March 2016
Sensory Friendly Time with
the Easter Bunny
Inside this issue:
Focus on Health and Safety:
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
South Hills Village
Westmoreland Mall
8-10 am
9:30-11 am
Ross Park Mall
Monroeville Mall
9-11 am
9:30-11 am
2
Lead Poisoning
Parents Corner:
3
Summer Camps, Caregiver
Support Program
Kindergarten Registration,
PA Techs
5
Preschool = Success,
Integration Recruitment
6
Registration required:
Activity Calendar
7
http://www.aboard.memberlodge.com/page-260524
Building Readers
8
Reading Extras
10
Come Celebrate the Month of the Young Child and Join
Us for Family Fun Night!
When: April 19, 2016, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 E. Waterfront Dr., Homestead, PA 15120
Please plan on BEEING here for a free family fun night!
We are busy as BEES preparing fun activities for all to enjoy! There will BEE an Imagination
Station, Art Experiences, Literacy and Library Cards, Safety Tips, Healthy Snacks, Parent
Resources and more…
It will be a sweet as honey event!!!
1
The DART Board
March 2016
Focus on Health and Safety
Lead Poisoning
Lead Poisoning has been in the news lately because of the crisis in Flint, Michigan. So, I think that it
is a good time to provide some lead education. The children of Flint have elevated lead levels (lead
poisoning) because of lead contaminated water. This happened because the city of Flint switched its
water source from Detroit to the Flint River. The water in the Flint River was very corrosive. The
water damaged the pipes which distributed the water to homes. The damage allowed the lead to
leach out of the pipes (many cities have pipes which are made of lead, but the lead stays in the pipes
due to a protective coating which develops). Because this lead was not filtered out of the water,
the people were exposed to it when they drank it, cooked with it and bathed in it.
This is not how people are usually exposed to lead in the United States. Exposure usually occurs
through lead paint and the dust that it can form. Young children (under six years of age) are at
higher risk for lead poisoning because of two factors. First, they put more things into their mouths.
Those things could be covered in lead dust or painted with lead paint (additionally, lead paint has a
sweet taste, so lead chips are sometimes consumed on purpose by children). The second factor that
puts children at risk is that their bodies absorb lead more easily than adults.
Houses which were built before 1978 may contain lead paint. Even if the paint has been covered, it
is still there. It can come loose when the paint peals/flakes from the wall or when dust is created
from the lead paint which was used on the windowsills. Another source for lead exposure is soil.
Lead was used in gasoline in the United States until 1991 (Europe continued to use it until 2000).
The result is that it remains in our soil, so playing in dirt can also be a way for lead exposure to
occur.
The only way to know if our child has lead poisoning is through a lead test. This test is usually
done by taking blood from a person’s vein. Your child’s healthcare provider can order the test, but it
may need to be performed in a lab which is not part of your provider’s office. Most children with
lead poisoning do not look or act sick (so the only way to know for sure is for your child to be tested).
Children who have been exposed to lead can have central nervous system damage. Some things which
might happen include lowered I.Q.s, speech and language delays, decreased ability to pay attention
and behavior problems. Another effect can be decreased bone and muscle growth. These effects
can not be corrected.
Resources
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/lead_poisoning.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/basics/risk-factors/
con-20035487
2
The DART Board
March 2016
Parents Corner
SUMMER CAMP
Attending a camp can benefit all children and the positive outcomes are much the same for
children with special needs as they are for other children.
Here are some suggestions to help you research and decide on a camp for your child:




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Start early to look for a camp. Many camps begin enrollment in February and March.
Create a list of your expectations for the camp and what you hope your child will gain
from the experience.
Decide on the cost, location and duration of the camp.
Make a list of your child’s needs and any accommodations that may need to be considered.
Look online, ask your child’s preschool teacher or talk to other parents about camp
opportunities and recommendations.
Some of the potential benefits of attending a camp program include:




The chance for your child to try something new and create different experiences.
Having the opportunity to be around other children with the same challenges.
Increased independence and confidence.
Peer interaction.
To start your search for summer camp opportunities, visit the Pittsburgh Parent magazine
website www.pittsburghparent.com . An additional online resource that allows you to search
for camps by interest, age and location and provides personal assistance in finding and
selecting a summer camp is www.mysummercamps.com . Talking to other parents in your
community or local municipality or organizations are other great ways to learn about camp
opportunities.
3
The DART Board
March 2016
Parents Corner Continued
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM
Children who have absent parents, may need to rely on an older adult member of their extended family
for care and a home. As a caregiver, you may be:

Helping with daily activities because your loved one has an impairment of some kind.

