August 2021
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.

We're learning Language and Literacy Skills  
Do it! 
Help your preschooler practice writing their name on paper. Show them how to start with a big letter (capital letter) and use lower case (small letters) for the rest. Provide a variety of paper sizes and textures. Write with chalk on dark paper. Use your driveway or sidewalk. Encourage your preschooler to choose their own writing instrument (crayon, chalk, pencil, pen or marker). Put some sand on a cookie sheet and write letters using fingers, a stick, or a paintbrush.
Read it! 
Click, Clack Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. Dear Panda by Miriam Latimer.

We're learning Social Studies Thinking
Do it!  
Talk about things your preschooler likes to do now. Then ask what they might like to do in the future, like next week, next year, when they grow up. Look through magazines with your preschooler and have them identify pictures of things they would like to do. Then help them to cut out those pictures and paste the pictures onto pages labeled now, next week, next year, and grown up. 
Read it!  
Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins. Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham.

We're learning Science Thinking and Technology 
Do it! 
Make ramps by propping cardboard on objects of different heights. Roll balls and small cars down the ramps. Talk about which one goes faster and which one goes slower. Use your own or a town park sliding board for this as well. Take various sized balls and vehicles to roll and push.
Read it! 
Oscar and the Cricket by Geoff Waring. And Everyone Shouted, "Pull!" by Claire Llewellyn.

We're learning Mathematical Thinking and Expression
Do it! 
Introduce your preschooler to a variety of measurement tools, such as a timer, a ruler, measuring cups, and thermometer. Talk about what each one measures or is used for. Help them practice using the the tools. Try indoor and outdoor, using sand, water, dirt, and measuring while working with real tools for projects.
Read it!  
Lengthy. The Long Long Dog by Syd Hoff.  Big Dog...Little Dog by P. D. Eastman.   
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. 
Eating Healthy: Tomatoes in August!
Eating healthy as a family has life-long benefits for you and your child. Each month, we'll explore healthy foods through the Pennsylvania Harvest of the Month program!

August’s feature item for PA Harvest of the Month is tomatoes! Did you know tomatoes are a good source of lycopene and Vitamin C? Both are powerful antioxidants that can help prevent certain kinds of cancer and help strengthen your immune system. 

Visit the PA's Promise for Children website for resources and family-friendly recipes!
6 Ways to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten
Looking for ways to help your child get ready for Kindergarten?

 
A Strong Start to School Success
Quality pre-kindergarten can give your child a strong start in school and in life. Find a preschool program that fits the needs of your child. Two programs to consider are Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and Head Start.

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts

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 such as a family of four earning $73,800; 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.

To find PA Pre-K Counts programs near you, visit www.findchildcare.pa.gov and search for a program in your area or contact your Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) at www.raiseyourstar.org.

Head Start

Head Start programs are federally-funded programs that serve three and four-year-old children. Programs may be based in centers, schools, or family child care homes — or they may be provided at your own home. Services include education, as well as health, nutrition, social and other services.

Children up to age five from families with low income, according to the Poverty Guidelines published by the Federal government, may be eligible for Head Start services.

To find a Head Start program, contact your Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) at www.raiseyourstar.org.
Looking for a Child Care or Early Learning Program?
There's a free, online resource to help you find a child care or early learning program. Pennsylvania families can visit www.findchildcare.pa.gov to search for programs in their community. You can also get information about help paying for child care, the different types of early learning programs, and how you can use Keystone STARS to find a quality program for your child.

You can also contact your Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). They can help you find an early learning program, after school program or other resources to support your child's early learning. Go to www.raiseyourstar.org and provide your county to find the ELRC in your community.
Summer P-EBT
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) helps families cover the cost of breakfasts and lunches their children would have been eligible to receive for free or at reduced price through the National School Lunch Program. The American Rescue Plan authorizes the continued distribution of P-EBT benefits over the summer months to assist households with children that may have otherwise received meals at school or in child care settings.

  • Summer P-EBT is available to all children under six years of age living in a SNAP household.
  • If you have a child under six and you were in enrolled in SNAP starting on June 1, 2021, you don't need to do anything! $375 per child will be automatically deposited directly on to your household's EBT card in late September/early October 2021.
  • No separate application is necessary to receive Summer P-EBT for families enrolled in SNAP as of June 1, 2021.
  • Have a child under six but you aren't currently enrolled in SNAP? Check your eligibility now! If you are eligible and enroll in SNAP before August 31, 2021, you will receive the benefit, too.
Stay Up-to-Date with Your Preschooler's Immunizations
Preschools and early learning programs may require immunizations to attend. Check with your preschooler's early learning program or preschool to find which immunizations are needed.

PA Health Department's Vaccine for Children Program (VFC) provides vaccinations to children who do not have health insurance. 
 
Children who are insured, but insurance does not cover immunizations (underinsured), are eligible to receive federally funded vaccines at public sites. Ask your doctor or clinic if they are a VFC provider. If they are, you may go to them for the shots your child needs. To find a VFC-enrolled provider near you, call 1-877 PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).
 
If your child is not covered under Medical Assistance or insurance, you can apply for PA CHIP. CHIP is short for the Children's Health Insurance Program - Pennsylvania's program to provide health insurance to uninsured children who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance. Regardless of the reasons your children might not have health insurance, CHIP may be able to help.
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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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