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Kindergarten is a special time in a child's life. Entering “big” school is a momentous transition. Many parents' favorite teaching years were at this lovable, messy, talkative (and exhausting) level. As a parent, though, the buildup to sending your child out into the wide world of formal schooling can spark significant anxiety. You may send multiple children to kindergarten, yet I still mentally replay that loaded question each time: “Are they ready?” Read More...

Also Related: How Parents Can Help Kindergarten Readiness

Florida KidCare offers quality, affordable health & dental insurance for ALL children in Florida from birth through the end of age 18! Children are eligible for head to toe coverage, even if one or both parents are working. Visit floridakidcare.org for information about qualifying and how to apply for health insurance at little to no cost.

National Clean Beaches Week is held annually from July 1-7. Each year Americans make 2 billion visits to ocean, gulf, and inland beaches. During Clean Beaches Week, we are encouraged to reduce our carbon footprint through energy efficiency, conservation, carpooling, walking, and other green activities. During Clean Beaches Week, the public will be strongly urged to “leave no trace” of litter, only footprints at the beach. Spend this week learning about how we can keep our beaches clean while inspiring the next generation to carry the environmental torch.

Recently the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that 20 of the nation's internet providers have committed to lowering costs for low-income households, a step that will essentially provide free high-speed internet for those participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Find out if your family may qualify for this free/reduced priced internet service.

We have a number of videos featuring some of our early learning experts who are here to offer us tips, tricks, and sometimes more complex explanations of early child development. Take a look and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more Parenting Pro Tips coming soon!

Collect emergency supplies you may need: water, canned goods, paper products, medications, and batteries. Don’t forget diapers, formula and baby-friendly foods as well. If you can’t find bottled water, fill as many containers as you can. Fill your gas tank, withdraw some cash from the bank, and identify your evacuation route and nearby shelters. If you are told to evacuate, then gather what you need and do so.

Your baby or young child is watching your nonverbal cues to decide whether they are safe. Take a moment to breathe and relax your face and shoulders. These small physical shifts go a long way in creating a solid sense of safety for your child.

You will surely be stressed and overwhelmed prepping or packing. But try to keep your young child’s daily schedule as normal as possible. It can help your child if you can maintain some of the routines of their day-to-day lives, such as predictable meals and bedtimes. Knowing what to expect can help children feel physically and emotionally safe—it might help you feel more grounded as well.

While you are navigating the storm, life may be chaotic. Understanding what might come next can help children feel more safe and secure. Even in situations where you need to move quickly, tell children what is about to happen. “We are getting ready to go to a place where we’ll be safe during the storm. There will be many other families there and we’ll all stay safe together."

If you are planning to evacuate, make room for one of your child’s special stuffed animals, blankets, small toys or books. This special item can help your child as you all adapt to a new place for a few days, or longer. Young children may need more soothing physical touch than usual during this time as well. When surrounded by everything new, your little one is probably going to want their most loved and familiar person (you!) close by at all times.

July is National Picnic Month, and summer picnics are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and each other's company! Be it with friends, family, or even by yourself, having a picnic is the perfect way to reconnect with nature. Looking for ways to stay busy during your next picnic outing with the kids? From cloud journaling to blowing bubbles, we have a list of fun and easy outdoor activities to make your picnic one for the memory books!

Attached, please find the July 2022 CCR&R Resources. These resources focus on ways to support social and emotional development in early learning.

CREATE A SENSE OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY: Provide a safe and supportive environment by having predictable routines, offering opportunities for choice and sense of control, having clear and consistent expectations, and providing praise for positive behaviors

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ENCOURAGE EMOTIONAL REGULATION: Teach and provide opportunities to practice self-regulation skills. This includes being able to identify their feelings, manage their emotions, and use strategies to calm themselves. It is also important for caregivers to model their own self-regulation in response to stress.

STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS: Provide opportunities for family fun time and connecting with others. Supportive and trusting relationships can be healing and counteract the impact of stress.

Shaving cream is used in a lot of kid sensory play. The sensory rainbow is easy to set up and it includes part sensory (sticky tacky surface) and fine motor fun. Here is a fun and easy baby activity.

Setting up a baby water play station is fast and easy to do. You likely have all of the items you need at home!

Homemade Play-Doh

Play-Doh is a favorite among toddlers, but have you ever made your own from scratch? And did you know that all it takes to do this are a few cheap, simple supplies?

One of the best recipes for homemade Play-Doh comes from I Heart Nap Time. You’ll need flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, vegetable oil, and some food coloring to make the different colors of dough.

Gather some clothespins! Let kids paint stripes on each pin, which will comprise the dragonfly’s body.

Dot glue on the front and and affix googly eyes.

Bend edges of pipe cleaners to the middle and twist to make colorful wings.

Preschoolers can easily upcycle egg cartons into insects and animals like turtles, caterpillars, and frogs.

They’ll paint the cartons, then add details like googly eyes, pom poms for turtle heads, pipe cleaners for caterpillar antennas, or green craft foam for frog legs.

Balloon Tennis is a fun and easy activity for all ages. It only takes a couple of supplies to create the rackets, and then you can let the fun begin! This project combines being creative and active into one activity

Parents are a child's first teacher, and there are many simple things you can do every day to share the joy of reading while strengthening your child's literacy skills. Read more...