We're going strong into this Kindergarten year! Help your child learn by trying these activities, then visiting your library to check out a book about it. Click here to print the book list or visit the PA Promise for Children website to find more activities.

We are learning Language and Literacy

Do it!

Pick a letter of the alphabet and help your kindergartner write it on a piece of paper. Make an outline of the letter with glue and let it dry and harden. Have your child trace the letter with their finger first, then have them write the letter using a crayon.

Read it!

A Mountain Alphabet by Margriet Ruurs. ABC Mystery by Doug Cushman.

We are learning Language and Literacy

Do it!

Play Simon Says with your kindergartner using directional words and a ball. Give directions such as, "Simon Says put the ball on your head," or "Simon Says put the ball behind your back." Teach your kindergartner to take turns by allowing them to give you the directions. Manipulate a ball on their body and review the directional words as you do. Continue to incorporate directional vocabulary words throughout your kindergartner's day. For example, the train track is next to the road.

Read it!

Rhinoceroses Tap: 15 Seriously Silly Songs by Sandra Boynton. Flamingos on the Roof by Calef Brown.

We are learning Language and Literacy

Do it!

Talk with your kindergartner about sleeping words. A nap is a short sleep. What other words describe what happens when we sleep? (Like snore, snooze, doze, etc.) Help your kindergartner find pictures of people sleeping in books and family photos. Demonstrate what each sleep word looks like or sounds like. Use the sign and braille word for each. Explain why their body needs to sleep, and that they grow and recuperate while they sleep.

Read it!

The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan. It's Time to Sleep, My Love by Eric Metaxas.

We are learning Mathematics Thinking and Expression

Do it!

Help your kindergartner draw or build a house using only the following shapes: square, rectangle, triangle and circle. Develop fine motor skills by practicing manipulating fabric pattern or wooden blocks to create a house with shapes. There are several apps that allow children to manipulate shapes with their fingertip or even eye movements where mobility is a concern.

Read it!

Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald. A Circle Here, A Square There by David Diehl.

You can be a Family Leader!

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 has information and resources for supporting family engagement and leadership. Read family stories, watch their videos, and find ways families can become involved. Providers can also use suggestions in the November Family Engagement Calendar as opportunities to increase engagement with families and support leadership in their early learning program, and learn about PD courses in the PD Registry that can help increase family engagement. 

Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families with Young Children 

It is important to ensure that you and your family are well-prepared and ready should disaster strike; preparedness and planning are key. Children have unique needs, especially during a disaster or emergency. Using everyday child’s life to help your child learn and build skills will help them if faced with 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 for preparing, responding or recovering from an emergency.

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.

Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us or can complete an application in person at a county assistance office.

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:

• Printable Resources
• Reading Trackers
• Activity Sheets

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!

Forming Friendships

For Kindergarten students, fall is full of transitions--new schedules, new schools, new teachers, new classmates. These all create the opportunity to form new friendships.

For some children, these friendships will develop naturally over time. But some children may need some support and assistance in finding friends.

These tips from PA's Promise for Children share how families can offer support and encouragement to assist their child in forming friendships.

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 | College and Career Savings Program - PA529

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.

PA ABLE Savings Program

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.

7 Tips for Traveling With Your Kindergartner

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

1. 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.
2. Start singing! Singing with your child will help pass the miles. Your library has music to borrow to help keep your child entertained.
3. Pack smart. Add a small pad of paper and crayons or colored pencils to a purse or backpack for drawing pictures, creating origami (fold into the shape of a square!), or playing a game (like tic-tac-toe).
4. Be selective. Set aside specific toys and books for use only while traveling.
5. Keep it real. Have reasonable expectations of yourself and your child. Take breaks when needed.
6. 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.
7. Fly friendly. Traveling by plane? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has information for traveling with children.

6 Tips to Help Your Kindergartner Learn to Read

Important literacy skills begin developing at birth and continue as a child gets older.

Click here for 6 tips to help your kindergartner learn to read!

Trauma Resources for Families with Young Children

During these challenging times, 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 war and turmoil, including:

• A Big Impact on Little Kids: Understanding How Traumatic Experiences Affect Very Young Children
• How to Talk to Young Children About War (available in Arabic and Hebrew)
• Little Listeners in an Uncertain World
• Helping Toddlers Cope with Grief and Death
• Mindfulness and Self Care: Building a Resilient Community and Culture of Caring
• Children’s Book: Once I Was Very Very Scared by Chandra Gosh Ippen. Available in the following languages:  
• American Sign Language 
• Arabic
• German 
• Norwegian 
• Spanish 
• Swedish 
• Turkish 
• Vietnamese 

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!

Safe Vehicle Traveling with Kindergartners 

Did you know your kindergartner should be using a booster seat when riding in a vehicle?

At the www.pakidstravelsafe.org website, sponsored by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, find all types of safety information to keep your kindergartner safe, including car seat loan programs, car or booster seat fitting station locations, and access to a child car seat technician to ensure the correct installation of a car or booster seat in a vehicle.

Top Pins for Kindergartners! 

20+ Counting games and activities for kids

Letter Hunt for Kindergartners

Turkey math game   

Follow the Terrific Thanksgiving board!

Calendar of Activities For Early Childhood Educators

Are you an early childhood educator, looking for ways to engage families in your program? This Calendar of Activities from the Pennsylvania Key provides recommendations of activities to engage families and staff. During November, get ideas for celebrating National Family Engagement Month!

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We are where you are.

The 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 

Pennsylvania Department of Education | Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

The Pennsylvania Key | Pennsylvania's Promise for Children

Early Intervention Technical Assistance