Managing medical daily medical needs.

Care for individuals under 18 years of age who are related to you, but not your children.

Making home modifications and/or finding assistive devices as needed.
Providing care personally and organizing the care of other either intermittently or regularly
The Family Caregiver Support Program is here to help.
The DHS Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program helps eligible caregivers meet the
challenges they face in their role as caregiver for a loved one through reimbursement for caregiving
expenses and respite. We hope you’ll contact the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) SeniorLine and ask for
more information about the Family Caregiver Support Program at 412-350-5460, toll-free 1-800-3444319, TTY 412-350-2727. The Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) provides assistance to
income-eligible family members age 55 years or older who are caring for relative children and who
voluntarily take the responsibility for the care of a loved one. These children are: under the age of
18, related to the caregiver but not their children, live in the home of the older adult caregiver, have
birth parents who do not live in the home of the older adult caregiver
Available Benefits through the Family Caregiver Support Program
FCSP is designed to ease the stress and burden of caregivers who often become
overwhelmed when helping their loved one while managing their own family and
work responsibilities at the same time.
Participants are eligible for: case management, trainings in caregiving skills, access to support groups,
information on benefits and resources, assistance completing benefits and insurance forms.

FCSP offers a monthly reimbursement for out-of-pocket caregiving supplies such as: nutritional
supplements, disinfectant supplies, wound care supplies.

FCSP offers volunteer caregivers reimbursement if they need to hire someone (family members
cannot be reimbursed for their work) to provide help to their loved one such as: personal care,
meal preparation, medication set-up and assistance, light housekeeping, respite care.

FCSP provides reimbursement grants to make the home more safe and accessible with home
modifications or assistive devices such as: grab bars, bedside toilets, ramps, stair rides, lift
chairs.
4
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The DART Board
March 2016
Kindergarten Registration?
Will your child start Kindergarten in the fall? In the next few months, many schools will
host Kindergarten Registration.
Early Kindergarten registration will help you prepare your child for his first day of
Kindergarten. Your school may provide special programs, events, or resources to help
your child prepare for the important transition.
Visit the PA's Promise for Children website (http://papromiseforchildren.com/)to locate
Kindergarten Registration information, then check out these resources to help your child prepare to
be successful in school.

