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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Addressing Hearing Loss in Young Children
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss receive services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. The resources below can help families better understand hearing loss and learn where to go for help if they suspect their child is experiencing it.
- Understanding hearing loss. Learn more about how hearing loss is defined, signs and symptoms in children and treatments and interventions for children diagnosed with a hearing issue from the
- Understanding what can cause hearing loss. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) explains that there are many possible causes of hearing loss, including fluid in the inner ear, genetic factors and illnesses experienced by children. Families can use the ASHA website to search for audiologists, who are hearing loss specialists.
- Screening and intervention services. The federal government funds The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, National Technical Resource Center(EHDI NTRC). Its goal is to ensure that every child with hearing loss is identified before 3 months of age and provided with appropriate intervention by 6 months of age. The organization has helpful information and resources for families.
Resource Highlights
Safe Kids Worldwide – Most serious falls happen in the home to children under the age of 3. Safe Kids Worldwide offers fall prevention tips.
PBS Kids for Parents – Parenting hacks that help children become problem solvers.
Parents Magazine – Although the incidences of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in young children seem to have peaked for the season, this contagious illness is still in our midst. Parents Magazine reviews what every family needs to know about RSV.
Let’s Read Together!
Spring will soon be here and with it the opportunity to read outside. Read with your child throughout the day, every day.
- Rest and Relax: Sleepy Time for Little Ones by Stewart Whitney and Rocio Alejandr – a simple body scan exercise that children can do to relax and get ready for sleep.
- Make Way for Readers by Judy Sierra – young animals gather for storytime with Miss Bingo the flamingo.
- Here Comes Destructosaurus! by Aaron Reynolds and Jeremy Tankard – someone’s throwing a temper tantrum and heading for a major time-out.
- Mabel by Rowboat Watkins – a silly read-aloud tale for kids about being yourself!
- Let’s Build a Playground by Robert Pizzo – children can join the construction team in this colorful board book
Vroom Brain-building Tip
The previous issue of this newsletter introduced Vroom, a website and app with science-based tips to help boost young children’s brain connections during everyday moments.
Today’s tip:
Time to get dressed? Encourage your child to point out the buttons, pockets and zippers on their clothes. Compare them to what you’re wearing. Talk back and forth about what they find. Say things like, “My pants have a zipper, but your pants have buttons. Let’s count the buttons together.”
Brainy Background
By being specific, you encourage your child to focus on details and tune out distractions. As you chat about their clothing, you’re helping them learn about what’s the same and what’s different. They’re also building their counting skills!
Week of Feb. 26, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Play The Floor is Lava.
- Tasty Tuesday: Make your own carrot rice pilaf.
- Wellness Wednesday: Go outside and enjoy nature. Your brain and your body will thank you.
- Textured Thursday: Create a Cloud in a Jar.
- Family Fun Friday: Make a family Gratitude Paper Chain.
Week of March 4, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Watch Slopera! A Bite-Sized Opera, a 20-minute video developed by children’s author Mo Willems and offered through the Kennedy Center.
- Tasty Tuesday: Whip up a yogurt parfait!
- Wellness Wednesday: Do a glitter germ experiment.
- Textured Thursday: Create your own set of textured blocks.
- Family Fun Friday: Enlist your family’s help in making an animal habitat.
DC Special Education Hub
The DC Special Education Hub helps families understand special education in the District of Columbia. It connects families with tools, information, and 1:1 support so they can make informed decisions to guide their child’s learning.
The DC Special Education Hub explains the eligibility process required before a child can receive special education services. It houses important resources on related topics, including family empowerment. On the website, you can sign up for the Special Education Hub newsletter or the many family workshops offered. To learn more, click here.
Family Connections March 2024 Workshops and Events
DC Child Care Connections (DC CCC) is hosting the following workshops in March:
- Parenting a Child with a Disability: Parent Rights & Procedural Safeguards
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
During this session families will learn how they can support their young child with a disability for success in school. The session will share information on parental rights and procedural safeguards to support positive and appropriate school experiences for children with disabilities. Click here to register.
- Parenting a Child with a Disability: Engagement and Advocacy for Families and Students
Thursday, March 28, 2024, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
This session will share a range of methods and strategies families can use to collaborate with teachers and school leaders to support their child’s success in school. 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:
- VPR Brands lighters, because they pose a fire and burn hazard for young children
- Lolanta children’s hooded flannel bathrobes, because they don’t meet federal flammability standards
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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