March 31, 2022 DAP Series Parts X, XI, and XII Now Available Trying Together is excited to announce Parts X, XI, and XII of the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series. Through these Parts, caregivers will receive information and resources on Gender and Gender Identity; Family Dynamics; and Caring for the Caregiver. About As an early childhood nonprofit, Trying Together recognizes that a child’s parent is their first and most important caregiver. That’s why we created the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series to assist parents and caregivers in creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. The series features digital and print content that provides information on critical early childhood topics. As of April 2022, 12 Parts have been published, including: Part I: Developmentally Appropriate Practice; Part II: Childhood Physical Health; Part III: Child Care; Part IV: Early Intervention and Inclusion; Part V: Safety and Emergencies; Part VI: Social-Emotional Development; Part VII: Childhood Mental Health; Part VIII: Race and Equity; and Part IX: Transitions & Routines. Featured Resources The Series features many helpful resources for families. To help you get started, Trying Together compiled a short list of featured resources for each new Part. Part X: Gender and Gender Identity Family Guide: Gender, Gender Identity, LGBTQ+ Inclusion Gender Identity Development in Early Childhood Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood Part XI: Family Dynamics Family Dynamics: A Family Guide Types of Family Structures Navigating Sibling Relationships Part XII: Caring for the Caregiver A Guide to Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others How to Ask and Receive Help Support Resources for Parents and Caregivers Navigating the Series The Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series features a search bar and filtering options to connect parents and caregivers to content that is relevant to them. Caregivers can filter available content by Topic, Age Group, Relationship to Child, Resource Type, and Geographic Location. To test it out, visit the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series page. More Information To learn more and access the full list of resources, visit the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series webpage.
December 17, 2020 DAP Series Parts II and III Now Available Trying Together is excited to announce Parts II and III of the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series. Through these Parts, information and resources on Childhood Physical Health and Child Care were added to the Series. About As an early childhood nonprofit, Trying Together recognizes that a child’s parent is their first and most important caregiver. That’s why we created the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series to assist parents and caregivers in creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. The series features digital and print content that provides information on critical early childhood topics. As of December 17, 2020, three Parts have been published, including: Part I: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Part II: Childhood Physical Health, and Part III: Child Care. Resources will continue to be added through 2022 as additional Parts are finalized. Featured Resources The Series features many helpful resources for families. To help you get started, Trying Together compiled a short list of featured resources for each Part. Part I: Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Developmentally Appropriate Practice: A Guide for Parents Developmentally Appropriate Practice: A Guide for Caregivers of Infants and Toddlers Creating Play Rich Environments: Incorporating DAP at Home Play and Physical Activity Guide for Educators & Families Part II: Childhood Physical Health Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health Exercise Together with Darnell Campbell Childhood Physical Health: Resources Part III: Child Care How to Find, Choose, and Pay for High-Quality Child Care Child Care and Education Planning Tools Questions to Ask Early Learning Professionals Questions for Your Early Learning Provider During COVID-19 Navigating the Series The Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series features a search bar and filtering options to connect parents and caregivers to content that is relevant to them. Caregivers can filter available content by Topic, Age Group, Relationship to Child, Resource Type, and Geographic Location. To test it out, visit the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series page. More Information To learn more and access the full list of resources, visit the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series webpage.
August 4, 2020 Magda Gerber’s Philosophy of Care for Infants & Toddlers Are you interested in learning how to create a safe, challenging, predictable environment for young children in your care? Join Trying Together on August 19 for our interactive session, “Magda Gerber’s Philosophy of Care for Infants & Toddlers.” About Connections and Conversations Virtual Check-Ins are interactive sessions that highlight topics of interest to the field of early childhood education. Participants will engage in virtual discussions via Zoom with child development experts while interacting with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the highlighted topic. In this session, participants will explore the core principles of Magda Gerber’s RIE philosophical approach to educaring for infants and toddlers in the early childhood setting. The basis of the RIE approach is respecting and trusting the individual child’s authentic self. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in conversations around developmentally appropriate practice for infants and toddlers while reflecting on how to best create a safe, challenging, predictable environment for all children. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. For questions, contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org. Session Details Session Date: Wednesday, August 19 | 6 – 7 p.m Instructor: Katie Gullone CKC: K1.7 C2 Registrations must be submitted by Monday, August 17. Space is limited. Sessions will be offered biweekly and will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered. Learning Objectives Reflect on the RIE principles and philosophical approach when caring for infants and toddlers. Discuss and analyze strategies that best support developmentally appropriate practice for infants and toddlers in the early childhood classroom setting. Registration To register for this session, complete our online registration form. Session Rules and Guidelines These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants. Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively. Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic. Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression. Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session. Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator. Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share. To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number. Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations! More Information For questions or more information, please contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.
