Perhaps appropriately, given the times we find ourselves in, the month of April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month. It’s actually not new — Stress Awareness Month has been commemorated each April since 1992. Work and school, finances, relationships, parenting, caregiving, concerns for safety, life changes, finding one’s purpose, and even the weather can be […]
Tag: parents
Protect Your Child from Lead Poisoning
Statewide, an average of about 1.9% of children under six have elevated blood lead levels, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This is a slight rise from previous years. The statewide average dipped to a low of 1.6% in 2015, possibly with the increased awareness from media attention […]
Distracted Driving in Colorado
In 2018, distracted drivers caused 15,673 vehicle crashes in Colorado, resulting in 53 deaths. In a recent survey by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), 33% of respondents admitted to sending a text, email, or social media message while driving during the week prior to the survey. 48% said they read messages while driving. Yet […]
Colorado Shines – A Resource for Finding Early Childhood Programs
Children’s brains develop faster during their first five years than at any other times during their lifetimes. That’s why early learning is so important, whether it take place at home, at preschool, or in other types of early learning programs. Parents and families have many choices as to how your children learn and grow in […]
Summer College for Kids
Many of Colorado’s community colleges offer summer programs for children, where they can visit campus and take kid-friendly classes on a variety of fun topics, learn new skills, and exercise their creativity. For example, Northeastern Junior College (Sterling) offers Kids College, where elementary school kids can participate in activities like tennis lessons, cooking classes, and […]
National Foster Care Month
The month of May has been designated National Foster Care Month, shining the spotlight on foster kids and their caregivers, as well as those who work and volunteer with foster children. “Each day in Colorado, approximately 12 children and teens enter foster care. There are currently 4,621 children and teens in an out-of-home placement such […]
Safe2Tell Colorado
It’s not always easy for teens to report safety concerns to adults — but reporting can save lives. That’s why Safe2Tell Colorado was founded. Sponsored by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Safe2Tell is a program that allows youth to anonymously report safety concerns affecting themselves, their friends and classmates, their family, or their community. Safe2Tell […]
New Report on Youth Suicide Prevention
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office just released a new report, Community Conversations to Inform Youth Suicide Prevention: A Study of Youth Suicide in Four Colorado Counties, which is now available to view online from our library. The report examines the growing rates of youth suicide in El Paso, La Plata, Mesa, and Pueblo counties, which […]
Family Literacy Resources
Winter break is a great time to read with your kids! Learning doesn’t just happen at school; it happens at home, too. The Colorado Department of Education defines family literacy as the following: Family Literacy Integrates all the following activities: Parent or family adult education and literacy activities that lead to readiness for postsecondary education […]
August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Back-to-school time is quickly approaching, and if you’re a parent, chances are you’re thinking a lot about school supplies, clothes, and lunches. But don’t forget about one very important thing your kid needs for the new school year: good eyesight. Children’s vision can change as they grow, so a child who didn’t need glasses one […]
Charter Schools
If you are looking for information about establishing and administering a charter school, or are a parent considering charter schools for your children, our library collection contains numerous resources that can help you make informed decisions and get the answers you need. Unless otherwise noted, all of the following publications are from the Colorado Department […]
Adoption Resources
November has been declared National Adoption Month, to bring awareness to the thousands of children awaiting adoption, as well as to recognize and celebrate those families that have brought adopted children into their home. If you are considering becoming an adoptive parent, it can be difficult to know where and how to begin the process. […]
September is Baby Safety Month
Each year since 1983, September has been recognized as “Baby Safety Month” to promote safe use of baby products and educate consumers about safety concerns for infants and toddlers. Are you a parent or caregiver with questions about keeping your baby safe from injury? Or are you a researcher looking for data on infant and […]
Back-to-School Toolkit
Back-to-school time is upon us, and this year the Colorado Department of Education has released a new Back-to-School Toolkit full of resources for schools and districts to help them communicate with parents, or for parents to access themselves. These resources cover basic information on assessments, accountability, and educator effectiveness. Presented in the form of quick […]
Parent and Family Resources
The Colorado Department of Education has put together a webpage, entitled Parent and Family Resources, which is a great place for families to start when looking for information about their child’s K-12 education. The website includes information on state tests; finding a school; getting ready to start school and getting ready to graduate; department programs; […]
Family and School Partnership in Education Month
Governor Hickenlooper has declared October in Colorado to be Family and School Partnership in Education Month. During this month, Colorado will be recognizing the importance of learning both in home and at school, and how home and school can work together to give a child their best future, no matter their cultural or socioeconomic background. […]
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey
Over the past decade, various state agencies have partnered to conduct the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, an anonymous survey that collects data on health-related behaviors of children and youth. The survey provides data on physical activity and nutrition, injury and violence, mental health, sexual health, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, and more. Because some of […]
Teen Drivers: Resources for Parents
Parents, is your teen anxious to get in the driver’s seat? The requirements for driver’s ed have changed a lot since we got our licenses in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Colorado now requires permitted drivers to log practice drive time, and new drivers to use a Graduated Drivers’ License (GDL). The Colorado Department of […]
Family and School Partnership in Education Month
October is being recognized in Colorado as a time to bring awareness to the partnership between families and schools in helping students succeed. (View the Governor’s proclamation here.) The Colorado Department of Education has many resources on this topic, and has recently established the State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education. On their website you can […]
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
August is back-to-school month, and if you have a little one headed to school for the first time, be sure to check out the Colorado State Library’s Getting Ready for Kindergarten: Ready, Set, GO! brochures. Available both in English and in Spanish, these brochures offer helpful tips to parents about encouraging early literacy as well […]