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August
Fun activities, aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards,
to help prepare children for school success!
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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. Encourage your toddler to pour water from one place to the next. Help them select the big cup or the little cup. 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 and 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 concerned about a certain part of school, try to find a book or write a story that directly addresses their 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. Kick or push the ice puck in the grass or hard area, like 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
Print this list!
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The Final Weeks of the
Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip
During August, we wrap up the virtual Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip by exploring libraries and state parks! Join us for the final two weeks as we have fun with activities, read books, and learn about Pennsylvania's outdoors.
The activities can be done in the home, the community, or anywhere that fit's your family's needs. Visit your local library to explore new books with your child, then visit a park or outside area to learn about the outdoors.
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Week Seven: Racoon Creek State Park and Beaver Area Memorial Library in Beaver County.
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Week Eight: Oil Creek State Park and Oil City Library in Venango County.
Download the resources like the Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip Travel Journal, and learn and have fun!
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There's Still Time to Enroll in
PA Pre-K Counts!
Quality pre-kindergarten can give your child a strong start in school and in life. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts provides free half-day or full-day pre-kindergarten for at-risk children throughout Pennsylvania.
Children and their guardians must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the PA Pre-K Counts program:
- They must be residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- They must meet the income eligibility requirements of at or below 300% of the federal poverty level for their family size.
- The child must be between the age of 3 and younger than the Kindergarten entry age for the district that they reside in.
Once these eligibility requirements are met, enrollment procedures are based on local community needs. These procedures may contain other considerations for enrollment, such as; diagnosed disabilities or developmental delays, English as a second language, or any other factor that the program deems as a priority to ensure that their communities’ needs are being served.
There are PA Pre-K Counts classrooms in many Pennsylvania counties. To find PA Pre-K Counts programs near you, visit www.findchildcare.pa.gov and search for a program in your area using your county and the age of your child. (The PA Pre-K Counts options will be in the tab at the top of the search results.)
You can also contact your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) and they can help you locate your local PA Pre-K Counts program. Find your ELRC at Raise Your Star website.
Please contact the lead agency directly for enrollment information, such as locations of classrooms and how to apply. Many PA Pre-K Counts programs are partnering with other programs to provide classrooms in nearby cities, so contact them directly for information on all of their locations.
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Enter for a Chance to Win a Back To School Kit!
Pennsylvania families and friends of children birth to Kindergarten entry, and Pennsylvania early childhood educators are invited to enter for a chance to win a back to school kit from PA’s Promise for Children!
Each kit will contain a copy of the 2024 PA One Book, Slug in Love by Rachel Bright, and early learning materials for your child’s age. There's even a Back to School coloring page to download!
Enter before the August 30, 2024 deadline!
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Back-to-School Routines
Familiar routines around waking up, mealtime and bedtime can help children feel safe and secure when transitioning to child care or Kindergarten. Create predictable routines with these fun, brain-building tips from Vroom®.
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Helping a Child Get Ready for Kindergarten
Is your child ready for kindergarten? You may be thinking about early reading, writing, or math skills, but success in school may have more to do with a child’s ability to be independent, follow directions, and communicate their needs. These tips from Child Care Aware can help your child feel ready for the first day of kindergarten.
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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.
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.
Ready to start the quiz? Visit www.earlylearninggps.com.
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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
To find your ELRC and additional information, visit www.raiseyourstar.org and search by your county.
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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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Me Moments
Me Moments are practices children (and adults) can do in school and at home. These practices build self-regulation – an important social-emotional skill to identify and manage emotions, that helps prepare you to learn and engage with others. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation have created a virtual hub of Me Moments to use in classrooms, at child care or early learning programs, or in a home.
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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 and their families reach breastfeeding goals with a little loving support.
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National Farmers' Market Week
National Farmers’ Market Week is August 4-10! This annual celebration highlights the important role farmers’ markets play in our nation’s food system. How do you plan to celebrate? Plan a visit to a local farmers' market with your child and explore options for a variety of foods.
Find a market near you using USDA’s Local Food Directories: National Farmers’ Market Directory.
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Is Your Child Starting Kindergarten in the Fall?
Will your preschooler enter Kindergarten in Fall 2024? Sign up for the FREE monthly Kindergarten, Here I Am eNews! Each month get activities, tips and resources you can use to help your kindergartner prepare for and have a successful Kindergarten year.
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Calendar of Activities for Early Learning Professionals
During August’s National Immunization Awareness Month, raise awareness about why vaccines are important for people of all ages and how they can help prevent serious, sometimes deadly, diseases and illnesses. Share the importance of vaccines.
Check out the August Calendar of Activities to support Early Learning Professionals and staff with activities and information to help prepare children and their families for school success.
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