Key points
- Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers is a free, online resource for parents of 2- to 4-year-old children.
- Access resources based on decades of research and parenting experiences to help build positive relationships with your children, encourage good behavior, and address common parenting challenges.
Overview
Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers is a free, online resource for parents and caregivers of children between the ages of two and four years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewed extensive research to identify the best approaches to parenting toddlers and preschoolers. CDC also talked to the experts—both recognized leaders in the parenting field and parents themselves—to recommend approaches and resources that parents and caregivers can use to build positive, healthy relationships with their children during this challenging and exciting time.
Topics covered
Parenting is hard work! It can also be fun and rewarding. We know that every child and every parent is unique. You face many different situations and challenges every day. We don't take a one-size-fits-all approach or consider this a set of strict parenting rules that must be followed. We hope to give you new ideas for parenting so you can make the best decisions about what can work with your child and family. Topics covered in Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers include:
An evidence-informed methodology
CDC has funded research and provided expert guidance to protect children, support families, and build nurturing and healthy communities for over 30 years. That is why professionals serving children and their families (including educators, clinicians, clergy, counselors, and therapists) can feel confident recommending CDC resources to the people they serve.
Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers is based on decades of research and practical parenting experience suggesting that certain skills are useful in building a positive relationship and in handling children's challenging behaviors.
Using literature reviews and subject matter expert interviews, CDC developed materials and tested them with focus groups of parents and caregivers across the country with experience raising toddlers and preschoolers. The result is a thoroughly researched and tested collection of easy-to-read articles, instructional videos with real-world examples, and engaging activities that parents and caregivers can use anytime.
Resources
Resources from the CDC, federal websites, and additional online sources offering information, advice, training, education and support for parents are available on the Resources webpage.