Need More Help to Reduce Screentime Struggles?

Research shows that excessive screen time is already linked to attention difficulties, disrupted sleep and elevated stress in children even before the age of five. OCF has compiled a list of resources that can help parents navigate a healthy balance between screentime and other activities.

The Children and Screens Guide for Early Child Development and Media Use:  Infants and Children Ages 0 to 5 - Children and Screens 

Learn from the latest research and leading experts how to best support young child’s social development. The Big Do’s and Don’ts for media use with children ages 0-5 offers tips to support cognitive and behavioral development and social development.  

Learn from Ted Talks: How Screens Stole Childhood — and How to Get It Back | Jonathan Haidt | TED 

Jonathan Haidt discusses the negative effects of screen time, saying, “For many kids it's a curse because it messes with kids' attention systems and their motivational systems. It teaches them that there's always a little bit of reward, always a little bit of dopamine available just one swipe away and that undermines the ability to do difficult or sustained cognitive work like reading a book.”

Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) about Screens in Child Care 

Limited use of appropriate interactive technology may support, but may not replace, creative play, physical activity, hands-on exploration, outdoor experiences, social interactions, and other developmentally appropriate learning activities for children two years old or older. Younger than 2 years old may not be permitted to view any passive technology; and two years old or older may not be permitted to view more than 30 minutes of age-appropriate, educational passive technology per week. An occasional exception to the weekly passive technology viewing limit set forth in may be made for a special event or project, including a holiday or birthday celebration, or for educational content that is related to the curriculum. View Maryland’s COMAR Rules about screens. 

The Basics:  How Brains are Built

DYK 90% of your child's brain develops before age five? This development happens best through hands-on play — not screens! Every splash, stack and scribble builds neural connections that set the foundation for learning, focus and creativity.  The Basics Pillar: Explore Through Movement and Play recommends these activities: 

• Let your child pour, stack, or sort (measuring cups = instant toy!) 
• Head outside for 10 minutes of free play 
• Follow their lead — curiosity is the best teacher 

Learn more about parent-child activities to help your child to build their interests and see

where their curiosity will take them. To receive free weekly suggestions based on your child’s developmental stage, sign up for Basics Insights text messages (available in English or Spanish, designed for children birth to age five).

Looking for Child Care in Howard County?

Finding the right child care provider might take some time. You will want to choose a program that suits your family’s needs and is located in your area. To discuss your needs and concerns, call the Howard County CARE Line at 410-313-CARE (2273).

Howard County Parents as Teachers (PAT) is accepting referrals!  

Looking for extra support as your child grows, learns and reaches new milestones? PAT is currently accepting referrals for families with children birth through age 5. 

This free, voluntary home visiting program supports parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. Families receive personalized visits with a Parent Educator focused on child development, parent-child interaction, family well-being, and connecting to helpful community resources. To connect with our PAT team, email children@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-1940. We look forward to supporting you and your little one! Here's a comment from a PAT parent: "Parenting is too hard to do alone. Our parent educator gave us ideas, games, tools and, most importantly, courage to be the parents our son needed us to be. She taught us how to support his development with games encouraging fine motor, cognitive, and language skills." - Alex 

Online Parenting Support for Military Families

Family Front, a resource from Kennedy Krieger’s Department of Behavioral Psychology, is designed to support service members as parents and caregivers as they navigate their child’s development, and to help address common behavior concerns with proven, common sense interventions. Visit the Family Front website to learn more. Home: KKI Military 

Need to buy clothes this fall? Have some to donate?

As the seasons change and kids grow, it may be time to sort and refresh your family’s wardrobe. Check out the Know Before You Throw Donation Directory to find local places to buy, donate or consign gently used clothing, toys and household items. 

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS) will host the Mama and Baby Mobile Health Unit on September 15 at its location, 311 Laurel Avenue in Laurel, 20207. Onsite services will be provided at no charge, including wellness exams, mammograms and breast exams, STI screening, pregnancy testing and care, birth control exams and counseling. Presented in partnership with the University of Maryland Capital Region Health and the March of Dimes. View the LARS event fliers in English and Spanish for more information. For questions and appointments, contact LARS at 301-437-5788.

In preparation for the new school year, the Family Support Center (FSC) hosted “Ready, Set, School!" in August. This engaging program gave parents and children the opportunity to work together on important school-readiness skills while enjoying a fun and interactive story time. Families also created personalized visual morning routine charts designed to help children build independence and make the morning routine a collaborative team effort. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to learn, connect and prepare for a successful start to the school year! 



FSC Drop in Play Group | September 18, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Register

Children and their families are invited to explore and play at our Family Support Center! Parents must stay with their children. This is a great opportunity for children to meet new friends and parents to network! 

Know When to STOP for the School Bus 

School buses serving the Howard County Public School System are outfitted with external cameras in order to ensure student safety by discouraging motorists from passing buses illegally. Need a reminder about when you need to stop for a stopped school bus with flashing red lights with its stop sign extended on a highway or multi-lane roadway? All vehicles in all lanes on a multi-lane roadway must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights unless there is a raised median or curb. If there is a raised median or curb, then only vehicles traveling in the same direction of the bus must stop. To learn more about this program, visit “Stopping for school buses" or call 410-313-7555. 

OCF Staff Highlight: Teresa Smith

As OCF's Professional Learning Coordinator for the past two years, Teresa Smith has planned, organized and supported professional development opportunities to help early childhood educators improve their knowledge, teaching practices and skills to provide high-quality care and education. Prior to this position, Teresa worked as an early childhood educator for 16 years. "I enjoy supporting early childhood educators (ECEs) by providing meaningful professional learning opportunities, sharing practical resources and serving the ECE community to help educators build confidence, strengthen their practice and create high-quality learning experiences for children," she says. Contact Teresa at tesmith@howardcountymd.gov.