Educational Videos
Is your child a picky or selective eater? Feeding expert Melanie Potock shares strategies to help your child try new foods.
Feeding Strategies for Picky Eaters
Great video explaining sensory integration and the role it plays in how children move and experience the world around them. Importance of Sensory Integration
Does your baby get fussy during tummy time? Check out this video on some strategies that may help your little one enjoy being on his or her belly longer. 5 Essential Tummy Time Moves
Activity ideas for improving fine and gross motor skills in preschoolers. Improving Your Child’s Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Wonderful videos on language development in early childhood. Baby Talk from First Sound to First Words
The Pyramid of Speech and Language Development
Community Based Programs
Project Family – Supports and empowers strong families by enhancing the parenting skills of Arlington parents, providing opportunities to connect with neighbors and make new friends, linking parents to community resources and information, and equipping children with preschool and kindergarten school readiness skills. https://family.arlingtonva.us/project-family/
Special Olympics – The Special Olympics is a worldwide sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Program s are available for children as young as two. Get your child involved and find a Special Olympics location near you by visiting www.specialolympics.org/program_locator.aspx!
The Arc – The Arc of Northern Virginia is an organization dedicated to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Their Transitions POINTS program offers support for parents and family members of individuals with disabilities in decision-making for their loved one. More information can be found at https://thearcofnova.org/.
The Center for Children & Families – Alexandria, VA – The Center for Children and Families provides programs and services for Behavioral Health, Child Welfare, Early Childhood and Youth Development https://www.alexandriava.gov/dchs/childrenfamily/default.aspx?id=50494
SCAN of Northern Virginia – SCAN of Northern Virginia is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the well-being of children, improve parent-child relations and prevent child abuse and neglect. Here, they provide some self-care tips for parents to ensure balance and healthy living despite the stress and overwhelm that comes with raising children. https://www.scanva.org/support-for-parents/parent-resource-center-2/self-care-for-parents/
Postpartum Support VA – Postpartum Support VA provides resources for new mothers seeking support groups in Northern VA and beyond.
http://www.postpartumva.org/mothers-groups/
Advocacy
Autism Speaks – Autism speaks is an advocacy group for children and families of children with autism. They provide many opportunities to get involved and advocate for autism awareness including the Autism Speaks Walk, their largest fundraising event. Find a walk near you by visiting www.autismspeaks.org.
Parents of Autistic Children of Northern Virginia is an organization that works to improve education of students with autism in NoVA by meeting with local school districts. They hold monthly community meetings as well as bimonthly support group meetings for parents of children with autism. More information can be found at https://poac-nova.org/what/.
Parent to Parent USA – Provides emotional and informational support for families of children who have special needs. http://www.p2pusa.org/
Food Resources
Food Resources | GIS and Mapping Services