Your preschooler might have graduated preschool by now. Perhaps you've even registered your child for Kindergarten.
What should you and your child do now?
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Keep learning throughout the summer. Visit your local library for new books and activities that will keep alive her love of learning. Try some activities listed below.
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Stay active. Summer is the perfect time to help your child engage in fun activities, like swimming, biking, tree climbing and just playing.
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Share your child's preschool graduation with PA's Promise for Children! What made this year of preschool special for your child? Was your child involved in Head Start or PA Pre-K Counts? Send your story to Mary at marhal@pakeys.org.
Because your child has will be entering Kindergarten in the fall, this will be the last edition of
Kindergarten, Here I Come news you will receive. The next enews you receive will be
Kindergarten, Here I Am. You don't need to do anything to receive this--we'll take care of it for you.
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Did you know that when preschoolers play, they learn? It's true! Use these activities to encourage your preschooler to play.
We're learning Language and Literacy Skills
Do it!
Ask your preschooler to tell you a story. Write down some of the words on a blank piece of paper. Give them the paper and a crayon and ask him to illustrate it. Turn your child's story into a book. Provide your child with pictures from magazines, newspapers or clipart to illustrate or recreate their story.
Read it!
The Grumpy Morning by Pamela Duncan Edwards. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion.
We're learning through Play
Do it!
Make a pile of different clothing items such as a hat, pants, swim suits, etc. Ask questions about which items would be needed to do certain things. For example, "What would you wear when you go to bed?" Provide an opportunity for your preschooler to dress herself with the choices. As you help them dress, describe the clothing articles and the use. Be sure to include the color, pattern and size in your descriptions. Create a visual aid of clothing options for them to select their outfit.
Read it!
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina.
We're learning Social and Emotional Development
Do it!
Together, use words and pictures to make a list of things you do to be clean and healthy. For example, draw a bar of soap and write SOAP next to the picture. Create a timeline of activities for healthy behaviors, and use a checklist to show your preschooler completed activities.
Read it!
Mrs. McNosh Hangs up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks. The Flea's Sneeze by Karla Firehammer.
We're learning Mathematical Thinking and Expression
Do it!
Share a food items with your preschooler. For example, cut a piece of toast in half to share. Talk about who has the larger piece or who has a smaller piece. Develop a picture story about sharing. Use real objects for your preschooler to see, touch, and or feel parts of things. Be sure to describe equal, larger and smaller. Make a picture list of all the new words used.
Read it!
Spaghetti And Meatballs For All! by Marilyn Burns. Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore.
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The Importance of Independent Play |
Sasha, 18 months old, stacks blocks on top of each other, then knocks them down, only to build them again.
Rachel, two and half years old, takes books off the shelf, looking through pages and tells stories to her stuffed animals.
Jamie, four years old, hooks play trains together and runs them along imaginary paths.
What do all of these have in common? They’re all examples of independent play!
Research has shown the importance of play. Play can enhance brain structure and function and promote executive function (the process of learning). While interaction with adults and other children during play builds important cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills, independent play also has benefits. When a child plays alone, it can foster imagination and creative play, build persistence and problem-solving skills, and teach patience and resilience. Find out how you can help your child develop independent play skills.
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Enroll Now for 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.
Each program offering PA Pre-K Counts classrooms will have their own guidelines, but PA Pre-K Counts is designed for children who:
- are between age 3 and younger than the entry age for kindergarten;
- live in a family earning up to 300% of poverty; and
- may also have language (English is not your first language), a disability or developmental delay, or other issues that make them at risk for failing in school.
If your child falls into these categories, you may be eligible to apply.
There are PA Pre-K Counts classrooms in most of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. To find PA Pre-K Counts programs near you, 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 www.raiseyourstar.org.
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Opportunities for Families
In this interactive training institute, participants will learn how to apply lessons learned from ground-breaking research designed to change the way we talk about family engagement and its importance. These framing strategies will help shift the conversation from family engagement being “nice to have” to being a “must have.” This Training Institute includes three sessions. Registrants must commit to attending all three sessions.
Session 1: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 10:00 - 11:30 am ET
Session 2: Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 3:00 - 4:30 pm ET
Session 3: Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 10:00 - 11:30 am ET
August 2-5: 2021 National Autism Conference, offered as a virtual opportunity as part of the efforts to maintain public health and safety in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. Anyone may watch free of charge.
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Love Your Teacher?
Share your story!
Help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-7, 2021!
Teachers play an important role in shaping the lives of Pennsylvania's youngest learners. They work with families, children and partners to ensure that each child has opportunities to learn and grow.
Are you a parent or family member whose child loves their teacher? Share:
- Your child's favorite teacher's name and early learning program or school
- Why this teacher is your child's favorite teacher--why is this teacher special?
- A picture of your child and their favorite teacher!
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You're Invited to Join A Free Treasury Webinar
The PA Treasury is offering free webinars for parents, employees, grandparents, etc. on its savings programs. The next one is upcoming on May 18 and Treasury has shared information to make sure that all families and those who work in the child care and education fields can also attend. Please share the information below on Treasury’s upcoming May 18 webinar!
Keystone Scholars provides Pennsylvania babies with a $100 investment that can help jump start families` savings for future higher education.
The Bright Future Booster provides an additional one-time $50 deposit to Keystone Scholars babies whose parent(s) are WIC participants and who give birth between January 1 and June 30, 2021.
The PA Savings Pledge offers Pennsylvania residents incentives to save for a child aged 0-18. Take the pledge to save and you`ll be entered in monthly drawings with more than $5,000 in prizes up for grabs.
The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program helps thousands of Pennsylvania families save for a child`s future education while providing great tax benefits. PA 529 plans may be used at most colleges and universities, many technical, career and vocational schools and even for K-12 tuition.
Click here to register to join a free Treasury webinar on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM to learn about how to participate and benefit from these programs.
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Is Your Child Registered for Kindergarten?
It's not too late to register your child for Kindergarten! Registering your child now means that you, your child and your child's school will be ready when Kindergarten begins.
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National Children's Mental Health Awareness |
Often when we think of children's health, we think of things related to physical health, such as colds and flu, asthma, or broken bones. But children are much more than their physical bodies, and children's health encompasses more than physical health.
The well-being of the whole child includes a healthy mental and emotional state as well. Just as children suffer from physical illnesses and injuries, they can also suffer from emotional and mental disorders. Your child's health can also affect how well she learns!
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7, 2021, is a day for everyone to learn about and promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth their families.
Pennsylvania CHIP offers care for children by providing benefits to cover behavioral health care. Visit www.chipcoverspakids.com for more information on the mental health services covered by PA CHIP and how to apply.
The Our Kids....To Infinity & Beyond! on Facebook is for family members who have, and professionals who work with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The focus is on advocacy, self-advocacy, self-determination. This is a safe place to ask questions, get advice, or share stories!
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Top Pins for Preschoolers
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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
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