Reading Ready Pittsburgh Working to Expand Regional Participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
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August 4, 2026
Reading Ready Pittsburgh Working to Expand Regional Participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Reading Ready Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh are working together to expand participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age 5.
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The program sends the free, age-appropriate books to children who live in the city as well as those living in 20 additional ZIP codes.
Each DPIL subscription begins with a copy of the classic children’s story, “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. There are no household income requirements to take part in the program, and enrollment only takes a few minutes.
“This is a great program,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor in an Instagram post about DPIL. “Reading is very important, especially at a very young age – and we want to provide free books to as many kids across the city as we possibly can. It’s very simple to sign up. I just did it in a couple of minutes.”
Caregivers interested in enrolling their child in the program should:
Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult.
Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes.
Read the book selections with your child.
Books will begin arriving about eight to 10 weeks after the registration form has been received. Households will continue to receive one book per month until the registered child turns age 5.
Allegheny County Organizations Hold Back to School Giveaways and Activities
News
August 3, 2026
Allegheny County Organizations Hold Back to School Giveaways and Activities
Allegheny County caregivers with children who are starting school later this month can choose from several upcoming back-to-school events that include backpack giveaways and fun activities.
Sto-Rox Back-to-School Event
A back-to-school event will be held on Friday, August 14 at the Sto-Rox Football Field in Mckees Rocks.
The event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include performances by the Little Viking Cheerleaders and Father Ryans Arts Center Dancing Soldiers. It will also include community kick ball, a potato bag race, a Bounce house, face painting, hair cuts, nails, free book bags, produce, hot dogs and hamburgers, games, prizes, and entertainment.
Free book bags will be available. The football field is located at 1105 Valley Street in McKees Rocks.
Kindergarten Here I Come
Rising kindergartners and their families can explore arts activities and gather educational resources during this event, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 15, at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
Kindergarten Here I Come is free for fall 2026 kindergarten students and one accompanying caregiver.
Some of the activities at the event include:
Climbing aboard a real school bus and meeting a cross guard
Trying readiness skills activities such as shoelace tying and zippering
Getting resources on everything from vaccinations and library assets to healthy lunches
Seeing “Rhea the Great Detective and the Case of the Mrs. Bearington,” an interactive children’s play that will perform at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m. in the Art Studio
Making backpack key chains and friendship bracelets
Exploring the Children’s Museum
Pittsburgh Friends
Pittsburgh Friends will hold a back-to-school event that features free backpacks and school supplies on Sunday, August 17 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Monroeville Community Park – Pavilion #2.
The event will include free backpacks and school supplies, games, food, giveaways, encouragement for families and students, and support from more than 15 community churches and partners.
Wilkinsburg Borough School District Block Party and Luau
The Wilkinsburg Borough School District will hold its Community Back to School Block Party and Summer Luau on Thursday, August 20. The event, which runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Turner Intermediate (1833 Laketon Road), is a community celebration designed to bring students, families, staff, and community partners together to kick off the new school year.
With a vibrant Hawaiian luau theme, the event will feature music, games, food, educational resources, giveaways, and interactive activities that promote school pride, strengthen family engagement, and build positive relationships before the first day of school.
The goal of the event is to create an atmosphere where every child feels excited, supported, and connected to their school community while providing families with access to valuable community resources.
Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on How to Calm Squabbling Siblings
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Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on How to Calm Squabbling Siblings
Siblings can often be each other’s best friend, but a lot of time spent together over the summer can occasionally feel like too much. Squabbling can then become commonplace during long car rides or activities in which siblings are spending too much time together.
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The Child Mind Institute has put together a series of resources on what to do when siblings won’t stop fighting. The first step is to figure out if there is a pattern to the arguments, and then to set ground rules to help avoid conflict.
If one child keeps running to an adult to tattle, they should establish rules on when to tell an adult and when to resolve things on their own. Noticing when children are getting along and praising them for it helps to reinforce the desired behavior.
