Early Childhood E-News

Tips for Parents on Your Child’s Transition to Kindergarten

Going to kindergarten is a major milestone in you and your child’s life. If you’re planning to send your young child with a disability to kindergarten in the fall, try these tips over the summer:

• Have your child visit the classroom and meet the teacher before the school year begins
• Arrange play times with other students who will be in your child’s classroom
• Take pictures of the school and classroom and use the pictures to talk with your child about starting kindergarten
• Read books with your child about kindergarten, such as:
  • “David Goes to School” by David Shannon
  • “Off to School, Baby Duck!” by Amy Hest

For more tips and a look at how one mother prepared for her child’s transition to kindergarten, read PACER’s summer Early Childhood Connection newsletter, available here.

New! EZ AT 2: Simple Assistive Technology Ideas for Children Ages Birth to Three

PACER’s “EZ AT 2,” a guide for increasing young children’s participation in daily activities and routines using assistive technology (AT), is now available! Funded by Tots ‘n Tech, it offers a wide range of devices and products that promote best practices for home and classroom learning. This booklet is a follow-up to PACER’s popular “EZ AT: Assistive Technology Activities for Children Ages 3 to 8.” Free to download. More

Check Out a Museum, Historic Site, or Zoo for Free!

Providing your young child with new experiences is a wonderful way to promote learning and have fun. Thanks to the Museum Adventure Pass, anyone with a valid MELSA library card can obtain free passes to 17 Twin Cities metro organizations—from art museums to zoos. Each pass is good for two free admissions (one pass per family or group). A list of participating sites and information on obtaining passes is available here or from your local library. Check with individual sites for accessibility information. (MELSA—the ­Metropolitan Library Service Agency—is an alliance of 103 public libraries in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.) Consider checking out a new destination each time you check out a pass!

Celebrate Summer with These Resources for Young Children

Looking for more ways to enjoy those summer days with your children? The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities features summertime activities for young children with disabilities in its recent e-newsletter. These fun and easy ideas include summer reading, boredom busters, and games that promote learning. More

New! PACER’s Early Childhood Transition Guidebook

Your child’s third birthday is an important day. Aside from being a time to celebrate, it also marks the transition from Help Me Grow: Infant and Toddler Intervention services to a preschool option. This new PACER guidebook will help you understand the process that guides your child's transition from infant and toddler intervention services to other early childhood services at age 3. It also includes strategies for a successful transition. Free to Minnesota families of children with disabilities. Order PHP-a40. More

Request PACER’s Updated “Families Are Important” Booklet

PACER’s booklet “Families Are Important: An Early Childhood Guidebook for Families of Young Children” contains information on Minnesota’s early intervention system and offers guidance on how to access services for your child with a disability. The new version also includes updated terms and more resources for families. Free to Minnesota parents of children with disabilities. Order PHP-a9. More

Save the Date!
PACER’s Second Annual Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying is Oct. 1

Mark your calendars for PACER’s second annual Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying on Saturday, Oct. 1, part of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month of October. The four-mile run or 1.5-mile walk or roll will take place at Mt. Normandale Lake in Bloomington, Minn. The entry fee is $20 per person, and each participant will receive a complimentary T-shirt. Participants can also gather pledges from family, friends, co-workers, or local businesses. All proceeds from the event will go toward PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which educates communities nationwide to prevent bullying through creative and interactive resources.  Register now!

New CONNECT Module Addresses Assistive Technology Interventions

A new online module from CONNECT, which develops web-based resources for professionals working with young children with disabilities, highlights the purpose, use, and potential benefits of assistive technology interventions. These interventions can support participation in everyday learning opportunities for children with disabilities. This free module includes high-quality videos, handouts, and activities. More

Volunteer with PACER and Be a Champion for Children with Disabilities!

Volunteers play an important part in the success of PACER Center. Have a few spare hours? Help at events, be a puppeteer, prepare mailings, or offer your other unique talents to PACER and be a Champion for Children with Disabilities! More

Survey for Early Childhood Educators Considers STEM Information and Resources

A new survey from the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina, a research, development, and technical assistance center, will look at how early childhood educators access information on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and how they use this information in the classroom. It will also consider how STEM resources could be improved. To participate in the survey, go online or contact Lucy Wynn from SERVE Center.

United Way and CFC Can Support PACER

PACER Center is eligible for donations made through United Way campaigns and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the workplace charity campaign for federal civilian, military, and postal employees. PACER is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

United Way
The United Way accommodates employees wanting to support PACER. United Way pledge cards have a Donor Choice location in which to write PACER’s name and address (PACER Center, Inc., 8161 Normandale Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55437).

CFC
Look for PACER in your local campaign booklet under the Children’s Charities of America (CCA) heading or alphabetically. You also can see a video about a PACER program by visiting cfcvideospeakersbureau.org and entering PACER as the keyword. To designate your gift to PACER, use code 12272. This code is unique to PACER and should be used under any heading where you see PACER’s name listed.

For information on how to support PACER through the United Way, CFC, or other workplace charity campaigns, call PACER’s development office at 952-838-9000 or visit PACER.org.