Hi, Connecticut Healthcare Providers!
From the day new parents bring their baby home from the hospital, they have questions. Sparkler is a mobile app, provided for free to all families in Connecticut with children five and under — and to educators, pediatricians, and other providers serving those families. The CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) took Sparkler statewide in fall 2021.
What is Sparkler?
For families, Sparkler is a mobile app, in English & Spanish, on Android/iOS, smartphones and tablets. Parents get:
- Developmental screening (ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2) to check in on their child’s development.
- A library of 2,000 playful activities created by early childhood educators to help parents and children play off screen to promote learning.
- Connection with professionals — Parents can tap into answers and support from CT Help Me Grow/211 Child Development or their local providers for answers/support.
How Can Connecticut Medical Providers Use Sparkler to Support Families?
Suggest that families use Sparkler independently (by registering with the access code CT) to spark healthy early development through:
Play
Regular developmental screening and monitoring
Connection to HMG/211 Child Development
Promote screening before well child visits by:
Getting a Sparkler access code for your office to share with families, allowing patients to link with your practice and allowing your office to download reports.
Inviting families to use Sparkler’s CT code to complete screening on Sparkler. 211 Child Development Care Coordinators will reach out to families, offer support, and then share the report. The report belongs to families; they can share it with you.
Families can Download and register for free today.Use code CT to access a network of Connecticut support.
Sparkler makes the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, more equitably accessible. It also offers adaptations of the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. milestones to help families monitor children’s development, as well as thousands of parenting tips and fun, Early Learning Outcomes Framework-aligned activities that support off-line interaction, growth, and learning.
What Families Get With Sparkler
KNOW
A better understanding of children’s development from birth through age 5
PLAY
Play-time activity ideas to help parents/caregivers spark learning and connect with children, every day!
GROW
Tools to monitor children's progress achieving milestones
CONNECT
Free coaching from child development experts at Help Me Grow/211 Child Development or local providers.
The Best Feature? Being able to chat directly with child development professionals, from home or wherever you are!
Families can Download and register for free today.Use code CT to access a network of Connecticut support.