There are also tips for when there’s a new baby on the way or if a sibling has a mental health challenge. When a child is struggling, a sibling might often be the first to notice and can sound the alarm so that their brother or sister can get help.
Team of Fellows Design Tools to Strengthen Communication at Allegheny County School
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Team of Fellows Design Tools to Strengthen Communication at Allegheny County School
A team of Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX) fellows have designed new tools to strengthen communication and relationships between families and an Allegheny County school.
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This past year, a team of fellows from LSX – a problem-solving platform focused on transforming education by applying the science of learning to help children thrive – took part in listening and feedback sessions with parents to design the tools. The fellows included two principals, a researcher, a journalist, an assistant superintendent, a social entrepreneur, and a children’s book author.
At Duquesne Elementary School, caregivers had been seeking support for a variety of needs, from housing and transportation to child care. In response, the LSX fellows team designed an interactive map of community resources that was translated into Spanish, Arabic, and Pashto, which are the most commonly spoken languages by English learners at the school.
The map includes a QR code that families can scan to access the community resource links, phone numbers, and directions.
A 2025 blog post titled “Designing Tools to Strengthen Communication and Relationships Between Families and Schools” described the fellows’ process in designing the map. It discusses how the project brought together individuals from typically siloed fields to build education solutions, and how the project was grounded in ideas raised by caregivers who had critiques and suggestions for improving communication.
Enrollment Open for Trying Together’s Fall CDA Cohort
News
July 31, 2026
Enrollment Open for Trying Together’s Fall CDA Cohort
Trying Together is now actively enrolling students for its fall Child Development Associate (CDA) cohorts.
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The hybrid cohorts will begin on Monday, September 14 and will conclude in May 2027. All students will participate in biweekly virtual meetings on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Additionally, three smaller groups will meet in-person:
Alternating Mondays (two times per month)
Alternating Tuesdays (two times per month)
Saturdays (once a month)
The cohort will be a total of 135 hours. Coursework for the cohort will include portfolio and application assistance, study materials, and exam preparation. Interested students should fill out Trying Together’s CDA Interest Form. Additionally, all students will be required to complete a PASSHE PDO Funding application to cover tuition, books, and fees.
About the CDA Credential
A CDA credential is the most widely recognized credential in the early childhood field and is a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement. The CDA Credential is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early learning professionals in their work to build on their professional experience and expertise.
As a nationally recognized credential, a CDA credential enables early learning professionals to work in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms in addition to early learning programs across the United States. Several topics are studied in a CDA program, including, but not limited to:
A healthy and safe learning environment
Physical, cognitive, language, and creative development
Social and emotional development
Positive guidance
Creating positive relationships with families
Program and classroom management
Observation and assessments
Professionalism in early childhood education
By earning a CDA Credential, early learning professionals strengthen their professional skill sets, gain opportunities to advance their careers, increase their confidence in the classroom, and reinforce their commitment to support young children and families.
July Recalls on Children’s Products
News
July 29, 2026
July Recalls on Children’s Products
Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related products recalls.
Diamond Wipes International recalled its CVS Health medicated hemorrhoidal wipes. The wipes contain lidocaine, but are not in child-resistant packaging, which poses a risk of serious injury or death from poisoning if ingested by young children.
Target recalled the Gigglescape Under the Sea popping toy because the toy’s clear plastic dome can detach from the blue plastic base, making the small plastic balls inside accessible to children and posing a choking hazard.
Projecting LED finger light toys sold on Amazon by POPOOO are being recalled because they contain button cell batteries that can easily be accessed by children. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns or death.
AMASKY recalled its nursing pillows for infant feeding and tummy time because they violate standards for nursing pillows and infant support cushions. The pillows can obstruct and infant’s breathing, posing a serious risk of injury or death from suffocation.
Junpower CR2032 lithium coin batteries sold on Amazon are being recalled because they are not in child-resistant packaging and do not bear warning labels that are required by law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns or death.
