July 28, 2025 Thriving Kids Newsletter Discusses How to Promote Good Behavior in Children The Child Mind Institute recently kicked off its Thriving Kids newsletter with the topic of how to promote good behavior in children. The article noted that while managing a child’s behavior can be exhausting, there are simple strategies that can be employed to make a big difference. Learn More Thriving Kids noted that taking time out of each day to do something with a child that they enjoy can contribute to a healthy caregiver-child relationship and promotes good behavior. Children appreciate getting attention, which can include everything from asking about their day on the drive home from school or taking part in an activity together. Setting clear expectations about the type of behavior that is expected helps to guide both the caregiver and child when undesirable behavior occurs. Expectations should be realistic and discussed with the child. When a child exhibits good behavior, it should be acknowledged and rewarded. This increases the chance that the child will repeat good behavior in the future. On the other hand, parents should initiate consequences for unwanted behavior immediately after it happens. Consequences should be brief and consistent. Lastly, caregivers should take a moment to reset. It is normal to become frustrated or upset with a child’s behavior. It can be helpful to take a breath, and caregivers can share with a child that they are taking a moment to let go of frustration before having a discussion about the behavior. 8 Tips for Promoting Good Behavior Thriving Kids also provided eight tips for promoting good behavior in children. These include: Taking care of the relationship – connecting with a child is important to build a relationship based on trust and respect; try to spend time daily fully engaged with the child in an activity they enjoy. Set clear and realistic expectations – go over expectations for how a child is expected to behave in certain situations and review them when a child needs to demonstrate that behavior. Catch them being good – Use specific praise when a child behaves appropriately, which will increase the likelihood that they’ll repeat the good behavior in the future. Be thoughtful about consequences – try to make consequences immediate, brief, and consistent; try to return to “normal” as quickly as possible once the consequence is completed. Avoid harsh discipline – consequences don’t need to upset children to work; it’s more important that consequences are consistently applied when unwanted behavior occurs. Take a moment – if you notice yourself getting frustrated or upset with a child’s behavior, take a moment to calm down before responding. Be a detective – rather than focusing on the behavior itself, dig deeper to try to figure out what might be behind it; the reason is not always simple or obvious, so look for patterns. Talk when they’re calm – don’t try to reason with children during a meltdown; wait until things calm down to have a discussion, during which you listen to one another and share feelings. To learn more, read Thriving Kids’ article on how to promote good behavior in children.
Kidsburgh Article Encourages Caregivers to Talk to Children About Race A new Kidsburgh article posits that not only is it beneficial to talk to young children about issues revolving around race – but it can be harmful not to do so. Learn More The article, Kidsburgh Guide: Talking with Your Kids About Race, notes that caregivers “teach children how to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ to look both ways before crossing the street, and to be kind to their classmates.” But many parents find themselves unsure of what to say if a child asks them about another child’s skin color. Medina Jackson, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s P.R.I.D.E. Program (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education, told Kidsburgh that she helps families and educators to build the tools to answer such questions. Jackson noted that children are not colorblind and that waiting to discuss race with them can be harmful. “Children are already having racialized experiences, receiving messages about race, and assigning meaning to those messages and experiences,” she told Kidsburgh. Jackson said she defines positive racial identity as a child’s ability to feel good about themselves regarding their race and the collective racial family to which they belong. She added that for older children, a strong sense of racial and ethnic identity has been tied to higher self-esteem, better academic performance, and greater resilience. In the article, Jackson makes suggestions for caregivers on how to talk to children about race and shares some resources for further reading. She broke down the method for approaching the topic with children into three strategies: Be proactive Be responsive Be reflective To learn more about Jackson’s strategy, check out Kidsburgh’s article.
July 24, 2025 Trying Together Invites Community to Complete Survey Trying Together is asking for the communities it serves to take a survey to help the organization provide the best resources and opportunities. Learn More The survey aims to collect up-to-date information for those it serves and includes such questions as: Demographic and Identity Preferred language Necessary accommodations to participate fully in Trying Together events and activities Dietary preferences or restrictions It also provides the opportunity to sign up for seven e-communication subscriptions, such as the Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 newsletters and public policy alerts. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and those who fill it out will be automatically registered for a chance to win a gift card. Take the survey now.
July 23, 2025 Deadline to Submit RFP for DHS Out-of-School Time, Teen Programming is July 31 The deadline to submit an Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) request for proposal (RFP) for additional out-of-school time and teen programming is Thursday, July 31. Learn More The DHS is seeking proposals from qualified proposers to provide on or both of the two following types of youth programming for the 2025-26 school year: Out-of-School Time Programming – The DHS is seeking up to three proposers for additional out-of-school time programs, which offer a safe place for students to go after their school day ends or during the summer. Teen Programming – The DHS is seeking up to three proposers for teen programming for creative programming that occurs outside of traditional school hours for school-age teens. Proposals must be submitted electronically on DHS’s Bonfire Portal by 3 p.m. on July 31. For more information, check out the DHS’s RFP.
APOST Seeking Presenters in Southwest PA to Facilitate OST Workshops Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) is seeking presenters from Southwest Pennsylvania to facilitate workshops on topics relating to out-of-school time (OST) for its 2025 conference. Learn More The conference, which will be held in partnership with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, will be held on Monday, Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. APOST is currently looking for local presenters who are interested in facilitating one-hour workshops on any OST-related topic through the lens of or in connection to “partnerships in OST.” These can include: Interactive learning experiences that are creative in their engagement of the audience What an organization has to offer as a partner to OST organizations (and how the organization has worked in partnerships with others) Multiple organizations presenting together or leading a panel discussion on partnerships in action The deadline to submit a topic is 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4. All submitters will be contacted and notified whether their proposed workshop was selected by Aug. 11. APOST will offer a $400 honoraria per workshop. Workshop topics can be submitted online.
