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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Preventing and Treating Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity affects roughly one in five children in the United States. If it is not addressed early, childhood obesity can lead to obesity in adulthood and several medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Families can find resources to understand obesity and how to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight below.
What is obesity? This Cleveland Clinic article defines obesity and explores its contributing factors. The article discusses the complications of childhood obesity and provides guidelines for how to prevent, treat and manage the condition.
What can families do at home? Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention review six things families can do to prevent childhood obesity, including adopting healthy eating patterns and ensuring children get enough sleep. An article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children offers additional tips on how families can promote healthy habits.
What can families do in their local communities? Outdoor play is one method to address childhood obesity. It provides an opportunity for physical activity, which is essential for maintaining a healthy weight. Creating consistent routines for outdoor play can set lifelong habits that contribute to better health outcomes for young children. An article from the American Psychological Association suggests ways families can achieve this, including by exploring local parks, organizing playdates or simply making time each day for kids to be active outside.
Resource Highlights
Parents published an article on 10 life skills to teach your children by age 10, from preparing a simple meal to writing a letter.
Sesame Workshop has a printable resource families can use to teach their children to ask others for help when needed.
The Inspired Treehouse published a blog on teaching young kids to use scissors. Children as young as 2 are ready to learn scissor skills from a watchful adult.
Let’s Read Together!
Young children start learning to speak long before they say their first words. An essential part of this development is hearing words spoken aloud.
Families who read aloud to their children help them develop essential literacy skills and create emotional bonds that can last a lifetime.
Families should read to children daily. Even better, read together more than once a day. Here are a few books available at the DC Public Library you may want to read this week:
- Little You by Richard Van Camp – This picture book celebrates the joy babies bring into the world.
- Falling Up by Shel Silverstein – A book of 12 poems and drawings.
- Found by Salina Yoon – The story of Bear, who finds a toy rabbit in the forest. He wants to return it but becomes fond of Bunny.
- Flower Garden by Eve Bunting – With help from her father, a young girl prepares a flower garden as a birthday surprise for her mother.
- Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo – Mercie the pig loves driving with her owners. But one day she ends up behind the wheel. Adventures follow.
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: Over, Under, Through
Invite your child to explore different ways to move over, under and through. Outside, they can jump over a rock, walk under a tree or run through the grass. Inside, they can go over a pillow or crawl under a table. Can they skip through the doorway? How many ways can they think of to go over, under and through? Take turns sharing ideas.
Brainy Background
Your child is learning to focus and use self-control by playing games where they listen and follow directions. They do this instead of going on autopilot and doing whatever they might want to do. This is an important skill in learning. They’re also learning to think flexibly as they develop ideas for new ways to move.
Week of May 5, 2025
- Music and Movement Monday: Follow along with the “1 2 3 Clap Your Hands With Me” music video.
- Tasty Tuesday: Make a batch of animal crackers.
- Wellness Wednesday: Conduct a tooth decay experiment using eggs.
- Textured Thursday: Create a homemade wind chime.
- Family Fun Friday: Ask your family to join you in a family portrait activity using pasta and playdough.
Week of May 12, 2025
- Music and Movement Monday: Get moving as you listen to Raffi’s Shake My Sillies Out song.
- Tasty Tuesday: Make your own trail mix.
- Wellness Wednesday: Make and learn to use a worry doll.
- Textured Thursday: Explore all your senses through a marshmallow activity.
- Family Fun Friday: Make popsicle stick picture frames for your family photos.
YMCA Physical, Healthy and Driven Program
The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington runs a Physical, Healthy and Driven (PHD) program to combat childhood obesity and teach kids how to stay healthy for life. PHD is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention initiative designed for children ages 6-14. It combines assessment tools, fun games, exercises, nutrition education and family involvement.
PHD offers services through the YMCA’s after-school programs, summer day camp, in-school programs, specialized events and well-being programs. Through a partnership with CareFirst, it operates an “on the move” van, the region’s first traveling playground. The van helps broaden the impact of the PHD program by serving more children, especially those in urban neighborhoods lacking safe places to play.
To find PHD activities happening in your community, please call (202) 232-6700. Learn more.
Family Connections Workshops and Events
Thursday, May 8, 2025, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Supporting a Child with a Disability
Join the DC Special Education Hub for a session for families of young children with disabilities. Attendees will learn practical techniques and communication strategies to support their child’s development, celebrate their strengths, and help them navigate the world confidently. Click here to register.
Thursday, May 22, 2025, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Understanding Child Growth and Development
The first years of a child’s life are marked by significant growth and development. During this virtual session, families will learn about the developmental stages of young children to better understand what to expect as their child develops from birth to age five. Session facilitators will share ideas for fun, hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities. Click here to register.
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:
- Huffy 12-Volt Children’s Ride-On Tonka Dump Trucks because the controller can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.
- Kids Thrill Shape Sorter Car Toys because they contain small parts. They pose a choking hazard and can cause serious injury or death.
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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