Nathan Duke, Author at Trying Together

News

August 25, 2026

Child Mind Institute Provides Tips for Students Starting Elementary, Middle, or High School

Although the sun is still shining and families are still taking vacations, the return to school is not far off.

This can lead to a combination of excitement and nervousness. For some, a new school year means a different teacher and classroom, but for others it could be a new school and higher expectations.

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The Child Mind Institute has put together some resources and suggested some strategies for a successful return to school. Some resources explore what children in transition years can expect, what skills they will need to develop, and how caregivers can support those who may be anxious.

One article discusses how kindergartners need to build independence and stamina for longer days and more structured learning activities, while middle schoolers will be changing classes for the first time and dealing with a heavier workload.

And high school freshmen will face pressure to effectively manage their time and develop productive study habits. Children of all ages will face social and emotional challenges and new opportunities as they navigate larger groups and more complex interactions.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

News

State DCNR Announces New Planning Tools, Updates to Accessible Recreation Website

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has announced new planning tools, communication boards, and updates to its accessible recreation website pages to help visitors to plan trips to the state’s public lands.

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The DCNR recently announced several ways that it is making state parks and forests more accessible for all visitors.

The agency said it is making major updates to its accessible recreation website pages. More than 100 state park and forest webpages now list detailed accessibility features.

These pages continue to be updated and include information about accessible facilities and amenities, such as lodging, pavilions, water access, fishing access, hiking, hunting, beaches, loaner equipment, colorblind viewfinders, wildlife-watching areas, theaters, amphitheaters, and environmental education centers.

A new search function on the websites allows visitors to filter locations by the specific accessibility features they are looking for.

The DCNR also announced new:

Online planning tools
Communication boards at seven state parks
Handy Talkers
Colorblind viewing resources for all visitors to plan trips and enjoy Pennsylvania’s public lands.

For more information on the DCNR’s new features, visit the department’s website.

News

August 24, 2026

Pennie Announces Open Enrollment Season for the Upcoming Year

Pennie has announced that its open enrollment season this year will run from Sunday, November 1 through Friday, January 15.

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Pennie offers health coverage from the top health insurance companies in Pennsylvania. Those who use it can get personalized help from a Pennie-certified professional at no additional cost.

To get coverage for the year, one must enroll during the open enrollment period. If there is a qualifying life event – such as loss of health coverage, marriage, change of residence, or other changes – residents can enroll during a special enrollment period.

Those interested in enrolling should:

Use the Plan Comparison Tool in Pennie to see plans in their coverage area and within their budget.
Apply after gathering household information. Consult Pennie’s shopping checklist.
Filter and compare health plans by needs and cost.
Pay for coverage, which will not begin until the first month’s premium has been paid. For most health plans, you can make your first payment at the same time you enroll.

Pennie’s coverage includes free preventive care, covers a wide range of medical services, and cannot be denied because of a preexisting condition.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, visit Pennie’s website.

News

PA Promise for Children Releases List of August Books for Preschoolers

PA Promise for Children has released its list of August books for preschoolers that includes eight titles across four categories.

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This month’s titles fall under the categories of Language and Literacy Skills, Social Studies Thinking, Science Thinking and Technology, and Mathematical Thinking and Expression.

The list of August books for preschoolers includes:

Language and Literacy Skills

Click, Clack Moo Cows That Type (Doreen Cronin)
Dear Panda (Miriam Latimer)

Social Studies Thinking

Maisy Goes to Preschool (Lucy Cousins)
Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car (John Burningham)

Science Thinking and Technology

Oscar and the Cricket (Geoff Waring)
And Everyone Shouted, “Pull!” (Claire Llewellyn)

Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Lengthy The Long Long Dog (Syd Hoff)
Big Dog… Little Dog (P.D. Eastman)

The full list can be viewed online.

News

August 19, 2026

Trying Together Builds Network For Alumni of CDA Credential

Trying Together helps educators to obtain their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, a widely recognized credential in the early childhood education field and a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement.

Trying Together has recently formed a CDA Alumni Network as a means of staying connected with the participants who have taken the course.

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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.

