Early intervention is a system of services for infants and young children, birth to three years of age.
MIDP supports families and their children with missed milestones, developmental disabilities, or qualifying at-risk medical or genetic conditions.
06/02/2026
🎉 Today we're celebrating Kelly P! 🎉 Thank you, Kelly, for all you do to make a difference in the lives of the families we serve. We hope your birthday is filled with laughter, celebration, and everything that makes you happy! 🎂🥳
06/01/2026
It’s Kelly D’s birthday! MIDP sure hopes he got lots of extra carrots today! 🥕🎉
A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY shoutout to the guy most prepared for a summer at the stables (peep the dual-fan hat)!! If you see him around today be sure to remind him he’s old 🤪 We hope you have the best day, Kelly! Extra carrots for you this week!! 🎉 🎈
06/01/2026
☀️ Warm weather is here, and outdoor play is in full swing!
This month’s newsletter explores how outdoor experiences support motor development, regulation, sensory learning, and overall well-being in young children.
🌱 Activities
🛝 Development tips
💧 Safety reminders
📚 Family resources
🔗 Hyperlinked version in the comments!
05/31/2026
Tomorrow is the start of Minot Public Schools’ FREE breakfast and lunch program. ⬇️
05/29/2026
Big life changes don’t just “mix things up” for kids… They can make their whole world feel different. 🌍
What it feels like to you:
“We’re moving!”
“We’re having a baby!”
“They’re starting daycare!”
What it feels like to them:
“Everything is changing… and I don’t understand why.”
Young children rely on predictability, familiar routines, and a sense of control. Big transitions take all of that away at once.
So their brain goes into overwhelm. 🧠 Which might look like:
More meltdowns
More clinginess
Sleep getting off
Skills slipping
Not because something is wrong, but because they’re adjusting.
What actually helps:
✨ Prepare them in simple, honest ways
✨ Keep routines where you can
✨ Stay close and connected
✨ Let them have big feelings about it
You can’t make big transitions easy. But you can make them feel safe enough to get through.
And over time, things settle, sleep improves, and big emotions ease because they learn: “Even when things change… my people don’t.”
Walking away while your child is crying? Yeah… it feels awful. 💔
Every instinct says: “Go back. Fix it. Stay a little longer.” But attachment research shows: It’s not the absence of tears that builds security. It’s the predictability of what happens next.
When goodbyes are inconsistent: “Sometimes they leave… sometimes they come back… sometimes they disappear” → 😟
When goodbyes are consistent: “This always happens the same way… and they always come back” → 💙
What that looks like in real life:
Short. Simple. Same every time.
“One hug, one kiss, see you after snack”
Hug → Kiss → Wave → Leave
And no one likes to hear this, but they might cry.
And you still leave. Because you're teaching them:
👉 This is safe
👉 This is temporary
👉 You always come back
What doesn’t help (even though it feels right):
❌ Sneaking out
❌ Coming back again and again
❌ Long, drawn-out goodbyes
❌ Changing the routine every day
These make the moment more confusing, not easier.
What actually helps:
✨ Same words
✨ Same actions
✨ Same timing
✨ Calm, confident energy
Week 1: hard
Week 2: still hard
Week 3: starting to click
Week 4+: often calming much faster
(And yes… most kids calm down within minutes after you leave)
If your child cries at drop-off, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It usually means they’re attached to you. And that’s not a problem… 💙
What does your goodbye routine look like right now? 👇
Today, we pause to honor the meaning behind Memorial Day. We remember the service members who gave their lives in service to our country, and we hold space for the families who carry that loss every day. At MIDP, we’re grateful for the opportunity to support children and families in our community — something made possible because of the sacrifices we recognize today. Whether today looks like time with family, quiet reflection, or simply slowing down, we hope you’re able to take a moment to remember what this day represents.
05/23/2026
Most transition meltdowns don’t start with behavior… They start with what we SAY. 🗣️
When you say, “Let’s go” or “Right now,” your toddler’s brain hears, “Drop everything immediately and switch gears.”
…and their brain goes: absolutely not. 😅
Some phrases can make it worse:
❌ No warning → feels abrupt
❌ Rushed tone → creates stress
❌ “Stop playing” → highlights the loss
❌ Vague language → confusing
Their brain is overwhelmed. So...
✨ Give a heads up: “In 5 minutes, we’re cleaning up.”
✨ Use simple sequences: “First shoes, then car.”
✨ Acknowledge + move forward: “I know you’re having fun. And it’s time to go.”
✨ Let them finish something small: “One more turn, then all done.”
When your language is supportive… transitions get easier (not perfect... just easier).
This week: Pick ONE phrase and stick with it. Start with, “First ___, then ___.”
It’s simple, it’s clear, and it works in almost any situation.
And if your toddler still melts down? You didn’t do it wrong. You’re just working with a developing brain.
05/19/2026
Note to self: Stop telling toddlers about plans that aren’t 100% guaranteed. 😅
Because THIS is what happens: You casually mention something fun. They latch onto it immediately. They talk about it all day. They ask about it 50 times. Andddddd then life happens. Rain. Timing. Nap. Reality.
And they are absolutely devastated. Tears. Screaming. “YOU PROMISED!”
And you’re standing there like:
“…this was not a legally binding contract.” 🤦♀️
This happens because when you mention the park, their brain:
✓ Locks onto the plan
✓ Replays it all day
✓ Builds excitement
✓ Can’t also hold “this might change”
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD:
Option 1: Say it right before. “We’re going to the park!” (as you’re leaving). No buildup = no crash
Option 2: Add the “IF” (and repeat it). “We’ll go to the park if it doesn’t rain.” (This works better as they get older)
Option 3: Have Plan B ready. “We can’t go to the park… should we do Play-Doh or a movie?” Giving them some control helps soften the "blow."
When the meltdown happens anyway (because it will 😅):
✔ “You’re so disappointed.”
✔ “You really wanted to go.”
✔ Stay calm (even when it’s a lot)
✔ Offer a next step
✔ Give them time
And yeah… sometimes the best strategy is silence until you’re pulling into the parking lot. 😅💙
Drop a 😭 if you’ve lived this exact scenario.