Sesame Workshop Shares Tips for Reading to Children That Build Language and Promote Bonding

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October 6, 2026

Sesame Workshop Shares Tips for Reading to Children That Build Language and Promote Bonding

Reading with a young child is not only an opportunity to help build their language and literacy skills, but also a time for caregivers to bond with their child.

Sesame Workshop has shared some tips for shared reading with children from birth to age 3.

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Sesame Workshops’s tips include everything from creating a reading ritual and building good reading habits in children to letting children lead the way during reading time.

Caregivers should create a reading ritual to help children feel safe and connected. This includes:

  • Choosing a consistent reading time – such as every night before bed – so reading together brings comfort and connection.
  • Choosing a special reading spot, which can be as simple as a dedicated space for reading but can also include such items as pillows or stuffed animals.

To build good reading habits, caregivers should let children see them read and interact with books the way good readers do. Tips include:

  • Showing a child how to interact with books and emphasizing the way you turn each page, run your finger under the words as you read, and notice fun details in the picture.
  • Showing how you make reading fun by reading with funny voices and using gestures to mimic or act out what characters are doing.
  • When you read familiar books, invite your child to say the words that they know along with you.
  • Choosing books that can help your child build the reading skills they’ll need later. Rhyming books help children to hear the sounds in words, while books with vibrant, detailed pictures help them learn to pause and notice what’s in a book.

To allow a child to lead the way during reading together, caregivers should honor their child’s unique reading preferences and interests. Some tips include:

  • When it’s reading time, provide lots of book options and let your child grab for an old favorite or one that catches their eye.
  • Give your child time to explore the pictures on each page and notice the details that interest them. Name and describe those details – and make sure to share in their excitement.
  • Point out how parts of the book are like what they’ve seen and experienced. Are there characters that remind you of people you know? Or have they ever been in the same situation or felt the same feelings as the characters? Talk to your child about these connections.

To learn more, read Sesame Workshop’s Tips for Shared Reading with Children Birth to Three.

Report: Most Caregivers of Allegheny County Afterschool Students Say Programs Offer STEM Learning

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October 5, 2026

Report: Most Caregivers of Allegheny County Afterschool Students Say Programs Offer STEM Learning

A recent report by Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) and the Afterschool Alliance found that 92% of caregivers of Allegheny County afterschool students said their child’s afterschool program offers STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning.

This number is up from 76% of caregivers who said the same thing in 2014. Additionally, 51% of those whose child’s program offers STEM reported that their child engages in STEM learning after school at least twice per week. However, nearly four in five Allegheny County children – or 92.451 children – whose parents want afterschool programs for them are not enrolled.

STEM Report

The report, Afterschool STEM Takes Off in Allegheny County, is based on survey responses from 30,515 U.S. households, with 456 households with 682 Allegheny County children screened.

Afterschool programs in the county are educating students on a variety of STEM topics, according to caregivers, including:

  • 89% said their child’s program offers engagement in math
  • 83% science
  • 81% engineering
  • 79% computer science
  • 78% tech

Five in six caregivers said afterschool programs help children to gain skills and interest in STEM, such as Tree Pittsburgh’s youth programs, which offer environmental education programming focused on educating youth and families about the benefits of trees in their communities.

Support for afterschool programs in Pennsylvania has increased through the Building Opportunity Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) program. In 2024, the state invested $11.5 million in OST programs to 46 providers across the state, 10 of which were located in Allegheny County. The investment was renewed at $11.5 million in the 2025-26 state budget.

National Findings

In most respects, Allegheny County findings mirrored national survey findings, such as:

  • Increases in STEM in afterschool from 2014 to 2025 were seen in every state.
  • Children in families with low incomes are less likely to have multiple exposures to STEM in afterschool each week than those whose families have higher incomes.
  • Rural caregivers report fewer computer science and technology opportunities in afterschool.
  • Two in three parents with children in afterschool programs (65%) value STEM extremely or somewhat when selecting a program – but there are differences by race: Native American parents (73%), Black and Hispanic parents (70%), and Asian-American caregivers (68%) place greater importance on STEM in afterschool than White families (62%).
  • Caregivers of boys and girls report similar levels of access to STEM in their child’s afterschool program, but caregivers of girls prioritize computer science, technology, and engineering less than caregivers of boys.
  • Caregivers prioritize STEM, and specifically computer science, more as their children age.