Lindsey Vicoria, Trying Together’s Career Pathways program manager, said the CDA network currently consists of nine Trying Together CDA Cohort alum – two from Fayette County and seven from Allegheny County.

“We had this idea of building up our CDA alumni network,” Vicoria said. “We have kept contact with a lot of great early educators, but sometimes we lose touch after they get their CDA. So, we wanted a way to strengthen that connection.”

She said the idea for the network is to provide a leadership development opportunity for the CDA alumni who want to dive a little deeper into the work and to provide feedback for Trying Together’s growing CDA program.

Current participants in the CDA Alumni Network hold a variety of positions in the education field, from leadership to administration and educator roles. The group meets quarterly and holds both virtual and in-person meetings.

“I think it’s important for two reasons – to strengthen our CDA program through continuous practitioner-informed feedback and to develop a pipeline of emerging early childhood education leaders who are connected to the work of Trying Together,” Vicoria said. “It’s intended to professionalize the field, build emerging ECE leaders, and expand Trying Together’s visibility and credibility through authentic educator voices.”

The network takes part in a variety of activities, including skill building, workshops, and CDA program feedback and insight. For example, the council provides feedback and reflection on any new CDA components that are introduced.

Vicoria said the network provides a great opportunity for networking. She added that she is encouraged by the group’s growth.

“This is an opportunity for educators from across the region to network, build relationships, and share practices,” she said. “I feel energized by the meetings and the joy in the space when all of these educators get a chance to get together. It makes me excited for the future of the field and the leaders who Trying Together is connected to.”

Those interested in getting involved can email Vicoria at lindseyv@tryingtogether.org. Participants should be alumni of Trying Together’s CDA credential course from one of the 10 counties that Trying Together covers.

Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways and the CDA Credential

The Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways is the central hub for Trying Together’s workforce development programs, bringing together education, career pathways, and professional growth opportunities, with the goal to support the early childhood workforce.

The CDA Credential Program offered by the institute constitutes 135 hours of professional development over the course of approximately six months, focusing on practice knowledge and skills early learning professionals need to become credentialed.Trying Together is actively enrolling students for the fall’s CDA cohort.

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

News

August 18, 2026

Thriving Kids Podcast Provides Tips on How to “Future Proof” Children

While no caregiver can know what their children will face in the years to come, that uncertainty doesn’t prevent them from doing what they can to prepare them for the future.

In a new episode of the Thriving Kids podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education for the Child Mind Institute, discusses the concept of “future proofing” children with Lisa Damour, PhD, a psychologist and best-selling author.

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The list of things that Anderson and Damour discuss that caregivers can do to support their children in the long run includes protecting sleep, prioritizing family meals, encouraging meaningful hobbies, and practicing flexible thinking and emotional durability.

The podcast provides several tips on building sustainable habits and fostering curiosity and resilience, including:

Protect your child’s sleep like it’s nonnegotiable: Set a consistent bedtime and stick to it. Build in screen-time before bed, so children are already winding down. Keep the bedroom cool, dark, and free of distractions such as glowing screens or exciting toys. Try to reserve the bed for sleep only, so it doesn’t become a place where homework or scrolling happens.
Build in regular, low-key time together: Aim to eat together regularly – it doesn’t have to be dinner and it doesn’t have to be every night. Keep phones and screens off during designated family time, even if you aren’t having a big talk.
Support pursuing hobbies for fun: Encourage children to try new things simply because they are curious, not because it will look good on a resume. Help them to find something that’s genuinely theirs. Celebrate their effort and progress – and not just the end result – to help build their confidence and take on bigger challenges.
Model adaptability and resist the urge to prevent every hiccup: Help children understand how to adapt to change by showing them what to do. It’s OK to get frustrated when plans fall through, but show how you’re going to adjust so children have a template. When children are faced with a problem, resist the urge to overprotect or overdirect – let them navigate small setbacks on their own first.

To learn more, listen to the latest Thriving Kids podcast episode.

News

IECMH Shares Resources on Building Self-Esteem and Independence in Children

The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMH) program has provided resources for July on how to promote independence in children and help them to develop self-confidence.

