Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children
Early Childhood Information & Resource Messages
For families with young children or grandchildren, helping
prepare their child for kindergarten and finding quality a
child care/early learning program is forefront in their minds
and can affect their attendance and performance at work.
Providing families with reliable tips and resources to answer
their questions helps them become stronger in supporting
their child’s early learning and shows that your organization
or program cares about them. You are also helping to
prepare the next generation for success in school and in life!
Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) offers reliable and easy-tounderstand information on early education that has been vetted by the Pennsylvania Office of Child
Development and Early Learning. One way to share this information with your families is providing brief
messages or “blurbs” that include compelling facts that families often want to know.
These messages highlight information and resources families want and need to know throughout the
year to help their child prepare for and be successful in school. You can include the messages in an
organization or program newsletter, in a paycheck stub, on your organization or program’s internal
website, or posted in common areas. These messages contain information that families ask most about
when it comes to their children’s development, such as developmental milestones and preparing your
child for kindergarten, health and safety tips, dealing with challenging behaviors, choosing the right
child care/early learning program for their family, and financial assistance to help pay for it.
Although the messages are organized by month, many can be used any time of the year. With each
message, you may also include the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children logo with a link to
www.papromiseforchildren.com.
Families can also take action steps to help their children learn and get active in their local
communities.
 Sign up to receive the Learning is Everywhere enews. This monthly enews is filled with
everyday fun early learning activities, songs, and books to encourage a love of early learning,
and tips on how you can support your child’s early learning. Visit the Pennsylvania’s Promise for
Children website www.papromiseforchildren.com to find out more.
 Tell your story. Your story matters. Your story has power. It can help other families make early
learning choices for their children. It can help leaders recognize that quality early learning makes
a difference in their communities and they need to support it. Tell your story about how quality
early learning has made an impact in your life by visiting the Pennsylvania’s Promise for
Children website www.papromiseforchildren.com.
 Become a LEARN Partner. Pennsylvania’s Local Education and Resource Network (LEARN)
Partners can help build support networks in every county for organizations and individuals
interested in quality early education. As a LEARN Partner, you can affect change at the local,
regional and state levels, and partner with others in your community to build cohesiveness
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
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within your community around quality early learning. Becoming a LEARN Partner is FREE and
open to any individual or organization in Pennsylvania that has an interest in community
outreach, family engagement, and/or transition to Kindergarten. Sign up at the Pennsylvania’s
Promise for Children website www.papromiseforchildren.com.
Sign the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Declaration. Show your support for Pennsylvania's
young children by signing the simple declaration that quality early learning and child
development play a major role in a child’s future success in school and in life; young children
learn best when they have proper health and nutrition, a safe and stable family and home life,
and activities that stimulate creativity, curiosity, and all the skills they will need to succeed in
school and life; and that every child in Pennsylvania deserves access to quality early learning
opportunities and that it is the responsibility of every Pennsylvanian to help our children reach
their promise. Learn more at the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website
www.papromiseforchildren.com.
If you have any questions or have suggestions for additional topics, please contact Mary Hall at (717)
213-2077 or marhal@berksiu.org.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Index of Messages
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
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September
October
November
December
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Understanding your child’s learning style
Be your Child’s Champion: Communicating on behalf of your child
Keeping your family safe during winter
Stuck inside? How about some activities to have fun and help children learn!
Celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month!
Signing up for a Pre-K program or register for Kindergarten
Having trouble at bedtime?
Fun family activities in your county!
Building your child’s vocabulary
Finding financial assistance for child care
Start your child care search with Keystone STARS
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Helping your child develop
social skills
Summertime safety
Dealing with challenging behaviors
Involving your child in chores
Smooth transitions
Getting ready for Kindergarten
Understanding developmental milestones
National Immunization Awareness Month: Immunizations to keep your child
healthy
Guide your child’s learning and growth from the start with the Early Learning
GPS
Choosing the right child care/early learning program for your family
Learning begins at birth
Celebrate Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Month!
Fascinating fall
Exploring your family history
Over the mountains and through the woods: Traveling with children
Holding onto sanity during the Holiday Season
Smart television time
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Month
Message
January
Understand your child’s learning style
Celebrate your child’s difference! Every child is special and learns in a unique way. Families who
value their child’s differences and help them to develop their own interest and personality build
strong, creative thinkers. When you understand your child’s temperament and style, you can
create experiences that support their uniqueness.
