We're learning while in the bathroom! |
|
Babies
Using a song, describe the different body parts as you wash your baby. For example, sing that you are washing ten toes, first the big toes, all the way to the little toes. Then move to the left foot and left leg, and so on. Or create a routine singing head, shoulders, knees and toes or saying, "This Little Piggy." Read more.
Toddlers
Using hand soap while washing your toddler's hands, have your toddler discover how many bubbles they can make. Are there a lot of bubbles, or a few bubbles? Are there big bubbles or little bubbles? What happens if they rub together their hands fast? What happens if they put their hands under the water? Where do the bubbles go? Read more.
Preschoolers
Help your preschooler find different shapes in the bathroom. Can they find something that is round, square or rectangle? What shape is the bar of soap, or the top of the shampoo bottle? Allow your preschooler to feel and manipulate each object. Use new words to describe the shapes. Ask questions like, "Are the lines straight or curved?" Talk to your preschooler about the purpose of each item in the bathroom. Describe and introduce the sign for each shape. Read more.
Kindergartners
Use a toy boat or plastic container (one that can float) as a boat and have your kindergartner slowly add other items, like toy cars, LEGOs, or other water-friendly toys, until the boat begins to sink. How many can they add until it begins to sink? What happens to the boat if they take items out of it? Ask them to tell you a story about where the boat is going, or why the objects are on the boat. Read more.
|
|
Tub Toys by Terry Miller Shannon
Do Pirates Take Baths? by Kathy Tucker
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel
Puppy Takes a Bath by Christine Ricci
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood
Estelle Takes a Bath by Jill Esbaum
Barnyard Bath! by Sandra Boynton
Five Little Monkeys Jump in the Bath by Eileen Christelow
Five Minutes’ Peace by Jill Murphy
|
|
Get Help with Winter Heating Costs |
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications. LIHEAP is a federally-funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides assistance for home heating bills so those Pennsylvanians meeting eligibility and income guidelines can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for renters and homeowners.
The LIHEAP application period for both cash and crisis grants opened on November 1, 2022, and will remain open until April 28, 2023.
Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP and other public assistance programs online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by phone at 1-866-550-4355. On-site County Assistance Office (CAO) services are available if clients cannot access online services or need assistance that cannot be accessed through the COMPASS website, the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling the Customer Service Centers at 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia clients or 1-877-395-8930 for clients in all other counties.
|
|
Read Aloud 15 Fall Challenge |
Investigate the fall season with Detective Readatron-15! Read Aloud 15 has developed resources that are filled with various ways children can investigate the fall season with Detective Readatron-15. These resources encourage children to explore the world around them while increasing their vocabulary and language skills.
Find matching games, sensory hunts, and more printable resources using these links:
If you’re looking for new books to share with or explore with children of various ages, check out the book selections webpage that is also available. Please use these resources and share them with others to help promote reading aloud every day!
|
|
Opportunities for Families to Make An Impact in PA's Early Learning
|
Two new exciting opportunities are available for families to share their experiences and make an impact in Pennsylvania's early learning.
Parents as Partners in Professional Development/Pennsylvania Professional Development Organizations
Parents as Partners in Professional Development (P3D), with the Pennsylvania Professional Development Organizations (PDO), are recruiting a cohort of families to participate in P3D/PDO Family Voices. All family members (moms, dads, grandparents, foster parents, etc.) of young children who attend an early childhood program in Pennsylvania are invited to apply. P3D/PDO Family Voices seeks a diverse group of families who have experiences with many aspects of early childhood services in Pennsylvania, like child care, PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Early Intervention, Home Visiting, etc.
An honorarium and travel reimbursement are provided to participants. Applications are due November 18 and all applicants must agree to attending the full day virtual training on December 6, 2022. Learn more and access the P3D/PDO application.
