South Dakota Parent Connection

04/11/2026

April is Month of the Military Child — a time to recognize the strength and adaptability of military-connected children, youth and teens, and celebrate all the ways they show up with courage, heart and resilience. Follow along all month on !

04/11/2026

Spring Forward Socials are here!

Join the Division of Developmental Disabilities for a relaxed time to connect with others in your community. Meet the DDD team, self-advocates, and families. Ask questions, share ideas, or just enjoy time together.

Stop by anytime between 6:00–8:00 PM — they would love to see you!

Sioux Falls – April 14
Watertown – April 15
Spearfish – April 16

To RSVP, scan the QR code or use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CM3PB8X

Connection makes a difference. We hope to see you there!

04/09/2026

Dr. Carla Miller is attending the South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference in Rapid City to share helpful information and resources with the educators who support young children and families every day.

Thank you to all of the educators attending the conference for your commitment to supporting children and families across South Dakota. We are grateful for the time, care, and dedication you bring to your work.

We are honored to be part of this learning community and to share resources that help families and professionals work together to support every child’s success.

04/09/2026

South Dakota Parent Connection is happy to share this family camp opportunity from South Dakota Services for the Deaf. This camp gives families a chance to relax, learn, and connect with others who understand their journey.

Family camp can be a special time to build friendships, learn new skills, and grow confidence together. Parents and children can meet other families, share experiences, and enjoy fun activities in a welcoming and supportive setting.

Learn more and register using the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/SouthDakotaServicesfortheDeaf/posts/pfbid02cJzgfZBbh1rRgeT1cBNugFNr2HkYPngDBuRy37bSW28MpTb1hXgpxK3kHqohhdCUl?__cft__[0]=AZbs_kupXeGWOYmj0IrV_DG4q4f63jW9mVenl2qO6YI9jYF4UM1tjabyeu2Egf3Yu9hsAo9z3PBKr0ySVFSzV46icA0lZgVpKVfVCvNKAO0nvMgb_a8E5MWs3SUsUm1OonYBFv5g2WyARe39ch8tNXVHp27E_dm-hubTAuq4SLHyolbVQ4_G8TqUv6ABQWwQG8c&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

04/08/2026

Great opportunity to share!

Toddlers and preschoolers are learning and growing quickly, and parents and caregivers play an important role in guiding those everyday moments.

If you’re looking for practical tools that actually work in everyday moments, our Common Sense Parenting for Toddlers and Preschoolers class can help.

You’ll learn simple strategies to:
✔ Handle big emotions and tantrums
✔ Set clear expectations
✔ Encourage positive behavior
✔ Build routines that support your family

📅 Tuesdays | April 14 – May 19 | 6–8pm MT
💻 Attend from anywhere with internet access

Register here: sdsfec.org/csp-tp

04/08/2026

We are excited to share with you a special virtual workshop, "Supporting Striving Readers at Home," presented by Learning Ally. This workshop is intended to support South Dakota Department of Education families and caregivers. This one-hour, interactive session is designed to provide you with practical, easy-to-use strategies to confidently support your child's reading development.

"Supporting Striving Readers at Home" is a free virtual workshop! Discover practical strategies to help your child and learn more about literacy instruction and learning challenges like dyslexia.

April 14, 2026
7:00 - 8:00 CT / 6:00 - 7:00 MT

Register today: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/acbbb982/r41hstzhK0GzpkVFQX25uw?u=https://learningally.zoom.us/meeting/register/IOhOqI8PQiGiBu4axMGmWg

04/03/2026

South Dakota Parent Connection is excited to share this great camp opportunity from South Dakota Deaf Resource & Outreach Programs. Camps like this help youth build confidence, make friends, and feel proud of who they are.

Camp is a wonderful way for children and teens who are deaf or hard of hearing to connect with others who share similar experiences. They can learn new skills, have fun, and grow their independence in a supportive environment.

Learn more and register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxCQran-l6sxEFZkZUSeSmrXovU86gK-UqdmTU6OOUPg9mng/viewform

03/30/2026

Free Webinar for Parents: Understanding Parental Controls

Many parents feel overwhelmed trying to keep their children safe online. It can be hard to know how much to monitor and how to still build trust and independence. At South Dakota Parent Connection, we are asked by many parents how they can help their child learn how to manage the digital world.

Join Children and Screens for a helpful webinar: The Smart Parent’s Guide to Parental Controls

This session will share simple tips to help you:
• Understand parental control apps and settings
• Learn what these tools can and cannot do
• Support your child’s safety online
• Build trust while teaching digital skills

Experts will talk about ways to guide children as they spend more time in the digital world.

Tuesday, March 31
11:00 AM – 12:30 CT
10:00 AM - 11:30 MT

Register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AodVzBUnKLXR0UpPdgUv28jnoDz5WOxZ1QOLj4Yd8WJ5p0eAFQXZ~Auxrg-ZrUqsPJq1Xhc8dcNETS826ccNu9L2mzg4XSla7Ej8wSSdsDvYrwoAd7eUEUiTr2mWetTn9-ZpGdBUg9Dsk4w

03/30/2026

New Learning Series for Parents and Professionals

Understanding social-emotional development helps children learn how to handle feelings, build relationships, and make good choices. This learning series shares simple information and helpful ideas to support children’s growth at home, in school, and in the community.

This series includes three on-demand sessions that help families and professionals better understand children’s development and recognize early concerns.

In this on-demand series, you will learn:
• What social-emotional development means and why feelings and behavior are connected
• Signs that a child may need extra support and simple ways to help children build strong skills

These skills help children learn, make friends, and feel confident as they grow. Social-emotional skills include understanding emotions, building relationships, and making responsible decisions.

Watch the free series anytime: https://sdparent.org/resource/understanding-social-emotional-development-learning-series/

03/27/2026

Join us at the South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference!

South Dakota Parent Connection will be at this conference to provide information and resources to these valuable educators. The South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference brings together teachers, childcare providers, school staff, therapists, and other professionals who care about helping children grow and learn.

April 9–10, 2026
DoubleTree Downtown Convention Center, Rapid City, SD

Learn more here: https://sdparent.org/event/south-dakota-early-childhood-education-conference/

See you there!

03/20/2026

New Learning Opportunity for School Professionals!

Helping students plan for life after high school is important—but it can also feel overwhelming for families.

Our FREE 5-part learning series will help you:
✔ Understand transition planning
✔ Explain the IEP transition plan to families
✔ Support students in preparing for life after high school
✔ Build student self-advocacy skills

Each session is short, practical, and easy to use right away in your work. Take this course with others in your school or district to build a shared approach!

This series is self-paced, so you can decide the best time for you to start and complete it.

Upon completion, participants will earn 1 Continuing Education contact hour.

Learn more and register here: https://sdparent.org/resource/helping-youth-and-families-navigate-their-future-learning-series/