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Marco Polo’s Winter Break Challenge
This winter break, learn and grow together with your family using Marco Polo’s Winter Break Challenge! Designed for families who are registered in the MarcoPolo For Families app, this challenge is a great way to keep your children engaged in educational activities while having fun at home. Activities include learning about weather, practicing letters in the alphabet, and so much more!
To participate, make sure you are registered for MarcoPolo For Families. This app is free for Northwest Florida families (Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Gulf, Franklin, Jackson, and Washington Counties) thanks to funding from the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida. Simply register using the code 6959.
Once registered, simply scan the QR code or click on the hyperlink to access the challenge video. Each activity in the video is linked directly to its corresponding title in the challenge, so you can easily navigate through the exciting tasks.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to bond with your family and help your child continue their learning journey during the break.
Ready for the challenge? Click the link below to get started:
Happy learning and happy holidays!
Family Engagement Month 2024
November is Family Engagement Month which is a special time to recognize the vital role that parents and families play in their child’s education. After all, families are their child’s first teacher. This month is an opportunity for families to partner with the Early Learning Coalition and early learning programs to support their children’s learning and development.
What is Family Engagement?
Families are engaged when they partner with early learning programs to promote their children’s development, learning, and wellness. Positive relationships between families and staff in early learning programs are the foundation for family engagement.
Partnering with Families for Children’s Success
Family engagement supports school readiness for early grade success and prepares children for life. Family engagement is a shared responsibility of the Division of Early Learning, early learning coalitions, community partners, and childcare providers to engage families in meaningful ways to actively support their children’s learning, development, and wellness.
Family Engagement Checklist for Families
This checklist is a tool for your family to use to consider the level of partnership with your child’s early learning program. Ask yourself the following questions and check a box for your answer. For any items answered “no”, write a note on how you can begin doing that item.
Consider sharing your responses with your child’s teacher and discuss ways you can be even more engaged in your child’s learning.
Family Engagement Calendar
Download the Family Engagement Calendar below for ways you can increase engagement with your children daily:
Family Engagement Pledge
Take the following pledge and let your child know you are committed to their success.
As a parent, guardian, or caring adult, I pledge to support my child’s education and healthy development to the best of my ability because I am my child’s first teacher. I have high expectations for my child and want them to succeed in school and in life. I pledge to stay involved, serve as a positive role model, and maintain open communication with my child’s teachers to ensure education remains a top priority in my household. I understand that it is my responsibility to stay informed and involved in all parts of my child’s education and health. Education is the key to success, and I will do everything I can to promote my child’s ability to learn.
At the Early Learning Coalition, we also have a Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) program that can connect you with resources to help support your role as your child’s first teacher. You may contact them at 850-747-5400 ext. 108.
The Importance of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood
Picture this…
A toddler is standing in the kitchen, hard at work, emptying the cabinets. They are pulling pots, pans, spatulas, and wooden spoons from their respective places. All the while, they are smiling up at you with a strainer on their head ready to bang away at the bottom of the overturned cookware!
Or
Opening a cabinet in your newly stocked classroom to find a toddler-sized police officer uniform, a little doctor’s white coat, a miniature chef’s hat, or maybe even a tiny shopping cart filled to the brim with cardboard and plastic grocery goodies!
Can you imagine? Well, these scenarios are ideal for fostering imaginative play. Imaginative play – also called symbolic play – happens to have several benefits at each stage of early childhood. From what seems like random banging of rattles during the infant stage of development, through the parallel play in the classroom kitchen stage of preschool, early childhood is the perfect time for caregivers to facilitate the benefits that symbolic play offers. The truth is that children learn to solve problems, coordinate, cooperate, and think flexibly during imaginative play.
As childcare providers, you can help to grow these emergent skills by prioritizing pretend and imaginative play opportunities in your classrooms.
Here are a few activities that can help you get started:
- Storytime– Allowing children to participate in storytelling can help build their imaginations, too. Have students start, or finish, the stories you tell in class. Asking questions such as “What do you think will happen next?” can also boost engagement.
