July 9, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases List of July Books for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children has released its list of July books for preschoolers that includes eight books and is broken down into four categories. Learn More The list is broken down into four themed categories – Language and Literacy Skills; Health, Wellness, and Physical Development; Science Thinking and Technology; and Mathematical Expression and Thinking. Books on the list include: Language and Literacy Skills Sorting Through Spring (Lizann Flatt) Stick and Stone (Beth Ferry) Health, Wellness, and Physical Development Fireflies! (Julie Brinckloe) Summer Days and Nights (Wong Herbert Yee) Science Thinking and Technology When Day Became Night (Jules Miller) Mud Puddle (Robert Munsch) Mathematical Thinking and Expression Two Speckled Eggs (Jennifer K. Mann) Mouse Shapes (Ellen Stoll Walsh) To view the entire list, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.
June 11, 2025 PA Promise for Children Lists June Books for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children has released its list of June books for preschoolers, providing eight titles across four categories. Learn More The list of books is included in PA Promise for Children’s latest Kindergarten Here I Come newsletter. The four categories for the selections include language and literacy skills, scientific thinking and technology, learning through play, and mathematical thinking and expression. This month’s selections include: Language and Literacy Skills Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree (Eileen Christelow) Zin! Zin! Zin! (Lloyd Moss) Scientific Thinking and Technology Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (Steve Jenkins) Who Sank the Boat? (Pamela Allen) Learning Through Play Octopus Opposites (Stella Blackstone) Two Little Trains (Margaret Wise Brown) Mathematical Thinking and Expression The Best Bug Parade (Stuart J. Murphy) The Napping House (Audrey Wood and Don Wood) Check out PA Promise for Children’s June list of books for preschoolers.
May 14, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases May Booklist for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children has released its list of books for preschoolers for May that includes eight books across four categories. Learn More The booklist features selections by the following topics: Language and Literacy Skills, Social and Emotional Development, Learning Through Play, and Mathematical Thinking and Expression. The selections for May include: Language and Literacy Skills The Grumpy Morning (Pamela Duncan Edwards) Harry the Dirty Dog (Gene Zion) Social and Emotional Development Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash (Sarah Weeks) The Flea’s Sneeze (Karla Firehammer) Learning Through Play Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? (Nancy White Carlstrom) Caps for Sale (Esphyr Slobodkina) Mathematical Thinking and Expression Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! (Marilyn Burns) Cora Cooks Pancit (Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore) The entire list is available on PA Promise for Children’s website.
April 8, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases List of April Books for Preschoolers Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children has released its list of April books for preschoolers that includes eight books in four categories. Learn More The four categories under which PA Promise for Children has organized the books are: Language and Literacy Skills, Social and Emotional Development, Scientific Thinking and Technology, and Mathematical Thinking and Expression. This month’s books includes: Language and Literacy Skills Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (William Steig) Three Pebbles and a Song (Eileen Spinelli) Social and Emotional Development A Day’s Work (Eve Bunting) Families (Susan Kuklin) Scientific Thinking and Technology Me and the Measure of Things (Joan Sweeney) What Will Hatch? (Jennifer Ward) Mathematical Thinking and Expression Kindergarten Count to 100 (Jacqueline Rogers) How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? (Jane Yolen) To find activities that accompany this month’s books or to print the booklist, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.
March 24, 2025 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.
March 11, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases Tips on Staying Healthy in the Spring PA Promise for Children has released a list of tips for families on how children can stay healthy during the spring. Learn More Each of PA Promise’s tips are accompanied by an article on the topic. One suggestion for families is to plant a garden, which can provide such benefits as healthy eating, physical activity, and the application of science and motor skills. Another tip is to use the natural world as a learning tool to create time and space for play in nature. Ensuring that children are dressed appropriately for outdoor play is another item on the list. Spring weather can change quickly – from warm temperatures to cooler ones or rain – so guardians should make sure that children have the clothing to stay dry and comfortable. Another safety tip involving the outdoors is avoiding high exposure to pollen by keeping the home and car clear of it. Guardians should clear children’s clothing of outdoor pollen residues and be aware of a child’s particular allergies. When it comes to snacks and meals, adults should ensure that children are getting their share of seasonal fruit and vegetables. These taste better, are better for one’s health, and are good for the environment. For more information, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.
