December 14, 2020 Child Care Emergency Plan, Child Care Aware of America About Child Care Aware of America reported that 38 percent of parents were unsure of their child care provider’s emergency plan, with another 7 percent stating that their program doesn’t have one. To ensure your child’s safety, Child Care Aware recommends that caregivers be proactive by asking their child care provider these 10 questions. Recommended Questions Do you have an emergency preparedness plan for disasters that are likely to occur in our area? How will you safely evacuate my child to a safe, predetermined location? How and when will I be notified if a disaster occurs when my child is in child care? If I can’t get to my child during or after a disaster, how will you continue to care for my child? Have you and your staff received training on how to respond to my child’s physical and emotional needs during and after a disaster; for example, are all staff first aid and CPR-certified? Will you teach my older child what to do in an emergency? Do you have a disaster/supply kit with enough items to meet my child’s needs for at least 72 hours? Do the state and local emergency management agencies and responders know about your child care program and where it is located? How may I help you during and after a disaster? After a disaster occurs, how will I be notified about your plan to reopen? More Information This information was provided by Child Care Aware of America. Visit their website for more information about emergency preparedness!
What Types of Child Care Are Available? About Did you know that there are several types of early childhood education and care programs that you can enroll your child into? To find a program type that works best for your family, review the options listed below. Available Program Types Child Care Center At a child care center that is state-certified by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), care and education services are provided to more than seven children. Family Child Care Home In a family child care home that is state-certified by OCDEL, one caregiver provides care and education services for three to six children who are not related to them in a home setting. Group Child Care Home In a group child care home that is state-certified by OCDEL, care and education services are provided for up to 12 children in a home or commercial setting. Relative Care Through relative care, one caregiver provides care and education services for no more than three related children in a home setting who may be eligible for subsidy reimbursement. Public School A public school provides pre-kindergarten programming. These schools may be publicly or privately funded. Private School A private school provides pre-kindergarten programming. These schools are funded by the individual family or school. Other Things to Consider Child Care Works Through Child Care Works, federal and state-supported child care subsidies are provided to income-eligible families who either work or attend school or training programs and pay a co-pay. Subsidies are paid directly to a provider in a home, child care center, or community-based setting. To see if you are eligible or to receive assistance in finding child care, contact your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). Head Start Head Start is a federally-funded comprehensive early childhood education program supplemented by state investment. Through the program, infant, toddler, and pre-kindergarten opportunities are provided at no cost to income-eligible families (100% of poverty). Children with developmental delays or disabilities, as well as children who are learning English as a second language, may also qualify. Programs are found in homes, child care centers, schools, and community-based settings. To see if you are eligible or to receive assistance in finding child care, contact your local ELRC. Pre-K Counts Pre-K Counts provides state-supported high-quality pre-kindergarten opportunities at no cost to income-eligible families (300% of poverty). Children with developmental delays or disabilities, as well as children who are learning English as a second language, may also qualify. Pre-K Counts classrooms are found in child care centers and schools. To see if you are eligible or to receive assistance in finding child care, contact your local ELRC. School Districts School districts allocate funds from their general fund to support their pre-kindergarten programs. Privately Funded Birth to Kindergarten Privately Funded Birth to Kindergarten is user-funded programming that is often provided by a nonprofit, for-profit, religious organization, or university. Child and Adult Care Food Program The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides aid for the provision of nutritious foods for children birth through school age. To learn more about this program, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. Quality Assurance Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs. NAEYC, NAFCC, and NECPA accreditation are voluntary private-pay national initiatives. Each ELRC offers access to information, services, and resources to promote high-quality early childhood education. Quality Coaches provide support and technical assistance to programs working to build quality. Home Visiting Programs and Support Services Home visiting services give parents and others raising children the support necessary to improve their health, safety, literacy, and economic self-sufficiency. Trained professionals visit women, families, and children to provide parent education and support in order to promote child well-being and development. The six evidence-based home visiting models in Pennsylvania include Early Head Start, Family Check-Up, Healthy Families America, Nurse-Family Partnership, Parents as Teachers, and SafeCare Augmented. Early Intervention Early Intervention is a system of publicly-funded services for children birth to age five with developmental delays or disabilities. Early Intervention supports and services are embedded in typical routines and activities within the family, community, and/or early care and education settings. Parents who have questions about their child’s development can call the CONNECT Helpline at 1.800.692.7288. Print This Resource This resource is available as a printable PDF. For additional assistance in finding an early learning program that meets your needs, check out our family guide, “How to Find, Choose, and Pay for High-Quality Child Care.”
