Infant-and-Toddler-Connection (ITC)

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
703-246-7121 TTY 711
3750 Blenheim Boulevard
Fairfax, VA 22030
Adriana Gallego Gomez
Director

Infant & Toddler Connection (ITC) - Resources for Families

adults and children

 

Family Resource Banner

Parenting Early Childhood Programs and Services, Helping Your Child Love to Learn- Copies are available in English, Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. During these challenging times, it may provide simple experiences you can enjoy with their children as part of their daily routines at home.

Hand To Hold- a non-profit organization that hosts virtual NICU support groups as well as parenting support groups for families

Fairfax County Public Schools- Parent Resource Center- offers free virtual parent workshops and parent consultations

Zero to Three- This article focuses on self-care for parents during your time at home with your child. https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3262-young-children-at-home-during-the-covid-19-outbreak-the-importance-of-self-care And how to help explain society’s changing behaviors during COVID 19 to your little ones.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy parenting- Tips to help keep calm and manage the stress of being at home with the children

COVID- 19 Tool Kit from University of North Carolina’s AFIRM (Autism Focused Resources and Modules)– Research-based strategies, tools, examples and templates to provide structure, social narratives, visual aids, and calming strategies for individuals who benefit from more structure and supports during these uncertain and changing times. We love these ideas for parents with kids who have Autism, however they are helpful any parent looking for guidance to build schedules during their day, implement a simple reward system and how to explain COVID-19 to their children.

Activities Fairfax County Public Library - Story times read aloud and recorded by FCPL Librarians

Fairfax County Early Literacy -Early literacy resources and virtual Library Challenges for all ages from Fairfax County Public Library. Check out the Just For Kids Access Video for visual books!

PBS KIDS for Parents- Tips and activities for ages 2 to 8 for a variety of educational topics, such as social skills and self-awareness- also check out the articles at the bottom of the page in the “Raising Kids Who Thrive” section.

Goodnight with Dolly- Dolly Parton reads Imagination Library books live every week for 10 weeks on Thursday nights at 7pm EST starting April 2 via Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Previous readings are also available. To check availability and register for the Imagination Library nearest you.

Scholastic- Free Learn at Home resources for Pre K- Kindergarten students, and all other grade level.

development Zero to Three - During our playgroups, we often hear the question, “how do I teach my child how to share?” Zero to Three is a great resource for parents to practice sharing at home with your child before we start having playdates again. Check out other evidence-based resources from Zero to Three on early childhood development topics, and find resources for early learning in areas like play and communication and language development

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - A variety of early childhood and family resources, free downloadable materials, developmental milestone information and an app to track your child’s development.

Pathways - Free resources to help understand, track, and encourage your baby’s milestones for the best possible outcomes.

Vroom - Find and sign up to receive activity ideas to engage your child during any and every step of your day. There is also an app to get activity ideas on the go!

Babycenter - Receive personalized emails about your child’s development, pregnancy and more.

Maryland Department of Education, Healthy Beginnings - Specifically designed for caregivers of infants and toddlers from birth through age three, Healthy Beginnings gives you knowledge and support around child care and child development, while our Activity Planner provides you with fun, developmentally appropriate activities that build young children’s skills and promote all kinds of learning.

Talk with Me Baby - Learn about why it is so important to sharing lots of loving conversation with your baby early on, and why it’s important to speak in your family’s native language. There is also an app!

Community Partner Here are some websites of our community partners who often support ITC family events. Check out what they have to offer online!

Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts 

Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts prepares our youngest children for a lifetime of learning by empowering teachers to use active, arts-integrated learning strategies in the early childhood classroom. Our professional development offerings align with curriculum standards and best practices for early childhood educators and administrators, childcare providers, and special education and ESL/ELL specialists. For more information please visit Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts

Fairfax County Public Library Resources – Early Literacy 

Early literacy is what children know about communication, language — verbal and non-verbal — reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. Help children learn important skills now so they can become good readers later. To learn more about Fairfax County Public Library Early Literacy resources please visit An Overview of Early Literacy - Early Literacy - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government. 

Fairfax County Parks and Recreation Adapted Programs 

Adapted programs offer a more structured environment and a lower staff ratio. Individuals in these programs typically have not yet developed the skills necessary for participation in an inclusive setting. For more information please visit Adapted Recreation Programs for Customers with Disabilities.

Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation Services 

Therapeutic Recreation Services provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to develop the skills that enable them to participate in the recreation and leisure programs of their choice. 

Staff is committed to providing services, education, and resources to meet the needs of participants and assist them on the road toward lifelong participation and enjoyment in recreation and leisure activities. Staff also provides support and advocacy to individuals who wish to participate in general recreation activities. For more information about Therapeutic Recreation Services please visit Neighborhood and Community Services Therapeutic Recreation Services.

Local Resources

 

Fairfax County Health Department

  • This county agency provides a variety of services including pediatric care, hearing testing, immunizations and speech and language services.

Fairfax County Office for Children

  • This county agency provides assistance in locating child care centers and in-home providers. The website also has information about Head Start programs.

Fairfax County Public Schools Preschool Child Find Program

  • Evaluates and provides services to eligible children ages 2-21 who live in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax.

City of Falls Church Public Schools

  • Evaluates and provides services to eligible children with developmental delays ages 2-21 who live in the City of Falls Church. The main phone number is 703-248-5600. The Director of Special Education and Student Services phone number is 703-248-5630. TTY access through Virginia Relay 711.

The Arc of Northern Virginia 

  • Provides information and referral services and advocacy for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Fairfax County Public Schools Parent Resource Center (PRC)

  • Provides parent resources, workshops, clinician lists, lending library and more. Some resources and staff available in Spanish.

Inova Care Connection for Children 

  • Helps families coordinate community and education resources with medical expertise to ensure that children with special healthcare needs can reach their maximum potential.

Inova Parent Resource Directory 

  • Provides contact information and other service details about organizations dedicated to providing support and information to families of children with special healthcare needs, in the Metro DC area.

 

State Resources

Virginia Infant & Toddler Connection

  • This is the state agency responsible for the statewide system of services for children ages birth to 3. Their website includes information for families, physicians, and other professionals.

Arc of Virginia New Path Program

  • The Arc of Virginia's New Path program focuses on supporting families with children receiving Early Intervention services.

 

National Resources

Zero to Three

  • A national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

  • Informs families about the importance of high-quality early childhood education programs for young children.
Fairfax Virtual Assistant