September 30, 2025 APOST to Sponsor OST Professional in TALI’s Emerging Leaders Program Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) announced that it will sponsor one out-of-school time (OST) professional to participate in The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)’s Emerging Leaders Program. Learn More The program addresses the needs of rising Black leaders and their allies by using the pillars of academic instruction, alumni mentoring, and peer networking to hone the skills professionals who are growing in the leadership phase of their career need to move into higher levels of management, successfully navigate challenges they may encounter, and support their ascent up the organizational ladder. Candidates may include strong individual contributors with supervisory aspirations and those in managerial positions. Applicants must have a minimum of three to five years of professional work experience in corporate, nonprofit, government, or entrepreneurial sectors. A bachelor’s degree or five years of additional, equivalent, and relevant experience is required. The program’s sessions are held once a month on a consecutive half-day Friday (noon to 5 p.m.) and half-day Saturday (8 a.m. to noon) from January through June. All sessions are held in person on the Carnegie Mellon University campus. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. Those interested can apply online.
September Recalls on Children’s Products Below is a list of September recalls from the following federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Learn More URMYWO recalled its baby loungers due to the risk of suffocation or fall hazards. The loungers violate the mandatory standard for infant sleep products because the sides are shorter than the minimum side height limit to secure an infant, the sleeping pad’s thickness exceeds the maximum limit, and an infant could fall out of an enclosed opening at the foot of the lounger or become entrapped. Blueroot Health recalled its bottles of Bariatric Fusion Iron Multivitamins due to the risk of serious injury or death from child poisoning. The multivitamins contain iron and are not in child-resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. Shierdu recalled children’s toys that could pose a choking hazard. The toy is intended for children under three years of age and contains small parts, which violates a small parts ban and poses a risk of choking. In My Jammers recalled its button flare pajama sets due potential risks of burning injuries to children. The pajama sets violate mandatory standards for children’s sleepwear flammability. Youbeien recalled crib mobiles that violate the mandatory standard for toys containing button batteries. The compartment that holds the batteries in the remote can be accessed without the use of a common household tool. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns and death. YooxArmor recalled its multi-purpose kids’ helmets because they violate the mandatory safety standard for bicycle helmets. The helmets do not comply with the impact attenuation, positional stability, labeling, and certification requirements. In the event of a crash, the helmet can fail to protect the user, posing a serious head injury. LXDHSTRA recalled its baby loungers and crib bumpers because they pose suffocation and fall hazards. The loungers violate the mandatory standard for infant sleep products. The sides are too low to contain an infant and the sleeping pad is too thick, posing a suffocation risk. The enclosed openings at the foot of the loungers are wider than allowed, posing a fall hazard and an entrapment hazard to infants. Also, the baby loungers do not have a stand, posing a fall hazard if used on elevated surfaces. EnHomee Dressers were recalled due to the risks they pose of entrapment for infants if they tip over. The dressers are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall and can entrap children if they tip over.
