Babies
Hold your baby and look into the mirror. Point out the different parts of their body (toes, head, fingers) and then point them out on yourself. Use words to describe the different parts of each of you. Tell them 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 their hair, nails and skin. What do they see? Have them 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 they can't do now, but might do when they grow older. Ask them to think of what needs to happen so they can do these activities, like getting taller to drive a car. What are some things they can do now that they couldn't do when they were younger? Ask them what changed. For example, they drink out of a cup now, instead of a bottle, because they can hold a cup better than when they were a baby. Read more.
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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
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What is equity and why is it important for young 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 Support 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.
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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.
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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 Scholarships 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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Register for the 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 ages 1–6 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 toddlers and preschoolers to explore nature through their senses, experience trees throughout the seasons, and connect with their community. Take a look!
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Daily Schedules for Children |
Families can use these sample schedules from the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC) to plan and create a flexible and consistent daily routine for their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers while learning at home.
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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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When you're planning summer activities, 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.
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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.
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 Favorite Pinterest Pins |
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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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