Childhood Development and Lifelong Health, Center on the Developing Child About Are you interested in learning how early childhood development and environments impact children’s lifelong physical and mental health? Check out the Center on the Developing Child’s whitepaper, “Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined.” Featured Topics In the whitepaper, researchers explore: what 21st-century science is teaching us, how early adversity affects developing biological systems, common illnesses in adults that have roots in early childhood adversity, facts about the health that are often misunderstood, future directions for policies and practice, and final reflections in a COVID-19 world. Learn More For more information, view this resource from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child.
How Racism Can Affect Child Development, Harvard Center About To explain the effect of racism on child development, the Harvard Center on the Developing Child created a digital infographic entitled, “How Racism Can Affect Child Development.” The infographic explains how racism in particular gets “under the skin” and affects learning, behavior, and lifelong health. To learn more, view the infographic. Download This Resource This resource is also available as a downloadable PDF.
Child Development and Lifelong Health, Harvard Center About In their Working Paper entitled “Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined,” the Harvard Center on the Developing Child “examines how developing biological systems in the body interact with each other and adapt to the contexts in which a child is developing—for better or for worse—with lifelong consequences for physical and mental health.” Featured Topics The Working Paper examines the following topics: What 21st-Century Science is Teaching Us How Early Adversity Affects Developing Biological Systems Common Illnesses in Adults Have Roots in Early Childhood Adversity Facts About Health That Are Often Misunderstood Future Directions for Policy and Practice Final Reflections in a COVID-19 World More Information For more information, read the full Working Paper. This resource is available as a downloadable PDF.
Anti-Racism Resources for Families About As parents and caregivers, we have a responsibility to ensure that every child and family is safe from racism and discrimination and has equitable opportunities to thrive. In order to do this, we must begin with ourselves. Set aside time in your day to do a personal inventory. What thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have you contributed to upholding systems of racism? What assumptions are you making? What actions or inactions have you taken that contribute to systems of oppression? Next, consider your family and your friends—what behaviors, statements, or jokes have gone unchecked? What actions or inactions have you taken within your interpersonal relationships that have contributed to an unsafe community for our black and brown children, neighbors, and colleagues? How might you begin to lead by example within your own family or community? Anti-racism work is something that has to be attended to in an ongoing way. In order to support you in this work, Trying Together compiled the following resources. This list is not exhaustive. Resources for Adults Video: ‘I Can’t Breathe: From Agony to Activism’, Pitt Diversity Implicit Bias Test, Harvard Anti-Racism Resources, Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein Black History Month Library African American History: From Emancipation to the Present, Yale 5 Ways White People Can Take Action in Response to White and State-Sanctioned Violence, Medium The critical role white parents play in shaping racism — and eradicating it, PBS How Not to be an Ally: Common missteps and advice for effective allyship, Psychology Today An Anti-Racist Reading List, The New York Times Mental Health Support and Education, Steel Smiling Center for Race & Gender Equality, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Race Research Online Directory, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work How to raise anti-racist kids: 20 resources for parents, Motherly Podcast: Notice the Rage, Notice the Silence, On Being with Krista Tippett Talking About Race, National Museum of African American History & Culture Want to support Black Lives Matter? Here’s where to start in Pittsburgh., Kidsburgh Why Raising Kids to ‘Not See Color’ Doesn’t Help Fight Racism, HuffPost Video: What I am learning from my white grandchildren – truths about race, TEDx Talks Video: Juneteenth Round Table with Rep. Chris Rabb & Rep. Ed Gainey, For Our Future Pennsylvania Race and Equity Resource List, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Antiracism Meditation Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others, Pepperdine University In My Skin Podcast, University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community, Sunshine Behavioral Health Our Family’s Commitment to Being Anti-Racist, PBS Kids Black Lives Matter, Substance Abuse, and Addiction Recovery in the United States, Addicted.org Citizen Journalism and Political Protests, Syracuse University Black Boys Matter: Cultivating Their Identity, Agency, and Voice, NAEYC Things to Know If You Love a Multiracial Child, Embrace Race COVID-in-Color: Race-conscious Resources For Children & Families, Embrace Race Exploring & Understanding Structural Racism, Embrace Race “Love is not enough”: Supports for Transracial Adoptive Families, Embrace Race Nurturing Resistance & Joy in Black Children, Embrace Race Raising Muslim American Children Who Thrive, Embrace Race Anti-Hate Safety Resources, Asian American Federation Asian Americans Advancing Justice BIPOC Addiction and Mental Health Resources, Addictions.com Discussing Racism and Violence with Children Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News, Child Mind Institute Video: A Clinical Perspective on Talking to Kids About Racism, Child Mind Institute Transcript: A Clinical Perspective on Talking to Kids About Racism, Child Mind Institute Talking to Children About Race, Policing and Violence, The New York