Give your child the best start in life
Learn about toxic stress response
Watch our video series to better understand how toxic stress affects kids.
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Don't Cry | First 5 California
We can’t always change the past, but we can help our kids grow into happy and healthy teens and adults. When a child goes through trauma, your support helps stop toxic stress from affecting their health. Watch how one father changed the story to help his son heal and thrive.
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How Stress Affects Your Child’s Growing Brain: What Parents Should KnowDuring the first five years of life, your child’s brain grows faster than at any other time in life. By age 3, their brain is already 80% of its adult size. Understanding stress matters a lot during these five years because this is when the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health gets built.
Understanding Thumb-Sucking: Why Kids Do It and How to Gently Guide Them to StopIf your little one has a habit of sucking their thumb, you might feel a little worried. Maybe you’re wondering if it will affect their teeth or if it’s a sign that they’re feeling stressed. First, take a deep breath. Thumb-sucking is incredibly common, completely normal, and one of the very first ways young children learn to explore their world.
Let’s walk through why children suck their thumbs, how it can affect their growth, and how you can gently guide them toward new habits when the time is right.
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