Supporting Your Child’s Growth & Learning

Every child grows and learns at their own pace, but it helps to know what to expect along the way.
This page provides trusted resources and tips to help you support your child’s development from birth to age 5—and prepare for the transition into preschool and kindergarten.

Helping Your Child Learn & Grow

Every child learns in their own unique way.

Here you’ll find trusted resources and simple tips to support your keiki’s development from birth to age 5, including milestones, learning activities, and kindergarten readiness.

Child Development Milestones

Knowing what to expect as your keiki grows can give you peace of mind—and help you see when they may need extra support.
You know your keiki best. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician or a local program—we’re all here to kōkua (help).

👶 CDC Developmental Milestones (0-5 Years) – Track your child’s progress with printable checklists.
👣 Learn the Signs. Act Early. (CDC) – Watch videos and learn what to look for at each age.

Reading with your child for just 10 minutes a day can help improve their language and learning!

📸 ACTIVITY TIME: Storybook Charades! 🕺📚

Looking for a screen-free, laughter-filled game that helps your keiki grow important skills like imagination, communication, and memory? Try Storybook Charades! 💬🎭

How to Play:

Pick a favorite story your keiki loves 📖
Take turns acting out characters, animals, or scenes
Everyone guesses — no words allowed, only gestures! 🤫
Bonus: Invite your keiki to retell the story in their own words 💡

✨ Boosts Developmental Milestones:

👶 Language & vocabulary
🧠 Memory & recall
🎭 Social-emotional expression
💬 Creative thinking

Perfect for toddlers, preschoolers — even older siblings can join the fun! 🧒🏽

👉 Snap a photo or video and tag us @maui_county_ecrc — we’d love to see your keiki in action! 📷💛

#KeikiMilestones #MauiKeiki #PlayToLearn #StorytimeFun #EarlyLearningHawaii #FamilyActivities #ReadAndPlay #MauiOhanaTime

📚 Literacy Tip for Everyone: Read a Little Every Day! ✨

Even just 5–10 minutes can make a big difference! Whether it’s a book, a poem, a short article, or even your favorite recipe — reading something you enjoy helps strengthen your mind and grow your love for learning. 🧠💕

Make it part of your daily rhythm — and invite your keiki to join in too! 🌺👧🏽👦🏼

👉 What are you reading today? Share in the comments! 📖👇

#LiteracyMatters #ReadEveryDay #MauiKeiki #GrowingReaders #FamilyLiteracy #ReadingTime #EarlyLearningHawaii #MindfulMoments

7 Parenting Tips To Help With Picky Eaters

🌟 1. Keep Calm and Stay Positive
Don’t force or pressure your toddler to eat. Mealtimes should be low-pressure and pleasant. Pressuring can actually make picky eating worse.

🍽️ 2. Serve Small Portions
Offer small, toddler-sized portions to avoid overwhelming them. They can always ask for more.

🥦 3. Offer a Variety of Foods
Regularly include a variety of fruits, veggies, proteins, and grains—even if they reject them. Exposure over time builds familiarity.

👀 4. Be a Role Model
Eat the same healthy foods you’d like them to try. Toddlers love to copy their parents, so show enthusiasm when eating nutritious foods.

🕒 5. Stick to a Routine
Offer meals and snacks at roughly the same times each day. This helps toddlers feel secure and know when to expect food.

🥄 6. Include at Least One ‘Safe’ Food
Always serve one food you know they’ll usually eat (like bread, cheese, or fruit) alongside new or less-liked foods.

🤹 7. Let Them Help
Involve your toddler in grocery shopping, washing veggies, or stirring batter. They’re more likely to try foods they’ve helped prepare.

SAFETY TIPS FOR SUMMER SPORTS

Summer means fun -- going to the beach, running outside, and playing sports, but being active also raises the risk of injuries, such as broken bones, sprains, and strains. Keep keiki moving and injury-free this summer with a few simple tips:

Warm up: teach proper stretching and gradual muscle activation before activities.
Use the right equipment: ensure helmets as well as elbow, wrist, and knee pads fit properly and are worn correctly.
Hydration and nutrition: take regular water breaks and eat a balanced and nutritious diet to support muscle recovery and overall health.

Even when you're being careful, injuries can still happen. While most summer sports injuries are treatable, it's important for more serious injuries to be checked out by a doctor.

Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic offers specialty orthopedic services for sports-related injuries in adults and children. To make an appointment, call (808) 442-5951 or visit mauihealth.org/clinic.

For more summer sports safety tips, visit:

mauihealth.org/summersports

✨ Connect before you correct ✨

When your toddler is having a meltdown 😩, try this first:

💛 Get down to their eye level

💛 Use a calm but firm voice

💛 Acknowledge their feelings:

“I see you’re really upset because you want that toy. It’s okay to feel sad.”

Why it works: Tantrums often come from feeling overwhelmed and powerless. When we name the feeling and show we understand, we help our little ones feel seen and safe — and that calms their brain way faster than just saying “no.” 💫

🧠💗 Gentle connection helps build emotional regulation for life!

Helping Your Child Learn Every Day

Keiki learn best through talking, playing, and spending time with you.
Here are some easy, everyday ways to support their growth:

Talk: Narrate what you’re doing, ask questions, and listen to their ideas.
Read: Look at books together, even if it’s just for 5-10 minutes.
Play: Blocks, pretend play, drawing, or outdoor time all build skills.
Sing: Songs and rhymes help with language, memory, and rhythm.

Explore More Parent Resources:

📚 PBS Kids for Parents – Learning ideas, crafts, and videos.
🍼 ZERO TO THREE Parent Resources – Tips for babies and toddlers.

Transitions: Getting Ready for Preschool & Kindergarten

This is a big focus for PDG B-5. Families often feel stressed about getting their child ready for preschool or kindergarten.

Getting Ready for Preschool & Kindergarten

Starting school is an exciting milestone for families, but it can also feel overwhelming.
Here are a few ways to prepare your keiki for success:

Practice Independence: Help your child learn to put on shoes, wash hands, and open their snack.
Talk About School: Read books about school and describe what their day might look like.
Visit the School: If possible, show your child their future classroom or playground.