April 30, 2025 April Recalls on Children’s Products Below is a list of April recalls collected from the following federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dorel Juvenile Group recalled 179,845 Safety 1st child car seats because the headrest foam pad is not adequately secured, which can allow a child to pick off pieces of foam. The pieces can present a choking hazard to children. My Life Inc. issued an allergy alert on undeclared milk in ML Natural Premium Quality Lactoferrin as Apolactoferrin and recalled approximately 65 bottles of the 300mg. supplement. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product. Five Below recalled its Room2Room LED Iridescent Bear Lights due to fire and burn hazards. The power switch on the USB cord can overheat and melt, posing fire and burn hazards. Honey Joy recalled multiple convertible and foldable high chairs due to the risk of suffocation. The chairs, which violate federal regulations for infant sleep products and inclined sleepers, have an incline angle that is greater than 10 degrees, posing a suffocation risk. Jonas C recalled its long-haul portable ATV fuel containers due to the risk of injury and death from burn, fire, and poisoning hazards. The fuel containers violate child-resistant requirements for closures under the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. Fisher-Price recalled its Brunch & Go stroller toys due to choking hazards. The yolk of the toy egg can crack and create small parts, posing a choking risk for young children. Fisher-Price recalled its Tissue Box Toy sold with SnugaPuppy Activity Centers due to choking hazard. The detachable tissue box toy can come apart, exposing the small support brackets. Baby Bath Seats were recalled due to the risk of serious injury or death to babies from drowning hazards. The seats violate the federal safety regulations for infant bath seats because the bath seat is unstable and can tip over while in use, and the leg openings are too wide, allowing a baby to slip out of the seat. Modus Furniture International recalled its Kentfield Dressers due to risk of serious injury or death from tip-over and entrapment hazards. The recalled dressers are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall. Multifunctional Puzzle Crab Toys are being recalled due to the risk of serious injury or death due to ingestion hazard. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract each other, or another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting, or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, or death. Costway recalled its Babyjoy Convertible High Chair Activity Centers due to entrapment and serious injury hazards. The centers pose entrapment hazards because the leg openings in the seat of the stationary activity center are too wide and a child can become entrapped in it, which is a violation of federal regulations for stationary activity centers. Lil Pick Up recalled its Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) due to injury hazards. The handlebars pose a laceration hazard if the child rider’s body or head strikes the handlebars at a high rate of speed. Additionally, the parking brakes fail to hold, posing a collision hazard. Kramer Laboratories recalled its Safetussin over-the-counter cold medicine, which contains acetaminophen, which must be in child-resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. COMEONROA Infant Swings were recalled due to risk of serious injury or death from suffocation. The swings have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees, in violation of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. Leetous recalled its glow sticks and glasses party pack toys due to serious injury or death from ingestion. The button cell batteries are in a compartment that can be opened easily without requiring the use of a common household tool. When button cell and coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries. Joydeco recalled its roller window shades due to strangulation and entanglement hazards and risk of serious injury or death. The shades have long operating cords that can cause serious injury to children and also violate labeling requirements for window coverings. American Bolt and Screw recalled its tip-over restraint kits distributed with clothing storage units due to tip-over and entrapment hazards for children. The plastic zip tie used with the furniture tip kits can become brittle or break, which can allow a storage unit anchored to the wall to detach. Deals Oasis recalled its Shape Sorter Car Toys due to choking hazards. The toys contain balls that violate regulations banning small parts in toys intended for children under three years of age. Huffy recalled its Torex UTV Ride-On Toys due to fire hazards. The toys can overheat due to improper wiring. AliExpress recalled its LED Strip Lights due to risk of serious injury or death from ingestion. The strip lights allow easy access to children to the lithium coin batteries. Roll-Up Window Blinds have been recalled due to risk of serious injury or death from strangulation and entrapment. The blinds have long operating cords that can pose dangers for children. Window Roll Up Shades have been recalled due to strangulation and entanglement hazards. The shades have long operating cords that can pose dangers for children. Huffy has recalled its Children’s Ride-On Tonka Dump Trucks due to fire and burn hazards. The controller on the trucks can overheat.
Federal Actions and Proposals Threaten Head Start Programs The federal administration recently announced a proposal to eliminate Head Start, a 60-year-old federally funded program that provides comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to low-income children, ages 3-5, and their families as well as pregnant women and infants/toddlers under age 3. Head Start serves nearly 30,000 Pennsylvania children at 806 centers and employs nearly 10,000 staff members. In total, Head Start serves 750,000 children across all 50 states. Head Start is a critical program within the early care and education infrastructure and a high-quality child care option for families living in poverty. “We have decades of data showing early childhood education drives economic mobility, strengthens communities, and reduces the need for costly interventions later,” said Cara Ciminillo, executive director for Trying Together. “Gutting a program that serves nearly a million children and families each year would set us back generations — and cost us far more in the long run.” In recent months, a number of actions by the current administration have led to disruption and confusion for families and educators, delays in payments to local Head Start grantees, and loss of employment for Head Start and Office of Child Care staff at the federal level. Additionally, five Head Start Regional Offices were closed, representing half of all regional offices across the country, including 22 states, six territories, and 467 Tribal governments. This has resulted in diminished capacity for federal grant awards, monitoring, and technical assistance as well as a major loss of content knowledge expertise for early childhood. In response to these actions, the Pennsylvania Head Start Association (PHSA) has joined with a coalition of several state Head Start associations as well as two Parent Voices of Oakland, Family Forward Oregon, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Ted Waters to file a complaint to prevent the dismantling of Head Start. “The administration is taking Head Start apart piece by piece by slow walking grants, making it harder to access rigorously approved funding, and executive orders that cut at the heart of serving children and families in our communities,” PHSA said in an April 28 email to supporters. “These actions will result in the widespread termination of services for children and families that rely on Head Start for their childcare needs and are contrary to the Head Start Act, violates constitutional separation of powers, spending clause, due process (vagueness), First Amendment and the APA and is arbitrary and capricious. The President can’t thwart statutory directives by defunding the program.” Read more. Take Action Trying Together is deeply concerned with the proposed elimination of Head Start and urges federal policymakers to prevent the dismantling of this critical service. Make your voice and take action in one of the following ways: Sign the Pre-K for PA petition to Tell Congress to Protect Head Start and/or one of the other petitions listed on Pennsylvania’s Head Start Association website Contact your legislators by phone, email, or letter Tell your story: Share what Head Start means to you Visit the Pennsylvania Head Start Association action page. We recommend taking every action you possibly can Invite others on social media to take action. Don’t forget to tag your policymaker!
April 29, 2025 OST Professionals Invited to Take Part in APOST-Pitt Focus Group Regional out-of-school time professionals who are currently evaluating programs for the upcoming year are invited to participate in focus groups on the design phase for an upcoming APOST and Pitt Education project. Learn More The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) are working to increase the capacity of out-of-school time staff and organizations in program evaluation. The two organizations will host focus groups in May with local out-of-school time providers to gather insights, identify challenges, and shape the design for a cohort of organizations to receive training and tools to strengthen their program evaluation. The input from the project will inform the creation of an evaluation toolkit that will be publicly available in summer 2026. Focus groups will be held on the following dates: May 7, 10:30 a.m. to noon, virtual May 21, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Homewood CEC (includes lunch at noon) May 21, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Homewood CEC (includes lunch at noon) May 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., CoLab18 at Nova Place (includes dinner at 6 p.m.) Those interested in taking part in the Program Evaluation Cohort Focus Group should fill out an application.
Carlow University to Host Early Childhood Education and Apprenticeship Open Houses Carlow University will host an early childhood education and apprenticeship open house on two dates in May. Learn More Attendees will be able to learn about the university’s bachelor’s degree educational tracks in Early Childhood PreK-4 and Early Development and Learning during the open houses. The dates and times for the open houses are: Monday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom Tuesday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. on Zoom More information on the programs can be found on Carlow University’s website for the Early Childhood Education degree program. According to the website, Carlow is one of the few private schools that accepts such state-sponsored scholarship opportunities as TEACH, Rising Stars, and PASSHE. For more information, contact Susan Polojac MEd, director of the Dr. Rae Ann Hirsh Apprenticeship Program for Early Childhood Education, by calling 412-578-6371 or emailing slpolojac@carlow.edu.
April 28, 2025 Pittsburgh to Host Five City in the Streets Events This Spring and Summer Pittsburgh will continue its City in the Streets initiative with five upcoming events this spring and summer that align with the program’s intention to bring local government directly to city residents. Learn More The initiative is a part of Mayor Ed Gainey’s Plan for Peace, which advocates for a public health approach to community development. Its intention is to create an environment in which residents can thoughtfully engage with city leadership and regional authorities during a block party-style event. This year, City in the Streets will also address community safety concerns by creating environments that are clean, walkable, well-lit, and equipped with safe housing and recreational amenities. The mayor’s office noted that research has found that neighborhoods with these characteristics experience lower crime rates and offer a more secure environment. This year’s program will focus services and operations in areas where poverty and violence are more prevalent, while also building trust with residents and providing essential education. The events will serve as an opportunity to listen to the needs of residents and engage in public problem-solving. Each event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This year’s events include: Tuesday, April 29: Fowler Park (2435 Wilson Avenue) in Perry South Thursday, May 15: a location in Elliott that is yet to be determined Wednesday, June 25: a location in Lincoln, East Liberty, or Larimer that is yet to be determined Wednesday, July 16: a location in Allentown that is yet to be determined Wednesday, August 20: a location in East Hills that is yet to be determined Further locations will later be added. More information on the initiative can be found online.
Resources for May 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 May observances: Month Observances MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH Foster and Adoptive Families, Trying Together National Foster Care Month, Child Welfare Information Gateway What to Know About Becoming a Foster Parent in PA, Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network (SWAN) Top Ten Tips for New Foster Families, Fostering Families Today Ways to Help Foster Children, Adopt US Kids National Foster Care Month, Office of Children & Families in the Courts 5 Things Foster Youth Want All Teachers to Know, We Are Teachers MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Childhood Mental Health, Trying Together Where to Find Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents in Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh: Youth and Family Research Program May is Mental Health Awareness Month, American Hospital Association Preventing Parent Burnout: Meeting the Emotional Challenges of Caring for Children with Mental Health Issues, The Child Mind Institute Parenting with a Mental Health Condition, Mental Health America 77 Children’s Books About Mental Health, The Child Mind Institute MAY IS ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Talking to Kids About Asian American Identity & Racism, Immigrant History Initiative AAPI Books for Kids of All Ages, Chicago Parent 100 Brilliant Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) Children’s Books, Imagination Soup Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, History.com MAY IS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Jewish American Heritage Month, JAHM Jewish American Heritage Month Starts May 1, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Jewish American Heritage Month, Britannica Kids Weeks of Recognition MAY 5 – 11 IS CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK Children’s Book Week Poster and Activity Pages, Every Child a Reader Creative Ways to Celebrate Children’s Book Week, BookTrust 125 Kids Books We Love, New York Public Library MAY 5 – 9 IS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK This Teacher Appreciation Week Turn Appreciation Into Action, Nea.org 50 Ways to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, Waterford Why Teacher Self-Care Matters and How to Practice Self-Care in Your School, Waterford 10 Ways to Celebrate Teachers, National PTA Days of Recognition MAY 8 IS NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY Family-Based Mental Health Services, Community Care Behavioral Health (UPMC) Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage?, National Institute of Mental Health Teacher’s Guide to Anxiety, The Child Mind Institute MAY 9 IS NATIONAL CHILD CARE PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY Self-Care Tips for Family Services Professionals and Home Visitors, Head Start ECLKC (Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center) Remember to Take Care of Yourself: Six Ideas for Family Child Care Providers, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Social Media Toolkit, National Association for Family Child Care 75 Staff Appreciation Ideas, Brightwheel Take Action to Fix Child Care and Keep Classrooms Open, Trying Together MAY 11 IS MOTHER’S DAY Celebrate Mother’s Day in Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh 10 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids, Artful Parent 33 Mother’s Day Preschool Activities: DIY Gift Ideas, Games, and More, Teaching Expertise Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together Find Local Child Care, ELRC Region 5 Mom’s Mental Health Matters, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-943-5746 (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS) MAY 28 IS WORLD HUNGER DAY World Hunger Day 2025, WorldHungerDay.org Hunger & Poverty in America, Food Research and Action Center Child Hunger Keeps Kids from Reaching Their Full Potential, Feeding America Food Resources for Pennsylvanians, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Find Food Guide, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Help Stock the Shelves with Twice the Food, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
April 25, 2025 Registration Open for UnConference: Authentic Engagement in Out-of-School Time Programs Registration is now open for UnConference: Engagement in Out-of-School Time Programs on Thursday, June 5 at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center. Trying Together, APOST, and the Allegheny Department of Human Services will host a day full of informative sessions and workshops. Participants will be able to attend expert-led sessions that focus on mindfulness techniques, opening the senses and immersing oneself in nature, behavior management, PBS programs that cover such topics as literacy and social and emotional wellness, and developing lasting relationships with students. Upon registering, attendees will be asked to select from Track A for First Aid/CPR, or Track B or C for three mini-sessions. Details Thursday, June 5 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center 700 Technology Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219 A light breakfast and lunch will be served to participants. The UnConference will begin with a choice of First Aid/CPR or three mini-workshops. Attendees will select their preference during registration. The afternoon will include an interactive experiential tour of a few of the CMU Entertainment Technology Center’s newest projects and a workshop on Everyday Mentoring from the Mentoring Partnership of Southwest PA. Tickets for UnConference: Engagement in Out-of-School Time are $25. Registration is open. Space is limited. Workshop sessions will have limited space. Workshops Morning Track A: Pediatric First Aid/CPR This PQAS-certified blended learning course consists of an in-person class and online coursework. The course provides life-saving skills in alliance with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs. The online coursework must be completed prior to the in-person class. Access to the online coursework will be provided via email in advance of the event. It is advised to complete the online coursework – which encompasses about three to four hours – at least 48 hours prior to the in-person course. You will need proof of completion by providing a copy of your completion email either printed or on a mobile device to participate in the in-person class. Track B: Mini Sessions Wellness Through Nature Chilling Presenters: Patty Himes and Kathryn Hunninen The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s workshop will focus on how slowing down, opening your senses, and immersing in nature has emotional, mental, and physical health benefits for you and the youth you serve. The workshop will include practicing some of these engaging activities and mindfulness techniques that can be done anywhere. These flexible activities can be used during transition times and as a part of your program. Mindfulness for Co-Regulation Presenters: Shannon Jenkins If we want to better understand our students, a good place to start is the autonomic nervous system. During this workshop hosted by Awaken Pittsburgh, participants will learn about the different human nervous system states, discuss some common triggers, and learn strategies to help us and our students feel more grounded, safe, and ready to learn. Positive Behavior Management: Facilitator Guide Presenters: Kierra Price This workshop by Brookline Teen Outreach focuses on understanding behavior management through a lens of positive connection instead of punishment. The workshop will break down key concepts of behavior management, learning how to identify and apply effective interventions based on individual needs, and engaging in scenario-based problem-solving to practice these skills. Track C: Mini Sessions Regulate & Recharge: Simple Tools for You and Your Community Presenters: Tessa Karel During this workshop by Open Up Pittsburgh, participants will be able to explore simple, engaging self-regulation tools through yoga, breathing exercises, thought strategies, and social games. These activities help youth navigate moments of dysregulation and can be used across all ages. By practicing together, you’ll support both individual well-being and community care in your program. PBS 101 Presenters: Cathy Cook and Gina Masciola This workshop will explore how PBS is a treasure trove of digital and nondigital resources for educators. WQED Education Department staff will provide a comprehensive overview of the most useful and well-liked PBS programs and media tools. Explore the variety of PBS materials on literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional wellness in this fast-paced session that integrates games with books, apps, and videos, while connecting home to school and back. You’ll be amazed and well-equipped to harvest every PBS tool! Speed Session: Building Relationships via Cultural Connections Presenter: Sarah Crenshaw This session, presented by the Center of Life, will provide tools to help develop lasting relationships with students and families, while maintaining cultural sensitivity and acknowledging individual, family, and community identities. Afternoon The Mentoring Partnership of Southwest PA will hold a large workshop on “Everyday Mentoring” during the afternoon. Guides will also lead participants around to five interactive activity stations during a tour of the CMU Entertainment Technology Center. The stations will include the Cave Tomb, a green-screen room, sound studio, cavern, and a blocks activity. What Do I Receive? 7 PQAS/Act 48 credit hours Breakfast and lunch Networking with colleagues Hands-on, interactive workshops A swag bag Register now About UnConference The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands on in the workshops. The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues. Thank You To Our Sponsor and Partners A huge thank you to our series sponsor PNC Grow Up Great and our workshop partners.