“This study has really good news for Allegheny County,” said APOST Executive Director Karen Dreyer. “In an age when science and technology continue to shape and reshape our lives, we must invest in programs to support young people to learn, explore, and create in the STEM fields, so they gain the skills and experience needed to lead our communities into the future.”

Resources Discuss How Strep Throat Can Trigger OCD in Children

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Resources Discuss How Strep Throat Can Trigger OCD in Children

A child developing strep throat or other infections is stressful enough for caregivers – but many are unaware that such illnesses can occasionally cause a child to develop severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or other debilitating symptoms overnight.

In a new series of resources, the Child Mind Institute discusses conditions known as PANS and PANDAS that can cause children as young as 3 or 4 years of age to refuse to eat or develop tics, depression, extreme rage, or even suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

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The link between strep infections and these acute-onset symptoms was identified about three decades ago and thought to be caused by the immune system erroneously attacking healthy brain cells. But many in the medical establishment still regard the connection with skepticism.

As a result, caregivers might face terrifying changes in their children and struggle to find effective treatment or doctors who even believe them.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources on PANS and PANDAS discuss how both conditions share the same systems, but the term PANDAS is used if a strep infection is involved and PANS if it is associated with other types of infections, such as mono, the flu, or pneumonia, or in cases where no cause is identified.

The resources provide the list of symptoms, a discussion on the debate in the scientific community, and the latest information on treatment. There are also resources on OCD, including a piece on how it can show up in school as children try to hide compulsive behaviors.

The resources include:

Application Process Open for Trying Together’s 2027 Home-Based Child Care Course

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October 1, 2026

Application Process Open for Trying Together’s 2027 Home-Based Child Care Course

For those interested in opening a home-based child care business, Trying Together is offering a course starting in January that includes information about best business practices, opening a small business, child care licensing, Keystone STARS, and developmentally appropriate practices.

About

The Home Based Child Care Course will begin January 2027. While exact dates are not yet available, those interested are encouraged to apply. The cohort will meet weekly from 6:30–8:30 p.m. in a hybrid format – some in person and others virtual – but specific dates are yet to be determined. 

Course participants will receive:

  • Start-up mini-grants
  • Peer mentoring from local child care business owners
  • Support to become state licensed and participate in Keystone STARS

Apply now for the 2027 course. Questions about the program, applications, or eligibility should be directed to HBCC@tryingtogether.org.

PA DHS Announces Increase to SNAP Income Limits and Maximum Benefits

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PA DHS Announces Increase to SNAP Income Limits and Maximum Benefits

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) announced increases to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) income limits and maximum benefits starting on October 1 following an annual adjustment to account for food costs and inflation.

The changes will benefit all SNAP recipients and there will be no decrease in benefits because of the updates, the DHS said.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) made the changes as part of an annual reevaluation of SNAP’s income eligibility standards, the maximum benefit amount, and the minimum benefit amount. The adjustment is a routine, annual process.

The average increase for most SNAP recipients will be $18. 

“SNAP is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program,” state DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said. “SNAP helps more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians afford food for themselves and their families, and PA DHS will always help Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity keep food on their tables.”

The new SNAP federal poverty income guideline income limits and maximum benefit amounts a household can receive effective October 1 through September 30, 2027 are:

  • Household of 1: $2,660 (maximum monthly income), $306 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 2: $3,608 (maximum monthly income), $562 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 3: $4,554 (maximum monthly income), $808 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 4: $5,500 (maximum monthly income), $1,023 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 5: $6,448 (maximum monthly income), $1,217 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 6: $7,394 (maximum monthly income), $1,463 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 7: $8,340 (maximum monthly income), $1,616 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 8: $9,288 (maximum monthly income), $1,841 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 9: $10,236 (maximum monthly income), $2,066 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Household of 10: $11,184 (maximum monthly income), $2,291 (maximum benefit amount)
  • Each additional member (through household of 17): + $948 (maximum monthly income), + $225 (maximum benefit amount)

Factors that could contribute to a household’s higher SNAP allowance and income limits in Pennsylvania include household size and monthly income. More information on these benefit levels is available on the DHS’ website.

