Building Independence: We support children as they develop independence, confidence, and a growing sense of responsibility through everyday routines and age-appropriate experiences. Children are encouraged to practice emerging self-help skills such as self-feeding, dressing, handwashing, and toileting, while receiving the support they need at their individual developmental level.

Language & Communication: We encourage children's language and communication development through responsive interactions, conversations, songs, books, gestures, storytelling, and play. We support children as they develop the ability to understand and express themselves, communicate their needs and ideas, and engage in meaningful interactions with others.

Social-Emotional Development: We foster secure, responsive relationships and support children as they develop social-emotional skills. Through everyday interactions and play, children have opportunities to express and identify feelings, build relationships, take turns, cooperate with others, and develop beginning self-regulation skills.

Cognitive Development & Learning: We provide meaningful opportunities for children to explore, investigate, experiment, make connections, and solve problems through play and hands-on experiences. Activities may include sensory exploration, music, movement, books, creative experiences, and other learning opportunities that build on each child's interests, strengths, and developmental level.

Approaches to Learning: We encourage children to develop curiosity, initiative, persistence, attention, flexibility, and problem-solving skills. Through play and everyday experiences, children are supported in becoming confident, engaged, and enthusiastic learners.

Group Socialization Experiences: Families and children have opportunities to participate in group experiences that support children's learning, development, and social-emotional growth. These experiences allow children to learn and play alongside other children while giving parents and caregivers opportunities to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

HOME-BASED

Supporting Families from the Very Beginning

At Head Start of Morris County, we believe that every child's journey begins before birth. Parents and families are their children's first and most important teachers. Through strong partnerships with families, we support children's learning and development, celebrate each child's unique strengths and interests, and help families build a strong foundation for lifelong learning, healthy development, and school readiness.

Specialized Support for Every Stage

Our program is designed to support pregnant women, infants, and toddlers during the critical early years of development. Our knowledgeable and compassionate team includes certified Doulas, Certified Infant Massage Instructors, and Lactation Consultants who provide specialized support and resources to families.

Working in partnership with families, our team provides individualized guidance, education, resources, and connections to community services that support the health, well-being, learning, and development of children and families.

What we offer during our Home Visits:

Our dedicated Home Educator conducts weekly scheduled home visits with families. Home visits provide an opportunity to build strong partnerships with parents and caregivers while offering individualized learning experiences, guidance, resources, and support that promote children's healthy development and school readiness.

Home visits are planned in partnership with families and are responsive to each child's developmental progress, strengths, interests, and individual needs.

Prenatal Support: For expectant families, we provide individualized prenatal education, support, and resources to help families prepare for the arrival of their baby and promote healthy parent-child relationships from the beginning. When appropriate, families may also be connected with health, nutrition, and community resources.

Newborn & Postpartum Care: Following the birth of your baby, our Home Educator provides family-centered support during the early months of your child's life. We share information and resources related to infant care, bonding, responsive caregiving, infant development, and positive parent-child interactions. When appropriate, families may also be connected with health, nutrition, breastfeeding, and community support services.

Child Development Screenings: We partner with families to support children's growth and development through developmental screenings, ongoing observation, and individualized assessment. We discuss children's developmental progress, strengths, interests, and areas where additional support may be beneficial. Families are encouraged to actively participate in understanding and supporting their child's development.

Parent and Family Engagement: Parents and caregivers are their child's first and most important teachers. Our Home Educator works alongside families to identify goals, build on family strengths, and encourage meaningful parent-child interactions. Together, we develop strategies that families can use to support learning and development at home.

Learning Through Everyday Routines: Families receive simple, engaging activities and strategies that can be incorporated into everyday routines such as mealtime, playtime, reading, bath time, and household activities. These experiences create meaningful opportunities for children to learn while supporting language and communication, cognitive development, social-emotional development, physical development, and approaches to learning.

Family Resources and Community Connections: We connect families with information, resources, and community services based on their individual needs, interests, and goals. Our goal is to help families access the supports and opportunities that contribute to their child's health, development, well-being, and school readiness.

Key Focus Areas

Whether you are expecting a baby or have a young child at home, we are here to walk alongside you.

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Our Commitment to Families:

Our goal is to partner with families, build on their strengths, and support every child's healthy development, learning, and readiness for school. Through meaningful home visits, responsive relationships, individualized learning experiences, and family engagement, we work together to help children and families thrive.