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Author: Maria Pisano

Children Needed for CMU Entertainment Technology Center Playtest Day

News

October 10, 2022

Children Needed for CMU Entertainment Technology Center Playtest Day

The Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) is looking for young volunteers to test games during its Playtest Day on Saturday, October 29.

About Playtest Day

CMU ETC makes games of all kinds, and each semester 10-20 projects look for playtesters to help them develop better experiences.
 
About a dozen children ages 8 to 11 are needed for the morning session (9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and a dozen are needed for the afternoon session (12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.). For ages 12 and older, CMU ETC can host up to 50 in the morning and up to 60 in the afternoon.

To Participate

To be invited for the October 29 Playtest Day, email ETC Professor Mike Christel directly by Thursday, October 13 at christel@cmu.edu with your morning/afternoon preference and the names and ages of children coming for testing.  Email responses will be taken until October 24, but to help with scheduling an earlier response is requested.

 

Testing happens at CMU ETC in the Pittsburgh Technology Center building, PTC, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15219 (note that this is not on CMU’s main campus). Volunteers will get to playtest from three to six projects during their visit.

 

Sign up to be a Playtester for a future semesters by filling out the Playtest Day form.

Fall 2022 NAEYC Survey of the Field Available

News

Fall 2022 NAEYC Survey of the Field Available

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is conducting a new survey to gather current data from the field to inform federal and state actions on child care.

(This article was updated on October 18 to reflect a new deadline).

About the Survey

From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAEYC has been surveying child care programs to convey the challenges they are facing across states and settings.

Early childhood educators can answer the questions about how their programs are currently doing, regardless of what kind of child care program they work in or what role they have there.

The survey will close on Sunday, October 23, 2022.

See results from past NAEYC surveys.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

News

October 5, 2022

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Month in October aims to support those with this learning difficulty. Dyslexia is not a disorder of any kind; but it is a learning impairment that causes problems with writing, reading, and spelling. 

About

The intelligence of dyslexic people is unaffected. This misunderstanding of the condition leads to stigmas, which Dyslexia Awareness Month aims to eradicate.

The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as the following:

“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”

Resources

In support of Dyslexia Awareness Month, Trying Together, as well as our Buzzword program, have provided resources on dyslexia, and other learning impairments:

 

Buzzword List of children’s books surrounding dyslexia:

 

You can also check out the latest video from Buzzword regarding a great, amazing read for children called “Aaron Slater, Illustrator” by Andrea Beaty.

 

October is Head Start Awareness Month

News

October is Head Start Awareness Month

October is Head Start Awareness Month and it aims to spread awareness about a crucial program that benefits millions of children, caregivers, and families throughout the nation. Since its inception, Head Start has served 37 million children; helping them to build necessary skills to be successful in school and life.

About Head Start

Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth through ages five that is available to families with incomes no more than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program provides a learning environment that supports the cognitive, social, and emotional development of participating children.

Many Head Start programs also offer Early Head Start, which serves infants, toddlers, and pregnant women and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level. To learn more about Head Start, visit Benefits.gov.

Benefits of Head Start

Did you know that children participating in Head Start programs have increased access to health care and improved physical health throughout their lifetimes? Evidence shows that Head Start children:

  • were served more fruits, vegetables, and milk and fewer sweetened beverages and other sweets and snacks, when compared to other child care sites;
  • are three times as likely to have healthy eating patterns as non-participants;
  • who received 60 minutes of outdoor playtime were 42% less likely to be obese at the end of the program year;
  • received sleep health interventions that increased their sleep duration and decreased their behavioral sleep problems;
  • had access to regular screenings, immunizations, well-child visits, dental and nutrition services, healthy meals, and social service programs such as SNAP and WIC; and
  • were less likely to be hospitalized for accident or injury, missed fewer school days, and had fewer emergency hospital visits.

Resources

Head Start’s six decades of experience leans on taking a comprehensive approach by providing a framework that meets social, emotional, psychological, nutritional, and health needs of children.

In support and celebration of #HeadStartAwareness Month, Trying Together has compiled Head Start resources to spread awareness of the importance of this federal program:

Learn More 

To learn more about the Head Start program and eligibility requirements, or to find a Head Start provider near you, visit the Office of Head Start’s website.

Survey: Experiences with Humor in Raising Children

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Survey: Experiences with Humor in Raising Children

Families are invited to participate in a survey about the use of humor in parent-child relationships to determine if humor can be an effective parenting tool.

About the Survey

The ultimate goal of the survey, which is being led by Dr. Benjamin Levi of the Penn State Children’s Hospital, is to teach parents to utilize humor to diffuse a tension filled situation with their child in order to prevent abuse. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Satisfactory completion of the survey requires providing responses to all survey questions, including appropriate responses to two open-ended questions.

For more information or to participate, visit the survey webpage.

Suspended Child Care Certification Regulations to be Reinstated October 31

News

October 4, 2022

Suspended Child Care Certification Regulations to be Reinstated October 31

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced some child care certification regulations relating to indoor child care spaces, child growth and development reports, and school-age children will be reinstated on October 31, 2022.

About

Pursuant to Act 30 of 2022, the suspension of various regulatory provisions under the state disaster emergency declaration that are currently in effect will be reinstated on October 31, 2022.

The regulations are:

  • A facility shall provide indoor childcare space for individual and group small muscle activity.

  • Indoor child care space may not be used simultaneously as play space.

