks to immunizations over the last three generations, many serious diseases are now a thing of the past. But recent outbreaks of measles — infecting more than 1,000 people nationwide — have prompted discussion and legislative...

Child Development 101: Teaching Dual-Language Learners

Aug 3, 2021 | Parents, Ready for School

Child Development 101: Teaching Dual-Language Learners According to child development experts, newborns have the capacity to learn many languages at once without getting confused because, as their brain develops, so too does the ability to separate one language from...