Parenting

Pregnancy Schools Child Care Classes and Activities Arts Camps Dance and Exercise Foreign Languages The Internet Parks Sports CPR & First Aid Child Focused and Child Friendly Businesses Student Parents Student Family Housing Parenting Classes and Support Groups Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk Online Resources Social Services and Low Income Resources Juvenile Justice

Pregnancy

• See Pregnancy

Adoption

Schools

• See Schools and Parent Groups

Child Care

• See Child Care

Classes and Activities

* The City of Davis has several resources for finding activities such as On the Go.

Arts

• Alabaster Music Studio - guitar lessons and small classes for ages 7 and up
  

• Craft Center
  

• Davis Art Center
  

• Davis Children's Nutcracker
  

• Davis Musical Theatre Co.
  

• Davis Music Teachers Association
  

• Impressario
  

• "Music Together of Davis" has music classes for children from birth to 4 years old.
  

• The Pence Gallery offers an "Education Program" that caters to children as young as 3.
  

• "RecycledArt"
  

• "Family Connection Program"

Camps

• Children's Summer Programs
  

• Camp Kesem - for children of current and former cancer patients
  

• Camp Putah
  

• Equestrian Center
  

• Rainbow Summer
  

• Explorit Science Center - Weeklong summer day camps with hands-on science themes just for children.

Dance and Exercise

• Applegate Dance Studio
  

• Boogie Woogie Baby: Come boogie with your little one. Parents, grandparents, babysitter, and their toddlers all welcome Mojo Flow Studio
  

• Exercise for Kids
  

• Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop
  

• The Bounce Spot: The Super Party Center: parties, classes and play sessions

Foreign Languages

• Chinese - NewStar Chinese School and Davis Chinese School. Also see Chinese Immersion Playgroup.
  

• Spanish - Cesar Chavez Elementary School and Marguerite Montgomery School - Spanish Immersion elementary schools
  

• Teach Another Language to Kids (T.A.L.K.) at Davis Art Center offers Spanish and French programs for K-6 students. See the Davis Art Center's class catalog for more information.

The Internet

• Guide to Daviswiki.org for Parents and Teachers

Parks

• See Parks

Sports

• See Youth Sports
  

• Davis Indoor Sports Center
  

• Just4Kicks Soccer Teaching children to learn, understand, and enjoy the beautiful game of Soccer

CPR & First Aid

• Practical Porcupine Offers American Heart Association CPR and First Aid courses the first Saturday of each month in Davis. Certifications are valid for 2 years. Primarily a mobile training program, courses can be arranged for a group at your convenience.

Child Focused and Child Friendly Businesses

Many of these businesses have changing tables for parents with children in diapers.

The following businesses focus exclusively on children:

• Aesop's Room - Toy store
  

• Alphabet Moon - Toy store
  

• The Avid Reader for Younger Readers - Children's books
  

• Casita del Cielo - Spanish language children's books
  

• Gap Kids - Children's clothing
  

• Just KIDding - New and gently-used clothing and gear for children and mothers-to-be.
  

• Mother & Baby Source - Pregnancy, infant, and toddler needs. Has a toddler/preschool play area.
  

• Mushpot Records - Alternative children's music label
  

• "RecycledArt" - Art and science workshops for children ages 3-12
  

• Sweet Potato Pie - Consignment clothing store in Woodland
  

• Teach Your Children - Educational toys and supplies
  

• Tidee Didee - Northern California Diaper service (based in Sacramento, and subject of a hilarious episode of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe.)

These businesses, while not specifically child-oriented, provide accommodations for children of customers:

• Common Grounds coffee shop has child sized furniture and a shelf of children's toys and books.
  

• Davis Barber Shop has a large toy box for kids to play with while waiting for a hair cut and kids get a lollipop after the haircut.
  

• Davis Food Co-Op has a few child-sized shopping carts. Encourage responsible consumerism early! Children's books, markers, and coloring pages are available near checkout. Free treat bags for children are available on Thursdays. Offers cooking classes for children.
  

• Delta of Venus has a selection of toys and games. These may have originally been intended for customers under the influence of intoxicants, but will serve the purpose of entertaining small children equally well. Mostly games more suitable for older children or adults, but there are blocks and a bead maze that would be suitable for younger kids.
  

• Savvy Shoppe has a duplo table near the dressing room.
  

• Socially Speaking
  

• Sweet Briar Books has a bunch of toys for children to play with.
  

• All Things Right and Relevant and the SPCA Thrift Store have not-for-sale toys for children to play with.

See also: High Chairs

Student Parents

Student Family Housing

UC Davis operates two apartment complexes primarily for regularly enrolled students with children. Jointly referred to as The Parks at UC Davis, Orchard Park and Solano Park are named for their park-like settings with spacious lawns and shade trees. Our primary goal in The Parks is to provide a safe, well-maintained, and comfortable living environment at competitive rental rates while creating an environment complementing the University’s academic mission.

• Orchard Park
  

• Solano Park

• The Breastfeeding Support Program is available to all campus affiliates. Nineteen lactation sites equipped with hospital-grade electric breast pumps are available across campus. Registration and orientation sessions are held on-campus the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 12:10 noon to 1pm at Childcare & Family Services, Human Resources Administration Bldg., (Orchard Road, Parking Lot #35). Contact Lonna Hampton, MA, the campus Lactation Specialist at <lonnahampton@sbcglobal.net> or (530) 752-5412.
  

• S.I.N.G.L.E. Parent Support Group - Single and/or young parents who are students (undergraduate or graduate) are invited to share their experiences and concerns or to simply meet others who are balancing work, school and parenting, in a monthly support group. Children are highly encouraged to join so they too can learn the importance of friendship and community. Interested families should email K.C. Moua at <aumoua AT ucdavis DOT edu> or call 530/753-3166.
  

