Kids First…

Working with parents and teachers

to support the emotional development in children

from birth through age seven.

Kids First: An early childhood mental health service.

In the first years of life, children rapidly develop the social and emotional skills that prepare them to be self confident, trusting, empathetic, intellectually inquisitive, competent in using language to communicate, and capable of relating well to others. Early childhood mental health, healthy social and emotional development refers to a child’s developing capacity to:

• Experience, manage and express a full range of positive and negative emotions;
• Develop close, satisfying relationships with other children and adults; and
• Actively explore their environment and learn.

Social and emotional development lays the foundation that assists in guiding a child into adulthood. Early experiences can build a strong foundation or a fragile one, and can affect the way children react and respond to the world around them for the rest of their lives. For most young children, social and emotional development unfolds in fairly predictable patterns. They learn:

• to develop close relationships with family members and other caregivers;
• to regulate their emotions and soothe themselves if they are upset;
• to share and play with other children; and
• to listen and follow directions.

Successful accomplishment of these tasks are all signs that indicate positive early social and emotional development. The healthy social and emotional development of young children also depends on their ability to manage their feelings, develop trust with others, and safely learn about the world in which they live.

Kids First…

Offers parents and teachers a continuum of services

that promote the healthy social and emotional development of children

while strengthening family relationships.

The Continuum Includes:

Zero to Three: Infants and Toddlers

• Offers parents assistance when there are issues with post natal depression and other parenting challenges.
• Provides mental health consultation to parents and early childhood programs.

Three to Five: Preschool Students

• Focuses on the behavioral needs of children that may cause expulsion from preschool.
• Provides mental health consultation to parents and early childhood programs.
• Applies evidence based practices designed to promote healthy social and emotional development

Five to Eight: Kindergarten Students

• Focuses on supporting healthy transitions to kindergarten
• Provides mental health consultation to parents and kindergarten programs.

Behaviors that Warrant Concern

Infants and Toddlers Birth to 3	Preschoolers and Kindergarten Ages 3 to 8
Chronic feeding or sleeping difficulties	Engages in compulsive activities (e.g. head banging, etc.)
Inconsolable “fussiness” or irritability Extreme upset when left with another adult Easily startled or alarmed by routine events Inability to establish relationships with other children and adults Inability to adapt to new situations	Throws wild despairing tantrums Withdrawn; shows little interest in social interactions Displays repeated aggressive or impulsive behavior Difficulty playing with others Little or no communication; lack of language Loss of earlier developmental achievements

Call Kids First at Family Pathways if you have a concern about a child
or
would like more information.
724 284 9440