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 Parent Handbook (August 2008)
Please review the updated Parent Handbook for Subsidized Child Care. It is an invaluable resource explaining the eligibility for subsidized child care. If you are a new parent looking to apply, or an existing client with a question, please review our most up-to-date regulations. Call us at 1-800-371-2109 with questions or to receive a copy by mail.
 Who to Call in Bucks County (August 2008)
Do you have a situation? Trouble getting started? Click here for a GREAT guide of agencies in Bucks County.
 Time to register for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (August 2008)
If your child will be three or four next fall, now is the time to think about enrolling your child in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts.
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts provides 11,000 children with quality pre-kindergarten experiences in full-day and half-day classrooms around the state. Classes are offered in public schools, child care, Head Start, and nursery schools.
Quality pre-kindergarten prepares children for reading and math, but also for paying attention, following directions and getting along with others. This strong early start in pre-kindergarten means they have a better chance of doing well in school, going on to college or career training, and getting a good job. All of this can start by enrolling your child in a PA Pre-K Counts classroom!
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts offers quality preschool to help your child learn the skills they need to be ready and excited for kindergarten.
•Highly qualified teachers, with experience working with young children
•Small class sizes so your teachers have lots of time for your child
•A curriculum and learning activities that help your child thrive
•Review of your child’s development with teachers to help your child reach his promise
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is designed for children who are at risk of school failure, either because of income (300% of the federal poverty level, or a family of four earning $63,600), language (English is not your first language), cultural or special needs issues. If your child falls into one of these categories, you may be eligible to apply.
Programs will begin accepting enrollments beginning April 1. Pending approval of the Governor’s budget proposal by the General Assembly, approximately 12,000 children will receive Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts in 2008-2009.
To find out about PA Pre-K Counts programs near you and to apply:
•Visit www.papromiseforchildren.com; or
•Call 1-877-4-PA-KIDS (1-877-472-5437)
Please download a printable brochure. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is made possible by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
 Looking for quality child care? Keystone STARS can help (August 2008)
For parents, deciding where your young child will spend his/her day can affect their learning for life. What your child experiences before age five will affect language skills, number skills, and social skills. In fact, about 90% of our brains are developed before we reach kindergarten. Studies show that attending a quality early learning program can have a huge impact in a child’s readiness for school, achievement in school, and future career and life success.
So how do you know if an early learning program is providing quality early learning opportunities? One way is to ask about Keystone STARS. Keystone STARS promotes quality in early learning programs such as child care and Head Start. Programs can progressively earn from a STAR 1 to a STAR 4 level based on quality standards in four key areas:
• Staff education: early childhood teachers have the training and knowledge for working with young children
• Learning environment: the program has a variety of materials and activities for each age level that makes it possible for children to learn something new every day!
• Leadership and management: a quality program has to have sound business practices to ensure your child’s safety and early learning
• Family and community partnerships: Parents and community members are encouraged to become a part of the child’s learning progress
Pennsylvania also provides technical assistance and supports for programs as they move up the STARS quality ladder.
There are approximately 4,000 Keystone STARS programs in Pennsylvania, including centers, group child care and family child care homes. To find out about Keystone STARS programs near you:
• Visit www.papromiseforchildren
• Call 1-877-4-PA-KIDS (1-877-472-5437), or
• Call the Child Care Information Services (CCIS) of Bucks County at 1-800-371-2109
Please take a minute to watch the Keystone STARS commercial and download a printable brochure. Keystone STARS is made possible by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
 Helping Children Read (August 2008)
Literacy means much more than being able to read and write. Children must be able to comprehend what they read, write, and hear. It is important for them to know that sounds, letters, and pictures go together and have meaning. The years from birth to age 8 are the most important period of literacy development. Experts suggest that parents share reading with their child beginning in the first weeks and months of life. Reading aloud and using interactive language are the most important activities that build a foundation of literacy. Reading stimulates brain development in important ways, yet 50 percent of infants and toddlers are rarely read to. Experts suggest 20 minutes every day. Children learn something new every time they experience a book: new vocabulary, a different character, new meaning from the plot. It often takes at least four readings for a child to master the subject matter. Practice with the same book also increases fluency, an important reading skill.
When you have an infant, you have a captive audience, so take advantage of it! Your baby is using all five senses to learn: touching, smelling, tasting, seeing, and hearing. Engage all of your baby’s senses in learning language and reading skills. As a toddler, your captive audience is now on the move. You want to keep doing the same kinds of activities you have been doing all along—reading, talking, singing and playing—with some changes to keep up with your developing toddler.
Your preschooler has a lot of language and literacy skills now, and you want to provide fun ways to keep them growing. When you are reading a story, ask open-ended questions that your preschooler can answer. Children around 6 to 8 are bringing together their abilities to listen to and talk about stories, understand print, and use language that is rich and meaningful. You can continue to build on what your young school-age child knows by asking them to come up with a different ending for the story you are reading together, or catch up with what your child has been doing in school during homework time.
For a list of books to read with your children, click on the links below for some great seasonal ideas provided by Reading is Fundamental.
Irresistible K-3 Books
Irresistible 4-8 Books
If you think your child may have a language or reading problem, don’t hesitate to check into it. It is always best when problems like ear infections, vision issues, or learning delays are detected early. However, is important to remember that children, especially young children, develop at different rates. Some children need more time to develop skills, and will develop the skill with extra time. Talk with your child care provider or your child’s teacher about any concerns you have. The only way to know if there is a physical or learning problem is to get an expert evaluation. Contact your child’s doctor with any concerns you may have for an evaluation.
Information contained in this article was obtained from The Daily Parent and Children’s World. Please visit them for more information on this topic and other related topics.
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