St. Louis Area First Steps

Check out one of these SEVEN inclusive and accessible playgrounds!🧩🛝

With summer just around the corner, there's no doubt that ALL will have a fun time!☀️🌈😎

Did you know that there are now seven inclusive and accessible playgrounds in the St. Charles County area? These sites offer equipment for children of all ages and abilities. There's one near you!

Jake's Field of Dreams at Heartland Park
Wentzville (100 William Dierberg Dr.)

Zachary's Playground at Hawk Ridge Park
Lake St. Louis (8392 Orf Rd.)

Civic Park Inclusive Playground
O’Fallon (Civic Park Dr. & Woodlawn Ave.)

Brendan's Playground at Westhoff Memorial Park
O'Fallon (810 Sheppard Dr.)

McAuley Playground at Hansen Park
St. Peters (1300 St. Peters Cottleville Rd.)

Kennedy's Playground
St. Peters (115 McMenamy Rd.)

Discovery Playground at Jaycee Park
St. Charles (2805 Elm St.)

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 7th! 🗓️🥳
Come and join our team and come together to support Gateway Down Syndrome Association at their Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Awareness Walk & Festival!

Join the First Steps Team & Donate through this link: https://p2p.onecause.com/suds2026/team/firststeps

Help us reach our $1,000 team goal! Little steps still count, and we are so excited to make that first step in supporting our vital local resources such as Gateway Down Syndrome Association.

Little Steps Count: Support Our First Steps Team! 💙

Our St. Louis Area First Steps team is proud to participate in Gateway DSA’s 50th Anniversary Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk on Sunday, Jun 07, 2026, at the Upper Muny Lot in Forest Park.
Kickoff is at 9:00 AM, and the awareness walk begins at 10:30 AM!
We have set a goal to raise $1,000 to help Gateway DSA reach its regional $500,000 target. Every dollar raised directly funds essential local programs such as resource packets for new families, specialized therapy, and music classes that help individuals with Down syndrome reach their full potential!

🕒 Critical Fundraising Deadline = May 16, 2026

Help our First Steps Team reach our $1,000 goal by Saturday!

Support our specific team page here: https://p2p.onecause.com/suds2026/team/firststeps

Be sure to stop by our First Steps table at the event to say hi!😊

Step Up for Down Syndrome 2026 - First Steps/Benchmark Human Services Support First Steps/Benchmark Human Services. The Gateway Down Syndrome Association serves more than 2,200 individuals with Down syndrome and their families, through every stage of life. We envision a community where all people with Down syndrome can achieve their full potential.The support we recei...

Babies remember. They just remember it differently. We remember in our brains, and they remember in their bodies.
— Meghan Schmelzer

We talk a lot about mental health these days. But we rarely talk about babies.

Mental health starts early, even before birth.

From the very beginning, babies are building their foundation. Every interaction. Every response. Every experience, good or hard, shapes their future. Learn more and get involved: https://bit.ly/40ETQdq

1 in 10 children under age 5 have mental health concerns.

That means babies and toddlers in our communities are struggling before they even know how to explain it.

You don’t have to be a parent to care. Because what happens in the earliest years shapes everything that comes after. How children learn, connect, cope, grow.

Mental health starts early. And when we ignore it, the impact ripples through families, schools and communities.

Believing in babies means taking their mental health seriously from the start.

Learn more. Donate. Help build a world where every baby can thrive: https://bit.ly/4kDZZ2A

🌱 Growing Together: April Autism Awareness Webinar Series

April is Autism Awareness Month, and we’re coming together to support families with information, tools, and resources that make a difference.

Join Missouri Parents Act for our free webinar series happening April 13–17, with sessions designed to help you better understand special education, advocacy, and supports for children with disabilities.

🕙 Each session: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

🌿 Session Topics Include:

April 13 – Special Education Law: What You Need to Know
April 14 – Understanding the IEP Process for Parents of Students with ASD
April 15 – Writing Postsecondary Goals for Students with ASD
April 16 – The Art of Effective Advocacy
April 17 – Understanding ADHD

Whether you're just starting your journey or building on what you already know, these sessions are here to support you every step of the way.

💻 Attend from anywhere in Missouri—virtual link provided after registration.

👉 Register today:
🔗 missouriparentsact.org/training

We're happy to have a table here in support of Love Beyond Labels and Autism Awareness Month!
Stop by to see us and all the other vendors supporting this great event!

Help your toddler or preschooler burn off energy indoors while building a variety of important skills with these fun winter gross motor activities! https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/fun-winter-gross-motor-activities-for-toddlers-and-preschoolers/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOxpO9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0N8CmouJXq74ryRuAC8dXkfx3n5J5vC3jcZeHMkGGUy1PD5F06TpuN7Raiw_aem_z3GY2FDbzUTuoscvC6a9pA

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When it’s too cold to play outside, bring the sensory fun inside! Days with Grey has 13 ideas for your indoor sensory bin (or tub, tray, bucket, or bowl!) that are toddler-friendly. Enjoy! https://dayswithgrey.com/winter-sensory-ideas-and-activities-for-play/

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As we move into the new year, we want to share a gentle reminder with our First Steps families and the Greater St. Louis community 🤍
Respiratory illnesses such as influenza and COVID-19 are currently on the rise in our area.

Here are a few helpful tips from our very own, Kim Galaviz, MPM, BSN, RN, CDDN, Chief Nursing Officer at Benchmark Human Services, on how we can help protect one another:

🩺 If you or your child are feeling sick:
• Stay home and rest when symptoms are present, your body & mind needs it!
• You can return to normal activities once symptoms improve and you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine)
• While returning to your norm, wearing a mask and limiting close contact for a few days can help protect others
• Keep up those good hygiene habits like, frequent handwashing, regularly disinfecting common areas, and covering coughs and sneezes.

🏠 If illness is present in the home:
Extra care, monitoring, and regular cleaning can help reduce the spread of illness and keep everyone safe and comfortable.

Vaccination is encouraged for families and individuals served as an added layer of protection. Thank you for helping us care for one another and keep our First Steps community healthy 💙

Please share this post to help spread these helpful tips to our community!

Benchmark Human Services
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Saint Louis County Department of Public Health
City of St. Louis Government
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
CDC
City of St. Louis EM
United Way of Greater St. Louis

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