Encompass Parent Talks

Early literacy is about more than simply reading to your child – it’s also about engaging their senses in other ways. Encompass Bi-lingual Early Literacy Specialist Gloria Martinez offers some tips on incorporating art, music, and movement into reading with your child to promote early literacy and other skills. Two mothers also share their techniques.

This spring, thousands of kids will register to begin kindergarten in the fall. While it’s an exciting time for both parents and students, it can also bring up many feelings of uncertainty. "Is my child ready?" "What can I do to help prepare them?" "How will kindergarten be different from preschool?" To help answer these questions, we are throwing it back to our "Ready for Kindergarten" Parent Talks Podcast where Encompass Lead Preschool Teacher Sarah Holmes and veteran Kindergarten Teacher Deona Kim answer these questions and more!

Transitions. We all know them and we all experience them. Whether it's moving, having children, returning to the workforce, or any number of possibilities, these moments can be unsettling. In our latest Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with Encompass parent, writer, and speaker April Bennett, as well as Encompass Behavioral Health Director Megan Walsh, to discuss practical tips for navigating both the big and small transitions of life.

If you’re concerned that your children aren’t spending enough time outside, we’ve pulled together a great team of Encompass professionals who discuss helpful tips and suggestions for getting the kids out and engaged in the fresh air!

Serving children and families from birth to age 3, Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) is the Washington State program designed to be the first point of contact for families concerned about their child’s development. Whether it’s speech, motor, feeding, sleep, behavioral, social, or other developmental concerns, our ESIT team employs a collaborative caregiver-coaching model to support families in helping their children reach milestones. In this month’s Parent Talks podcast, we sit down with ESIT Director Jessie Scanzon and Family Resource Coordinator Brooke Boevers to take a deep dive into understanding the ins and outs of the ESIT program and how it partners with families to build healthy foundations for children. All children under 3 are entitled to a free developmental screening at no cost to the family. If you have questions about your child’s development, reach out to the Encompass ESIT team at 425-888-3347. If you are outside the Encompass service area of the Issaquah, Riverview, Skykomish, or Snoqualmie Valley School Districts, contact the Washington State ESIT program at (800) 322-2588. Don’t struggle. Call.