July 22, 2025 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Offers Monthly Virtual Storytime The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will release a new Virtual Storytime every month on its website that also includes songs and activities. Learn More This month’s storytime discusses the library’s summer reading challenge, features two books, some book recommendations, two songs, and other activities. The storytime, which also provides an option for captioning, starts with an introduction and is followed by the reading of Susan Stockdale’s “Line Up: Animals in Remarkable Rows.” Then, viewers can follow a felt-board story and take part in a sing-a-long of “Clap and Sing Hello.” The second book during the storytime is “Papa’s Magical Water Jug Clock” by Jesus Trejo. The second story is followed by a song involving egg shakers and the storytime closes out with a goodbye. At the end of the video, children and their caregivers are given two book recommendations for those who enjoyed the selections read during the virtual storytime – Joshua David Stein’s “Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild” and Hannah Eliot and Jade Orlando’s “Who Takes Care of You?” To view the monthly virtual storytime, visit the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s website.
Child Mind Institute Series Focuses on Fostering a Child’s Development Children grow up quickly and keeping on top of all the various forms and stages of their development can be challenging for caregivers. The Child Mind Institute has released a list of resources for fostering a child’s development, from play to language skills. Learn More Articles in the series focus on how specific forms of play are integral to a young child’s development and how play can help to develop cognitive, social, emotional, physical, creative, and language skills. The series also features an article on how spending time in nature can help a child to foster creativity, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. It also includes resources on how to introduce discipline and encourage a child’s growing independence in an age-appropriate way. Here are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on fostering a child’s development: How Young Children’s Play Promotes Healthy Development Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature Helping Toddlers with Language Skills How to Discipline Toddlers How to Build Independence in Preschoolers Preschoolers: Tips for Supporting Learning at Home
July 21, 2025 PASSHE: ECE PDO Grant at Shippensburg University Prioritizing Those Enrolled as of May 1 The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has announced that new funding for its Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization (ECE PDO) grant at Shippensburg University is currently on pause. Learn More In early July, Shippensburg University announced the formal execution of the ECE PDO, administered by PASSHE, for the upcoming fiscal year. Through the award, PASSHE will continue to serve as the PDO as it has for the past seven years for the Northeast, Central, and Southwest Region of Pennsylvania, sustaining a professional development system that empowers the ECE workforce and enriches outcomes for Pennsylvania children. However, PASSHE has noted that funding is currently prioritized for students who were actively enrolled in coursework as of May 1 and that all new funding is on pause. “We understand that many of you are eager to plan for the fall semester, and we want to assure you that we are actively working to determine the availability of funds,” a PASSHE statement read. “Our goal is to notify students as soon as possible regarding their funding status for fall 2025.” While PDO funding is currently paused, programs are encouraged to consider covering the cost out of pocket for teachers who need to start a CDA program this fall. Anyone with questions should contact their regional PD coordinator.
The Pennsylvania Key Report Focused on Food Allergies in Children The Pennsylvania Key’s Health Trends in Early Childhood series for July focuses on an increase in food allergies in young children. Learn More In the past few decades, The Pennsylvania Key reports, food allergies in children have become increasingly more common. An ongoing trend shows that one in 13 children has a food allergy, and research confirms that about 8% of children below age 18 have one or more food allergies. Food allergies in children increased by 50% from 1997 to 2011 and by 50% from 2007 to 2021, The Pennsylvania Key wrote. Children, ages 10 years and below, face the highest risk of needing emergency care for allergies. Four in every 10 children with food allergies need emergency care, and 42.3% of children with food allergies have experienced severe allergic reactions, which can lead to life-threatening “anaphylaxis.” The prevalence of food allergies is higher among low-income children, and emergency treatment costs are 2.5 times higher for them. The Pennsylvania Key report cites a study on peanut allergies that found that babies who ate peanuts early and often reduced their allergy risk by more than 80%. The report lists a number of symptoms for which parents should keep an eye out that could relate to food allergies – such as wheezing, stomach cramps, itching on the roof of the mouth, eczema, hives, itchy or watery eyes, stuffy or runny nose, or swelling of the skin, throat, or mouth. The report also provides symptoms of anaphylaxis, a more life-threatening allergic reaction that can affect the whole body. For more information on food allergies in children as well as steps that parents can take to ensure their child’s safety, read The Pennsylvania Key’s report.
July 16, 2025 DOH Calls on Child Care Providers to Complete Annual Child Care Immunization Survey Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is requesting that all licensed child care providers complete the Annual Child Care Immunization Survey to meet state immunization reporting requirements. Learn More The DOH asks all licensed child care providers to complete and submit the survey by Friday, Sept. 19. The completion of the survey is intended to meet the state’s reporting requirements regarding immunization for children in child care group settings. A number of resource materials are available to help with reviewing immunization records and completing the survey, including: 2025 Childhood Immunization Schedule Vaccine Identification document Immunization Tracking Sheets (in PDF and Excel) The new survey is longer because of its new format. The DOH developed immunization tracking sheets that follow the survey questions. Before taking the survey this year and in future years, completing the tracking sheets will help child care providers take the survey. The DOH and county or municipal Health Department staff – mostly registered nurses – will visit selected child care providers to offer education, resource materials, and other items or activities about the importance of vaccines and to answer questions. Any questions should be sent to the DOH at RA-DHImmunize@pa.gov. The survey is available on the DOH’s website.