Changes to SNAP Utility Allowances

As of February 9, due to updated federal requirements, SNAP applicants and recipients must provide proof of their shelter costs and utility responsibility for their current residence. Applicants and recipients must provide proof of these costs at application and renewal if they are not already on file with the DHS. 

SNAP households will need to submit new documentation if they move to a different residence or if the costs or their responsibility to pay changes.

Certain SNAP recipients are now subject to SNAP work requirements and time limits. Pennsylvanians need to comply with work requirements to continue to receive SNAP unless they meet an exemption. The expanded work requirements apply if someone:

  • Is between 18-64 years old
  • Does not have a dependent child under 14 years old
  • Is considered physically and mentally able to work

Additionally, being a veteran or a current or former foster youth, ages 18-24 will no longer be an exemption from work requirements.

For more information on documentation and work requirements, view the state’s SNAP update announcement.

ELRC Region 5 Kicks Off Winter Coat Program on October 5

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September 30, 2026

ELRC Region 5 Kicks Off Winter Coat Program on October 5

Families can visit Early Learning Resource Center Region 5 starting Monday, October 5 to pick up winter coats for their children.

The coats are available while supplies last through a partnership with the state’s Department of Human Services.

Children and their families can pick up their coats between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday at:

ELRC Region 5
304 Wood Street, Suite 400
Pittsburgh

For more information, call the office at 412-350-3577.

September Recalls of Children’s Products

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September Recalls of Children’s Products

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

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

 Nanjing Wu Hai Smart Home Appliance Store recalled its Alanca six-drawer dressers because they are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in risks of serious injuries or death to children.

Gizoon Direct recalled its six-drawer double dressers because they are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in risks of serious injuries or death to children.

Skip Hop recalled its Baby Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teethers because the item’s black eyes can detach from the recalled teether if frozen, posing a serious risk of injury or death by choking.

OKK Trading recalled its Rainbow Mystery Squishy Bun Toys because the water beads inside the dumplings expand larger than permitted, posing a deadly ingestion hazard. If a water bead is ingested, it can post ingestion, choking, and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child’s body, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, and risk of death.

GIHNJSI recalled its squeezy dumplings toys because they contain water beads. If a water bead is ingested, it can post ingestion, choking, and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child’s body, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, and risk of death.

SHEIN Distribution Corporation recalled its spiral toys because they contain small balls and are intended for children under 3 years of age, posing a deadly choking hazard. 

SQT recalled its Lontcs busy boards because the toys’ zipper contains levels of lead that exceed the standard set in the federal lead paint ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

FJTJBSI recalled its six-drawer dressers because they are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injuries or death to children. 

Sweet Cubby recalled its children’s loungewear because it violates the mandatory flammability standard for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of serious burn injuries or death.

ZMC Group expanded the recall of its light-up children’s toys. The toys contain button cell batteries that can be easily accessed by children. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, including chemical burns, and death.

SHEIN Distribution Corporation recalled its bear-shaped refrigerator magnets because they contain loose magnets posing an ingestion hazard to children and can appeal to children or teens. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract each other, or other metal objects, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting, blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning, and death.

Ricky Joy recalled more than 2.3 million bottles of Sour Crush candy because the rolling ball on the bottles can detach, posing a risk of serious injury or death by choking.

Cade California Electronic recalled its finger light toys because they contain button cell batteries that can be easily accessed by children. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, including chemical burns, and death.