• Child Emergency Notification Service - Register your class schedule quarterly with the Women’s Center and rest assured that they will act as a backup emergency contact for your child’s school or caregiver during the times you are in class or lab. Forms are available at the WRRC in North Hall.
  

• The Reentry Center, located at 160 South Silo, provides resources for student parents (regardless of whether they are actually reentry students or not).
  

• The Women's Center has an online Graduate Parent Handbook.
  

• "Family Connection Program" provides student parents an opportunity to meet each other and learn about child development from child development experts while your child explores an environment designed especially for infants and toddlers. Sessions start every 8 weeks, year-round.

Parenting Classes and Support Groups

• DavisParenting.com The free, comprehensive site connecting all Davis families. Started in August 2009, our goal is to be the one-stop source for discussions, asking and answering questions, finding and sharing valuable information, promoting events, and most importantly strengthening sense of community.
  

• [http://www.hope-counselingcenter.org/contact.html Support Group for Parents-This group will allow you and others to share stories, successes, goals, and questions with other parents in a supportive environment. Educational pieces will include: How to set limits in loving ways without anger, lecture, or threats. How to respond in a loving way when your child causes a problem. How to take control as the parent. How to deliver consequences empathetically. How to hold your child responsible. How to use a new language that will get your needs met and allow your child to feel loved and protected at the same time, and more. Wednesday's 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. 132 E Street, Suite 320, in the Mansion Square, on the 3rd floor. $15.00 per group meeting, per person. GROUPS ARE BY RESERVATION ONLY, SO CALL AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT ASAP: Dezaree Finch (530) 848-1561, dezannsherm@yahoo.com
  

• La Leche League meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 10:00AM, 345 L St. (Davis Friends Meeting House)
  

• Support Group and Informational Brown-bag Series for expectant and new mothers are held on campus the third Tuesday of each month from 12:10 - 1:30 p.m. in the Moss Room, Memorial Union.
  

• Breastfeeding Moms On Campus group meets Third Tuesday of each month - Moss Room, Memorial Union from 12:10 - 12:50
  

• LGBT Parent's Group: Support and Social group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents in the Davis area. Activities include children but there are also some parent-only meetings. Email: <plsullivan AT ucdavis DOT edu>, <filmmakemommy AT yahoo DOT com>
  

• Mother & Baby Source offers a New Parent's Support Group every Wednesday from 8:30 - 10:00AM. Babies welcome up to five months. They also offer other parenting classes from time to time.
  

• Just KIDding offers a 'Bringing Up Baby' parenting class Thursdays from 9-10:30AM for parents of new babies. The 4 week course is $25. Registration required.
  

• "Family Connection Program" provides parents an opportunity to meet each other and learn about child development from child development experts while your child explores an environment designed especially for infants and toddlers. Sessions start every 8 weeks, year-round.
  

• Car seat inspections are done by the Davis Police Department. Make an appointment first (474-5400). Woodland Police does this too. They have 2 on staff who are certified.
  

• Adoption Support Group A place for adoptive parents who have adopted internationally or domestically support each other regarding the unique issues, challenges, and rewards of adoption. Children can play and form friendships with one another. We meet every Saturday of each month at 10:30 am. Meeting place varies. Please email Karla Mahoney for additional information: taclobangirl@yahoo.com
  

• "MOPS" (link to info on the MOPS international organization), or Mothers of Preschoolers, is a place for expectant moms, mothers of infants through pre-K children to come and meet other moms from Davis and the surrounding communities, get support, and relax while the kids play and are cared for by a skilled childcare staff (childcare is provided for a small fee; nursing infants are welcome to stay with the moms). Davis MOPS meets every other Monday morning from September to May in the lobby of University Covenant Church from 9:30a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. Meetings include a light breakfast, social time, informational speakers and creative activities. Past speakers have included a police officer, a pediatrician, Davis Food Co-Op, a marriage and family therapist and an infant massage therapist. For meeting dates and more information, email <davismops@gmail.com>. In addition to Monday morning meetings, there are playdates, kids events throughout the year, holiday parties for kids, community activities and mom events. Friends and drop-ins always welcome.
  

• "Davis Dads Group" Open to both Moms and Dads. Use our forums to find parks that other parents with children are at or post what park you are going to so that others can join you. Great site to make contact with other parents!
  

• Chinese Immersion Playgroup For any parent that is interested in getting together and letting their children play/practice in Chinese.

Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk

Professor Susan Acredolo of the UCD Psychology Department has co-authored a book about teaching basic sign-language to your baby. The purpose is to allow the baby to better communicate with you even before he or she can do so verbally. The claim, which is supported by the book's reviews and the authors' research, is that this approach will make your baby happier now and will enhance their oral communication later in life. The book, called Baby Signs, has been further developed into the Baby Signs Institute. Now eat your applesauce and no more crying!

Online Resources

• http://www.DavisParenting.com
  

• http://www.livejournal.com/community/davisparents/
  

• http://www.LaFemmeBonita.com/
  

• http://www.momscircle.com/
  

• Breastfeeding Information
  

• Child Discipline Training for Parents Setting Limits Training classes, books and posters.
  

• http://cleanupyourroom.blogspot.com/ a local parenting blog.
  

• http://davis.momscircuit.com/ Family Resource and Events Calendar for Davis Families
  

Social Services and Low Income Resources

• See Social Services

Juvenile Justice

• See Juvenile Justice System for information on Yolo County Juvenile Justice system; diversion services, such as youth drug rehabilitation and anger management (domestic violence); and youth rights.