April 2022
Activities aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards to help your preschooler prepare for Kindergarten. 
Let's Play and Learn
Did you know that when preschoolers play, they learn? It's true! Use these activities to encourage your preschooler to play. Click here to print the book list for April.

We're learning Language and Literacy Skills 
Do it! 
Give your preschooler two-step directions, like, "Get your coat and go to the door." Or "Take off your socks and put them in the hamper." Use pictures, words and numbers to make a chart or schedule of tasks so your preschooler can visualize the steps. As they finish each step, move the task to the complete side of the schedule. Many tablets and computers have templates and apps to help you create a personalized system.
Read it! 
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.

We're learning Mathematical Thinking and Expression
Do it! 
Encourage your preschooler to use tongs or tweezers to pick up objects from one bowl and transfer them into another. Cotton balls or other small items are good objects for them to use. Holding their hand with yours, demonstrate and assist them with the skill. As you move the items, use words to describe what it looks like. Listen together for the sounds the objects make as it is grasped and transferred. Hold, feel and explore the objects and describe them as you play.
Read it! 
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen. If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty.

We're learning Social Emotional Development 
Do it! 
Talk with your preschooler about things that make them nervous, scared, excited, sad and happy. Tell them things that make you feel those ways, too. Find photos of feelings in books magazines and on the web. Practice making the different faces and help them describe the feeling. Use your preschooler's hand to feel your face expressing an emotion. Discuss ways they can recognize when others may be experiencing the same feelings. 
Read it! 
Lotta on Troublemaker Street by Astrid Lindgren. The Way I Feel by Janan Cain.

We're learning Social Studies Thinking
Do it! 
Ask your preschooler to help you plan a family meal. Together make a list of things needed from the store. Let them help you find the items at the store. Draw pictures of the grocery lists so they can recognize the foods. Provide opportunities for them to see and feel the items in many ways--canned, frozen and fresh. Point to the names and match the picture with the products. Explore the size options available. Talk about dietary restrictions and feeding concerns. When possible, help them reach, grasp and hold items along the way. 
Read it! 
SuperDuper Teddy by Johanna Hurwitz. Lunch by Denise Fleming.
What is Equity and Why is it Important for Children?
Equity means an effort or strategy to ensure all who need services have access to and an understanding about opportunities. It may include treating everyone with an equal amount of respect and care, regardless of:
  • social-economic status
  • race
  • class
  • culture
  • gender
  • sexual orientation
  • ability/disability
  • language
  • national origin
  • indigenous heritage
  • religion
  • other identities

Equity recognizes that not everyone comes from the same starting place. Regardless of the identity or financial background of someone, there may be a need for assistance in different and unique ways.
Child Tax Credit and Benefits to Families
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a tax benefit to help families raising children. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 that President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021, advance payments of up to half the 2021 CTC were sent to eligible taxpayers, meaning that most families started receiving monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action. Those who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020 or signed up to receive the IRS stimulus check started receiving this tax relief automatically.

  • Whether they received monthly advance payments or not, eligible families can claim their remaining Child Tax Credit benefits by filing a tax return this year.
  • Low-income families with children, including those who have not made enough to be required to file taxes, should file taxes to receive their full benefit. Free tax help is available to file tax returns. 
  • For families eligible for the CTC, filing taxes to claim this credit also means many families may also receive thousands of dollars in additional tax relief through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides a tax break for low-income workers and families based on their wages, salaries, tips, and other pay, as well as earnings from self-employment. Under ARPA, the EITC is more generous and open to more workers than ever.

Did you know...
  • All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household).
  • For those with children, the ARPA increased the CTC from $2,000 to $3,000 per child for children over the age of 6 and from $2,000 to $3,600 per child for children under the age of 6.
  • Receiving the CTC and/or the EITC will have no impact on anyone’s eligibility for, or lower the amount of, other Federal benefits.
Family Scholarship Applications Available for National Conference
Are you a family member of a young child/young children with disabilities between the ages of 0 and 8? Family Registration Waivers are available for those considering attending the Division for Early Childhood Conference, Integrating Research and Practices in Early Childhood Intervention, Sept. 27-30, 2022, in Chicago. Complete an application here. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The Division for Early Childhood will be offering a limited number of Family Scholarships in the amount of $500 to support the conference attendance of families of children ages 0-8 receiving Early Intervention and/or Early Childhood Special Education services. These scholarships can be used to pay for costs related to travel, hotel accommodations, or childcare.

Families, please consider applying! Your voice is needed at the conference. Apply for a Family Scholarship here. Please submit an application for the scholarship by Monday, May 16, 2022. Awardees will be notified by Monday, June 12, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kimberly Hile at kimberly.hile@uah.edu.
2022 PA One Book Author Reading
The PA One Book selection for 2022 is Saturday, written and illustrated by Oge Mora.

Join the Tuesday, April 5, at 10:00 am webinar to hear Oge Mora, acclaimed author and Caldecott Award winning illustrator of the 2022 book selection, Saturday, as she speaks virtually to children across the state. During this event, Ms. Mora will talk about her work as a storyteller and answer questions from librarians, teachers, and students alike. Register now!

Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children
Project Learning Tree® released a new resource for families and teachers to connect children ages 1–6 to nature, with a focus on trees. Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children offers hundreds of ideas for fun, indoor and outdoor, learning experiences for toddlers and preschoolers to explore nature through their senses, experience trees throughout the seasons, and connect with their community. Take a look!
The Role a Sibling Plays in Developing Empathy
There are benefits to having a sibling! Having a brother or sister can impact how confident a child is, how well they do in school, how they interact with friends, can boost a younger siblings language development and their understanding of others point of view. It can even play a role in the development of empathy. 
 
Empathy is the key to understanding another's perspective and valuing people. Children who kind, supportive and understanding, influence their siblings to act and behave in similar ways. These empathetic traits develop into life-long behaviors towards friends, spouses and parents.
 
Although siblings can be a good support for helping raise an empathetic child, it's not required! This article from the Making, Caring, Common Project at Harvard shares tips on cultivating empathy. 
Helping Parents Be Parents
Parenting can be challenging. There's no such thing as a perfect parent, and there's no one set way to be a good one. 
 
The Early Learning GPS has tips, tools, and resources to help when families encounter challenging behavior with their child.
 
Parenting is challenging, and the challenge comes with little direction at times. Just as there are no perfect children, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA) believes every parent needs and deserves two things: Information, and support! Visit the PFSA website for resources and support.
Don't Wait. Vaccinate!
When you're planning summer activities, remember to make an appointment for vaccinations. Scheduling your children now for the vaccines they will need to start the next school year will help you cross one important item off your hectic back-to-school list this fall. 
 
Immunizations should be part of your children's regular school physical before they enter kindergarten. See the schedule of needed immunizations for students attending Pennsylvania schools. For more information regarding vaccines required for your children, please contact your children's health care provider.
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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