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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Raising an Empathetic, Compassionate Child
Empathy is the ability to look at a situation from another person’s point of view and sense their emotions. Compassion goes one step further, when empathy is accompanied by a desire to help relieve another’s pain. Families and caregivers can encourage these emotions in young children.
The resources below provide tips and strategies for families to develop empathy in children, explain the connection between mindfulness and compassion and stress the importance of families modeling the behavior they want to see in their children.
Raising caring kids. This article from Harvard University’s Making Caring Common project explains that children who develop empathy and compassion have stronger relationships, leading to greater happiness. It offers families seven guideposts for raising caring children and tips for implementing them.
Teaching children to be mindful. Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment. Mindfulness practices generally emphasize the importance of empathy and compassion for oneself and others. This article from Psychology Today defines mindfulness and discusses the science of mindful parenting.
Encouraging kindness in children. This article from Scholastic explains how empathy grows in young children. It presents 13 practical strategies for families to encourage kindness in children and offers recommendations for children’s books on the topic.
Resource Highlights
- Preventing Infectious Diseases – This article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists strategies for families and early care programs to avoid spreading diseases such as the flu, coronavirus (COVID-19) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- PBS Kids for Parents – Halloween can be an exciting time for many children, but it can be over- stimulating or intimidating for some. This article offers tips for preparing kids for trick-or-treating.
- STEMIE Learning Trajectories – This website is devoted to helping young children advance their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). It offers STEM activities that families can do with children.
Let’s Read Together!
October is National Book Month, established in 2003 by the National Book Foundation to “celebrate the best literature published in the United States, expand its audience and ensure that books have a prominent place in our culture.”
Reading to and with children from a young age has countless benefits, including improving language and literacy skills, building empathy and compassion, encouraging critical thinking skills, boosting imagination and creativity and cultivating a love of reading.I It’s important to read to children daily, preferably several times a day.
- If You Find a Leaf by Aimee Sicuro – a picture book that celebrates the fall season and encourages children to see the colorful leaves around them in an entirely new way.
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson – one evening, Harold goes for a walk in the moonlight, armed only with an oversized purple crayon. He draws an imaginary landscape full of wonder.
- Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons – a nonfiction book that introduces young children to weather terms and their definitions and explains the origins of weather phenomena like hurricanes.
- Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean – a book rendition of the classic favorite children’s song “Five Little Pumpkins,” sung by cool cat Pete and perfect for Halloween.
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson – as Bear sleeps, animal friends fill his cave to warm up. What happens when Bear wakes up to find his friends partying without him?
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 everyday moments into brain-building opportunities.
Today’s Tip: Mobile Bedtime Story
Write some simple notes or draw pictures and leave them around the house. You could draw a heart, the first letter of your child’s name or a picture of something you both like. After the child finds the notes, put them into an envelope and tuck it under their pillow. Take the notes out again at bedtime and discuss what they say.
Brainy Background
In this game, you communicate with your child through writing and drawing. As they tell you what the notes mean, they focus and pay attention to detail. They also learn how to make sense of symbols. All these skills help prepare them for reading.
Week of October 11, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Sing and dance along to the Scarecrow Song.
- Tasty Tuesday: Bake a batch of 20-minute pumpkin muffins.
- Wellness Wednesday: Conduct a wash your hands germ experiment.
- Textured Thursday: Explore bean bags: toss them, balance them on your head, use your hands and fingers to explore what’s inside.
- Family Fun Friday: Gather your family to make pipe cleaner pumpkins.
Week of October 28, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Dance along to the Monster Mash music video.
- Tasty Tuesday: Make some rainbow fruit skewers with lemon honey yogurt dip.
- Wellness Wednesday: Go on a fall scavenger hunt.
- Textured Thursday: Make your own playdough.
- Family Fun Friday: Challenge your family to a game of limbo.
Mobile Market & Diaper Bank
On Thursday, Oct. 27, 2024, Faith United Church of Christ will distribute fresh produce, bread, pastries and child and adult diapers. The church is at 4900 10th St. NE, Washington, DC 20017. The event starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until the food is gone (usually around 11:30 a.m.). Families are asked to bring their own bags.
For more information, email faithuccdc@gmail.com or call (202) 635-7777.
Mindfulness School at the Buddha Meditation Center
The Buddha Meditation Center is dedicated to teaching mindfulness and instilling qualities in children to enrich their self-awareness through meditation. On the second Saturday of the month, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., the Center offers free mindfulness meditations for children ages 6 and up at 5004 Stone Road in Rockville, MD.
The sessions are guided by experienced Buddhist monks. They include activities specially designed for kids to cultivate mindfulness and enrich their lives. The Center provides snacks.
Questions About Your Child’s Development?
Strong Start is DC’s early intervention program, offering free services for children under the age of 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Strong Start provides therapeutic and other services for DC infants and 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 recalls:
- Fisher-Price Snuga Infant Swings due to suffocation hazard after five deaths were reported. The swing should never be used for sleep and bedding materials should never be added to it because the headrest and body support insert on the seat pad can increase the risk of suffocation.
- NPW Group Halloween Projector Flashlights because they can overheat and melt the outer casing, posing fire and burn hazards.
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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