Being a parent is hard. Ask Meagan, mom of two. Her daughter was born in August of 2020, just as COVID was beginning to loosen its grip. Like all new parents, Meagan wanted to do the best job she could caring for her baby. Because her daughter had been born prematurely, she specifically wanted to educate herself about developmental milestones so she could make sure her little one was on track as she grew.
Enter Sparkler, a program United Way of Connecticut’s 211 Child Development team often recommends to families who want to explore their children’s growth and learning. Sparkler helps families learn how their children are developing – through observation of age-based play activities and through the leading child development screening questionnaires. The program helped Meagan understand what was happening and empowered her to communicate with her pediatrician about any concerns.
Five years later, Meagan still uses Sparkler – not only to understand her daughter’s developmental needs, but also those of her 16-month-old son. “It helps me know what I’m doing is the right thing, even though each child has different needs. I get that reassurance and positivity that you need to be the best you can be for your kids.”
Meagan needed help in other areas, too. Child care costs have skyrocketed in Connecticut, and when her daughter was a year old, Meagan downloaded an application for subsidy support from Care 4 Kids, a program United Way of Connecticut operates for the state’s Office of Early Childhood. She was elated when she found that she qualified: “I needed that so I could work, and my daughter would be taken of.”
What does Back to School look like for Meagan and her family? “My son goes to a great home daycare program, so I’m feeling good about that.”
And her daughter? “She starts kindergarten next week – and turns five on the same day! So, two big transitions. She’s very excited.”
How does Mom feel about these milestones? “Five years old. Phew! I know I’m going to cry that morning. They sent an email about drop-off on the first day of school, and it hit me: it all goes so fast!”