Vevor recalled its baby loungers because the sides are too low to contain an infant and the enclosed openings at the foot of the loungers are wider than allowed, posing serious risks of fall and entrapment hazards to infants. The loungers also do not have a stand, posing a fall hazard if used on elevated surfaces.
Wonderstone recalled its infant walkers because they can fit through a standard doorway and fail to stop at the edge of a step, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to a fall hazard.
Liizousauda recalled its paint thinner bottles because the paint thinner contains low-viscosity petroleum distillates but its bottles are not in child-resistant packaging, posing a risk of serious injury or death from poisoning if ingested by young children. Additionally, the petroleum distillates can get into the lungs, causing chemical pneumonia or pulmonary damage, which can be fatal.
Jobon recalled its torch lighters because they do not have the required child-resistant mechanisms, posing a risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards. The lighters also failed to meet the pre-market lighter submission requirement needed to demonstrate that they feature child-resistant mechanisms and are safe and compliant with regulations.
Oitnlaughter recalled its projecting finger light toys because they contain button cell batteries that can be easily accessed by children. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns or death.
Wade Logan Annyka recalled its nine-drawer fabric dressers because they can be unstable if not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injuries or death to children.
Warren James recalled the copper cup found in its Flashgitz Relic lunch boxes because they contain high lead concentration levels for drinking vessels, posing a lead poisoning hazard. Lead is toxic if ingested and can cause adverse health issues.
SDADI recalled its kitchen step tower stools because they can collapse or tip over while in use and a child’s torso can fit through the openings on the front and back sides, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
EnHomee recalled its nine-drawer fabric dressers because they are unstable if not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injuries or death to children.
Aojieni Silicone recalled its Sili Factory pull-string teething toys because the silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted. The strings can reach the back of children’s throats and become lodged, posing a risk of respiratory distress and choking.
CuddleCubs Creations recalled its teething toy sets because they contain a pull-string teething toy that has silicone strings that are smaller and longer than permitted. The strings can reach the back of children’s throats and become lodged, posing a risk of respiratory distress and choking.
Amazon seller Romorgniz recalled 12-drawer fabric dressers that can be unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injury or death to children.
OCDEL Announces Pathway for Internationally Educated ECE Professionals to Obtain Necessary Documents
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OCDEL Announces Pathway for Internationally Educated ECE Professionals to Obtain Necessary Documents
Starting in early August, a new equivalency report will create an additional pathway for internationally educated early childhood professionals to obtain necessary educational documents.
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As of Monday, August 3, the Educational Credential Evaluators will offer an equivalency report to early childhood education (ECE) workforce professionals who are unable to obtain their original international educational documents.
Photocopies of original documentation will now be eligible to proceed through a vetted review process by Educational Credential Evaluators and reviewed for authenticity and U.S. equivalency, according to an announcement on Wednesday by Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
The equivalency report can be used by ECE professionals to be placed on the state’s ECE Career Pathway, which provides a clear framework for professional growth, helping educators to meet the qualifications and competencies required for various roles in early childhood education.
Last year, OCDEL and the Pennsylvania Key partnered with the Educational Credential Evaluators to develop a more accessible system for ECE workforce members who received their education abroad.
Now, in its second year, the International Education Evaluation program has launched a new opportunity for workforce members who are experiencing challenges obtaining original diplomas, transcripts, and degrees from the educational institutions where they were educated.
More information on the equivalency reports can be found on the Pennsylvania Key’s International Education Evaluation website, including instructions on how to secure the required documentation and the evaluation application process in Pennsylvania.
Trying Together Names Lifesteps’ Resource Development Specialist as July Advocate of the Month
News
July 28, 2026
Trying Together Names Lifesteps’ Resource Development Specialist as July Advocate of the Month
Trying Together has selected Julie Thumma, the resource development specialist at Lifesteps in Butler, as its July advocate of the month.
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Lifesteps is an independent, nonprofit, human services agency assisting families with challenges at various stages in life. The agency works to meet the needs of the community by helping children, families, older adults, and individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities lead better lives — offering care and support through family‑focused services and programs.