The program notes that caregivers can begin nurturing a child’s self-esteem from the moment they are born. It suggested several resources by age group that include books and activities that caregivers can use early on to help build confidence. These include:

A child’s self-esteem, the IECMH notes, is rooted in the strong, loving relationships they experience at an early age. This foundation can set them up for long-term success as they grow and face challenges.

Resources on Self-Esteem and Building Independence

The program shared several resources on self-confidence, self-esteem, and helping children to gain independence. These include:

News

August 17, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Dissociation in Children

Dissociation might sound like a frightening word when applied to children but, according to a new series of resources from the Child Mind Institute, it can cover a variety of behaviors, many of which aren’t great causes for concern.

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While some children describe dissociation as feeling spaced out, numb, or disconnected from themselves or their surroundings, others might say they feel as if they are watching themselves from outside their body or that the world around them doesn’t feel real.

But in milder and more common forms, it might show up as daydreaming. However, when children dissociate a lot, it can be distressing and it could be a sign that they feel overwhelmed by strong feelings or are struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, or panic attacks.

The Child Mind Institute has provided resources for caregivers on how they can model healthy ways to cope with powerful emotions. For teens, the institute provides techniques that can be used to calm down and ground oneself when feeling stressed or detached. There are also suggestions for how to respond effectively when children diagnose themselves after watching TikTok videos.

The resources include:

News

Kidsburgh List from Mother’s Group Includes Pittsburgh Region’s Best 19 Parks and Playgrounds

Kidsburgh has put together a list of 19 parks and playgrounds that a Pittsburgh group of mothers cited as being the region’s best.

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Recently, Kidsburgh posted on the Facebook page Pittsburgh Moms Connect to ask local mothers which local parks and playgrounds were the best.

The 19 parks and playgrounds that the mothers listed include:

Avonworth Community Park (Avonworth)
Wightman Park (Squirrel Hill)
Blueberry Hill Park (Franklin Park/Sewickley)
War Memorial Park (Sewickley)
O’Hara Township Community Park (Fox Chapel)
Allegheny RiverTrail Park (Aspinwall)
Adams Township Park (Mars)
Northmoreland Park (Westmoreland County)
Boyce Park (Plum/Monroeville)
New Stanton Park (Westmoreland County)
Founders Park (Greensburgh)
Chippewa Park (Beaver County)
Anderson Playground (Schenley Park)
Moon Park (Moon Township)
Highland Park (Pittsburgh)
Casey’s Clubhouse and Wiltshire Park (Upper St. Clair)
Foster Park (Ingram)
Cranberry Community Park (Cranberry Township)
Annie’s Field of Dreams (Fox Chapel)

Mothers who took part in the survey cited different reasons for their choices. One picked Avonworth Community Park because it was one of the only wooden parks left in the area, while another chose O’Hara Township Community Park because it is a disability-inclusive park.

Adams Township Park was cited because it includes a mini-water park for children and a playground, while Boyce Park was chosen by one mother because it includes winter activities during that season and a rock climbing playground during the summer.

To view the entire list and the descriptions for why they were chosen, check out Kidsburgh’s article.

News

August 14, 2026

Allegheny County Health Department: Caregivers Should Not Delay with MMR Vaccination for Children

The Allegheny County Health Department recommends that caregivers do not delay their child’s vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

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The health department made the announcement in the wake of a recent federal announcement that the department notes may have created confusion about routine childhood vaccinations.

The federal government recently called for exploring separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines – however, single-antigen measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are not available in the United States, the health department said.

The department notes that the MMR vaccine remains the recommended method to protect children against the three serious diseases. Therefore, families should not wait for a hypothetical future vaccine option when the MMR vaccine is available and has a long history of protecting children, the department said.

Measles is highly contagious, and cases continue to occur in communities across the country and Pennsylvania.

“Measles is not an abstract or distant threat – it is at our doorstep and vaccination is the best way to protect children and prevent outbreaks in our community,” said Dr. Jillian Irwin, medical director and deputy director for clinical services at the Allegheny County Health Department.