November 2026

Fun activities, aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards,

to help prepare children for school success!

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 of singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" or saying, "This Little Piggy."

Toddlers

Using hand soap while washing your toddler's hands, have your toddler discover how many bubbles they can make. Are there many bubbles, or a few bubbles? Are there big bubbles or little bubbles? What happens if they rub their hands together fast? What happens if they put their hands under the water? Where do the bubbles go?

Preschoolers

Help your preschooler find different shapes in the bathroom. Can they see something that is round, square, or rectangular? 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?" Discuss the purpose of each item in the bathroom with your preschooler. Describe and introduce the sign for each shape.

Kindergartners

Take advantage of the sun by creating shadow monsters! Ask your kindergartner to make different shadow shapes with their body and encourage them to watch how their shadow changes as they move. How does it change when they hold items in their hand (like a ball) or open their jacket or hold your hand? Use this opportunity to teach descriptive words like tall, short, small, and round. Make predictions about movement in relation to the shadow. Engage all your senses when playing in the sun with shadows, such as asking your kindergartner how the sun feels on their skin and what they smell.

Visit the Pennsylvania Promise for Children website for more activities!

9 Bath Time Books

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

Visit the PA Promise for Children website to print this list!

You Can Be a Family Leader! Celebrate National Family Engagement Month

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) kicks off November's National Family Engagement Month with a video from Deputy Secretary Shante' Brown.

Celebrate and bring awareness to the importance of family engagement and leadership during November's National Family Engagement Month. Pennsylvania's Promise for Children offers information and resources to support family engagement and leadership.

Providers can use suggestions in the November Family Engagement Calendar as opportunities to increase engagement and support family leadership with families in their early learning program and learn about PD courses in the PD Registry that can help increase family engagement.

2027 PA One Book Selection Announced!

The Pennsylvania One Book team is excited to announce that Don't Wash Winston by Ashley Belote has been selected as the 2027 PA One Book!

Beginning in Spring 2027, this heartwarming and humorous story will be shared in libraries, early learning programs, and communities across Pennsylvania. Through Winston's unforgettable adventure, children and families will have opportunities to read, learn, and connect through engaging activities and experiences designed to support early literacy.

Stay tuned for free resources, programming ideas, and special events that will help bring this year's PA One Book selection to life.

Learn more about the program and upcoming resources at paonebook.powerlibrary.org.

Together, let's inspire a love of reading in Pennsylvania's youngest learners!

Apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The 2026-2027 LIHEAP Season is scheduled to open on November 2, 2026.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) provides cash grants to help Pennsylvania families pay their heating bills. To qualify for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania, you must meet income requirements, which are set based on your household size. Renters and homeowners are both eligible for benefits.

For more information, including how to apply, visit the PA Department of Human Services website.

Helping Young Children Stay, Belong, and Thrive in Preschool Webinar

When your child faces problems at school, you might not know what to do next. PEAL will partner with Trying Together to discuss the importance of positive preschool experiences and to identify barriers that can interfere with active participation and learning. We will discuss steps to help your child stay in and thrive in preschool.

PA DHS' Human Services Helpers Substack

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has available the Human Services Helpers, a Substack that covers updates on DHS programs, news from the agency, and how organizations and partners can help their communities. Sign up for updates today and be a helper for PA!

Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families with Young Children

It is important to ensure that you and your family are well prepared should disaster strike; preparedness and planning are key. Children have unique needs, especially during disasters or emergencies. Using everyday situations from children’s lives to help your child learn and build skills will help them if they face an emergency in the future. Back-and-forth interactions with you can help your child’s developing brain make connections with what is happening around them and help them feel safe and secure.

Try the brain-building tips from Child Care Aware with your child to prepare, respond, or recover from an emergency.

Read Aloud 15 Fall Challenge

Investigate the fall season with Detective Readatron-15! Read Aloud 15 has developed resources that offer various ways for children to explore 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!

The Benefits of Family Mealtimes

Establishing a simple habit with your young child, such as eating meals together regularly, can have a lasting impact.

A day that begins with breakfast and ends with dinner as a family is more than just a benefit of sharing meals. 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 at the PA Promise for Children website!

Podcast: How to Keep Kids Trying

Why do some kids keep trying when something is difficult, while others quickly give up? In this episode of Thriving Kids (41:32) from The Child Mind Institute, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Yale University researcher Dr. Julia Leonard to explore the science of motivation, persistence, and learning — and the important role parents and other adults can play in helping kids decide which challenges are worth pursuing.

7 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Traveling with young children can be challenging, especially if you're unprepared. Try these tips to keep your child occupied during travel this upcoming holiday season!

Plan ahead. If your trip is delayed due to weather, traffic, or cancellations, be prepared with a change of clothing, enough drinks, baby formula, diapers, and snacks.
Start singing! Singing with your child will help pass the miles. Your library offers music to borrow, helping keep your child entertained.
Pack smart. Add a small pad of paper and crayons or colored pencils to a purse or backpack for drawing pictures, making origami (fold into a square!), or playing a game (like tic-tac-toe).
Be selective. Set aside specific toys and books for use only during travel.
Keep it real. Have reasonable expectations of yourself and your child. Take breaks when needed.
Stay well hydrated and well fed. Travel can be dehydrating, and empty tummies are grumpy tummies, so take travel-friendly snacks like dry cereal, cut veggies, and fruit. Pack water or juice boxes.
Fly friendly. Traveling by plane? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has information for traveling with children.

One simple way for parents to stay involved in their children's development

Attending parent–teacher conferences is one way to be involved and help your child succeed. Conferences begin soon at many schools. Whether it's your first conversation with the teacher or one of many, it can help if you go prepared, explains Dr. Gigi Chawla, chief of general pediatrics at Children's Minnesota. Learn more at the CBS website.

What the Children’s Librarian at Your Public Library Can Do for Your Young Reader

Your public library is one of the most valuable resources for supporting your child’s early literacy development. Head to the children’s section and you’ll find books, programs, and support designed specifically to serve your child and your family, as well as a wise guide — the children’s librarian on staff at your public library! Check out this article from Reading Rockets to find out more.

7 Back-to-School Safety Tips All Families Should Know

During the school year, ensuring children’s safety and well-being is a top priority. Whether a child is heading to kindergarten or high school, these essential safety tips for families from the Center for Safe Schools are to keep in mind throughout the school year.

Trauma Resources for Families with Young Children

ZERO TO THREE has free resources for families and caregivers, and professionals who support them, that offer guidance on helping young children grieve and process traumatic experiences, enabling them to provide the best care for babies and themselves in times of natural disasters, war, and turmoil, including:

Child Care Seat Safety

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.

Start a Smile Early

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. Get tips to keep your child's smile healthy .

Tips for Potty Training

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 at the PA Promise for Children website .

Is your child in Kindergarten? You need this!

Is your child now in kindergarten? If so, 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 have a great school year.

Teachers are also invited to subscribe and share the info with the families of their students.

December Calendar of Activities for Early Learning Professionals

December is a busy month with National Influenza Week, National Handwashing Awareness Week, and several holidays. Early childhood educators can find everyday ways to incorporate early learning activities with the children in their care in The Pennsylvania Key's December 2026 Calendar of Activities for Early Learning Staff.