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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Helping Young Children Cope with Trauma
Children can experience traumatic events in all areas of life. How a child reacts to a distressing event varies according to the child’s age, previous experiences and how the child typically copes with stress. Families can provide a stable environment by remaining calm and confident. The following resources provide information on the emotional impact of trauma on children and guidance for families on how they can help young children cope.
Understanding how children grieve. This article from Sesame Workshop defines grief as “the emotional, mental and physical reactions felt after experiencing a loss.” It explores the experience of grief for children of varying ages, describes behavioral changes families may witness and ways to support a child who is grieving.
Common reactions to a disaster. This article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains how children commonly react following an emergency. It provides advice on how families can help children cope before, during and after a disaster and provides links to other resources on dealing with trauma.
Supporting children after the loss of a loved one. Young children don’t understand death and will need help dealing with the loss of a family member, neighbor, friend or pet. Families can help by talking to a child in simple language about the concept of death and what happened to the loved one. This article from ZERO to THREE, a national early childhood organization, lists typical questions young children ask about death and offers suggested answers.
Resource Highlights
Download this free app from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina. It guides young children and their families to explore the world of STEM indoors and outdoors and create a storybook detailing their investigation.
Sesame Workshop
Coronavirus (covid-19) cases are rising. Watch this video about Louie’s decision to get Elmo vaccinated and explore Sesame Workshop’s other resources about immunizations.
Children’s money patterns are set by age 7. This article explores families can instill solid, foundational money habits in young children.
Let’s Read Together!
Children with good reading skills are better able to succeed in school, work and life. Families can help ensure their child’s success by reading to them from an early age. It can help improve a child’s cognitive development, their ability to think and process information. It’s important for families to read to a child daily, preferably several times a day.
- Maggie’s Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal – Maggie struggles to master her chopsticks and everyone around the table has advice about the “right” way to hold them. Her father offers some words of wisdom.
- Scaredy Cat by James Patterson – Pasha and Poop, two adorable housecats, take on Ebeneezer, aka Scaredy Cat. How can Pasha and Poop end his mischief-making for good?
- Have You Seen Gordon? by Adam Jay Epstein – This seek-and-find book features goofy adventures and fun characters.
- Saturday by Oge Mora – A mother and daughter go on an up-and-down journey that reminds them of what’s best about Saturdays: precious time together.
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal – Alma is a small person with a big name: Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela. Alma learns her name tells the story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.
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: Food Rhymes
During meal or snack time, create a rhyme or a rap about what your child is eating: “No slice, no dice, we eat rice!” or “You’re no rookie, eating your cookie.” They’ll enjoy the sound of the words and if they respond, you can make rhymes from their words, too.
Brainy Background
When your child hears you rhyming, and when you go back and forth making up more rhymes, they learn to listen to the sounds of words, which is critical to communicating and pre-reading skills. Making up rhymes can also make mealtimes more fun.
Week of September 23, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Feeling good about yourself? Move and groove to the “I Am Somebody” song.
- Tasty Tuesday: Assemble some rabbit snack cups.
- Wellness Wednesday: Conduct a dental hygiene science experiment.
- Textured Thursday: Engage in rainbow rice sensory play.
- Family Fun Friday: Decorate your front door together.
Week of September 30, 2024
- Music and Movement Monday: Follow along with this farm animal dance and freeze video.
- Tasty Tuesday: Cook a batch of veggie pizza pinwheels.
- Wellness Wednesday: Make a worry monster that ‘eats’ your worries.
- Textured Thursday: Create some texture turtles.
- Family Fun Friday: Learn some easy card tricks.
Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
The Wendt Center helps children and families rebuild their emotional lives after experiencing grief, loss and trauma. It offers the Child Healing to Improve Learning and Development (C.H.I.L.D.) program, a holistic program of mental health services that represents a continuum of care for children and youth impacted by violence, trauma, grief and loss.
Children are viewed in the context of family and community, and services are provided in office and community-based settings. Wendt Center clinicians use verbal and non-verbal evidence-based, age-appropriate interventions, including art and play therapy, sand-tray therapy and other techniques.
The Wendt Center offers group and individual therapy sessions at a discounted rate to children and families.
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. 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:
- Stanley-Branded Jr. Kits Garden Sets from Red Toolbox. The painted long hoe and rake in the garden set contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard to children.
- Intellio Kids Bright Builder Fort Kits with Flashlights. The flashlights in the recalled kits contain button cell batteries in a compartment that can be easily opened without a tool. If the batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns and 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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