- Dolls & Puppets– Make sure you encourage your students – both girls and boys – to explore their imaginations using dolls, action figures, and puppets. These can be stuffed, or even made from paper.
- Themed Dramatic Play Boxes– Create a variety of themed dramatic play boxes (or bins or baskets) that feature materials that can let children be creative. The Childcare Lounge has some great idea on themed boxes here.
In the meantime, take some time to read the Healthline article about the importance of Symbolic Play in early childhood.
Discover Essential Community Resources in Northwest Florida through ELCNWF
We are excited to announce that the Coalition has updated our County Community Resources Directories, making it easier than ever for residents of Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties to access vital services and support.
What’s New?
The updated directories include a comprehensive range of resources tailored to meet the diverse needs of our communities. Whether someone is seeking assistance with food, employment, housing, family wellness, healthcare, or education, the directories have something for everyone.
Why It Matters
Accessing the right resources can make a world of difference for individuals and families facing challenges. The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida is dedicated to empowering our communities by providing these essential resources in easy-to-navigate directories.
How to Use the Directory
The Community Resources are available on our website and are user-friendly. Simply select your county at the bottom of the page to find a tailored list of resources available in your area. You can also share your county’s directory with friends and family who might benefit
We encourage the community to explore these resources and share their experiences. If you know of additional resources that could be added to the directories, please reach out to our Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) team at [email protected]. Together, we can ensure that every family in our region has access to the support that they need.
5 Hurricane Preparation Tips for Families
As Hurricane Michael taught us, it is crucial for families to have an emergency plan in place to ensure the safety and well-being of every family member, including children. Being prepared for emergencies is not just about having supplies on hand – it is about having a plan and the knowledge to execute it when the need arises. By taking steps now to prepare your family for emergencies, you can ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones.
Below are five tips caregivers can use while preparing for a storm. Let’s take action today to safeguard our families and communities for whatever the future may hold.
1. Educating Children
Start by educating children about hurricanes and the importance of being prepared. Use age-appropriate language and activities to teach them about the potential risks and what to do in case of an emergency. Encourage questions and open discussions to alleviate fears and empower children to take an active role in their safety.
2. Creating a Family Emergency Plan
Involve children in the creation of a family emergency plan. Discuss evacuation routes, designated meeting points, and communication strategies. Assign age-appropriate tasks to children, such as packing their own emergency kits or memorizing important phone numbers. By involving children in the planning process, they will feel more prepared and empowered to act in an emergency.
3. Assembling Emergency Kits
Gather supplies for emergency kits together as a family. Include essential items such as water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and comfort items such as stuffed animals or favorite toys for children.
4. Addressing Children’s Concerns
Be attentive to children’s concerns and emotions regarding hurricanes and emergency preparedness. Reassure them that their safety is a top priority and encourage open communication about any fears or anxieties they may have. Provide age-appropriate explanations and comfort, and remind children that they are not alone in facing challenges during a storm.
5. Incorporating Learning Opportunities
Use hurricane preparedness as an opportunity for children to learn valuable life skills. Teach them about teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience as you navigate the planning process together. Encourage creativity by allowing children to create their own emergency plans or design emergency kits, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.
2024 Summer Guide Program
Welcome to the Summer Program Guide by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida (ELCNWF)! We searched high and low to compile these resources, designed to help families in our community discover an array of enriching summer activities for children of all ages.
These guides offer detailed information on various programs, from educational camps and sports clinics to art workshops and outdoor adventures. Our goal is to ensure that every child has access to opportunities that promote learning, growth, and fun during the summer months.
Whether you’re looking for a full-day camp or a specialized program, you’ll find valuable options that cater to diverse interests and needs.
Wellness During the Holidays
There are a few simple things that we can do this holiday season to help our children stay mentally and physically well. Diet plays a critical role in our wellness and foods such as berries, green vegetables, and pumpkin seeds promote brain development and support immune health.
Fatigue, body aches, and feeling down can be a sign that your child is overdue for a wellness check, but don’t forget about their brain’s health! Mental health challenges can be overwhelming during the holiday season. This is to be expected when routines are off, family members you haven’t seen for a while are crowded in your personal space, and there’s tons of funny looking food without a chicken nugget in sight.