Collaborative Action for Family Engagement
Families are invited to serve on the Collaborative Action for Family Engagement (CAFE). CAFE is currently recruiting family leaders for the Interstate Family Engagement Leadership Collaborative. This NEW initiative at CAFE ensures that family leaders will help shape the direction of the advisory councils in each state. As a critical partner in the field, families are invited to serve in a leadership capacity on CAFE’s Advisory Board to share their expertise to implement high-impact school, family, and community engagement strategies in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Over the past two years, CAFE has facilitated a State Advisory Council composed of up to 40 members including early childhood, middle, and high school students, school-, local-, and state-level organizations. Families/family members make up at least 51% of its members. Family Leaders will commit to an estimated two hours a month for meetings, and compensation/reimbursement is provided for a stipend and mileage. Learn more and access the CAFE application. |
|
Little Neighbors Building a Better World Together |
The PSEG Foundation and Sesame Workshop have partnered to create bilingual (English and Spanish), multiple media programs that help families prepare for, and respond to, emergencies and provide tools so children can build the skills they need to become resilient.
With Let’s Get Ready, families learn to plan and prepare together for emergencies through simple strategies and tips that can be incorporated into everyday routines.
Here for Each Other provides tips, ideas, and activities that teach families effective and comforting ways to respond when an emergency occurs.
Brave, Strong Resilient helps children build the self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and emotional tools they need to cope with adversity.
|
|
The Benefits of Family Mealtimes |
Starting a simple habit with your young child, like regularly eating meals together, can have a lifelong impact.
A day beginning with breakfast and ending with dinner as a family is more than a benefit of sharing plates of food. It’s an opportunity to bond as a family, teach children table manners, share stories and experiences, and sample and learn about traditions, cultures and foods. But there are even greater benefits of family mealtimes. Read more!
|
|
IECMHC Virtual Office Hours: Help for Families, Child Care Professionals |
Are you looking for support with helping a child who is struggling with behavior, attachment, peer relationships or emotion regulation? Need help for teachers or families with self-care, stress, and coping, but not sure what to do next? The Pennsylvania Key Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Virtual Office Hours are here to help.
IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide telephone or video conference consultation. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for:
- Child Social-Emotional Concerns
- Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns
- Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers
- Partnering with Families
Services are available at no cost to Pennsylvania families, child care professionals and specialists supporting Keystone STARS child care programs. IECMH Consultation helps adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build capacity to respond to children’s social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help reduce caregiver stress, as well as increase caregivers’ reflective practice skills. Learn how IECMHC Virtual Office Hours can help.
|
|
Savings Programs For Families With Young Children |
Pennsylvania has two resources available to families with young children who want to save for future expenses.
Keystone Scholars is an investment in every Pennsylvania baby’s bright future, including yours. Keystone Scholars provides $100 for every baby born to a PA family on or after January 1, 2019, to be used for your child’s future post-secondary education expenses.
The Pennsylvania ABLE Savings Program (PA ABLE) is an extraordinary, new, low-cost saving vehicle that gives people with disabilities and their families a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses while maintaining government benefits. Federal and state law authorized the creation of PA ABLE accounts.
|
|
At the www.pakidstravelsafe.org website, sponsored by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, find all types of travel safety information to keep your child safe. Search for car seat recalls, locate a car seat loan program, find a car seat fitting station locations, and access a child car seat technician to ensure the correct installation of a car seat in a vehicle.
|
|
Did you know that even before your baby's teeth appear, what you do--or don't do--can impact future teeth? Taking care of your child's smile begins at birth.
|
|
Potty or toilet training can be a stressful time for families and children, even though it doesn’t have to be! Get potty training tips.
|
|
Helping Your Family Prepare for Emergencies with Ready Wrigley |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created Ready Wrigley to provide parents, guardians, teachers, and young children with tips, activities, and a story to help the whole family prepare for emergencies. Together with your child, join Wrigley as she helps her family prepare for emergencies by staying informed, packing emergency kits, and making a family communication plan.
The activity book is designed to provide an interactive tool to further your child's education and promote disaster preparedness and safe clean-up in your community. Share this book with your schools and early learning programs, communities, and families to help children learn the importance of being prepared. It is available in English and Spanish.
|
|
Is your child in Kindergarten? You need this! |
|
Our Favorite Pinterest Pins |
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
