We're Learning in an Early Learning Program! |
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Babies
Use a song to describe every day activities. The tune of London Bridges Falling Down is an easy one--just insert the description of what is being done. "Now we're putting on your socks, on your socks, on your socks. Now we're putting on your socks, my dear baby." Sing and sign the song to your baby, while holding their hand to your throat so they can feel the vibration. If your child avoids music, make picture cards or signs and braille to make task cards. Picture cards posted in the area where the tasks are done. If they respond to movement, add fun gestures that make the activity more enjoyable. Read more.
Toddlers
Use a wading pool (or bathtub) and different sized cups to encourage your toddler to pour water from one place to the next. Help them select the big cup or the little cup, and talk about full and empty. Ask them to make predictions about what will happen when they move the containers. Will the large cup of water fit in the small cup? How many small cups fill the large cup? Encourage them to move their hands to explore the containers and feel the water moving. Explore what the water sounds like/feels like when it's dumped out of the container. Read more.
Preschoolers
What is your preschooler's favorite book about Kindergarten? Visit your local library to discover books with different characters who go to Kindergarten or see the 11 family recommended books about going to school (below). What do they like best about each book? Try to find books that show a child similar to your preschooler in the illustrations. If your preschooler uses a wheelchair or wears glasses, they will enjoy seeing similar characters in the books. If your preschooler is especially concerned about a certain aspect of school, try to find a book or write a story that directly addresses that concern. Read more.
Kindergartners
Make giant ice-cubes by using clean yogurt, cottage cheese or sour cream plastic containers filled with water, then set into the freezer. Add a small item to the water filled container, like a small toy or other item. Have your kindergartner decide what item will be added. Is it too big or will it fit? Can they see the item once the ice is frozen? Once it's frozen, remove it from the container and use the ice block as ice puck to kick or push around in the grass or hard top (such as a sidewalk). How fast will it melt? What happens when it melts? Provide your kindergartner opportunities to touch the containers, feel the water before and after freezing, feel the weight and compare the containers empty, filled with water, and filled with ice. Read more.
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11 Books About Going to School |
The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing
Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! by Nancy Carlson
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
Countdown Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
Do I Have to go to School? by Pat Thomas
If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
My Teacher Sleeps in School by Leatie Weiss
Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta Stickland
My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells
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The Final Week of the
Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip
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What are the final destinations on the Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip? During week nine, we're virtually headed to the Lititz Public Library and the French Creek State Park in Berks and Chester Counties!
There's still lots of time to get caught up on other destinations! Just use the Road Map and My Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip Travel Journal to share with your child.
My Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip Travel Journal is a great way to help children explore books and fun activities. Each week, discover something new with children, then help them complete their Travel Journal. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
Has your child completed the Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip? Share your story about your experience! Send your story and pics (if you'd like to include) to Mary at marhal@pakeys.org, or tag us on social media!
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Celebrate Summer with the Pennsylvania State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC)! |
The Pennsylvania State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) invites families whose children receive Early Intervention services to join the SICC Family Meet and Greet on August 4 from 11:30 am -12:15 pm. This event takes place through Zoom.
The SICC Meet and Greet is an opportunity to connect with other families, learn more about the purpose of the State Interagency Coordinating Council and how families can be involved. The SICC meeting will follow at 12:30 pm, and participation is highly welcomed and encouraged, but not required. See the flyer for more information.
When you register, the Zoom details for the Meet and Greet will be sent a few days prior to the event to the email you used when registering. Click here to register! |
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Invitation to join Pennsylvania’s Prenatal-to-Age-Three Collaborative Family Leadership Learning Community |
o Do you have suggestions about child care, health and family support services for children and their families?
o Do you see yourself as an advocate for your children and family?
o Do you feel called to action to strengthen your community or participate in statewide policy reforms?
Join the Family Leadership Learning Community to be held September 2022 through March 2023. Meeting times to be selected based on participant availability.
Apply to participate by August 5, 2022, at this link. Any parent with a very young child in Pennsylvania is invited to participate, but family members who are not also family support professionals are needed.
The Family Leadership Learning Community will meet in an online format. Members will be asked to participate in an orientation session and six topic sessions. Participants will be asked to view videos or read short articles and share ideas with each other outside of the meetings.
Participants will receive a stipend payment for participation and may receive assistance with technology necessary for active involvement.
The Family Leadership Learning Community will support family leaders to feel confident as an advocate for their own children and family as well as other families. Participants may expect to attend Pennsylvania’s prenatal-to-age-three collaborative subgroup meetings as part of the experience, and may be offered the opportunity to continue involvement.
Topics to be discussed:
- Advocacy and asking questions
- Characteristics of strong families
- Uncovering strengths in communities
- Service and educational systems
- Cultural awareness, social justice and equity
- Leadership skills
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Teaching Children to Understand and Value Diversity |
How can we teach children to understand and genuinely value people who look, sound and act different?
To help people who work with young children and their families in early learning centers, the National Center for Cultural Competence developed a self-assessment checklist that gives specific examples of things you can do to create an environment where diversity is valued, modeled and taught. Read more.
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Set the Right Course for Your Child's Success |
Pennsylvania's Early Learning GPS has a lot of great information and resources for families and caregivers.
The Early Learning GPS can help you set the right course for your child’s success in kindergarten and beyond.
Choose between the infant, toddler or preschooler quiz and find 10 questions about your child. Get information about your child’s brain, their development, you and your child, and when your child is not with you. At the end of the quiz, you’ll get a list of helpful resources.
You can stop the quiz at any time and jump right to the resources! Responses are not recorded and you don’t give any personal information about yourself or your child to take the quiz or get the resources.
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What Early Learning Resource Centers Can Do for You |
Pennsylvania's Early Learning Resources Centers, or ELRCs, are a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers, and communities to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early childhood education programs.
An ELRC can help you find the best child care for your child. They offer links to or information about services like:
- Individualized list of child care programs based on a child's specific needs
- Child Care Works, Pennsylvania’s child care subsidy program
- Keystone STARS, Pennsylvania’s quality improvement program for child care providers
- PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start
- Early Intervention Services
- Family Centers
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- And other services
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August is National Immunization Awareness Month |
We all need shots (also called vaccinations or immunizations) to help protect us from serious diseases. Shots can prevent serious diseases like the flu, measles, and pneumonia. It's important to know which shots you need and when to get them.
Everyone age six months and older should get a flu vaccine every year. Many other shots work best when they are given at certain ages.
Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure that everyone in your family gets the shots they need.
What to do if you can't afford vaccinations for your child? The PA Vaccines for Children Program provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. You can also apply for the PA Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that includes coverage like vaccines.
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A Family Activity that Encourages Healthy Eating |
How can your child participate in a valuable learning experience, while having family fun? Where can you get the freshest fruits and vegetables for your family without having to dig or plant? Try a Pick Your Own farm near you!
Children of all ages can help pick fruits and vegetables. Helping also mean they're more likely to try an unfamiliar fruit or vegetable!
Pick Your Own farms allow families to pick and purchase fruits and vegetables that someone else has been planted. There are several locations throughout Pennsylvania where families can pick their own fruits and vegetables. How much you purchase depends on how much you can pick! Learn more.
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August 1-7: World Breastfeeding Week |
Having a new baby is an exciting time for a family. By choosing to breastfeed, moms are providing their baby with food that is uniquely made for him and benefits their health and well-being.
The WIC Program is available to answer any questions and help with any breastfeeding challenges a mom may face. Get information about how the WIC Program can help moms reach their breastfeeding goals with a little loving support.
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Our Favorite Pinterest Pins |
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Starting Kindergarten in the Fall? |
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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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