Parenting Young Children: A CHD Targeted Toolkit

Ages 1 - 4 Years

Parents are a child's first and most important teachers and therapists. This collection of resources highlights the many ways parents and other caregivers can promote healthy development in young children with congenital heart defects (CHDs).

A little boy with a congenital heart defect (CHD) is wearing an orange shirt and building with wooden blocks on a white table.

Cognitive (thinking and understanding)

This article describes the many ways parents and other caregivers can build thinking, learning, and understanding skills in young children with congenital heart defects (CHDs).

A little girl with a congenital heart defect (CHD) wearing a white shirt is climbing up a red rope ladder at a playground.

Motor and movement

Young children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are sometimes delayed in learning to stand, walk, run, climb, and use their hands. These activities can help them make progress.

Two young children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) sit on a wooden kitchen floor by a brick chimney, taking cookies out of a jar.

Social

Young children have a lot to learn about their social world, and parents are their best teachers. Here are some strategies and activities for building their social understanding.

A dad wearing a silver jacket and braids holds up his infant son, who is wearing a silver one piece suit and has a congenital heart defect (CHD).

Attachment

By forging a secure attachment with their baby, parents and other caregivers can set the stage for the baby's healthy social development.

A mom with a white sweater and brown afro whispers into the ear of her young daughter, who has a congenital heart defect (CHD), curly black hair, and a black dress. They stand in front of a stone house.

Language

As they follow their daily routines, parents and other caregivers can use these strategies to promote language development in young children with congenital heart defects (CHDs).

A little girl with a congenital heart defect (CHD) wears a yellow raincoat and smells a seedling in a plug of dirt, while her father with a brown bear leans over her with his eyes closed.

Emotions

Parents play a critical role in helping young children begin to recognize, express, and regulate their own emotions, and to respond well to the emotions of others.

A mother in a white shirt and dark hair leans over and cuddles her son with a congenital heart defect (CHD), who is lying back on a white couch.

Self-regulation

Children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) sometimes struggle to regulate their emotions and behavior. Parents and caregivers can help them to develop self-regulation with these strategies.

Sleep

Young children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) sometimes struggle with sleep. Parents can use these strategies to work towards better sleep habits.

A little girl with a congenital heart defect (CHD), dark hair, and a white dress looks at the camera.

Early learning

Parents and other caregivers can help young children learn the skills and concepts they need before they even enter Kindergarten.

Two women stand on a grassy hillside with their son, who has a congenital heart defect (CHD), and is squatting on the ground petting a dog.

Mental health

Children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) sometimes struggle with mental health challenges, but parents and other caregivers can always help them to feel better.

A little boy with a congenital heart defect (CHD) enters a Kindergarten classroom in a yellow raincoat and blue backpack.

Getting ready for Kindergarten

These strategies can guide parents in preparing their young child with a congenital heart defect (CHD) to enter Kindergarten.

A mom with a tan shirt and black braids holds her little girl, who has a congenital heart defect (CHD) and is wearing a cream colored shirt, in a field of grass.

Managing challenging behaviors

These strategies can help parents and other caregivers to feel confident in managing children's challenging behaviors in a way that promotes their mental health and sense of well-being.