With your child in kindergarten, there are new ways you can help them learn. Try these activities, then read a book about it. Click here to print this list.
We are learning Language and Literacy
Do it!
Help your kindergartner collect pebbles. See how many ways the pebbles can be sorted (size, color, shape, etc.) Discuss how some are alike and some are different. Assist your kindergartner in reaching grasping and collecting the stones. Provide the opportunity to feel the rocks with their hands or on their cheek. Use words to help them describe the textures, weight, shape and temperature of what they are feeling.
Read it!
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig. Three Pebbles and a Song by Eileen Spinelli.
We are learning Social Emotional Development
Do it!
Talk about jobs your family does. How do these jobs help others? Talk about the different people, services and agencies who work with your kindergartner. Explain their jobs to them. Discuss the ways this helps them and the family.
Read it!
A Day's Work by Eve Bunting. Families by Susan Kuklin.
We are learning Scientific Thinking and Technology
Do it!
Look out a window with your kindergartner or sit outside and watch the birds. When finished, encourage them to draw a picture of a bird they saw.
Read it!
What in the World is an Inch? by Mary Elizabeth Salzmann. What Will Hatch? by Jennifer Ward.
We are learning Mathematics Thinking and Expression
Do it!
Eat a snack of animal crackers. Have your kindergartner sort the crackers into groups by animal and count the number in each group. Substitute other foods if there are dietary or feeding restrictions. You can also adapt the activity using stuffed animals.
Read it!
Kindergarten Count to 100 by Jacqueline Rogers. How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? by Jane Yolen.
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What is Equity and Why is it Important for Children?
Equity means an effort or strategy to ensure all who need services have access to and an understanding about opportunities. It may include treating everyone with an equal amount of respect and care, regardless of:
- social-economic status
- race
- class
- culture
- gender
- sexual orientation
- ability/disability
- language
- national origin
- indigenous heritage
- religion
- other identities
Equity recognizes that not everyone comes from the same starting place. Regardless of the identity or financial background of someone, there may be a need for assistance in different and unique ways.
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Child Tax Credit and Benefits for Families
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a tax benefit to help families raising children. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 that President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021, advance payments of up to half the 2021 CTC were sent to eligible taxpayers, meaning that most families started receiving monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action. Those who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020 or signed up to receive the IRS stimulus check started receiving this tax relief automatically.
- Whether they received monthly advance payments or not, eligible families can claim their remaining Child Tax Credit benefits by filing a tax return this year.
- Low-income families with children, including those who have not made enough to be required to file taxes, should file taxes to receive their full benefit. Free tax help is available to file tax returns.
- For families eligible for the CTC, filing taxes to claim this credit also means many families may also receive thousands of dollars in additional tax relief through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides a tax break for low-income workers and families based on their wages, salaries, tips, and other pay, as well as earnings from self-employment. Under ARPA, the EITC is more generous and open to more workers than ever.
Did you know...
- All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household).
- For those with children, the ARPA increased the CTC from $2,000 to $3,000 per child for children over the age of 6 and from $2,000 to $3,600 per child for children under the age of 6.
- Receiving the CTC and/or the EITC will have no impact on anyone’s eligibility for, or lower the amount of, other Federal benefits.
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Family Scholarship Applications Available for National Conference
The Division for Early Childhood will be offering a limited number of Family Scholarships in the amount of $500 to support the conference attendance of families of children ages 0-8 receiving Early Intervention and/or Early Childhood Special Education services. These scholarships can be used to pay for costs related to travel, hotel accommodations, or childcare.
Families, please consider applying! Your voice is needed at the conference. Apply for a Family Scholarship here. Please submit an application for the scholarship by Monday, May 16, 2022. Awardees will be notified by Monday, June 12, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kimberly Hile at kimberly.hile@uah.edu.
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2022 PA One Book Author Reading
The PA One Book selection for 2022 is Saturday, written and illustrated by Oge Mora.
Join the Tuesday, April 5, at 10:00 am webinar to hear Oge Mora, acclaimed author and Caldecott Award winning illustrator of the 2022 book selection, Saturday, as she speaks virtually to children across the state. During this event, Ms. Mora will talk about her work as a storyteller and answer questions from librarians, teachers, and students alike. Register now!
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Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children
Project Learning Tree® released a new resource for families and teachers to connect children to age six to nature, with a focus on trees. Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children offers hundreds of ideas for fun, indoor and outdoor, learning experiences for children to explore nature through their senses, experience trees throughout the seasons, and connect with their community. Take a look!
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The Role a Sibling Plays in Developing Empathy
There are benefits to having a sibling! Having a brother or sister can impact how confident a child is, how well they do in school, how they interact with friends, can boost a younger siblings language development and their understanding of others point of view. It can even play a role in the development of empathy.
Empathy is the key to understanding another's perspective and valuing people. Children who kind, supportive and understanding, influence their siblings to act and behave in similar ways. These empathetic traits develop into life-long behaviors towards friends, spouses and parents.
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Helping Parents Be Parents
Parenting can be challenging. There's no such thing as a perfect parent, and there's no one set way to be a good one.
Parenting is challenging, and the challenge comes with little direction at times. Just as there are no perfect children, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA) believes every parent needs and deserves two things: Information, and support! Visit the PFSA website for resources and support.
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Our Top Pins for Kindergartners!
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The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides families access to high quality services to prepare children for school and life success.
Find more information about Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania
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