Here are some tips for helping your child combat stress:
- Plan ahead and consider creating a safe space for your children to express themselves in new places. Reflect and respond to your child’s thoughts, feelings, and needs which will create an atmosphere of understanding and acceptance for your child and help prevent problems.
- Pick your battles and try to use humor. Finding a way to laugh with your child will help relieve their body’s stress response and redirect from negative feelings.
While children pour into their caregivers for support this holiday season, it is important that we don’t forget to pour into ourselves. Self-care can replenish a parent’s energy, focus, and positivity. Whatever strategies you choose to keep you and your family well, be intentional and do it with love. For more tips on how to promote your child’s wellness during the holidays, contact our Help Me Grow team at [email protected].
Family Engagement Month 2023
November is Family Engagement Month which is a special time to recognize the vital role that parents and families play in their child’s education. After all, families are their child’s first teacher. This month is an opportunity for families to partner with the Early Learning Coalition and early learning programs to support their children’s learning and development.
What is Family Engagement?
Familes are engaged when they partner with early learning programs to promote their children’s development, learning, and wellness. Positive relationships between families and staff in early learning programs are the foundation for family engagement.
Family engagement has been shown to:
- Increase a child’s motivation to learn
- Reduce behavioral problems
- Support growth and development
- Foster school readiness skills, such as impulse control, attention, memory, and planning skills
The following checklist is a tool for your family to use to consider the level of partnership with your child’s early learning program. Ask yourself the following questions and check a box for your answer. For any items answered “no”, you may want to write a note on how you can begin doing that item. Consider sharing your responses with your child’s teacher and discuss ways you can be even more engaged in your child’s learning.
Family Engagement Ideas
Below are ideas of ways you can increase engagement with your children:
- Visit your local library and read together.
- Read your child’s daily note and talk about the activities they did at school.
- Explore and talk about different jobs or careers with your child.
- As a family, learn more about recycling efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Encourage conversation among family members at the dinner table.
- Invite your child to help you plan a meal, make a grocery list, shop, and help prepare the meal.
- Use ‘downtime’ in the car or on a walk to sing songs or teach nursery thymes to your child.
- During bath time let your child discover which objects will float and which objects sink.
- Draw a picture with your child from their favorite book.
- Use facial expressions and have your child guess the emotion you are showing. Are you happy, sad, or scared?
- Talk about things for which your family is grateful.
- Add some fun to everyday routines. Play music and dance together while making dinner, folding laundry, or cleaning up.
- Talk with your family about helping others and why it is important.
- Take a walk with your child and collect leaves to sort by shape and size.
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine with your child (bathing, brushing teeth, reading a story).
- Talk, read, and sing to your baby or young child every day. It helps your child’s brain development.
- Take a walk through your home and make finding counting activities part of a regular routine.
- Share five favorite things about your child with them.
- Talk! It’s the #1 thing you can do to support your child.
- Plan a day with no electronics. Read books, play board games, or do puzzles with your child.
- Help your child find numbers, shapes, or colors during the day.
- Ask your child what activity they would like to do today.
- Play your favorite music and dance with your child.
- Read with your child and make a list of things that they wonder about from the book.
- Visit a local park and talk about what they see.
- Snuggle up and read to your child for 15 minutes.
Family Engagement Pledge
Take the following pledge and let your child know you are committed to their success.
As a parent, guardian, or caring adult, I pledge to support my child’s education and healthy development to the best of my ability because I am my child’s first teacher. I have high expectations for my child and want them to succeed in school and in life. I pledge to stay involved, serve as a positive role model, and maintain open communication with my child’s teachers to ensure education remains a top priority in my household. I understand that it is my responsibility to stay informed and involved in all parts of my child’s education and health. Education is the key to success, and I will do everything I can to promote my child’s ability to learn.
At the Early Learning Coalition, we also have a Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) program that can connect you with resources to help support your role as your child’s first teacher. You may contact them at 850-747-5400 ext. 108.