As caregivers of young children, we juggle a lot. Take care of them, feed them, feed yourself, pay for doctor visits, teach them, teach yourself ... and somehow, we make it happen.
In this blog, we made it our mission to find easy and free resources to help you carry the load. Whether it's educational tools for your kids, health resources, financial advice or support networks, lean on these 9 free resources:
1. Free early childhood resources
Zero to Three focuses on early childhood development. Their website includes parenting tips, developmental information and activities to support early learning. Check out their free booklets to learn more about your child’s early development from zero to three.
2. Free education for kids
Khan Academy Kids offers a variety of free educational resources for your child’s early learning development. Geared towards children aged two and up, you can support your child in developing early literacy, reading, writing, math and social-emotional learning skills and creativity.
Additionally, you can take advantage of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and enroll to receive free books for your little one.
Locally, you can also find free books through Reach Out and Read Oklahoma.
Hot Tip: To promote healthy development, healthcare providers discourage media use for kids younger than two and recommend only about an hour a day for kids between two to five years old.
3. Free breastfeeding support
The Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center (OBRC) is a statewide resource providing breastfeeding education and support throughout Oklahoma. OBRC offers the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline, a free 24/7 service where families can contact an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Call the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline at 1-877-271-MILK or text OK2BF to 61222 to receive support from a professional concerning any of your breastfeeding questions.
4. Free home visiting services
Parents as Teachers offers home visiting services to support families in early childhood development. Their programs focus on increasing parental knowledge, detecting developmental delays, preventing child abuse and improving school readiness. They provide free resources and training to parents to support family health, economic well-being and community connections. Use their Global Program Locator to find a program near you!
Hot Tip: There are also two other programs in Oklahoma which provide similar services. According to your location, find services with either Safe Care or Children First.
5. Free healthy development tips for parents and caregivers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a milestone tracker app and provides a comprehensive resource for parents and caregivers on child development, health and safety. It includes guidelines on vaccinations, nutrition and developmental milestones.
Hot Tip: Gearing your little one up to start school? BacktoSchookOK.com features a quick checklist for all the health records you need.
6. Free food assistance for families
More than 1 in 5 children in Oklahoma don’t get the food they need. Nutrition is essential for your baby to develop. For families facing food insecurity, Feeding America provides a food bank locator, nutritional information and resources for obtaining food assistance. They work to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food.
Learn more about the other food assistance resources that might be available to you.
7. Free parks and nature tours for families
The National Park Service offers free educational resources and virtual tours of national parks. This can be a great way for families to explore nature from home.
Hot Tip: Want to stay in Oklahoma? Check out these 50 free things for you and your family to do while staying close to home.
8. Free financial advice for families
For growing families needing financial advice, Money Management International provides free resources on budgeting, debt management and financial planning. Their educational tools help families on their journey to financial stability so you and your child can have your needs met and continue to thrive.
9. Free health and wellness tips for kids
HealthyChildren.org, powered by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), offers reliable information on children’s health and wellness. Topics include physical and mental health, nutrition and safety tips for all developmental stages. Check out their Healthy Children podcast to learn more while on the go.
Using free, reliable resources can help us navigate the challenges of everyday life with our families. You know what they say, knowledge is power.
Looking for more support?
Check out these free resources for Oklahomans or try our quiz!
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