Toyworld168 recalled its Rainbow Mystery Squishy Bun Toys because the water beads inside the dumplings expand larger than permitted, posing a deadly ingestion hazard. If a water bead is ingested, it can post ingestion, choking, and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child’s body, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, and risk of death.

Esjay US recalled its Toddler Busy Board Montessori toys because the product is for children under 3 years of age and the red knobs can detach, posing a deadly choking hazard.

SHEIN Distribution Corporation recalled its pull and chew Montessori teething toys because the silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted. The strings can reach the back of the throat and become lodged, posing a risk of respiratory distress and a deadly choking hazard.

Colerinsec recalled its Jerify magnetic stick figure toy sets because the sets can liberate loose high-powered magnets, posing an ingestion hazard to children. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract each other or other metal objects and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting, blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning, and death.

Melissa & Doug recalled its fire truck activity board because the fire hose can come loose and detach, posing a risk of serious injury from choking.

ABC Trading recalled its light-up children’s toys because they contain button cell batteries and the compartments that hold the batteries can be easily accessed by children, posing a deadly ingestion hazard to children. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, or death.

Yuyitop recalled its Aitjunz eight-drawer dressers, which are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in risks of serious injuries or death to children.

Hyperfuels recalled its methanol and ethanol fuel containers because they lack flame mitigation devices required by law, posing a deadly flame jetting hazard. Furthermore, the methanol container is not child-resistant, posing a risk of serious injury or death if the contents are swallowed by young children. The contains also do not comply with federal labeling requirements.

One Step Closer to Paid Parental Leave in Allegheny County

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September 29, 2026

One Step Closer to Paid Parental Leave in Allegheny County

Paid parental leave is moving forward. The Allegheny County Board of Health approved an updated paid parental leave program that would require some businesses in Allegheny County to provide paid leave for new parents, including birth, foster, or adoption. 

Following a highly engaged community process, the health board used more-than 1,400 public comments to make changes to the proposal. 

Updated from the initial proposal, this policy would apply to businesses with 15 or more employees and would require them to provide at least 12 weeks of paid leave. 

What’s next for paid parental leave?

On Tuesday, October 6, the policy will be introduced to the Allegheny County Council and sent to the Health committee for review.

Council members can’t make any changes to the policy – they will vote on it as is. 

We are expecting the committee to approve it and send it back to the full council for a final vote on Tuesday, October 20. To be passed by the Allegheny County Council, the proposed paid parental leave changes would need majority approval – or eight votes – before moving on to be signed into law by County Executive Sara Innamorato. 

Paid Parental Leave Makes a Difference: Healthy Babies, Thriving Families, Stronger Workforce

We are committed to supporting the adult caregivers in young children’s lives and we support the paid parental leave proposal in Allegheny County. A true continuum of care and support for families and babies begins with paid parental leave and continues with the availability of high-quality infant child care. We urge the Allegheny County Council to adopt the policy. 

Paid parental leave helps businesses keep good employees and gives parents the time they need to care for a new child without having to lose their job or leave the workforce to care for their child. It gives children a healthier start by allowing parents to be there for important early moments, medical needs, and everyday care, forming critical bonds that support children across their entire lifetime. 

When families are stronger and parents can stay connected to work, everyone benefits—from individual businesses to our communities and the economy as a whole. 

Let your city council member know you support paid parental leave by sending an email encouraging them to vote in support of the policy.

What does the proposal include?

Although the amount of leave went down to 12 weeks from the proposed 18 weeks, the change aligns with existing precedent offered by most states with a parental leave policy.

The proposal also clarifies that the county’s parental leave policy would run at the same time with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), so employers would only be required to provide a maximum of 12 weeks of parental leave, and employees would receive job protection through FMLA and not have to take leave without being paid.

Businesses with less than 15 employees would be exempt, which aligns with the county’s proposed sick leave policy. This is designed to support small employers by exempting them from parental leave costs. However, it is recommended for small businesses to offer employees paid leave at a mutually-agreed range due to the cost of rehiring and the positive impacts on infant, maternal, familial, and community health.