March 10, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases March Booklist for Preschoolers Pennsylvania Promise for Children has released its list of March books for preschoolers across four different categories. Learn More PA Promise for Children’s list includes books for preschoolers across the categories of language and literacy skills, social and emotional development, social studies thinking, and mathematical thinking and expression. The March selections include: Language and Literacy Skills The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale (Steven Guarnaccia) Iggy Peck, Architect (Andrea Beaty) Social and Emotional Development Bear’s New Friend (Karma Wilson) Froggy Gets Dressed (Jonathan London) Social Studies Thinking One Watermelon Seed (Celia Lottridge) Big and Little (Steve Jenkins) Mathematical Thinking and Expression So Many Circles, So Many Squares (Tana Hoban) When a Line Bends… A Shape Begins (Rhonda Gowler Greene) To view the entire list, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.
Parents Should Gather These Documents Before Registering Their Child for Kindergarten While each school district has its own process for kindergarten registration, there are specific documents that are required of most families to supply. Learn More Kindergarten registration kicks off in the spring for school districts in Allegheny County and the region. To find out when registration opens in your district, visit the state Department of Economic Development’s municipality website. On that website, parents can enter their street address, city, and ZIP code to find their municipality. More resources on the transition to kindergarten can be found on PA Promise for Children’s website. Required Documents Parents should check with their school district regarding processes and requirements specific to the district. However, most families will need to supply the following documents when they register their child: Their child’s birth certificate Proof of residency (such as a utility bill or copy of a lease) Vaccination records (the state’s Department of Health has a list of vaccines that your child needs) Any forms required by the school district, such as an application or emergency contact list For more information on kindergarten registration, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.
February 17, 2025 PA Promise for Children Shares Black History Month Resources for Parents PA Promise for Children has shared a series of resources on a variety of topics that parents can share with their children to celebrate Black History Month. Learn More The series includes 11 items that celebrate Black History Month, which during the month of February recognizes the contribution of African Americans to U.S. society and history. One of the resources includes inspiring activities compiled by PBS Kids in which parents and their children can take part in for Black History Month. Another is a free webinar series on Black mental health issues. The list includes an article from Parents Together on seven African American leaders who helped to change the way children in the United States are educated. PA Promise for Children also included its list of books for children to celebrate the month. Among the resources was National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s 2021 inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb.” It is coupled with an exploration of African American poetry for children. Other resources include: The National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Talking About Race with children resource PBS’ Teaching Your Child About Black History Month National Geographic Kids’ Black History Month resource Reading Rockets’ Celebrating and Learning About Black History and Culture and Books About Black History and Culture To view the entire list of resources and more, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.
February 12, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases February Books for Preschoolers List PA Promise for Children has released its list of February Books for Preschoolers that features selections in four different categories. Learn More The book selections are broken down into four categories: Language and Literacy Skills, Social and Emotional Development, Social Studies Thinking, and Mathematical Thinking and Expression. The selections for February included: Language and Literacy Skills I Like Myself! (Karen Beaumont) Lola Loves Stories (Anna McQuinn) Social and Emotional Development When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry (Molly Bang) Grumpy Monkey (Suzanne Lang) Social Studies Thinking Telephone (Mac Barnett) Nana in the City (Lauren Castillo) Mathematical Thinking and Expression Each Orange Had 8 Slices (Paul Giganti, Jr.) One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count With Me! (John Micklos, Jr.) The full list is available in PA Promise for Children’s Kindergarten Here I Come newsletter.