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
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Be Your Child's Champion : http://papromiseforchildren.com/help-your-child-grow/be-your-childschampion/
Developing Problems Solving Skills: http://papromiseforchildren.com/developing-problem-solving-skills/
Early Learning GPS: http://www.earlylearninggps.com/
Helping your child develop positive relationships: http://papromiseforchildren.com/helping-your-childdevelop-positive-relationships/
Kindergarten, Here I Come! Activity Guide : http://papromiseforchildren.com/kindergarten-here-i-comeand-here-i-am/
Kindergarten, Here I Come monthly enews: http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?
Recipes for Readiness: http://papromiseforchildren.com/recipes-for-readiness/
7 Steps to Registering Your Child for Kindergarten: http://papromiseforchildren.com/7-steps-toregistering-your-child-for-kindergarten/
Sparking Children's Imagination and Creativity: http://papromiseforchildren.com/sparking-childrensimagination-and-creativity/
Top 6 Ways to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten: http://papromiseforchildren.com/top-6-tips-toget-your-child-ready-for-kindergarten/
When I Play, I Learn!: http://papromiseforchildren.com/when-i-play-i-learn/
PATechs
Techs stands for Team Educators for Child Safety. They are a group of public
safety, medical and education professionals and child safety advocates certified
as child passenger safety technicians. Because at least nine out of ten car seats
locally are improperly installed, their mission is to teach parents and caregivers
about the safest ways to transport children. They advocate the proper use of
child seats according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Every situation is
different and not every seat fits every vehicle. They will make the best
recommendation to you and work with you for a proper installation. They ask you
to help so that you can confidently secure your child in your vehicle, so that
every ride is a safe ride.
Check out http://patechs.com/ for more information and to schedule an inspection.
5
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The DART Board
March 2016
Did You Know that Preschool Sets the Stage for a
Lifetime of Success?
Preschool doesn’t only prepare children for kindergarten. Studies show that preschool teaches
lifelong skills. In one study, scientists compared children who attended preschool to children who
didn’t. The preschool group grew up to have less sickness and trouble with the law—and better
finances and employment!
What makes preschool so special? It builds abilities that are easier to learn at a young age, such as:
 How to share. Adults have to share with family, coworkers, neighbors and others. In preschool,
students are taught the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
 How to disagree politely. It’s healthy—and helpful—to have different views. It’s not okay to
express them in destructive ways. Preschool helps young children learn the basics, including how
to use polite words instead of aggressive actions.
 How to make up. Everyone makes mistakes. Preschoolers practice apologizing and forgiving. With
assistance from teachers, they also learn from their mistakes and improve themselves.
Still Enrolling-DART Integration Children for the
Current School Year!
DART Early Intervention Preschool Classrooms are located throughout the county. The classrooms service children with special needs but also enroll typically developing children as Integration Students. We welcome new
students to join the fun!
 Tuition is only $50/month for a 4 day session, $40 for 3 day and $30 for 2 day.
 There is availability in the Bradford Woods, East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, Glenshaw, Lebanon Presby,
McKeesport, Moon, Penn Hills, Riverview, Sharpsburg, Sto-Rox, Wallace, and Woodland Hills classrooms. (see
http://www.aiu3.net/Level3.aspx?id=572 for details of classroom locations).
Before acceptance into the program, each child will be screened by the classroom teacher, free of charge, to
determine the child’s developmental skills and speech skills and eligibility for the Integration component of our
program. Call (412) 394-5942 to schedule a screening appointment for a DART preschool classroom.
The DART Board is a publication of:
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
(AIU3)
DART Program
475 E. Waterfront Dr.
Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: (412) 394-5736
Fax: (412) 394-5967
We’re on the
Web!
aiu3.net/dart
“Like” us on Facebook:
Sources:
“Focus on Health and Safety” created by Cindy Callaghan, DART
Preschool Service Coordinator for Physical Health.
"Parents Corner" created by Melissa Friend, DART Preschool Service
Coordinator.
“Did You Know that Preschool Sets the Stage for a Lifetime of
Success?” Reprinted with permission from the March 2016 issue of
Parents make the difference!® (Early Childhood Edition) newsletter.
Copyright © 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
https://www.facebook.com/AIU3ECE
The DART Board is created by Stefanie Cerminara, Special Education Teacher for the DART Program.
The DART Board is edited by Debi Nuttall, DART Service Coordinator.
6
Debi Nuttall
AIU/Dart
Parent & Child
®
Activity Calendar
Sunday
Monday
March
Tuesday
make the difference!
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Help your child
Encourage your
make a weather
child’s creativity.
chart. Together,
Ask unusual questions.
keep track of the
“What would you bring
temperature, wind and to a picnic in space?”