April 23, 2025 APOST Offering Eight Professional Development Workshops This Summer Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) is offering eight professional development workshops this summer that cover a variety of topics that are relevant to early childhood learning professionals. Learn More Registration is required and closes two days prior to each workshop or when a session is full. Each workshop lasts about two-and-a-half to three hours and locations vary. The summer professional development offerings include: Essentials of an SEL Framework (Wednesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CoLab18 in Nova Place, located at 100 South Commons, Suite 100) Foundations & Self Awareness of Cognitive Development (Friday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CoLab18 in Nova Place) Building Community (Thursday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Community Engagement Center – Homewood, located at 622 North Homewood Avenue, Room 103) Cooperative Learning (Friday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CoLab18 in Nova Place) Engaging Youth in Supported Struggle (Wednesday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Community Engagement Center – Homewood) Essentials of an SEL Framework (Wednesday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Community Engagement Center – Homewood) Reframing Conflict (Wednesday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CoLab18 in Nova Place) Building Community (Thursday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Colab 18 in Nova Place) For workshops at CoLab 18 in Nova Place, APOST will provide parking validation for attendees. Descriptions of workshops are available on APOST’s website.
April 22, 2025 Kindergarten Readiness Event Planned for Families in May Trying Together, HI5!, and Pittsburgh Public Schools will host a kindergarten readiness event on Wednesday, May 14. Learn More The event will enable participants to learn about kindergarten readiness, transition, and enrollment. The event – which includes dinner and children’s activities – will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at CoLab 18 inside Nova Place, located at 100 South Commons in Pittsburgh. Parking is available through Gate 4 in the garage beneath Nova Place. Parking tickets will be validated as part of attendance. Attendees who require disability or language accommodations or have food allergies should contact valerie@tryingtogether.org by May 1. See flier or register.
Homewood’s Hub to Host Warhol-Themed Remake Learning Days Event The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center will host a Remake Learning Days event that revolves around the iconic Pittsburgh-born pop artist Andy Warhol. Learn More The hands-on event is intended for all ages. Participants will be able to make souvenirs and learn about the work of Warhol, who grew up in Pittsburgh’s Hill District before creating The Factory in New York City and becoming one of the 20th century’s most prominent artists. Participants will also be able to make a silk screen, which was one of Warhol’s numerous artistic styles of choice. The event will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the Hub, located at 7219 Kelly Street in Pittsburgh. Registration is available online. Remake Learning Days 2025 Remake Learning Days’ 2025 edition will include hundreds of events across four countries as it celebrates its 10th year. The learning festival for youth and families includes thousands of hands-on learning events for children of all ages at libraries, schools, tech centers, parks, museums, play spaces, community centers, and more. It will be held nationally between April 19 and June 15, although the Pennsylvania dates will be from May 1 to 23. Locally, Neighborhood North will hold a free event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 at 716 14th Street in Beaver Falls. This event – intended for infants, toddlers, pre-K, and students in kindergarten through fifth grade – will explore how animals interact, adapt, and play with the resources in their environment. It will include hands-on arts and science activities. Registration is available online. For more information on Remake Learning Days, visit its website.
