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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Art and Young Children
It is exciting to watch a child create a drawing, painting or sculpture and then proudly show off their creation. Creating and exploring art benefits young children in myriad ways, from helping them develop their attention span to laying the foundation for important life skills.
Families are encouraged to check out the resources below to learn more about the benefits of art for young children, the difference between process and product art and how to promote a child’s artistic journey.
Seven benefits of art for preschoolers. This blog from Rasmussen University details how and why art helps young children express emotion, develop fine motor skills, build language, improve critical thinking skills, aid social development, boost creativity and practice early math skills. It explains the differences between product and process art, and why process art is preferable in early years.
Process-focused art. This article defines process art and its benefits, offers tips for encouraging process art and suggests basic supplies that families might want to keep on hand.
Promoting a child’s artistic journey. For families who want to encourage their budding artist, Michigan State University offers tips families can use to encourage their child’s artistic expression. Suggestions include talking to a child about their artwork, imitating your child by creating art side-by-side and letting a child direct the activity.
Resource Highlights
To help ease children into a school or child care drop-off routine, play this two-minute audio segment from Big Bird for them.
When a family member spends quality time with a child, it makes the child feel appreciated, supported, loved and understood. This article suggests nine low-cost, low-stress ways to spend quality time with a child.
This website offers an end-of-summer bucket list – 25 things to do in the DC area before the season ends.
Let’s Read Together!
Reading aloud to young children helps children strengthen their brain connections. Children’s vocabularies expand when they hear new and different words, and books often include words that adults don’t normally use, such as the names of plants or animals. Make reading every day, and preferably several times a day, part of your daily family routine.
- Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena – On a long subway ride, Milo studies the faces around him and creates imaginary pictures of their lives.
- We All Play by Julie Flett – Animals and kids love to play. This book celebrates playtime and the connection between children and the natural world.
- Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Kronin – When Farmer Brown’s cows learn to type, they send him a list of demands.
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen – On a wintry night, a young girl goes out into the woods with her father to search for the Great Horned Owl.
- Olivia by Ian Falconer – Olivia is a funny, spirited pig who has energy to spare.
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: Memory Moments
Before your child goes to sleep, share a favorite family moment. Say something like, “Remember the first time you tried the slide at the playground?” Talk about the memory and ask them how it felt and what they thought. You might be surprised at what they remember!
Brainy Background
Making memories and creating stories helps your child learn to love language. As they share, your child is practicing memory and attention skills. It also strengthens your special bond.
Week of August 26, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Set up a bowling alley using plastic cups and a ball.
- Tasty Tuesday: Make some trail mix.
- Wellness Wednesday: Watch the Tran family make healthy food with Lily from Sesame Street.
- Textured Thursday: Go on a texture walk.
- Family Fun Friday: Together, gather some items from the recycle bin and turn them into an arts and crafts project.
Week of September 2, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Play spinning statues.
- Tasty Tuesday: Make a healthy veggies-and-dip snack.
- Wellness Wednesday: Create a personal hygiene worksheet.
- Textured Thursday: Play with texture using playdough and other simple materials.
- Family Fun Friday: Have an indoor picnic with your family.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap is the only National Park dedicated to presenting the performing arts. In addition to the wide selection of performances every year, Wolf Trap has an Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. It is the flagship education program of the Wolf Trap Foundation and embraces active learning for kids through customized, hands-on professional development for early childhood educators. The Institute works with educators and families across the U.S. to deliver professional development and arts experiences inside and outside of classroom.
With the support of Wolf Trap Teaching Artists, educators learn how to incorporate the arts into their daily practice, strengthening their connection with children and providing deeper, more meaningful learning experiences.
Wolf Trap also creates interactive art experiences that families can enjoy together, providing them with the tools to extend their child’s learning at home.
To learn more, click here.
Family Connections September 2024 Workshops and Events
DC CCC is hosting the following workshop in September. Learn more below.
Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Healthy Eating and Physical Wellbeing in Childhood
Daily routines can help children learn healthy habits and reach milestones. This workshop for families and caregivers will focus on tools and tips for maintaining healthy lives, beginning in early childhood. Click here to register.
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Restoring Hope and Healthy Functioning
Families will be guided through a list of resources for coping with grief, loss and trauma during this training. Participants will explore the stages of grief and loss as well as the physical and emotional reactions of trauma to disruptive and painful life events. 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:
- Mamibaby and Cosy Nation Baby Loungers because they violate federal safety regulations for infant sleep products in multiple ways. The sides are too low to keep an infant in place; the sleeping pad is too thick and poses a suffocation hazard; a child could fall out of an enclosed opening at the foot of the lounger and become trapped; and the loungers do not have a stand, posing a fall hazard if used on an elevated surface.
- Shawshank LEDz Squeeze Plus Ball Toys. The toys contains a liquid and glitter combination inside a thick membrane. If the membrane is ruptured, the glittery water can splash onto a child’s face and body, posing an injury 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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