rain each day in March.
2
3
It’s the birthday
of Alexander
Bell, inventor of the
telephone. Teach your
child how to make a
telephone call.
4
Place an object on
a piece of paper
and have your child
paint over it. Remove
the object to see the
design it left.
5
Take an early
morning walk with
your child. Look for
signs of spring.
6
Help your child
start a collection
of buttons or rocks.
Count and sort them.
Talk about shape and
color.
7
Set out different
sizes of pots and
lids. Ask your child to
put the correct lid on
each pot.
8
Have your child
practice throwing
balls of various sizes
into a box. For a
challenge, increase
the distance.
9
Keep a few books
in your car so
you and your child
are never without
something to read.
10
Collect some
Turn off the
containers,
TV tonight!
packing materials, yarn, Plan on playing games
glitter, etc. Save them
or reading as a family
for a rainy day art
instead.
session.
11
12
13
Go to a nearby
Find pictures
park or running
of people in
trail. Everyone run like a magazine. Ask your
the March wind!
child to make up a
story about each
person.
14
15
Measure and
weigh your
child today. Teach
her about inches and
pounds.
16
Have your child
close his eyes.
Make a sound, such as
jingling keys. Ask him
to listen and guess what
you are doing.
17
Help your child
Have a family
make a card for
sing-along.
a family member. She
Ask family members
can draw on the front, to share their favorite
and you can write her
songs.
message on the inside.
18
19
20
Involve your
Together,
child in a job
find out what’s
you have been meaning inside a seed. Soak a
to do. Organizing toys dry bean overnight,
is a great idea.
remove the coat and
pull the halves apart.
21
22
Write a letter
of the alphabet.
Think of things that
begin with that letter
and have your child
draw some of them.
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Put on music
and spend 15
minutes drawing or
writing with your child.
Let the music be your
inspiration.
At the grocery
store, ask your
child to pick out an
unfamiliar vegetable.
Find a recipe and give
it a try!
When your
child comes
home from preschool,
have her draw what
happened today. Then
talk about it.
Have your child
Take out your
look through
child’s baby
newspapers and catalogs book and look through
to find pictures of
it with him.
different forms of
transportation.
Send your child
something
through the mail. He
will be thrilled.
With your
child, look at
your weather chart.
Did March come in
like a lion and go out
like a lamb?
If you don’t
have time to
read to your child
at night, read in the
morning. It’s a real
“power breakfast.”
Bake a cake
with your child.
Let him decorate it.
Create an art
gallery. Frame
your child’s artwork.
Rotate the work on
display frequently.
Go to the
library and
check out two books
with your child. Check
out some books for
yourself, too!
2016
© 2016 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. May be reproduced only as licensed by Parents make the difference!® Early Childhood Edition newsletter. 1-800-756-55257
Reading Readiness • March 2016
®
How Families Can Help Children Get Ready to Read
Early Intervention Program
Build reading skills by talking with your child
Speaking and listening are important parts of literacy. When
you have conversations with your child, you are preparing him
for reading and writing as well. To help your child build critical
speaking and listening skills:
• Expand on what your child says.
When your child tells you that he
wants to read together, say,
“What would you like to read
about? What have we read
recently that you enjoyed?”
• Give him clues to identify an
object. “What yellow fruit
do we sometimes put in our
cereal?”
• Have him practice following multi-step directions. “Put away your
toys, then get your shoes and put them on.”
Remember to give your child your full attention when he’s
talking to you. It shows him that you think what he’s saying is
important.
Source: “Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development,” American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association, niswc.com/speechdevelopment.
“Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny,
exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader
gives a terrific advantage.”
—Roald Dahl
Teach your child to associate
letters with sounds
Help your child develop her knowledge
of the sounds that letters
make. Together, play
this simple game:
Tell your child, “I’m
thinking of the sound
/b/ like in bubble.”
Have her name as
many words as she
can that start with the same sound.
Then, have your child give you a letter
to brainstorm!
Spring into reading with
homemade bookmarks
Take a nature walk with
your child and collect
blades of grass and
leaves. When you get
home, have your child glue the
items to a strip of construction paper.
Place clear packing tape around the
front and back of the paper. Now your
child has her own special bookmark to
use all season!
e
Be sure to involve your child in story tim
ld, it is important to keep
When you read aloud to your chi
story. You can do this by
her interested and engaged in the
. Here are some specific
interacting with her while you read
strategies to try:
book. See what she thinks
• Ask your child questions about the
rite parts are. Let her
will happen next and what her favo
s and interesting
ion
dict
know when she makes good pre
points about the story.
Use her questions as a
• Expand on what your child says.
starting point for discussions.
the book. Ask your child
• Continue your conversation about
she were the main