March 20, 2019 Ultimate Play Day 2019 Hosted by the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, Ultimate Play Day is a celebration of playfulness for people of all ages and is free and open to the public. Sunday, May 19, 2019 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Whitehall Public Library The event will be held outside rain or shine. Translation services will be provided by partners at Global Wordsmiths and Smiley Cookies from Eat’n Park. Let us know you’re coming to the 2019 Ultimate Play Day by getting your (FREE) tickets at Eventbrite and learn more about Ultimate Play Day on the Facebook event page! Share this Ultimate Play Day event flyer (PDF) with your network.
October 4, 2018 Resources for Addressing Suspensions & Expulsions Released On Thursday, October 4, Remake Learning held its monthly Lunch & Learn at Trying Together’s Hazelwood Early Learning Hub. Approximately 30 early childhood educators attended from the Carnegie Science Center, Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Propel Charter Schools, and other early childhood programs. There they discussed strategies to address young children’s behavior and learned more about DAP responses which may be helpful for future situations. Attendees will receive an exclusive first-look at the latest white paper from Trying Together’s policy team entitled, “End Early Childhood Suspensions and Expulsions: Developmentally Appropriate Practices and Policies For Addressing Behaviors in The Early Elementary School Grades.” A supplemental document entitled, “Addressing Suspensions and Expulsions: A Guide for Families” provides helpful tips family caregivers can employ to address their suspension and expulsion concerns. Both documents will be available to the public on Friday, October 5. If you are interested in advocating for better policies around suspensions and expulsions, sign-up for Public Policy Alerts.
August 7, 2018 Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Webinar Join Trying Together for a webinar to learn how you can support developmentally appropriate and play-based learning experiences for young children. Conversation will explore strategies for policymakers, educators, and families to support DAP and play in early childhood education. Panelists will include: Dr. Catherine Lobaugh – Assistant Executive Director for Early Childhood, Family, and Community Services, Allegheny Intermediate Unit Dr. Scott Miller – Principal of Avonworth Primary Center Ronna Currie – Woodland Hills School Board Member and Parent Share this flyer with your networks.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Webinar Join Trying Together for a webinar to learn how you can support developmentally appropriate and play-based learning experiences for young children. Conversation will explore strategies for policymakers, educators, and families to support DAP and play in early childhood education. Panelists will include: Dr. Catherine Lobaugh – Assistant Executive Director for Early Childhood, Family, and Community Services, Allegheny Intermediate Unit Dr. Scott Miller – Principal of Avonworth Primary Center Ronna Currie – Woodland Hills School Board Member and Parent Share this flyer with your networks. Date & Time: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
May 21, 2018 Advance Developmentally Appropriate Practice The framework and philosophy of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) when teaching young children is based on available knowledge about learning and development that occurs from birth to age nine. While early learning professionals base their interactions with children on these principles, other adults who interact with young children may not be familiar with this information. To support better understanding of DAP and increase the quality of early learning environments for young children, the Pittsburgh-area nonprofit Trying Together publicly released its second white paper on the subject. “This document will be a resource for anyone who wants to have positive interactions with the young children in their lives,” said Cara Ciminillo, Trying Together Executive Director. “Our hope is to encourage and inform all adults about DAP.” The Trying Together white paper entitled, “Advance Developmentally Appropriate Practice” provides researched recommendations on DAP which include: changing policies for state licensing and training for principals; establishing a professional learning system to connect early educators with teachers in grades K – 3; emphasizing the importance of positive interactions between children and caregivers; creating recess policies; educating and engaging families; and conducting more research that highlights the benefits of play. “As lead organization for the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, we emphasize the critical need for play at any age, but know it is particularly important for young children,” said Ciminillo. “In Pittsburgh we are fortunate to have many opportunities for play, such as those highlighted in the recent publication from Remake Learning called, “If Kids Built A City.” The full DAP white paper is available for reading and download at tryingtogether.org. A one-page guide for families is also available for reading and download at tryingtogether.org.