September 29, 2025 Child Mind Institute Shares Resources on Hoarding and Messy Rooms Cleaning one’s room has become a rite of passage for many children, while staying on top of children to clean their rooms is a tradition among many caregivers. It’s a scenario that most involved do not enjoy. Learn More But while caregivers might believe that a child’s failing to clean their room after being asked multiple times to be a sign of defiance, a cluttered room could also result from hoarding. According to the Child Mind Institute, children who hoard get emotionally attached to objects – occasionally even ones that might seem like trash, such as used pizza boxes, clothing tags, or rocks. In these cases, the child might get upset if someone tries to clean it up. In a series of new resources, the Child Mind Institute dives into the topic of hoarding and how it differs from other concerns – such as the chaotic room of a child with ADHD or a teen who hides food. Hoarding is related to OCDE, but children who hoard don’t collect items to relieve anxiety. Instead, anxiety might come when they are forced to get rid of things. The Child Mind Institute writes that the treatment for hoarding is exposure therapy, where children who hoard handle the discomfort that comes from discarding items. Some children might resist getting treatment, while others might feel ashamed about hoarding. Among the Child Mind Institute’s resources is an article on how to handle embarrassment and support children as they take steps to be more flexible. Here are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on hoarding: Hoarding in Children Why Your Child with ADHD Has Such a Messy Room My 15-Year-Old Daughter Hides Food Around Her Room. Is She a Hoarder? What Does OCD Look Like in Children? What is the Best Treatment for OCD? How Can I Get My Daughter to Stop Hoarding? How to Help Kids Deal with Embarrassment
Resources for October Observances Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them. Here is a list of resources for October observances. Week-Long Observances Anti-Poverty Week (Oct. 12 to Oct. 18) Baby Loss Awareness Week (Oct. 9 to Oct. 15) Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5 to Oct. 11) Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 5 to Oct. 11) National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 19 to Oct. 25) National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 20 to Oct. 24) Month-Long Observances HEAD START AWARENESS MONTH Head Start Awareness Month October 2024, National Today October is Head Start Awareness Month, Trying Together October is Head Start Awareness Month, Sunrise Children’s Foundation Head Start Awareness Month, National Head Start Association DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, International Dyslexia Association Understanding Dyslexia, Nemours KidsHealth Understanding Dyslexia, Child Mind Institute NATIONAL BOOK MONTH Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child?, Child Mind Institute Kids & Teens Booklists, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Supporting Early Literacy Development, Buzzword PBS Kids for Parents Releases List of Books for Children About Friendship, Buzzword Days of Recognition • OCTOBER 3: KIDS MUSIC DAY • OCTOBER 4: NATIONAL PLAY OUTSIDE DAY Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Outdoor Play Trends, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia • OCTOBER 5: WORLD TEACHER’S DAY • OCTOBER 6: NATIONAL CHILD HEALTH DAY Childhood Physical Health, Trying Together Childhood Physical Health: Resources, Trying Together Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families, Trying Together Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Trying Together • OCTOBER 8: NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY National Walk & Bike to School Day – October 1, 2025, National Today Celebrate Walk to School Day, Action for Healthy Kids • OCTOBER 10: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY Childhood Mental Health, Trying Together Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together Mental Health Resources for Child Care Providers in Allegheny County, Early Learning Resource Center Grandfamily Tip Sheets Provide Information on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health, Trying Together Parental Mental Health Impacts on Children, Trying Together • OCTOBER 11: NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Trying Together Family Guide: Gender and Gender Identity, Trying Together Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood, Trying Together How Are Sex, Gender, and Gender Identity Defined?, Trying Together Resource List: Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together • OCTOBER 13: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY 11 Ways to Observe Indigenous People’s Day with Children, Rebekah Gienapp What is Indigenous People’s Day? Here’s a Look at Its History, Associated Press • OCTOBER 19: NATIONAL NEW FRIENDS DAY • OCTOBER 20: NATIONAL YOUTH CONFIDENCE DAY • OCTOBER 28: NATIONAL IMMIGRANTS DAY • OCTOBER 29 : INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CARE AND SUPPORT
PA Budget Impasse Hurts Providers, Families, and Businesses The Pennsylvania state budget is now months overdue, and early learning programs across the state face an impossible situation because of this delay. Currently, 3,200 pre-k providers are being denied payment for over 66,500 slots, leading to closed classrooms or programs forced to self-fund with costly loans. “We are seeing the ripple effects of this budget impasse on working families in Pennsylvania,” explains Emily Neff, director of public policy for Trying Together. “Children are not just losing out on critical early learning opportunities – families are also suffering because they are unable to find the care they need in order to work. Child care businesses are making hard decisions to let go of teachers or take out high interest loans. Employers then experience workforce disruptions, which hurts their bottom line.” To effectively advocate for a solution and show the real-time impact of this impasse, the Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA campaigns are collecting crucial information from Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program grantees. These campaigns ask those impacted by the impasse to complete a survey to share how their program has been affected by October 9. The collected data will be instrumental in their efforts to urge state lawmakers to pass a budget that funds pre-k immediately, and data will be shared with lawmakers in real time. These first-hand accounts will help illustrate the urgent need to support early educators and the children and families who depend on these vital programs. Take Action Now We appreciate your support and collaboration year after year. Here are some other concrete ways you can help us elevate ECE as the budget impasse continues. Register for and attend the Working Together Webinar on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. focusing on a state budget update; advocating for early learning; the 2025 Market Rate Survey; and federal advocacy updates and opportunities Complete our current action alert and share with your networks Call your state lawmakers and urge them to include early childhood investments in the final deal. Use the SSPA Budget Impasse Fact Sheet to guide your conversation Do you know a provider, family, or business who is feeling the impact of the state budget impasse? Maybe YOU have a story! Take a few minutes to record a quick video explaining how this hurts providers, families, and businesses. Please share with your networks.