what she would do differently if
what connections she
character. Or, you might discuss
has to the characters in the book.
Build your child’s fine motor skills
by asking for help with writing
Scribbling is one of the ways children
get ready to write. Give your
child a sheet of paper and
a pencil, and ask him
to help you write a
grocery list or a letter.
Whether he draws
pictures or writes
actual letters, he will
be building the muscles in his hands,
which will increase his fine motor
skills. All the while, he’ll be learning a
practical use for writing!
Follow us on Twitter @BuildingReaders • Copyright © 2016, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com
8
®
Explore new ways to build
your child’s vocabulary
A strong vocabulary is essential to your child’s
development as a reader. The more words that
he knows, the more he’ll understand when
listening to books—and later when reading them himself. He
will also have the words he needs to say exactly what he means.
To help your child build his vocabulary, encourage him to:
• Think of some examples. When you teach him a new word, such as
tiny, have your child think of something that is tiny.
• Brainstorm within categories. For example, have your child think
of as many ocean animals or modes of transportation as he can.
• List synonyms and antonyms. Encourage your child to think of
words that mean either the same thing as a given word, or the
opposite of it. For example, how many synonyms and
antonyms can your child list for the word big?
Reading Readiness • March 2016
Allow your child to move around
during reading time
Just because your child
may not enjoy sitting
still to read books
together doesn’t mean
that you shouldn’t read
to him! To make sure you’re givi
ng
your energetic child quality read
ing
time:
• Allow him to walk around with boo
ks.
• Act out the stories you’re reading
together.
• Break up reading time into smaller
chunks of time.
Source: D. Swallow, “10 Ways to Build Your Child’s Vocabulary,” North Shore Pediatric
Therapy, niswc.com/vocabularybuilding.
Books to delight your early reader
Create a love of reading by reading aloud
Reading aloud to your child is one of the most important things
you can do to stimulate your child’s love of reading. When you
read aloud together, your child:
• Develops vocabulary. Books
introduce your child to a
variety of new words and
phrases.
• Learns how spoken words can
vary from written text.
• Learns about a variety of topics,
from nonfiction subjects to
elements of friendship.
• Sees that books are made
up of words which convey
meaning.
Source: Reading is Fundamental, “Tips
• Learns that reading is a
for Reading Aloud with Preschoolers,”
wonderful thing that brings
Education.com, niswc.com/readaloud_
tips.
enjoyment!
Q:: A
I’ve already labeled items around the house for my
child. How else can I help her to learn sight words?
Try pointing out any short, simple words and
phrases you see over and over when reading
stories. Look for phrases like the end and once upon
a time. Also show her common words on greeting
cards, such as dear and love.
Do you have a question about reading? Email [email protected].
• Art by Patrick McDonnell (Little,
Brown and Company). Art loves
art—drawing squiggles, zigzags
and scribbles in all of his
favorite colors!
• Not Norman: A
Goldfish Story by Kelly
Bennett (Candlewick
Press). A little boy wants
a furry pet. The goldfish
he gets, Norman, is not what he
has in mind! So he sets out to trade
Norman for what he thinks will be a
better pet.
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
(Puffin Books). A clever mouse
wards off a fox, a snake and an
owl by telling them he’s having
lunch with the frightening Gruffalo.
All of a sudden, the mouse meets
the Gruffalo in the deep, dark
woods.
Building Readers®
How Families Can Help Children Get Ready to Read
Publisher: John H. Wherry, Ed.D.
Editor: Stacey Marin.
Copyright © 2016, The Parent Institute® (a division of NIS, Inc.)
P.0. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474
1533-3299
1-800-756-5525, ISSN: 1531-4898
www.parent-institute.com
Follow us on Twitter @BuildingReaders • Copyright © 2016, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com
X02334255
9
Make sure reading is fun
and pleasant for your child
Many children are excited about
learning how to read. And the more
desirable reading is, the more your
child will stay intrigued and eager to
learn. Even before she is able to read
on her own, you can build your child’s
love of reading.
To make reading an enjoyable experience:
• Collect words. Every day, write a word on a note
card—such as dog, ball, pizza, banana. Encourage
your child to draw a picture of the word on the
card. After you have a stack of words, let your child
sort the cards. She might sort them by beginning
letter (all the words that start with b) or by category
(animals in one pile, food in another).
• Encourage your child to read on her own. Even if she’s
not reading the words on the page, she can pretend
Reading Readiness
®
to read by looking at the pictures of a
favorite story and retelling it.
• Be dramatic when you read with your child.
Use different voices. Act out scenes.
• Read the world. Everywhere you go, point out
words. See if your child can find the letters
of her name in store signs or street signs.
• Attend story hours at your public library
when possible. While you’re there, let your
child check out a few books!
© 2015 The Parent Institute® www.parent-institute.com
May be reproduced by Building Readers® newsletter subscribers.
Reading
Extras
10