Gross Motor Skills: What They Are, Development & Examples | Cleveland Clinic - Gross motor skills are the large, sweeping movements we make with arms, legs and torso. We develop these skills from birth to adolescence. Healthcare providers have benchmarks — or milestones — for different gross motor skills at different age ranges. Talk to your child’s provider about what you should expect at different age levels. 

Help Your Child Build Fine Motor Skills | NAEYC - Many of your child’s daily activities—like getting dressed, eating, and writing—require control of small muscles in the hands. We call these skills fine motor skills. There are lots of activities that can increase muscle strength and coordination, preparing children for more advanced skills, such as writing with a pencil, using a computer mouse, or playing a musical instrument.

NJDOE - Indicator7_Developmental Milestones to Support Age-Anchoring  -  A clear,  insightful framework that helps you confidently identify age-expected skills in young children.  By synthesizing highly regarded resources and early childhood research,  this tool offers a focused, yet accessible, compilation that supports teams in making informed decisions regarding each child's unique developmental journey and fostering optimal growth. 

The OT Toolbox - Tools and Ideas for Occupational Therapists, Teachers, and Parents

What Are Gross Motor Skills | Understood.org - Abilities that allow people to do things that involve using the large muscles in the torso, arms and legs to complete whole-body movements.

Find additional resources on our Early Childhood: Health, Motor Skills, and Emotional Well-Being page.

AMAZE - Amaze makes growing up less awkward. Learn about your body and relationships with fun, animated videos that answer all your questions.

Handwashing & Hygiene Lessons K-12 | etr 

Health and Physical Education - Special Education - Research Guides at University of Cincinnati - A collection of Health Online Teaching Activities & Lesson Plans including e-books, article databases, online help tutorials, useful websites, and more for researching and teaching special education.

Health and Wellness Curriculum for K12 Students | EVERFI - Students are faced with making choices every day. With EVERFI’s digital health and wellness curriculum, kids are taught that the choices they make and habits they form now become the foundation for the lives they lead as adults.

Health Matters: The Exercise and Nutrition Health Education Curriculum for People with Developmental Disabilities – HealthMatters Program

Health, Wellness, and Safety Resources - Health resources and safety tips from experts.

HealthyChildren.org- The only parenting website backed by 67,000 pediatricians—committed to the physical, mental and emotional health of all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. This site is created and powered by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to child health.

KidsHealth for Parents - Nemours Foundation - Resources to support families’ understanding of children’s health and development.  Check out the daily Q&A section for commonly raised questions by parents!  Also available in Spanish.

KidsHealth in the Classroom - Free health-related lesson plans for PreK through 12th grade.

Mental Health Resources | The Arc - A curated list of NJ mental health supports.

Mental Health | NJ - New Jersey’s mental health support system offers a wide range of treatment services and other resources, including substance use disorder treatment and peer support programs.  

NAMI New Jersey -  A statewide non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Teen Health and Wellness - Award-winning website that provides middle and high school students with up-to-date, nonjudgmental, straightforward curricular and self-help support. Articles are correlated to state, national, and provincial standards, including Common Core Health and Science. Topics covered include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. 

Childhood Nutrition Facts | School Nutrition | CDC - Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development—and to prevent various health conditions. 

Farm To School | Jersey Tastes! Harvest of the Month - A Year-Round Celebration of the Garden State's Fruits and Vegetables. Join the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for a monthly tasting of some of New Jersey’s best fruits and vegetables! Whether you feature items on the salad bar, in taste tests from the school garden, or in lessons featuring local produce, we want YOU to join in this delicious fun!

Health Matters: The Exercise and Nutrition Health Education Curriculum for People with Developmental Disabilities – HealthMatters Program

Heart-Healthy Living - For Children | NHLBI, NIH - Healthy choices begin with you, but they also may be influenced by your environment — where you live, your family's traditions and habits, and/or where your child goes to school. Articles are correlated to state, national, and provincial standards, including Common Core Health and Science. Topics covered include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. 

Nutrition - HealthyChildren.org - articles and recipes to help families make good nutritional choices.  Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Also available in Spanish.

Nutrition for kids: Guidelines for a healthy diet - Mayo Clinic - You want your child to eat healthy foods, but do you know which nutrients are needed and in what amounts?  

Nutrition.gov | USDA - Teach kids about healthy eating with games, and coloring books. Parents can find tips and tools for healthy meals, weight management, and more. 

