To help families with young children adjust to the current situation brought on by the public health emergency, DC Child Care Connections developed a system to provide useful information and resources to help with at-home learning, maintaining mental health and other important early childhood topics.
We have worked with community partners to identify a series of daily resources and activities from nationally-recognized organizations that families can use to keep children engaged and to continue the learning process. All resources are developmentally appropriate for the ages specified and are aligned to the DC Early Learning Standards.
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Virtual Learning Adventures
Summer is a great time for children to play outdoors and explore nature. But on days when the weather doesn’t cooperate, families may need to find alternative ways for kids move their bodies and engage their minds. Keep reading to learn more about activities for kids that will get their bodies moving, feed their imaginations, and teach them about people, places, and ideas.
The world of books – Earlier this summer, DC Public Library (DCPL) launched the Discover Summer initiative, a city-wide celebration of reading and learning taking place through Aug. 31. Discover Summer for Kids highlights resources children can access to learn about math, social studies, art and music; enjoy digital comics, graphic novels, and manga; and bring their favorite storybooks to life. Learn more here.
Virtual field trips – We Are Teachers features 48 virtual field trips, including trips to art museums, an aquarium, a farm, the Jurassic Era and its dinosaurs, a planetarium, and more. YouTube has a collection of virtual field trips created by KidVision Pre-K that take children on trips to the doctor, a water park, and a circus. The videos can be enjoyed by the whole family.
A virtual visit to an international destination – KidsWebJapan features information that helps children learn about Japan’s history, culture, and geography. While the site is geared toward elementary-aged children, young children can explore the site with an adult’s help.
Resource Highlights
- Host a summer camp at home – Mommy Poppins published a guide to a DIY screen-free summer camp with crafts, games, science experiments, book ideas, and outings.
- Develop a family emergency guide – Sesame Workshop developed an interactive family guide with simple tools to explain emergencies to children and create a family emergency plan. Being prepared for the unexpected helps kids build confidence and keeps families safe and strong.
- Grocery shopping as an early learning experience – A family trip to the grocery store is the perfect opportunity to develop children’s vocabulary and math skills. This article from Parents explores how this everyday activity can benefit kids’ minds and emotions.
Let’s Read Together!
Families that read aloud to young children help promote their cognitive and emotional development. Read-alouds expand a child’s vocabulary, boost critical thinking skills, and help develop a love of books.
It’s important to read to children daily. Here are some e-books available at DCPL that families can enjoy together this week:
- A Day Off School by Oliver Jeffers – When Herbie has the sniffles, he stays home from school. He enjoys an awesome morning playing Space Blasters and watching cartoons. But by lunchtime, he wonders what fun he is missing at school.
- A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott – A book based on the author’s experience of the challenges – and eventually the rewards – of growing up with a learning disability.
- A Monster is Eating this Book by Karen Kilpatrick – An interactive picture book featuring a hungry word-eating monster.
- Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora – A toddler plays peekaboo with his parents, grandparents, toys, and the moon while getting ready for bed.
- Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins – Maisy the mouse and her friends spend a night camping under the stars.
Vroom Brain-Building Tip
Vroom is a website and app with science-based tips to help boost young children’s brain connections. Families can turn daily moments into brain-building opportunities.
Today’s Tip: Words All Around
- Your child learns best from what you say and do, so read everything you can out loud. Read signs outside, recipes, or ads in a paper or magazine. Be sure to point at what you’re reading, too. Do they imitate any of your words or sounds? Do they point, too? Go back and forth with them, pointing and reading out loud.
Brainy Background
- Introducing your child to different reading materials helps make early connections between written words and their meanings. These kinds of back-and-forth chats, even before they have words, build young children’s communication skills, too.
Week of July 27, 2026
- Music and Movement Monday: Move and groove to the “Elmo’s Got the Moves” music video.
- Tasty Tuesday: Cook up some taco cheeseburgers.
- Wellness Wednesday: Learn how coloring can help us process big feelings without saying a word.
- Textured Thursday: Make a vertical collage using items you found in nature.
- Family Fun Friday: Play a game of hot potato.
Week of Aug. 3, 2026
- Music and Movement Monday: Dance along to the Get Yo Body Movin’ music video.
- Tasty Tuesday: Bake a batch of easy veggie muffins.
- Wellness Wednesday: Exercise your big muscles by playing the tape jumping game.
- Textured Thursday: Have fun playing with a sponge squeeze water sensory bin.
- Family Fun Friday: Make a family of soccer player finger puppets and host your own soccer match.
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Weekly Veggie Giveaway
From now through Nov. 25, DC residents can pick up free, fresh produce grown at DPR communal farms. Weather permitting, the giveaways take place:
Every Tuesday
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Edgewood Rooftop Farm
301 Franklin St NE
Every Wednesday
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lederer Garden
4801 Nannie H. Burroughs Ave NE
Every Thursday
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Powell Communal Farm
3149 16th St NW
Every Saturday
10 – 11 a.m.
Lederer Garden
4801 Nannie H. Burroughs Ave NE
Wonderplace National Museum of American History
Wonderplace is a learning space at the National Museum of American History designed especially for children ages 6 and under. The 1,700-square-foot interactive space provides young historians with age-appropriate activities and experiences, including items from museum collections and touchable objects that provide a gateway to history and a place to exercise curiosity.
Wonderplace is open Wednesday–Sunday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is free, though at busy times the venue may use timed tickets to minimize wait times. Tickets are available at the museum on a first-come, first-served basis.
The National Museum of American History is located at 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Parking is limited. Plan to use public transportation if possible, or the Parkwhiz app to help navigate local parking options. For visitors arriving via public transportation, the closest Metro station is Federal Triangle on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines.
Click here to read more about Wonderplace and see photographs of the exhibition.
Questions About Your Child’s Development?
Strong Start is DC’s early intervention program, offering free services for children younger than age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Strong Start provides therapeutic and other services for DC infants, toddlers, and their families.
If you have questions about your child’s development, call Strong Start today at (202) 727-3665 or submit a Strong Start referral online.
Product Recall Alerts
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced the following recall:
- VEVOR baby loungers, because they violate the mandatory safety standards for infant sleep products. The openings at the foot of the loungers are wider than allowed, which could cause an infant to fall or become entrapped.
Gigglescape™ Under the Sea Popping Toy, because the clear plastic dome on the toy can detach, giving children access to the small balls inside, which can pose a choking hazard.
We are here to help! If you need support in navigating these resources or help planning experiences for your children, please contact one of our team members today. Please contact us at DC Child Care Connections (202) 829-2500.
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