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Author: Nathan Duke

Indiana County Board of Commissioners Declares April 5-11 as Week of the Young Child

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March 27, 2025

Indiana County Board of Commissioners Declares April 5-11 as Week of the Young Child

The Indiana County Board of Commissioners recently announced a proclamation to declare April 5 to 11 as the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) in the county.

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The proclamation is part of the county’s Week of the Young Child celebration event that includes a movie screening and activities. 

In the proclamation, the board of commissioners notes that “the early years of a child’s life lay the foundation for future success in school, work, and life, and it is crucial that we ensure all children have access to high-quality early education and care.”

“The Week of the Young Child provides an opportunity for communities to recognize the vital role of early educators, caregivers, and families in supporting children’s development and learning,” the proclamation reads.

It also recommends that local, state, and national efforts to support young children and their families should be developed and encouraged. 

The county’s Early Childhood and Education Committee of the Children’s Advisory Commission will offer WOYC activities on Saturday, April 5 at the Indiana County Courthouse and Indiana Theater.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) established the Week of the Young Child in 1971 to celebrate the unique needs and potential of young children as well as to recognize the importance of childhood education. Trying Together later designated April as the Month of the Young Child due to increased interest. 

Trying Together to Host Friendraiser Event in Strip District on May 15

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March 24, 2025

Trying Together to Host Friendraiser Event in Strip District on May 15

Trying Together’s board of directors will host a fundraiser to share information about the organization’s mission and celebrate its impact during a Friendraiser on Thursday, May 15 at Kingfly Spirits.

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Guests interested in learning more about advocating for early childhood and expanding their network are invited to join the Trying Together board of directors for an evening of information and connection.

Tickets are a donation of $100 per person. Attendees will be served light appetizers and receive a drink ticket for one cocktail. A cash bar will also be available.

Donations will help Trying Together continue to provide high-quality care and education for young children through advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families, and the individuals who interact with them.

The Friendraiser will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kingfly Spirits, located at 2613 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

Registration is now open. The deadline to register is Monday, May 5. Anyone with questions about the event can email Kerry Chapman, Trying Together’s assistant director of development, at kerry@tryingtogether.org or call 412.206.1053.

Resources for April Observances

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Resources for April Observances

Various organizations, states, and nations recognize several observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and childcare professionals acknowledge and navigate them.

Here is a list of resources for April observances:

Month-Long Observances

Month of the Young Child

Celebrate Diversity Month

World Autism Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Week-Long Observances

April 6-12 is the Week of the Young Child

April 7-13 is National Library Week

April 22-26 is Every Kid Healthy Week

Day Observances

April 2 is International Children’s Book Day

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day

April 4 is National School Librarian Day

April 5 is National Self Care Day

April 6 is National Library Day

April 15 is National American Sign Language Day

April 21 is National Kindergarten Day

April 22 is Earth Day

April 23 is World Book Day

PA Promise for Children List Focuses on Bedroom Safety for Children

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PA Promise for Children List Focuses on Bedroom Safety for Children

Whether they are sleeping or playing, a child’s bedroom fulfills many purposes. PA Promise for Children has put together a list of ways to ensure that the bedroom remains a safe place for children.

Windows

One item on PA Promise for Children’s list is window safety. If the windows in a child’s room has blinds, guardians should make sure that all blinds and their parts – such as the strings used to raise or lower them – are not accessible to the child.

Window blind strings can pose a strangulation risk.

Cribs

To prevent a child’s head from getting caught between a crib’s bars, guardians should make sure that crib slats are no more than 2 ⅜ inches apart.

The mattress should fit snugly in the crib and no more than two fingers should fit between it and the side of the crib. Parents should not use a pillow for a baby or small child.

If a child can climb out of a crib, they should be moved to a regular bed. It is important to include guard rails or use a toddler bed until the child becomes used to sleeping in a bed. In the meantime, one option is placing the mattress on the floor.

Furniture

Guardians should keep all furniture away from windows – including cribs, beds, dressers, changing tables, or shelves. Additionally, shelves or dressers should be secured to the wall to prevent children from pulling them over.

Heavier objects – such as a television or mirror – should never be placed on top of furniture where a child could climb or pull the furniture over. Keep dresser drawers closed to discourage a curious child from using them as steps.