Times Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources for Talking about Race, Racism and Racialized Violence with Kids, Center for Racial Justice in Education Anti-Racism for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide to Fighting Hate, Parents.com ‘Raising White Kids’ Author On How White Parents Can Talk About Race, NPR George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?, USA Today They’re not too young to talk about race!, The Children’s Community School Talking to Children About Racial Bias, HealthyChildren Video: “How do I make sure I’m not raising the next Amy Cooper?” with Jennifer Harvey, Embrace Race Talking Race with Young Children, NPR How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism, Parent Toolkit 10 tips for teaching and talking to kids about race, Embrace Race How to Talk with Kids About Racism and Racial Violence, Common Sense Media Resources for Talking About Race, Racism and Racialized Violence with Kids, Center for Racial Justice in Education How to Talk to Your Children About the Protests, The Wall Street Journal Talking about Race with Kids and Teens, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Talking with Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests, Aha! Parenting How To Talk To Your Kids About Race, Racism And Police Violence, WBUR How to talk to kids about racism, explained by a psychologist, Vox 21 Anti-Racism Videos to Share With Kids, We are Teachers Experts answer your kids’ tough questions about race and racism, The Hechinger Report Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism, PBS Kids How To Talk About Race And Protests With Your Kids, Explained By A Child Psychologist, WBUR The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special, Sesame Workshop Video – PBS KIDS Talk About: Race & Racism, PBS Kids Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism: A Discussion Guide, PDB Kids Raising Kids Who Embrace Race, National PTA Talking to Kids About Anti-Asian Racism, Time for Kids Asian Americans K-12 Education Curriculum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice So You Want to Raise a Young White Ally?, Embrace Race Supporting Children’s Leadership & Activism, Embrace Race Supporting Healthy Racial Learning in Early Childhood, Embrace Race Talking to Kids About Racism and Violence, Child Mind Institute Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families, Child Welfare Information Gateway Raising Socially-Conscious Kids: Talking About Skin Color, First Up Children’s Books I Too Am America, by Langston Hughes, ages 5+ Baby Blessings: A Prayer For The Day You Were Born, by Deloris Jordan, ages 0-6 Lullaby, A Poem, by Langston Hughes, ages 0-6 Welcome, Precious, by Nikki Grimes, ages 0-5 Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grow Up to Become Malcolm X, by IIyasha Shabazz, ages 6+ CROWN: An Ode To A Fresh Cut, by Derrick Barnes, ages 3-10 Turning 15 On The Road To Freedom: My Story of 1965 Selma Voting Right March, by Lynda Blackmon, ages 12+ A Child’s Introduction To AA History, by Jabari Asim, ages 5+ 10 Children’s Books About Racism And Activism To Help Parents Educate Their Kids, HuffPost 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance, Embrace Race These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids, The New York Times Books About Racism and Social Justice, Common Sense Media Books on race and racism, by age, recommended by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Kidsburgh Reading Race in Picture Books with Children, Embrace Race Jill and Christine: Books to Teach Kids About Diversity and Anti-Racism, First Up Resources for Social-Emotional Development Helping Children Cope With Frightening News, Child Mind Institute How to Foster Resilience in Kids, Child Mind Institute What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious, Child Mind Institute NASP: Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Trauma, National Association of School Psychologists Supporting Young Children after Crisis Events, NAEYC Coping with Grief After Community Violence, SAMHSA The Brown Mama Blueprint Podcast, Pittsburgh Brown Mamas Resources to Support Children’s Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black Racism, Racial Violence, and Trauma, Child Trends
Early Childhood Matters About Did you know that early brain development plays a critical role in children’s lifelong learning and health? According to a report by the National Head Start Association, “early brain development lays the foundation for cognitive, motor, and socio-emotional abilities throughout a child’s lifetime.” What Children Need Because brain development is influenced by many factors, such as nutrition, physical activity, toxic stress, and access to routine screenings and wellness exams, it’s important to ensure that young children have access to resources and opportunities that are proven to support healthy development. During early childhood, children need: access to fresh, healthy foods to receive the proper nutrition they need to grow; at least one to two hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity or active play daily; caring, supportive relationships with others in environments that don’t impose high-stress; and regular health screenings and wellness exams to monitor healthy growth and development. More Information For more information on how to support the healthy development of your young child, visit HealthyChildren.org and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
The Head Start Program and Its Benefits About 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. Apply for Head Start If you are interested in applying, contact a local program that is serving your community. To find a program near you, use the Head Start Center Locator tool featured on the Benefits.gov website. The program will provide all required forms and answer your questions. To be eligible, your household must make an income lower than specific annual income limits. These limits vary by household size. Visit Benefits.gov to see if your family is eligible. More Information To learn more, view this handout by the National Head Start Association.
Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment About A child’s home is the first and most influential environment they are exposed to as it sets the stage for relationship-building, early learning, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood development itself is “an important determinant of health over a person’s lifetime.” By age six, children achieve over 90 percent of their adult brain volume and develop functional skills related to information processing, comprehension, language, emotional regulation, and motor skills. This means that a majority of children’s cognitive development happens before they even enter their first elementary school classroom. What to Include To reinforce healthy development, children birth through age nine must have access to home and care environments that meet the following conditions: the environment is safe and supportive; the environment uses developmentally appropriate early learning strategies; and the presence of stable, responsive, nurturing caregivers. By having access to these three things, children’s risk of exposure to adverse childhood experiences decreases. This, in turn, benefits children’s long-term wellbeing as the biological effects of ACEs are strongly associated with “numerous adult diseases, including coronary artery disease, chronic pulmonary disease, and cancer.” More Information To learn more about early childhood as a social determinant of health, visit the CDC website.
Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health Creating play-rich early environments. As children’s first teachers, parents and caregivers play a vital role in supporting their children’s healthy development. While it may sound like a big task, the first step is simple: incorporate developmentally appropriate activities into your daily routines! Physical Activity Recommendations Birth to one year old: Caregivers should encourage their infants to practice movement skills while their infant is awake. These skills include supporting their head, rolling, crawling, walking, and picking up both small and large objects. Include at least 30 minutes of tummy time every day. Ages two to five years old: It is recommended that toddlers remain physically active throughout the entire day through a combination of play-based activities. Aim to include a mix of structured, adult-led play and unstructured, free play every day. Structured play activities follow rules to reach a specific goal. Examples include assembling a LEGO set, playing organized sports like soccer, and playing tag. Unstructured play is child-led, improvised, and creative. It does not follow a specific set of rules. Examples include playing with blocks, creating new games to play, and improvised dance. Ages six years old and older: Children in this age range should get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. There should be a mix of aerobic (running, swimming, jump roping) and bone- and muscle-strengthening activities (climbing, yoga, basketball, bodyweight exercises). Playful Activity Ideas Consider using these activities to get your family up and moving! Infants and Young Toddlers: Household Item Play With supervision, give your child their own spoon at meal time or give them a child-safe bowl and spoon to play with. You can also give your baby blocks and balls to strengthen their grip, practice their holding skills, and improve dexterity. Pre-k: Muddy Maneuvers Even though mud is messy and slippery, it provides a lot of great play opportunities for you and your child. Let your child take off their shoes; squish mud between their toes and fingers; make handprints, footprints, and mudpies; and more! Just bring some water and towels to clean up after! Kindergarten: Nature Hunt Take a walk in nature with your child and try to find local animals, plants, and bugs. If you have them, bring binoculars to see how far away you can see and a magnifying glass to get a closer look at bugs and plants. You can research information online about local plant life and wildlife to create a scavenger hunt and list of fun facts! For example, what type of animal is it? What does it eat? School Age: Hold that Animal Pose (Yoga) Challenge your child to pose like a giraffe, flamingo, and other animals to help build their muscles, practice their balance, and work on patience. You can find examples of yoga animal poses beforehand or tune in to your creativity to create poses (with your child) on the spot! For an extra challenge, ask them to hold a book, milk jug, or another household item while holding the pose. Resources Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is a group of organizations dedicated to advancing the importance of play in the lives of children, families, and communities in the Pittsburgh region. Read their blog to learn about playful activities for children of all ages. KidsHealth The KidsHealth website features a wide range of information on childhood health topics such as exercise, breastfeeding, nutrition, and more. Print This Resource This resource is available as a printable PDF (English) (Español).