Try It | Disney Citizenship - Learn more about food and energy by watching videos and enjoying activities related to balancing food, portion control, recipes, healthy habits (proper hand-washing), and exercise to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

2ndfloor - 2NDFLOOR is a confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey’s youth and young adults. We are here to help you find solutions to the problems that you face and we are available 24/7 365 days a year. 

Kids, Teens, and Young Adults | NAMI -  Mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. These essential resources are intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.

Healthy Relationships Toolkit | VetoViolence -  The Healthy Relationships Toolkit (HeaRT) is a CDC-developed model to prevent violence in adolescence that teaches 11 to 14-year-olds healthy relationship skills to prevent violence before it starts. HeaRT’s evidence-based approach includes seven components for individuals, peers, families, schools, and neighborhoods that work together to prevent dating violence and other risk behaviors. 

Knowledge that has the power to heal. Opportunities & Programs - The Trevor Project -  Competent suicide prevention starts with how we educate ourselves and each other. The Trevor Project offers LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention trainings that give everyone the ability to help. 

NJDOE Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Resources -  By providing social-emotional support services and fostering critical coping skills, schools contribute to the emotional, social, and academic success of every student, 

Student Wellness | NJDOE - The NJDOE recognizes that healthy students are better learners and that many factors can impact a student’s academic attainment and overall health. The department supports wellness policies and practices that address the physical, social, and emotional needs of students.

Teen Health and Wellness - Award-winning website that provides middle and high school students with up-to-date, nonjudgmental, straightforward curricular, and self-help support. Articles are correlated to state, national, and provincial standards, including Common Core Health and Science. Topics covered include diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. 

Find additional resources on our Social & Emotional Learning page.

Adapted Physical Education - supportREALteachers.org - ​​Adapted Physical Education (APE) is physical education that has been modified to fit the needs of individuals with various physical and intellectual disabilities. 

Adapted Physical Education & Recess Activities and Games | Heartland AEA - Ideas for adapted PE and recess activities and games for students with disabilities. 

Cosmic Kids Yoga - Making yoga and mindfulness FUN for kids. 

Differentiation In Physical Education | The PE Project - Making lessons barrier-free to meet the diverse needs of our students.

Fit | Sanford Health - Program grounded on four pillars essential to building awareness of healthy lifestyle choices, guiding decision making, and improving self-management skills.

Fitness - HealthyChildren.org - articles and recipes to help families exercise and stay fit.  Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Also available in Spanish.

Health and Physical Education - Special Education - Research Guides at University of Cincinnati - A collection of Health Online Teaching Activities & Lesson Plans including e-books, article databases, online help tutorials, useful websites, and more for researching and teaching special education.

Health and Wellness Curriculum for K12 Students | EVERFI - Students are faced with making choices every day. With EVERFI’s digital health and wellness curriculum, kids are taught that the choices they make and habits they form now become the foundation for the lives they lead as adults.

Health Matters: The Exercise and Nutrition Health Education Curriculum for People with Developmental Disabilities – HealthMatters Program

Modifications and Adaptations | let's play - With these easy adaptations, you will quickly see how activities you currently use can be made inclusive for everyone.

Play 60 | NFL.com - NFL’s national youth health and wellness campaign that encourages kids to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.

SHAPE America | FREE Physical Education Tools and Activities - Free PE activity ideas, classroom resources and physical activity calendars in the PE teacher's toolbox every month to download.

Spark PE | Free Lesson Plans - A collection of free SPARK Physical Education and Physical Activity lesson plans based on inclusive, fun PE-PA games and innovative new ideas. 

Special Olympics New Jersey - Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties - Learn which sports are offered near you and other fun events you can attend to support your local training programs

Sworkit - Kids Workouts - A variety of fun kid kid-friendly workouts to get those wiggles out or use them for a warm-up/cool down for more vigorous activity.

Teaching Resources | NCPEID - NCPEID offers various resources for practitioners to help provide quality adapted physical education/activity programming for individuals with disabilities.

General Safety Resources

Community Safety | NSC - Preventable injuries are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Learn how to keep yourself and your community safe.

Safe Kids Worldwide -  Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to reduce preventable injuries to children ages 0-19 and building sustainable systems to protect all families.  

Safety Education | CPSC.gov - CPSC's safety education centers have information and free materials to make sure your family and community know how to stay safe.

CPR & First Aid

CPR, AED and First Aid | Free Online Course | Alison

CPR First Aid Certification  

First Aid Training | Free - Free online first aid, CPR & AED courses.

Digital Safety / Cyberbullying

Find resources on our Digital Citizenship: Digital Privacy & Security section

School Safety

The Educator's School Safety Network - The Educator's School Safety Network was founded to give educators a voice in critical school safety conversations. We only have one mission: help keep schools safe by providing training, services and resources to educators, administrators, school-based law enforcement, and other stakeholders.

Four Free Safety Resources for Schools and Districts - NASSP - Four key resources, tailored to address potential safety challenges, ensuring a secure and nurturing environment for all.  

National Center for School Safety- The National Center for School Safety (NCSS) is committed to improving school safety and preventing violence.We address a broad range of school safety challenges, providing K-12 schools nationwide with the tools and strategies needed to prevent violence and create safe, supportive learning environments. 

School Health & Safety | NEA -  Our students reach their fullest potential when they—and their educators—are healthy and safe in their schools. 

SchoolSafety.gov -  SchoolSafety.gov was created by the federal government to provide schools and districts with actionable recommendations to create safe and supportive learning environments for students and educators. 

School Safety - Family Resources | National PTA - A Practical Resource for Critical Conversations Around School Safety Planning with Decisionmakers at All Levels. It is imperative that families are actively engaged in creating safe and supportive schools for kids. National PTA has developed resources for parents and PTAs to support you in becoming part of effective, successful school safety decision-making.

Water  & Outdoor Safety

Beach and Ocean Safety | American Red Cross -Learn how to reduce the risks so your family can enjoy swimming in open water, such as the ocean and large lakes.

Bike Safety | NSC - Bicycling is one of the best ways to get exercise, see the sights and reduce your carbon footprint. However, bicyclists face a host of hazards. They often must share the road with vehicles, and injuries can happen even on a designated path.  

Children with Disabilities at Greater Risk of Drowning - AmeriDisability - Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages 1-4 and the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages 5-19. Furthermore, some children with disabilities have a greater risk of drowning, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, heart disease and seizure disorders (like epilepsy). 

Hike Smart (U.S. National Park Service)-  Come and take a walk through one of our historic battlefields; stroll along the scenic paths; or maybe traverse through the breathtaking backcountry. Be prepared for your walk or hike, keep in mind these general safety tips in mind before starting your adventure.

Hiking and Walking Tips | New Jersey Trails Association - Hiking and walking nature trails should always be a fun, pleasant experience. To that end, keep these tips in mind to make sure each outing is a good one.

NDPA Water Safety Toolkits - Essential Water Safety Resources from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Free, comprehensive toolkits to enhance water safety and prevent drowning in your community.

New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance - The New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance, or NJSSA, is a group of swim professionals united to promote water safety throughout the state of New Jersey. 

NJ Department of Health | Tickborne Diseases & Conditions - Tickborne diseases/conditions can be passed to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. The best defense is to take steps to avoid being bitten by infected ticks.

One Health and Disease: Tick-Borne Disease (U.S. National Park Service)-  Some ticks can carry bacteria and viruses that can cause disease in humans and animals. Reducing exposure to ticks and removing ticks promptly can protect you and your family from tick-borne diseases. 

Pool Safely -  The CPSC Pool Safely campaign is a national public education campaign launched by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries, and drain entrapments. CPSC’S campaign encourages consumers and the industry to adopt proven water safety steps and share best practices and life-saving information. 

Preventing Tick Bites -  You and your family can take several steps to prevent tick bites.

Water Safety | NJDCF - The New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJ DCF) is committed to helping families enjoy a safe, healthy and connected summer through the “Keep Me Safe” Water Safety Campaign. 

Water Safety - Pools, Waterparks, beaches, Lakes & Rivers | PDF - Summer is the time when families and their children entertain and cool themselves in pools, water parks, rivers, lakes and beaches. But water can also be dangerous, especially for children, since children can drown in as little as two inches of water. Help keep everyone safe with these tips.

Water Safety for Your Special Needs Child | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death in children younger than age 14, and for every child that dies from drowning, another five require emergency care for submersion injuries. For children with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, the risk of drowning is more than double that of a typically developing child.  

Violence Prevention

Futures without Violence - The largest initiative ever funded to prevent teen dating violence and abuse by teaching 11- to- 14-year-olds about healthy relationships. 

Violence Prevention and Anti-Bias Training - New Jersey State Bar Foundation - Violence prevention & anti-bias educator trainings support New Jersey schools in creating a positive school climate.