Thumma said that her journey as an early childhood advocate has been shaped by her professional experiences and personal life.
“Every step along the way has reinforced my belief that the earliest years of a child’s life are among the most important – and that the people who care for and educate young children deserve to be supported, valued, and connected,” she said.
Julie Thumma appeared on the Butler Buzz podcast in April to discuss the Week of the Young Child.
Thumma earned a degree in social work and then became the director of a child care center, but she had little preparation in business management or early childhood education. She soon realized that many professionals in the field faced the same challenges.
“They were expected to lead programs, support families, and provide high-quality care while often working in isolation and with limited resources,” she said. “I also saw the disparity between the tremendous value of their work and the recognition and compensation they received. Those experiences inspired me to advocate for the early childhood workforce and for stronger systems that support both educators and children.”
Thumma said her advocacy has been shaped by her career at Lifesteps. For the past 25 years, she has served as the coordinator of the Butler County Early Care & Education Council, a countywide collaboration that brings together leaders from preschool programs, early intervention, human services, and school districts. The council assesses the community’s early childhood systems, shares resources, and develops projects that strengthen the continuum of education from birth through third grade.
In 2008, her advocacy became more personal when she became a mother in need of full-time child care. She experienced firsthand the importance of finding affordable, high-quality care. At the same time, Pennsylvania was implementing Keystone STARS, and she worked in Butler County to help support its implementation.
“Seeing those efforts through the eyes of both a parent and a former child care director strengthened my belief that positive, high-quality learning experiences provide the foundation for lifelong success,” she said.
As her child approached kindergarten, she also experienced the uncertainty that comes with the milestone. This helped to deepen her passion for helping families, early learning providers, and elementary schools to work together to create smoother transitions into school.
“When children experience continuity between preschool and kindergarten, families feel more confident, teachers are better prepared, and children begin school ready to thrive,” she said.
Ashley Harland, Trying Together’s early childhood policy manager, said she met Thumma through her role at the Butler Early Care and Education Council.
“Julie gets it,” Harland said. “She understands the critical role of early childhood education (ECE) in the life of a child; she knows that parents rely on high-quality ECE; and she is devoted to elevating the professionals that work in ECE.”
How to Find Professional Growth Opportunities Through Trying Together
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How to Find Professional Growth Opportunities Through Trying Together
Trying Together offers a variety of professional growth opportunities through the Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways, including public in-person and virtual courses and custom professional development options.
Fall 2026 Professional Development Catalog
Trying Together recently released its Fall 2026 Professional Development Catalog, which is designed to help early educators find professional growth opportunities that are aligned with their career goals by providing key course details and credentials.
This fall’s offerings include 58 classes across nine categories that include:
Assessments and Supportive Services (Early Intervention)
Child Development
Classroom Environment
Curriculum Development
Family and Community Engagement
Guidance and Behavior Management
Health and Safety
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
Professionalism and Program Organization
Courses cover everything from Ages & Stages Questionnaires® and the exploration of P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Childhood) principles to offerings that examine classroom de-escalation, integrating social-emotional learning in classrooms, and effective lesson planning.
To learn more about courses offered by Trying Together, check out its updated PD catalog.
Upcoming Professional Development Offerings
Trying Together has a variety of professional development courses – both in-person and online – available in the coming months. Some upcoming courses include:
Expanded Professional Development in Counties in Southwestern PA
Trying Together has expanded its professional development offerings to provide in-person learning opportunities in Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, and Washington counties.
Over the next year, the following courses will be available in those counties:
Everyday Interactions Matter
Overview of Developmentally Appropriate Practice for Children Birth-Age 5
Active Supervision for ECE Programs
Addressing Challenging Behaviors in the ECE Classroom
An additional course, Positive Guidance Strategies to Facilitate Social and Emotional Development, will be available in Westmoreland County in August.
Those who are interested in having Trying Together provide in-person professional development opportunities in Armstrong or Indiana counties should email learning@tryingtogether.org.
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources can help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and identify them.
Here is a list of resources for August observances.