September 24, 2025 WQED Kids Book List Focuses on Promoting Empathy in Children WQED Kids has released a list of eight books that can be used to promote empathy among children. Learn More The focus of the booklist is to promote empathy through listening. Reading aloud to children is important for brain development – but it also strengthens family bonds and increases children’s understanding of the world. While listening to stories, children are learning to understand how others feel and how they want to be understood. Reading together leads to empathy when children can listen and understand the thoughts and feelings of others. The books on WQED Kids’ list help show children how listening is caring and is a skill they can use to connect with others. When reading these books to children, caregivers should discuss what it means to listen well and feel heard. Caregivers should ask children how listening in each story helped, how the character felt before someone listened to them, and why the character listened to someone in the story. Children should then be asked about a time when someone listened to them like the character in the book and how that made them feel. The books on the list include: The Rabbit Listened (Cori Doerrfeld) My Story Friend (Kalli Dakas and Dream Chen) Pinkalicious and the New Teacher (Victoria Kann) Anzu the Great Listener (Benson Shum) My Hands Tell a Story (Kelly Starling Lyons) Dr. Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor (Kate Messner) Listen to My Trumpet (Mo Willems) Judge Juliette (Laura Gehl) To read descriptions of the books, check out WQED Kids’ list.
September 23, 2025 First Up Seeks Home-Based Child Care Providers to Take Survey on Community Support First Up and Temple University are asking home-based providers to take a survey that aims to document the specific support that they provide to children and families through and beyond their official child care duties. The deadline for the survey is Sept. 30. Learn More The concept of the survey is to explore the value of home-based child care by examining the connection between community support and home-based child care providers. First Up said that currently there is little research on the topic and, as a result, it is difficult to make the case that more funding is needed. Those who take the survey can do so in their preferred language by clicking the language option. Responses from experienced home-based child care providers in Pennsylvania will help inform research, advocacy, and potential policy improvements. Questions in the survey include: How many years the provider has been in business How many children the provider serves The age range of children served How much education experience the provider has Information about the provider’s STAR level Those who participate will be entered into a raffle for a $150 gift card. Participants who have additional questions or would like to take the survey over the phone should email Elizabeth.ozer@firstup.org. The survey is available online.