Toys

Parents should ensure that all toys are age-appropriate. They should check the recommended age range for all of their child’s toys. 

It is also important to check to see if specific toys pose choking hazards for children under the age of three.

Other

A child’s bedroom should have child-proof plugs in electric outlets. Additionally, all other rooms in the house should also have child-proof electric outlets.

And parents or guardians should also make sure that the child’s bedroom door does not lock from the inside. If it has a lock, they should remove it or change the door knob.

PA Promise for Children’s list of bedroom safety measures can be found on its website.

IECMHC Cites Music and Movement as Important to Child Development

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IECMHC Cites Music and Movement as Important to Child Development

Although spring is just around the corner, winter weather can continue into March – and even April – so it is important for parents and guardians to find ways for children to remain active while indoors.

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The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program’s March newsletter focuses on music and movement in the classroom and includes several resources

The IECMHC cites several benefits of music and movement for children in the early childhood education classroom. Through music and movement, children can:

  • Be creative by expressing themselves through dance, lyrics, and storytelling
  • Undergo emotional development by learning to recognize and process emotions and developing empathy
  • Enhance motor skills by improving coordination, balance, and strength through dancing, clapping, and jumping
  • Enhance cognitive skills by developing memory, categorization, and problem-solving abilities
  • Enhance social skills through the development of emotional intelligence, which is linked to success in many areas of life

The IECMHC also suggests trying to strike a healthy balance when it comes to screen time – or the use of smartphones, tables, computers, or other devices – for children. To foster well-rounded development, it suggests substituting the following for screen time: art, reading, interactive games, outdoor play, music and movement.

Further Resources

The IECMHC provides a wide variety of resources revolving around the importance of music and movement for children. 

These include an article on the importance of music and movement in early childhood education and how to use music, rhythm, and movement to enhance children’s self-regulation.

Among the IECMHC’s resources are information on music and movement relating to:

Trying Together Board of Directors Treasurer Raises $2.7K for PwC National Pi Day Fundraiser

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Trying Together Board of Directors Treasurer Raises $2.7K for PwC National Pi Day Fundraiser

Price Waterhouse Cooper’s (PwC) Pittsburgh’s office recently held “Pi-a-Partner Day,” a National Pi Day-themed event to raise awareness for local nonprofits and provide donation opportunities.

Dan Waltman, Principal for Wealth Management Tax Services at PwC, has been involved with Trying Together for four years and serves as treasurer for the board of directors. He chose to raise money to benefit Trying Together.

“Having young twin boys with full-time working parents was what drew me to get involved with Trying Together,” Waltman said. “The positive impacts that child care providers have had on my children is undeniable.” 

Waltman offered an incentive to potential donors: if he reached his original goal of $2,500, he would be pied in the face. He surpassed that goal by raising $2,780.

“Dan’s fundraiser on behalf of Trying Together is one of the more creative efforts I’ve seen – and I applaud his success!” said Cara Ciminillo. “On behalf of Trying Together, I thank him for his commitment to supporting the work of early childhood.”

Those interested in donating to Waltman’s fundraising effort can still do so on PwC’s fundraising page.

National Pi Day

National Pi Day, which was celebrated March 14, is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π. The day is celebrated on that particular day because 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant features of pi, and March is the third month (the 1 and 4 are represented by the 14th day).

ECE Professionals Must Submit T.E.A.C.H. Applications for Summer by April 11

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ECE Professionals Must Submit T.E.A.C.H. Applications for Summer by April 11

Early childhood education (ECE) professionals interested in attending college for summer semesters should apply to T.E.A.C.H. prior to the April deadline.

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T.E.A.C.H. applications must be completed and submitted with all required documentation and information by Friday, April 11 to be considered for the summer semesters beginning in May and July.

PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis. However, incomplete applications and applications received after the April date will not receive priority for consideration.

New scholarships awards for the summer semester will depend on funding availability. Applications should begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college or university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted and can register for courses if they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed.

Information on availability and program requirements are available on PACCA’s website, where scholarship applications can also be downloaded. Applicants can contact T.E.A.C.H. counselors on PACCA’s website.

PACCA has also established new partnerships with Alvernia University and Gwynedd Mercy University to offer T.E.A.C.H. bachelor’s degree scholarships.

