April 2019
Fun activities, aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards, to help prepare children for school success!
Let's Tell Our Story!
Babies
Hold your baby and look into the mirror. Point out the different parts of her body (toes, head, fingers) and then point them out on yourself. Use words to describe the different parts of each of you. Tell her what each part does. Read more .

Toddlers
Ask a relative or family friend to make a recording of them reading their favorite children's story, or telling a favorite story of when they were a child. Listen or watch this recording with your toddler and talk about who recorded the story. Follow along in a book which uses pictures, Braille, or sign to tell the story. If none are available, create your book together using personal photos, words, and illustrations. Read more .

Preschoolers
Provide your preschooler with a magnifying glass to look at her hair, nails and skin. What does she see? Have her also look at your hair, nails and skin as well. What is the same? What is different? Is each part the same color, texture, or size? What makes each part different? Using the magnification tool on your tablet or computer, demonstrate how the size changes. You can also feel the texture of hair, nails and skin. Use words like soft, smooth, or bumpy to describe what is felt. Read more .

Kindergartners
Have your kindergartner think of some things he can't do now, but he might do when he grows older. Ask him to think of what needs to happen so he can do these activities, like getting taller to drive a car. What are some things he can do now that he couldn't do when he was younger? Ask him what changed. For example, he drinks out of a cup now, instead of a bottle, because he can hold a cup better than when he was a baby. Read more .
10 Books About Growing Up
Community Helpers From A to Z  by Bobbie Kalman & Niki Walker
Pretend You're a Community Helper  by Karen Bryant-Mole
Hello Benny!: What It's Like to Be a Baby  by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
When I Grow Up  by P. K. Hallinan
Jobs People Do  by DK
The Berenstain Bears: When I Grow Up  by Jan and Stan Berenstain
When I Grow Up  by Al Yankovic
When I Grow Up (Little Critter)  by Mercer Mayer
Grow Up!  by Nina Laden
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do  by Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook, Andy Robert Davies

Celebrate Month of the Young Child
During April, let’s celebrate Month of the Young Child! Month of the Young Child focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognizes the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

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.

Although siblings can be a good support for helping raise an empathetic child, it's not required! This article from the Making, Caring, Common Project at Harvard shares tips on cultivating empathy. 
The Importance of Storytelling
Child learn may different ways, and storytelling can be a great way to not only help children learn language and literacy, but learn about--and express--the world around them.

This resource from ZERO TO THREE provides info on how children who are born with no language can learn the rudiments of story telling within 24-30 months. Find out how play and narrative can be the building blocks for a story, how reminiscing with others can create links between the child and the parent, and how facial expressions and body language can impact the story itself. 

In this short video , storyteller Anne E. Stewart talks about telling stories with children. She shares how storytelling promotes literacy and language and helps children get ready to start reading. Stories about family and culture also give children a sense of their place in the world. The video has tips you can use to start a story, then get children involved in the story.
Don't Wait. Vaccinate
When you're planning shopping trips to get new swimsuits and sunscreen, remember to make an appointment for vaccinations. Scheduling your children now for the vaccines they will need to start the next school year will help you cross one important item off your hectic "back-to-school" list this fall. 
 
Immunizations should be part of your children's regular school physical before they enter kindergarten. See the schedule of needed immunizations for students attending Pennsylvania schools. For more information regarding vaccines required for your children, please contact your children's health care provider or visit  www.dontwaitvaccinate.pa.gov .
Helping Parents Be Parents
Parenting can be challenging. There's no such thing as a perfect parent, and there are a lot of different ways to be a good one. 
 
The  Early Learning GPS  has tips, tools, and resources to help when families encounter challenging behavior with their child. Visit the  Early Learning GPS website.
 
The  Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance  (PFSA) believes that parents love their children and want to be the best parent they can be. Almost every parent can benefit from gaining a better understanding of themselves, their family dynamics, and how they handle their emotions when it comes to parenting and disciplining children. Visit the  PFSA website  for resources and support.
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Do you have a Preschooler?
Did your child start preschool?   Sign up for the FREE monthly Kindergarten, Here I Come eNews!  Each month get activities, tips and resources you can use to help your child prepare for and transition into their Kindergarten year. 
The PA 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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