 Learn how your child approaches new things. Some children love new experiences and
participate right away, while others are more careful about situations and need time to
watch or listen first. Either is okay.
 Recognize how your child behaves when their routine is changed. Does your child handle
changes easily with flexibility or does a break in a routine upset your child, making the day
a difficult one? Be prepared for your child’s reaction when a chance occurs.
 Recognize your child’s learning style. One child may need to touch and explore objects to
learn, while another may learn best by looking and listening.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more tips!
Be your Child’s Champion: Communicating on behalf of your child
January
As a parent or family member, you may experience times when you need to address a challenge
with another person in your child’s life. Be Your Child’s Champion can help you with that
conversation to keep communication open with everyone involved and find a solution that is best
for your child.
Be Your Child’s Champion can help you through four parts of communicating on behalf of your
child.
o My Thoughts helps you identify, organize and prepare thoughts before a conversation.
o Our Conversation provides helpful phrases to use during a conversation to help in telling
your child’s story.
o My Reflections help you determine how you feel about what occurred during the
conversation, as well as any questions or concerns you have.
o Next Steps helps you outline what needs to be done next.
To learn more about Be Your Child’s Champion and to print worksheets for each section, visit PA’s
Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com).
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Month
Message
Keeping your family safe during winter
Brrrr--it's cold outside! Snow, cold temperatures and icy conditions mean being aware of how to
keep your family safe during this time of year.
January
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Young children sometimes have a tough time knowing when to come inside from the cold.
Avoid frostbite by making sure your child is wearing proper dry clothing (coats, hats,
scarves and mittens), and they stay on during outdoor play!
Keep those hands washed! Coughing, sneezing and close contact with others who may be
sick means frequently washing hands to keep germs from making you and your child sick.
Does your home have a carbon monoxide alarm? Carbon monoxide is an odorless,
colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, it
can kill you before you are aware it. Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking
chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and
fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment can all be
sources of carbon monoxide. A carbon monoxide alarm can help detect and warn you if
this gas is in your home.
February
Visit PA's Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for information on keeping your
child safe and for ways you can help your child learn during the winter season.
Stuck inside? How about some activities to have fun and help children learn!
The weather outside may be frightful, but there’s lots of learning to do during February.
 Infants: Give your child a spoon during meal time. Let her bang it or put in her mouth.
This early exploration of tools will help her understand their use.
 Toddlers: Ask your toddler to identify the colors of plates, pots, napkins, and other items
in your house. How many different colors can you and your child find?
 Pre-Kindergartener: Give your child plastic or metal measuring cups. Ask him to put them
in order of smallest to largest. Talk about which one is first, second, etc.
 Kindergartner: Ask your child about different ways to eat the same food. Is it easier to eat
soup with a spoon or a fork, and why? Are there foods (like carrots or apples) which be
eaten raw and cooked?
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more early learning
activities!
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Month
Message
Celebrate National Children's Dental Health Month!
February
A child is never too young to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums!
Starting at birth, wipe the gums with a clean, moist washcloth. When your child’s teeth begin to
come in, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and water. For children older than 2,
brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Be sure they spit out the
toothpaste. Until you’re comfortable that your child can brush on their own, continue to brush
your child's teeth twice a day. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin
flossing their teeth daily.
As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to schedule a dental visit! Don’t wait for them
to start school or until there's an emergency. Get your child comfortable today with good mouth
healthy habits.
Visit the American Dental Association’s Mouth Healthy website
(www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids) for more information on children’s dental health.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Time to register for Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten
March
Now is when schools may have kindergarten registration for fall classes, and child care/early
learning programs may have sign-ups for Pre-K. You may have several options available for Pre-K,
such as PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, or Pre-K offered by a child care/early learning program or
your local school. The kindergarten options for your child may include an early learning program
or local public or private school.
If you are planning to enroll your child in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in the fall, don’t wait.
Now is the time to check out the options and register. If you wait, especially for pre-k, there may
not be space!
Preparing your child for Pre-K or Kindergarten begins long before the first day of school. Find out
what activities you can do with your child to help them be ready for that all important transition
into Pre-K or Kindergarten, including where and how to register your child, how to help your child
develop the social-emotional skills they will need to be successful in school, and every day
learning activities you can do with your child get on the path for school success.
March
Visit PA’s Promise for Children www.papromiseforchildren.com to locate Pre-K programs in your
area, find Pre-K early learning activities, Kindergarten registration information, or how to contact
your local school district. Check out the Kindergarten, Here I Come Activity Guide and Recipes for
Readiness on the PA’s Promise for Children website for family-friendly activities for children ages
3-5 that will assist in promoting the skills that Kindergarten teachers are looking for as children
enter their classrooms.
Having trouble at bedtime?
Children thrive on routines, such as consistent nap or bedtimes. Use these quiet times to help
your child learn and build a bond together! Here are a few tips:
 Infants: Take a few moments with your baby to walk around the bedroom and name some
of the items. Visit favorite book or look at pictures you may have in the room and provide
names of items.
 Toddlers: Toddlers may enjoy having the same book read over and over again as part of
bedtime routines. Bedtime is an ideal time to enjoy some quiet closeness with your child.
 Pre-Kindergartners: As children get older, the length of their bedtime stories my increase.
Part of this routine can be preschoolers retelling their favorite book to you!
 Kindergarteners: Making up stories without books helps develop imagination and can be
shared by either the child or family members. Use books without words, or read the
pictures in books to tell a story.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more early learning
activities!
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Fun family activities in your county!
April
Spring may be in the air (or at least the promise of spring!), so take some time to explore the
great events happening in your county. There are two great reasons to celebrate during April:
Week of the Young Child and the PA One Book, Every Young Child!
Week of the Young Child! (April 6-12, 2014): Sponsored by the National Association for the
Education of Young Children, Week of the Young Child is a great opportunity to celebrate the
importance of quality early education. Your community may provide information on Early
Childhood Action Day, host family-friendly events, involve local policymakers and business leaders
in early learning events such as book readings to children, announce a Week of the Young Child
proclamation, or promote the importance of early learning on television, radio, or in the
newspaper.
Pennsylvania’s One Book, Every Young Child: One Book, Every Young Child is a month-long
celebration, sponsored by the Commonwealth Libraries, to promote a love of reading in the early
years. Each year spotlights a children’s author and book, with the author conducting celebrity
readings around the state. Local libraries and early learning programs frequently host children’s
activities, PA One Book readings, and visits from the author!
April
Communities throughout Pennsylvania offer ways for families to celebrate early learning. Discover
what’s happening in your community by visiting PA’s Promise for Children
(www.papromiseforchildren.com) to find events in your county that celebrate early learning.
Building your child’s vocabulary
Did you know that a child’s vocabulary is linked to their success in school? It can impact their
reading, how they express themselves, and how they understand the world around them. Here
are some tips to help your child develop a strong vocabulary:
 Talk, talk and talk some more with your child! Describe surroundings, behaviors and
objects.
 Say nursery rhymes together. Children exposed to rhymes have great success learning to
read and understanding sounds.
 Look at books or read with your child at least 20 minutes every day.
 While reading a book together, connect the book to your child’s personal experiences.
“This book is about trains. We see trains when we walk to town. What do you remember
about the trains we see?”
 Talk to your librarian about books that relate to your child’s interest or experience. Other
babies, new foods, potty training or starting schools—there’s a book for that!
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) to find books each month that
relate to fun learning activities.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Finding financial assistance for child care
May
Child care/early learning can be expensive, sometimes even as much as a rent or mortgage
payment! Pennsylvania offers financial assistance through Child Care Works, the subsidized child
care program which helps low-income families pay their child care fees. The state and federal
governments fund this program, which is managed by the Child Care Information Services (CCIS)
office located in your county.
Families may enroll their child in any child care program that accepts Child Care Works or choose
a relative/neighbor provider. Families pay a co-pay to the program based on their income, and
Child Care Works subsidizes the child care program. Programs may still charge additional fees that
aren't covered by Child Care Works, so be sure to ask the program when you visit or call about
availability.
You can sign up online for Child Care Works or visit your local Child Care Information Services
(CCIS) agency. Your CCIS agency will also help you pick the right child care program for your
family.
May
Find more information about how you can get financial assistance for child care at PA's Promise
for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com). You can also find information about what makes
up a quality child care/early learning program, how to choose quality child care, and find out what
child care/early learning programs are offered in your community.
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Helping your child develop social skills
How your child sees himself, his place in the world, and how to deal with others will affect how he
interacts with others. It important to learn those skills now, as it is very difficult to change social
skills later in life. Help your child build healthy social skills and a good sense of self with these tips.
 Respond to your child in a consistent way. Pay attention to what your child is doing, listen to
what he is saying, and learn about your child's individual way of approaching the world.
When children feel responded to and understood, they develop confidence and good selfesteem.
 Be affectionate and nurturing. Touching, holding, comforting, rocking, singing and talking to a
child are things that provide the stimulation their growing brains need. Loving touches and
encouraging words send messages to your child that he is somebody special. And when he
feels he is loved for who he is, he learns how to love others that way, too.
 Help your child learn to resolve conflict in a healthy, appropriate way. Helping very young
children name their feelings, and letting them see and practice ways to control their
impulses, they learn over time how to do it themselves. This helps them learn how to resolve
conflicts on their own and these skills will benefit him in school, in work, and in relationships
as an adult.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more tips.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
Start your childcare search with Keystone STARS
May
Looking for quality childcare? Reach for the STARS! Keystone STARS can help you understand the
quality of a childcare/early learning program. For a young child, everything is a learning
experience. The early learning program you choose, such as childcare or Head Start, can affect
how well your child does in kindergarten, school, and in life.
Child care and Head Start programs that participate in Keystone STARS earn a STAR 1 to STAR 4
rating based on quality standards that measure:
 Staff education: early childhood teachers have the training and knowledge for working with
young children
 Classroom/Learning environment: the program has a variety of materials and activities for
each age level that makes it possible for children to learn something new every day!
 Including families and the community: Families and community members are encouraged to
become a part of the child’s learning progress
 Leadership and management: a quality program has to have sound business practices to
ensure your child’s safety and early learning
As programs earn more STARS, they are providing higher quality early education for your child.
Get more information about Keystone STARS and tools you can use to find a quality early learning
provider or program at PA’s Promise for Children. (www.papromiseforchildren.com).
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
June
June
Summertime safety
Make sure summer time is also a SAFE time! Lead by example and teach your child basic safety
rules.
 Teach your child how to safely cross a street. Practice holding hands with an adult or
friend, looking both ways, crossing at the corner, and watching for vehicles.
 Protect that noggin! Riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard means wearing a helmet every
single time.
 Before your child plays on the playground, check to make sure the equipment is safe. Is it
too high for your child? Are there sharp edges? Is there cushion material under it in case
of a fall?
 Before you enroll your child in a summer program, make sure it's a safe program and
includes:
o Programs meet the appropriate regulations and have their certificate posted.
o Staff trained in CPR and first aid.
o The facility is clean and orderly.
o There is an emergency plan and is it posted.
o Hazardous materials are locked away.
o Staff follow regulations on hand washing, diapering and preparing food.
o Staff trained in preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more summer fun early
learning tips!
Dealing with challenging behaviors
Young children may typically express their anger or frustration through actions such as crying or
sulking, aggressive retaliation like hitting or biting, or tantrums. Finding positive ways to address
your child's challenging behaviors creates better harmony in your family and also helps your child
learn vital social skills necessary in school and in life.
 Don’t ignore a child’s anger or tell him or her he shouldn’t be angry
 Try to understand why the child is angry so you can empathize
 Encourage children to label their feelings, teaching them the meaning of words for
different levels of anger like “annoyed,” “irritated,” frustrated,” “mad,” “enraged”
 Model staying calm when you are provoked and give examples of how you do that
 Make it clear that while being angry is okay, it is not okay to hurt someone else
 Suggest alternatives to anger (get or give a hug) or provide acceptable ways to work off
anger (go for a walk or stomp feet)
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Seek professional help when a child’s anger is frequent, extreme, dangerous or
deliberately malicious
For more tips on dealing with challenging behaviors, visit PA’s Promise for Children
(www.papromiseforchildren.com).
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
July
July
Involving your child in chores
Involving your child in daily chores and activities provides fun learning opportunities. Just imagine
all the wonderful things you can teach your child while doing something as simple as the laundry!
 Infant: Introduce colors to your child by showing the laundry items and saying the color!
Talk to your child while sorting laundry and explain what you’re doing.
 Toddler: Ask your child to help fin the blue towel, white sock, etc. Ask your child to repeat
the color and place it in the laundry basket. Make up a fun laundry color song!
 Pre-Kindergarten: Talk with your child about summer clothing, like swimsuits and
sunglasses. What clothing is worn in the summer, but not in the winter? What clothing is
worn when it’s raining?
 Kindergarten: Ask your child to help fold the laundry according to item. Can your child
find all the small socks and sort by color and size? Remember to talk about the different
sizes and items.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more fun early learning
activities!
Smooth transitions
Helping your child say goodbye takes practice! Preparing your child for child care/early learning
program or Kindergarten means he or she will experience a more smooth transition and start off
on the right foot!
 Keep a positive attitude about saying goodbye and your return. Talk about what your
child might do and learn while they are at child care/early learning program or in
Kindergarten.
 Decide together how you will say goodbye to each other. Create a ritual that you can do
together each day. This might include hugs, kisses, waves, or even a special phrase.
 Read books to your child that talk about starting Kindergarten or an early learning
program.
 Take your child to Kindergarten or early learning program orientation (if offered). Some
offer these opportunities to meet staff and teachers and see classrooms.
 Start a routine by practicing going to bed, waking up, and eating a healthy breakfast. Lay
out clothes and pack backpacks the night before to avoid conflicts in the morning.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more tips!
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
August
Getting ready for Kindergarten
Preparing your child for Kindergarten means he or she will experience a more smooth transition
and start the school year off on the right foot!
 Read books to your child that talk about starting Kindergarten.
 Take your child to Kindergarten Orientation (if offered). Some schools offer this
opportunity to meet the teacher and see the classroom.
 Identify other children who will be in your child’s kindergarten class and arrange for them
to play together before the first day of school.
 Create a book of your family’s story about Kindergarten! Share your favorite thing about
kindergarten—did you walk to school or ride the bus? What was your teacher’s name?
Have your child draw pictures, then when your child starts school, add more pages!
 Start a routine by practicing going to bed, waking up, and eating a healthy breakfast. Lay
out clothes and pack backpacks the night before to avoid conflicts in the morning.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more transition to
kindergarten tips!
Understanding developmental milestones
August
Perhaps you noticed that your friend’s child, who is basically the same age as yours, can do
something your child cannot and wondered why. It’s helpful to know that every child grows and
learns new things at his or her own pace. Children may vary by as much as six months in some of
the things they are able to do. Each child develops at his own pace, in their own way. Children do
not reach each developmental stage at the same time. They can speed up in one area, and slow
down in another.
Although each child develops at her own pace, they all follow the same sequence. It may take one
child longer than another to meet each milestone, but they will all follow the same path. When
you know how your child is developing compared to the milestones, you can help them develop
to the best of their abilities.
The “Watch Me Grow!” Developmental Stages Checklist, created by Pennsylvania Early
Intervention Services, provides a checklist of skills for each developmental stage from birth to five
years. If there are concerns about their child's development, families can contact the CONNECT
hotline at 1-800-692-7288 for help.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) to download the Watch Me
Grow Developmental Stages Checklist, find more information about your child’s development and
ways you can help your child learn.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
August
National Immunization Awareness Month: Immunizations to keep your child healthy
As a parent or family member, you may get upset or concerned when you watch your baby get
three or four shots during a doctor's visit. But, all of those shots add up to your baby being
protected against 14 infectious diseases. Young babies can get very ill from vaccine-preventable
diseases. The vaccination schedule is designed to protect young children before they are likely to
be exposed to potentially serious diseases and when they are most vulnerable to serious
infections.
Vaccines reduce the risk of infection by working with the body's natural defenses to help it safely
develop immunity to disease. Vaccine-preventable diseases can be very serious, may require
hospitalization, or even be deadly – especially in infants and young children. Your child's doctor
can guide you in determining what vaccines your child needs and when she needs them.
Visit the Center for Disease Control website’s Parent section
(www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html) to learn more about the importance of having your
child fully vaccinated, age-specific vaccine information and how you can get help paying for
vaccines.
Guide your child’s learning and growth from the start with the Early Learning GPS
You want what’s best for your child and the young children in your life, but may not know or
where to start.
August
Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children’s Early Learning GPS can help. GPS stands for Guiding Parents
Smoothly and helps families set the right course for their children’s success in kindergarten and
beyond. It’s great for anyone who has a young child in their life, like parents, grandparents, aunts,
uncles, friends and neighbors.
Answer up to 10 questions about your child, and after you answer a question, you receive helpful
tips and links to reliable resources. You can also complete a short worksheet with ways you want
to use these tips in your daily life.
The questions address the most important things you should know and can do to help your baby
learn and grow. Because the information was created in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Office
of Child Development and Early Learning and is based on sources like Pennsylvania’s Early
Learning Standards and nationally-recognized brain research, you know it’s reliable. Others have
spent hundreds of hours pulling together the most useful tips and resources for you.
Visit PA's Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) to find out how you can use the
Early Learning GPS and help your child learn.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
September
September
Choosing the right child care/early learning program for your family
Where your child spends his day with he’s not with you can have a big impact on his growth and
development. Choosing a child care/ early learning program that fits your family’s needs is a
personal experience, but here are some tips to help:
 Start early. Many good programs may have waiting lists, so consider putting your child on
the waiting list even before he/she is born.
 Understand how child care/early learning programs are regulated in Pennsylvania.
 Find out what is a quality child care/early learning program.
 Make a list of what is most important to you in a child care/early learning program.
 Find out if you are eligible to receive financial assistance for child care from Child Care
Works.
 Find out what child care/early learning programs are offered in your community such as
Keystone STARS, PA Pre-K Counts, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Head Start.
 Research the programs you are interested in
o Find out about any violations or complaints by contacting your Regional Office of Child
Development and Early Learning.
o Find out if they participate in Keystone STARS
 Call and visit the programs you are interested in.
 Once you've picked a program, continue to visit at different times and make time to speak
with your child's teacher.
Find more information about selecting a child care/early learning program at PA’s Promise for
Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com).
Learning begins at birth
Did you know that children are learning from the moment they are born? Brain growth,
approaches to life and learning, language skills: all these are shaped by what does—or does not—
happen in a child’s first days, months, and years. Early experiences that are nurturing, active and
challenging can actually build a child’s brain! Responsive and nurturing relationships early in life
also build the social and emotional foundations that support lifelong learning.
Build your child’s brain!
 Talk with your child. Describe what your child sees or hears.
 Read books with your child. Even infants enjoy seeing the pictures and hearing your
voice as you read.
 Provide opportunities to help your child learn. Things you do every day—like laundry
or fixing dinner—can be learning experiences for your child.
 Use positive words to encourage your child. As your child’s first and most important
teacher, your child looks to you for encouragement to learn.
Find more ways to help build your child’s brain through learning at PA’s Promise for Children
(www.papromiseforchildren.com).
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
October
October
Celebrate Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Month!
October is Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children month to help raise awareness of the importance
of quality early learning for our young children. There are five easy ways to celebrate PA's Promise
for Children month!
1. Like the PA's Promise for Children Facebook page, share your story and find highlights of
PA’s Promise month celebrations from around the state, as well as easy things you can do
throughout the month to celebrate.
2. Sign the PA's Promise for Children declaration.
3. Share your story at www.papromiseforchildren.com and with your friends, family, and
elected officials.
4. Thank your child’s teacher for helping your child reach his/her promise.
5. Send a letter to the editor about why quality early learning is important to you and your
child.
Find events in your community and more information about how you can celebrate PA’s Promise
for Children Month at PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com).
Fascinating fall
As outside temperatures begin to cool, and the fall season is underway, now is a great time to
explore the changing season!
 Infants: While walking with your baby, note how she response to different sounds and
sensations outside. Talk to her about what she sees and hears.
 Toddlers: Talk with your toddler about what he sees outside and use descriptive
language, like crunchy brown leaves, or wet sidewalks, or cool and gusty breezes.
 Pre-Kindergarteners: Using animals you may see outside (birds, squirrels, dogs, etc.),
make up a song about the different animals and what they do. Have your child imitate
their actions.
 Kindergarteners: Set up an outdoors obstacle course with the help of your child. Use
outdoor chairs, a rope on the ground, trees or bushes, playgroup equipment, or even
kicking and throwing balls to build skills.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more early learning
activities!
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
November
November
Exploring your family history
A photo can tell a thousand stories, and family photo albums are a way to fun way to explore your
family—where your family has lived, what they’ve done for fun, or monumental events in the
history of your family!
 Infants: Faces are fascinating to your baby, especially yours! Let our baby touch your face
and explore the silly, surprised, and happy faces you can make for her.
 Toddlers: Toddlers are learning names and labels for important people in their world.
Share family pictures with your child and let him point to and name the faces that he
recognizes. Share names and something about the person. What clues might the photo
hold about the person?
 Pre-Kindergartner: Share photos of family members with your child and ask her what she
thinks might be happening in the picture. Do the people look happy or sad? How does she
know? Has she ever felt that way?
 Kindergartners: Help your child make the connections between the people he knows and
their photos. What did grandma look like when she was a child? How is she different
now? Talk about the physical and life changes a person can experience as they grow
older, like they can get taller, go to school, get a job, visit another country, etc. How does
your child think he will be when he gets older?
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more fun early learning
activities.
Over the mountains and through the woods: Traveling with children
Traveling with children can be challenging, especially if you’re unprepared! Try these tips to keep
your child occupied and increase the chances for a positive trip!
 A small pad of paper and crayons can be added to a purse, diaper bag or back pack for
drawing pictures, creating origami (fold into the shape of a square!), practicing letter &
number writing, or playing a game (like tic-tac-toe).
 Set aside specific toys and books for use while in the car only. Keep them in a small basket
beside your child’s car seat for easy access.
 Sing along with music to help pass the miles. Check with your library to borrow music to
keep your child entertained during a drive.
 Stay well hydrated and well fed. Travel can be dehydrating, and empty tummies are
grumpy tummies, so take travel-friendly snacks like dry cereal and fruit, and pack water or
juice boxes.
 Plan ahead. If your trip is delayed due to weather, traffic or cancellations, be prepared
with enough diapers, drinks and snacks.
 Have reasonable expectations of yourself and your child and take breaks when needed.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for more tips.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com
December
Holding onto sanity during the Holiday Season
While the holiday season can be one of celebration, family and togetherness, it can also be a time
where many may feel overwhelmed or stressed. These tips can help direct focus to your family
during this time of year.
 Keep your regular schedule as much as possible. This can be especially hard during the
holiday season. If this is difficult or impossible, inform your child beforehand of what
changes are going to occur in their schedule.
 Don’t underestimate the “accumulative” effect of the holidays. Excitement, anticipation,
numerous changes in routine, different visitors and activities can be fun and exciting, and
can create cherished, shared family memories. But too many changes can quickly add up
to a child and family who feel overwhelmed.
 Pace yourself and your child. Pick a few activities your family will find meaningful and
focus on them. Sometimes smaller activities may be the more memorable experiences for
your child!
 Understand that not everyone enjoys the holidays. If you find the holidays difficult, know
that you are not alone. During the holidays, many people may feel stressed, sad or
depressed. Talk with a close friend or family member, or seek a professional to assist
during this time. The US Suicide & Crisis Hotline (1‐800‐273‐8255) is available to assist in a
crisis situation and make a referral to a local agency for mental health services.
For more ways to stay sane during the holiday season, visit PA’s Promise for Children
(www.papromiseforchildrencom).
Smart television time
December
Although some quality television watching can help older toddlers and preschoolers build
language, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age two watch
no television, computers or video games.
If your child is older than two and watching television, pay attention to what he is watching.
Studies show that young children cannot always tell the different between watching violence on
TV and seeing it first-hand. Choosing shows that promote learning and positive messages like
friendship and sharing are much more appropriate. And don't forget to monitor the commercials!
Instead of the television, encourage your child to play. Play is a natural way children learn and is
important to your child's development. Your child learns with his whole body and all his senses at
once. Play helps him build motor skills, learning about the world around him and how to
communicate with others. Simple activities, like building with blocks can help your child learn
about colors, coordination, problem solving, how to use his imagination, and even learn math!
Visit PA’s Promise for Children (www.papromiseforchildren.com) for early learning activities to
help your child learn.
Bi-weekly Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Messages
www.papromiseforchildren.com