PACCA will hold its annual ECE Workforce Day on Tuesday, June 10 at the Capitol in Harrisburg. More information will follow as details are available.

Trying Together Exec Director Discusses Your Career, Our Future Campaign with The Soul Pitt

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March 21, 2025

Trying Together Exec Director Discusses Your Career, Our Future Campaign with The Soul Pitt

Executive Director Cara Ciminillo recently discussed Trying Together’s Your Career, Our Future campaign in an interview with The Soul Pitt.

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Ciminillo appeared on The Soul Pitt’s podcast to discuss the campaign and who it is attempting to attract. The Soul Pitt is a website and print magazine that serves Pittsburgh’s communities of color.

The Your Career, Our Future campaign is aimed at combating a nationwide trend in which early learning programs have had to close classrooms and turn families away due to the lack of early educators available to meet child care demands. This, in turn, harms young children and their families, businesses, and the economy.

Your Career, Our Future – which is a joint effort between Trying Together and the Early Excellence Project – has collected stories from early educators and families in the Pittsburgh region. The campaign’s aim is to attract more people to answer the call to become early educators.

In The Soul Pitt interview, Ciminillo notes that the campaign aims to recruit early childhood educators by giving them the tools they need to succeed. It also shows current and future educators they are valued and respected.

“This campaign puts a face to the profession,” Ciminillo said during the interview. “We’ve collected stories from 15 people who have been positively impacted by early childhood education. This includes not only educators, but also child care program owners and parents.”

Ciminillo told The Soul Pitt that the campaign hopes to draw passionate people of all backgrounds, education levels, and skill sets who are nurturing, inspiring, and excited to educate young people. She added that the Institute for Career Pathways through Trying Together can help those who are starting out in their career as well as those looking to advance.

In the interview, Ciminillo is asked why it is important to share their stories in a campaign like Your Career, Our Future.

“So often, we focus on the difficulties faced by the field – but this campaign instead shares all the amazing parts of being an early childhood educator,” she said. “Early childhood education is more than a job – it’s a powerfully rewarding and vitally important career.”

In the interview, she also discusses the benefits of becoming an early childhood educator and how those who are interested in the program can obtain more information. 

To read the entire interview, visit The Soul Pitt.

Rolling Admission Open for PaPBS Network Tier 1 Facilitator Training

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March 19, 2025

Rolling Admission Open for PaPBS Network Tier 1 Facilitator Training

The Program-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PW-PBIS) Training Collaborative is opening rolling admission for the PaPBS Network Tier 1 facilitator training series.

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The series will support the development of a provisional facilitator in an early childhood setting. Coursework will be available beginning in March. However, a rolling admission will allow interested participants to apply anytime.

The first 10 approved applicants will receive a $500 discount on the course fee. Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Employed by educational entities, child-serving agencies, early care and education programs, or managed care organizations in Pennsylvania
  • Must have an employer, supervisory, or contractual relationship with the educational/agency applicant that assures sufficient time, support, and resources to adequately fulfill PaPBS Program-Wide Facilitator roles and responsibilities
  • Have a master’s degree in education, educational administration, social work, psychology, child development, or a related field; or, hold a bachelor’s degree in the same fields with five years of experience in educational or early care and education settings

Exceptions to these criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis. More information on the series and the application can be found online.

Genius of Play Releases Book for National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

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March 18, 2025

Genius of Play Releases Book for National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The Genius of Play has released a book for children in honor of March’s National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

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The book – “Let’s Play: A Playbook for Kids of All Abilities” – focuses on how play provides an opportunity to engage in activities that best support their development. It notes that when there is focus on a child’s strengths, interests, and areas in which they need more support, a play approach offers opportunities to participate in the challenge level that is suitable for them.

The free guide offers families a variety of adaptive, play-based activities to help children meet developmental milestones and promote social inclusion while having fun.

The book can be downloaded on The Genius of Play’s website.

The Genius of Play also offers play ideas for every age range, interest, and ability. Its resources include playbooks featuring games that help children to develop emotional intelligence, physical skills, and STEAM knowledge as well as activity sheets and other activities.

The Genius of Play is a national movement spearheaded by The Toy Association to raise awareness about play’s vital role in child development.