Thriving Kids Podcast Outlines 9 Tips on How to Help Children Succeed in School The Thriving Kids podcast recently hosted a psychologist who provided nine tips on how children can succeed in school. Learn More Now that the school year is in full swing, caregivers could pick up some useful tips from Adam Zamora, PsyD, who recently joined the Thriving Kids podcast to discuss how to help children create good habits, but also when to step back so they can learn on their own. The podcast included discussion on how to make education an adventure by letting children discover the joy of learning through shared stories, problem-solving activities, and exploring their own ideas. Other pointers included building a supportive community by scheduling check-ins with teachers and getting to know classmates’ parents as well as creating good habits – such as setting up a quiet space at home for homework and developing routines where homework comes before other activities, including watching TV. Helping a child organize their backpack and using a calendar to keep track of important school events and assignments were other tips. Caregivers should celebrate a child’s unique journey and avoid comparing them to other children. Instead, focus on their individual strengths and areas for growth by learning strategies that work best for the child. Lastly, caregivers should seek help if a child is struggling in school. Thriving Kids host Dave Anderson, PhD, emphasized that school success isn’t about perfection – but instead about effort, routine, and encouragement. The podcast’s nine tips to help children thrive in school include: Make learning fun for children, whether it’s through reading, exploring areas of interest, or exposing them to a variety of opportunities. Establish good habits at home, such as creating a dedicated homework space, setting up a planner, helping children organize their backpacks, and offering homework support. Teach school skills at home – how to organize, prioritize and plan tasks, set goals, take notes, and study for tests. Get involved in your child’s school community and establish an open line of communication with their teacher. Give children space. Experience can be the best teacher, so don’t be afraid to let them make mistakes and figure out things on their own. Be patient, understanding, and supportive if a child is struggling in school and help them to figure out what they might need to succeed. Don’t compare your child to others. Every individual succeeds at their own rate and has unique strengths and challenges. Encourage children, but don’t stress them because too much pressure often backfires. Focus on effort, not outcomes. Children will grow to be more resilient if their efforts are praised, rather than caregivers focusing on results. Let them know you are proud of them, even if their grades aren’t where you’d like them to be. When they succeed, focus on how effort played an important role. For more information, read the Thriving Kids newsletter.
List Features Books for Children with Family and Friends Theme PA Promise for Children has released a new list of 12 books that are family- and friend-themed. Learn More The Family & Friend Books list includes 12 titles for children of varying ages. Unlike typical PA Promise for Children lists, the titles are not broken down into categories – but instead all focus on themes of family and friends. The list includes: Ciencia Magica enla sala de estar (Richard Robinson) Please, baby, please (Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee) Who’s In My Family (Robie H. Harris) More More More, Said the Baby: Three Love Stories (Vera Williams) Annie Rose is My Little Sister (Shirley Hughes) Lion in the Living Room (Caelaach McKinna & A.R. Stone) Crazy Hair Day (Barney Saltzberg) Toot & Puddle You Are My Sunshine (Holly Hobbie) Guess How Much I Love You (Sam McBratney) Max’s First Word (Rosemary Wells) Hunter’s Best Friend at School (L.M. Elliott) Harold and the Purple Crayon (Crockett Johnson) The list can be found on PA Promise for Children’s website.
September 22, 2025 NAEYC Provides Tips for Helping Children Transition to Classroom Setting The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has shared tips for caregivers on how to help children get used to transitioning into a classroom environment. Learn More It can be challenging for children to say goodbye to their caregivers when they are dropped off at child care in the morning. To help children transition into their new setting, NAEYC has compiled a list of 11 tips to help with this transition. Methods recommended in NAEYC’s article include everything from discussing a child’s daily schedule or talking about feelings to establishing a goodbye routine. The full list of tips includes: Find out how the program makes children feel comfortable as they start by asking for the name of the child’s primary caregiver and how you can share information about your family or routines. Review the daily schedule with your child. Help your child get to know the primary caregiver first before you leave them at the program. Establish a predictable goodbye routine – for example, wave from the window or share a hug. Give your child tools to use when missing family – such as a photo of the family or a special toy. Share at least a few words of your home language with your child’s teacher. Share your child’s favorite things to do with the teachers. Make homemade books for your child about the daily routine – including the transition from home to school – so they can rehearse the day’s plan to cope. Talk about feelings and don’t be offended if your child is upset with you; it’s common for children to feel angry at parents for leaving them. Create a reunion ritual, checking in with your child’s teacher about the day. Be timely. Returning at the same time each day prevents your child from worrying and makes drop off the next day easier. For the entire list and their descriptions, read NAEYC’s article.