Other elements of the proposal include:

  • Paid leave for parents with stillborn children.
  • Employees are eligible after 180 days (six months) of employment.
  • Employers would have up to one year before they have to comply with the policy once it’s signed into law, giving them time to strategize financially for the shift.
  • For part-time employees, an employer would not be responsible for a 40-hour-week pay rate; instead, the employer would pay an average similar to what they paid the employee in the six months prior to leave.
  • The proposed policy excludes seasonal or temporary employees and would require part-time workers to have worked at least 625 hours in the past six months to be eligible.

Our Continued Commitment to Child Care Providers

We acknowledge the unique operational and financial constraints that make implementing extended paid leave especially challenging for child care providers. As the next essential caregiving support following parental leave, we also continue to advocate at the local, state, and national level for all of the ways child care teachers and owners deserve to be supported. 

In our July 16 public comment to the Board of Health, we outlined a number of recommendations to support the child care sector. 

Read our full public comment on paid parental leave to learn more about our priorities and recommendations. 

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Remake Learning Includes 2 Trying Together Initiatives on List of Projects That Influenced Pittsburgh Education

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Remake Learning Includes 2 Trying Together Initiatives on List of Projects That Influenced Pittsburgh Education

Two Trying Together initiatives made Remake Learning’s new report, The 57, which includes a collection of projects that have shaped Pittsburgh’s learning landscape.

Remake Learning Report

The report was part of Remake Learning’s 20th anniversary. Some of the projects on the list were one-time events, while others are permanent fixtures. They were created in classrooms, libraries, museums, maker spaces, parks, community centers, and other locations. Projects include everything from TV shows and toys to weather balloons and video games.

Remake Learning highlighted the following Trying Together initiatives: 

  • Message from Me: A child-led digital tool created with Carnegie Mellon University that lets young children share their daily school activities with families using photos and recorded audio
  • Ultimate Play Day: An event that transforms parks and public spaces into giant intergenerational playgrounds for all ages

Message From Me

Message from Me is a digital tool that helps children to communicate with their families about their daily activities and learning experiences by recording and sending photo and audio messages throughout the day.

Trying Together partnered with Carnegie Mellon’s CREATE lab to solve two challenges: children struggling to articulate their learning and families feeling disconnected. Early childhood advisory groups played a key role in shaping and strengthening the model over time.

The team developed and tested a prototype housed in a fiberglass kiosk equipped with a microphone and camera that children could use to photograph their work and record messages to family members. When iPads emerged, the program evolved into an app and improved accessibility. 

“When children were picked up from school, a parent would say, ‘I got your photo today! I saw you built a magnet-tile tower and counted 20 blocks,’” said Sue Polojac, the project’s co-lead. “Moments like these sparked conversations between children and their grown-ups about what the child had done at school that day.”

Ultimate Play Day

Ultimate Play Day is a celebration hosted by Trying Together’s Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative. The event brought families, educators, and community groups together for free play activities across Pittsburgh’s parks and public spaces, raising awareness of play as essential for learning, health, and human connection.

The collaborative worked with leaders from museums, parks, community groups, and early childhood organizations to plan the event. 

Ultimate Play Day helped communities to experience the benefits of play directly, rather than discussing them abstractly, Remake Learning explained in the report. It also reinforced that play supports learning, health, and connection throughout life, not just in early childhood.

To learn more about the two Trying Together projects and read more about the 55 others included in the report, check out Remake Learning’s The 57.

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on How to Help Children Who are Struggling

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Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on How to Help Children Who are Struggling

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so the Child Mind Institute has compiled some resources on how to help youths who are struggling and encourage them to speak about things that are troubling them.

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Preventing suicide, the institute writes, starts with a willingness to talk about it. Some might avoid challenging conversations with young people out of fear of saying the wrong thing. However, showing that they have someone they can talk to can be a great relief to people who are struggling.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources help to navigate discussions about suicide and what to do when children are in distress. The resources cover everything from finding treatment and making a safety plan to what one should expect when taking a child to the ER during a psychiatric emergency.

The resources include: