November 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. Then visit the library to find a book about the activity. Print the list of book recommendations for November.

We're learning Language and Literacy Skills 
Do it! 
Used stuffed animals, action figures or dolls to retell a story you've read with your preschooler. Use a sock to make a puppet for storytelling. Provide a variety of materials of various textures and patterns for your preschooler to decorate and accessorize the puppet. Allow them to hold handle and manipulate the puppet. Puppets can also be used to help preschoolers overcome a fear or explore an obstacle by creating a story just for them.  
Read it! 
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews.

We're learning Mathematical Thinking and Expression
Do it! 
Use objects to make patterns with your preschooler. Lay out spoon, spoon, cup and ask your child to make the same pattern. Try black sock, white socks, black sock and see if your preschooler can tell you what's next. Clap, tap or move your bodies in a repeated motion. Include opportunities to touch and feel textures and shapes of objects as a means of sorting. When your preschooler is hesitant to participate, bring in things of interest to get them engaged. Use familiar objects like favorite toy animals, cars or trains. Introduce descriptive written and signed words including the colors and sizes of the objects.
Read it! 
Stripes of All Types by Susan Stockdale. Elmer by David McKee.

We're learning Science Thinking and Technology 
Do it! 
Play Guess the Taste game. On a plate, put different foods (like a berry, orange, cheese and pretzel). Have your preschooler close their eyes, then give them a taste. See if they can guess which it is! If your preschooler is hesitant to taste the items, have them smell each item. Use items with strong scents. Ask them to identify the scent. If an open ended question is too difficult, simplify by giving a choice, "Is this a berry or an orange?" Allow your preschooler to feel the food. Use descriptive words and signs like sticky, smooth and hard to describe each item. Allow them to help you make something using these foods. When children help prepare food they are more likely to try something new! 
Read it! 
Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan. Bread and Jam for Frances  by Russell Hoban.

We're learning Social Emotional Development
Do it! 
Look through magazines to find people's faces. Talk about the expressions and emotions showing on their faces. How many different expressions can you and your preschooler find? Allow your preschooler to feel your face as you make each expression. Describe in details what you see to enhance the activity for children with limited vision. Use the signs, words and photos of emotions to reinforce language development.
Read it! 
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz. The Pout-Pout Fish (A Pout-Pout Fish Adventure) by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna.
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. 

The LIHEAP application period for both cash and crisis grants opened on November 1, 2022, and will remain open until April 28, 2023. 

Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP and other public assistance programs online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by phone at 1-866-550-4355. On-site County Assistance Office (CAO) services are available if clients cannot access online services or need assistance that cannot be accessed through the COMPASS website, the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling the Customer Service Centers at 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia clients or 1-877-395-8930 for clients in all other counties. 
Little Neighbors Building a Better World Together
The PSEG Foundation and Sesame Workshop have partnered to create bilingual (English and Spanish), multiple media programs that help families prepare for, and respond to, emergencies and provide tools so that children can build the skills they need to become resilient.

With Let’s Get Ready, families learn to plan and prepare together for emergencies through simple strategies and tips that can be incorporated into everyday routines.

Here for Each Other provides tips, ideas, and activities that teach families effective and comforting ways to respond when an emergency occurs.

Brave, Strong Resilient helps children build the self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and emotional tools they need to cope with adversity.

The latest joint effort, Little Neighbors: Building a Better World Together, helps children learn the many ways to be a good neighbor and what it means to be a member of a community.
Opportunities for Families to Make an Impact in PA's Early Learning
Two new exciting opportunities are available for families to share their experiences and make an impact in Pennsylvania's early learning.

Parents as Partners in Professional Development/Pennsylvania Professional Development Organizations
Parents as Partners in Professional Development (P3D), with the Pennsylvania Professional Development Organizations (PDO), are recruiting a cohort of families to participate in P3D/PDO Family Voices. All family members (moms, dads, grandparents, foster parents, etc.) of young children who attend an early childhood program in Pennsylvania are invited to apply. P3D/PDO Family Voices seeks a diverse group of families who have experiences with many aspects of early childhood services in Pennsylvania, like child care, PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, Early Intervention, Home Visiting, etc. 

An honorarium and travel reimbursement are provided to participants. Applications are due November 18 and all applicants must agree to attending the full day virtual training on December 6, 2022. Learn more and access the P3D/PDO application.

Collaborative Action for Family Engagement
Families are invited to serve on the Collaborative Action for Family Engagement (CAFE). CAFE is currently recruiting family leaders for the Interstate Family Engagement Leadership Collaborative. This NEW initiative at CAFE ensures that family leaders will help shape the direction of the advisory councils in each state. As a critical partner in the field, families are invited to serve in a leadership capacity on CAFE’s Advisory Board to share their expertise to implement high-impact school, family, and community engagement strategies in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Over the past two years, CAFE has facilitated a State Advisory Council composed of up to 40 members including early childhood, middle, and high school students, school-, local-, and state-level organizations. Families/family members make up at least 51% of its members. Family Leaders will commit to an estimated two hours a month for meetings, and compensation/reimbursement is provided for a stipend and mileage. Learn more and access the CAFE application.
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:

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!
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!
Reading Stories Aloud to Support the Transition to Kindergarten
Reading books about kindergarten to children is a wonderful way to help them prepare for the big transition from preschool, PA Pre-K Counts, or Head Start to elementary school. These special read-alouds were recorded by staff from the Office of Head Start (OHS). 

Access the Videos On-Demand:
  • The Kissing Hand (Un Beso En Mi Mano) by Audrey Penn
  • Read in English by Dr. Deborah Bergeron, director, OHS
  • Read in Spanish by Jennifer Amaya, culturally linguistic responsive practices content lead, OHS
  • First Day Jitters (¡Qué nervios! El primer día de escuela) by Julie Danneberg
  • Read in English by Amanda Bryans, education and research to practice supervisor, OHS
  • Read in Spanish by Dayana Garcia, disability and inclusion specialist, OHS
IECMHC Virtual Office Hours: Help for Families, Child Care Professionals
Are you looking for support with helping a child who is struggling with behavior, attachment, peer relationships or emotion regulation? Need help for teachers or families with self-care, stress, and coping, but not sure what to do next? The Pennsylvania Key Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Virtual Office Hours are here to help.

IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide telephone or video conference consultation. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for:
  • Child Social-Emotional Concerns
  • Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns
  • Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers
  • Partnering with Families

Services are available at no cost to Pennsylvania families, child care professionals and specialists supporting Keystone STARS child care programs. IECMH Consultation helps adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build capacity to respond to children’s social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help reduce caregiver stress, as well as increase caregivers’ reflective practice skills. Learn how IECMHC Virtual Office Hours can help.
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 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.

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.
6 Tips to Help Your Preschooler Learn to Read
Reading skills begin to develop before your preschooler picks up a book! Hearing language is an important part of developing the skills necessary to learn to read. 
Preschooler Safety While in Vehicles
Did you know your preschooler should still be using a car or booster seat whenever traveling in a vehicle?
 
The www.pakidstravelsafe.org website, sponsored by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can find all types of safety information to keep your preschooler safe, including car seat loan programs, car 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.
7 Ways to Save Your Sanity While Traveling With Preschoolers
Traveling with a preschooler can be challenging, especially if you're unprepared. Try these tips to keep your preschooler occupied and save your sanity this upcoming holiday season! 

  1. Plan ahead. If your trip is delayed due to weather, traffic or cancellations, be prepared with enough drinks 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 and fruit. Pack water or juice boxes.
  7. Fly friendly. Traveling by plane? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has information for traveling with children.
Helping Your Family Prepare for Emergencies with Ready Wrigley
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created Ready Wrigley to provide parents, guardians, teachers, and young children with tips, activities, and a story to help the whole family prepare for emergencies. Together with your child, join Wrigley as she helps her family prepare for emergencies by staying informed, packing emergency kits, and making a family communication plan.

The activity book is designed to provide an interactive tool to further your child's education and promote disaster preparedness and safe clean-up in your community. You can share this book with your schools and early learning programs, communities, and families to help children learn the importance of being prepared. It is available in English and Spanish.
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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