  • Measured indoor space excludes space occupied by halls, bathrooms, offices, kitchens, and locker rooms.

  • The services to be provided to the family and the child, including the Department’s approved form to provide information to the family about the child’s growth and development in the context of the services being provided. The operator shall complete and update the form and provide a copy to the family in accordance with the updates regarding emergency contact information in §3270.124(f); §3280.124(f); §3290.123(f) (relating to emergency contact information).

  • If a child is required to be enrolled in public or private school under the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. §§ 1-101— 27-2702) and if the child is not enrolled and if the child is not exempted from enrollment under the Public School Code, a child day care facility may not admit the child for care during the hours when the child is required by law to attend public or private school.

A list of the regulations that were suspended in whole or in part and their current status is available on the Department of Human Services website.

PA Provider Advisory Board Members

News

October 3, 2022

PA Provider Advisory Board Members

The members of the inaugural Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Provider Advisory Board have been working to identify the needs of the early childhood workforce and using the experiences shared from those in the field to inform the advocacy efforts of the campaigns.

About the Provider Advisory Board

In Spring 2022, the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA campaigns launched the Provider Advisory Board. After receiving more than 200 applications from individuals working in every Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) region, a diverse group of 40 early childhood professionals from across the state were selected.

One of the goals of the Provider Advisory Board is to use the leadership and guidance of members to encourage early learning policy and advocacy discussion opportunities for providers by leveraging  existing regional early childhood policy and advocacy group forums. Combining  their own experiences with feedback from others in the field, the Provider Advisory Board aims to strengthen the influence of the early childhood provider voice, providing feedback on early childhood policy for the campaigns and assist in growing the network of providers willing to mobilize and advocate on behalf of the early childhood field.

Board Members

Start Strong and Pre-K for Pa Provider Advisory Board Leaders are:

  • Robin Evans, ELRC Region 13
  • Colleen Gawlas, ELRC Region 19
  • Tana Rinehart, ELRC Region 19
  • Brieanne Rice, ELRC Region 4
  • Allison Woods, ELRC Region 8
  • Shelley Eppihimer, ELRC Region 13
  • Annie Chappel, ELRC Region 11
  • Walki Preston, ELRC Region 5

Start Strong and Pre-K for Pa Provider Advisory Board Members are:

  • ELRC Region 1: Maria Pena, Santosh Kang, and Tom Lytle
  • ELRC Region 2: Linda Smith and Erin Cameron
  • ELRC Region 3: Jessie Bucci and Diane Osterling
  • ELRC Region 4: Abigail Enz-Doerschner
  • ELRC Region 5: Adrienne Britt and Terri Banks
  • ELRC Region 6: Erin Fouse and Virginia Christy
  • ELRC Region 7: Darlene Burleigh and Kelly Floreno
  • ELRC Region 8: Kelly Johnson
  • ELRC Region 9: Michelle Aldinger and Stacy Lewis
  • ELRC Region 10: Ruby Martin and Sean McKelvy
  • ELRC Region 11: Zubeen Saeed
  • ELRC Region 12: Grace Ann Hogan and Mary Rebe
  • ELRC Region 14: Monae Rivera and Nancy Fredrick
  • ELRC Region 15: Mary O’Prey and Angela Germany Barnes
  • ELRC Region 16: Valerie Hamilton and Nicole Fetherman
  • ELRC Region 17: Uraina Watkins and Stephen Cotilus
  • ELRC Region 18: Poonam Singhal and Sharen Woodley

2022 Annual Lights On Afterschool Event

News

September 28, 2022

2022 Annual Lights On Afterschool Event

On October 20, 2022 celebrate Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities.

About Lights On Afterschool

The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to underscore the need to invest in afterschool programs, which provide fun, hands-on learning opportunities and offerings that can include homework help; healthy snacks and meals; computer programming; robotics; art, dance and music; opportunities to think critically, collaborate, and communicate with peers and adults; job and college readiness; sports and fitness activities; mentors; and more.

Thousands of Lights On Afterschool events are expected to take place across the country this October, including academic contests, food drives, student musical performances, science fairs, open houses, art shows, community service and environmental events, fun runs, visits from lawmakers and business leaders, and more. Events will be held at schools, community centers, 4-Hs, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, parks, museums, and other places. The events emphasize that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs.

Find or Plan Events

Communities nationwide, including many in Allegheny County, are celebrating. Find local events online. For more information about planning an event, visit the Lights On Afterschool webpage.

September Recalls on Children’s Products

News

September Recalls on Children’s Products

Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.

About

Here is a list of September recalls collected from the major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More Information

For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.

Child Care Providers Can Request Free PPE Materials

News

September 27, 2022

Child Care Providers Can Request Free PPE Materials

The Department of Health (DOH), Department of General Services (DGS), and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) are collaborating to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure COVID-19 protection during a fall/winter surge of cases and for other relevant needs, including training purposes.

About

Entities can request PPE through an online request form. The following resources are intended to support organizations for current or future COVID-19 protection, or other associated purposes (including training purposes) and are available at no cost to the recipient:

  • N95 masks

  • Surgical masks

  • Isolation gowns

  • Face shields

  • Nitrile gloves

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Sanitizing wipes

These resources are not permitted to be used to offset normal operational costs for the procurement of PPE. Providers will be able to indicate requested quantities and size preferences; however, requests for specific brands/styles of products will not be accommodated.

The request form will be kept open and orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis through at least October 2022. Please email HOC_Log@pa.gov with any questions about this program.

More details are available from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).