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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2023 Pennsylvania One Book |
Mel Fell by author Corey R. Tabor is the 2023 PA One Book Early Literacy selection! Mel Fell is a triumphant tale of a young bird learning to fly, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence and encouraging children to feel brave.
Libraries and early learning programs throughout Pennsylvania have received copies to share with young children. Visit your local library to access a copy and check out the PA One Book website for early learning activities, crafts and resources around the book.
The Pennsylvania One Book program is entering its eighteenth year promoting the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers and the significance of reading early and often to children, as well as engaging them in conversation and other activities around books. The program has remained successful in part due to the partnership of collaborating agencies that all support early childhood literacy efforts. Each year, a different children’s picture book, is chosen by the committee to be highlighted.
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Celebrate Month of the Young Child |
During April, let’s celebrate Month of the Young Child (MOYC)! 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.
How can you become involved in MOYC?
- Look for ways to celebrate in your home, early learning program, or community.
- Create a display that shares why quality early learning is so important.
- Read stories of families who have been impacted by quality early learning.
- Share your story about the impact of quality early learning.
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Fun Nature-Based Learning Activities |
Aligning with the 2023 Pennsylvania One Book selection, Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor, Lindsey Brown, owner of Brown’s Family Child Care in Venango County, shared several nature-based activities.
The activities are perfect for early learning programs, or to do in the home, and are part of a homemade nature-based curriculum approved through Department of Education and aligns with the PA Early Learning Standards.
Do you have a fun early learning activity you'd like to share? Send it to Mary at [email protected].
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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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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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Families of Children Receiving Early Intervention Invited to Virtual SICC Meet and Greet |
Pennsylvania State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) invites families of children currently receiving Early Intervention (EI) services and parent co-chairs of the Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICC) to join the SICC Family Meet and Greet on April 6, 2023, from 11:30am -12:15pm. This event takes place through Zoom. Please note the meet and greet is designed exclusively for families by families.
The SICC Meet and Greet is an opportunity to connect with other EI families, learn more about the purpose of the State Interagency Coordinating Council and how families can be involved. When you register, the Zoom details for the Meet and greet invitation will be sent to the email used to register.
The SICC meeting will follow at 12:30 pm, and participation is highly welcomed and encouraged but not required.
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Call for DEC Family Committee Members |
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Family Committee is recruiting professional and family members. Family members are invited to take this opportunity to become an engaged and active leader within DEC. Members representative of the diversity of DEC’s membership, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability, are encouraged to apply.
The DEC Family Committee functions as a necessary and significant arm of the DEC Executive Office, formed to highlight and promote family engagement within the organization, field, and practice.
Parents of Children with Disabilities and/or Delays (through age 8) Currently Receiving Early Childhood Services; Parents Whose Children with Disabilities are No Longer Receiving Early Childhood Services; and Individuals with any type of lived experience with Early Intervention and/or Early Childhood Special Education are invited to apply to serve on the committee.
The Committee meets monthly on the 4th Thursday of the month from 5:00 - 6:30 PM Eastern Time. Membership to the Family Committee offers the opportunity to bring your experiences and expertise to DEC and network with DEC members across the country who are dedicated to the role of families at all levels of participation. Apply by Friday, April 7, 2023, for consideration. Learn more. |
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With funding from ED’s Ready to Learn Programming grant competition, PBS Kids created a new television show that premiered in February 2023, called “Work It Out Wombats!” The show introduces computational thinking concepts and problem solving to children ages 3–6 and features a trio of marsupial siblings that interact with a community of animal friends from their “Treeborhood.” It will be broadcast on PBS KIDS, and digital games, videos, and other activities will be available on PBSKIDS.org.
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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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