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CASY Family Newsletter
May 2024
The CASY Office will be closed
May 7th for Election Day
May 27th in Observance of Memorial Day
May 5th is National Astronaut Day
NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
A wonderful website to explore for National Astronaut Day!
Complete scavenger hunt activities to spell the secret word! NASA Space Place Art Challenge! Think about and draw a space-related situation each month.
Provider Appreciation Day - May 10th
Provider Appreciation Day is a special day in May to recognize child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children everywhere.
Gifts Your Child's Early Learning Providers Actually Want
Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner. This special week dedicated to celebrating the teachers in our lives is May 6-10, 2024. Teachers give so much to their students each day, and this week allows us to show them just how much they mean to us.
We’ve put together a few ways you can show that special teacher in your life just how much you care about them. Show your support this week by gifting the things early learning providers actually want. Click here for more.
Tips to Support Summer Learning
The lazy days of summer can lead to learning loss for some children. When school is out, children are less focused on traditional academics and participate in more play-based activities. Luckily, learning doesn’t only happen in a formal setting. There are many opportunities to help your child this summer that may already be built into your typical day. By planning activities that are both entertaining and educational, your child can enjoy summer without losing their academic progress. Here are some simple ideas to support your child’s summer learning and keep it fun!
Can You Draw What I Describe? A Partner Drawing Game
Have you ever described something to someone only to find out that they pictured it differently from what you meant? The “Tiny Time Travel” series explores what happens when communication between people breaks down. While we sometimes think that friends may understand something in the same way we do, it’s important to understand their point of view to communicate effectively.
This drawing activity is a great way to practice sharing, taking in, and understanding information. Support your child as they explain, answer questions, and ask questions themself. You’ll each draw your own picture. Then you’ll try to draw each picture by describing how to draw them to each other. Work through communication challenges by acknowledging what’s difficult and support each other in moving forward by changing your approach by asking questions and trying to say something in a different way.
7 Activities That Help Kids Communicate With Others
Having a conversation and communicating effectively can sometimes be tough for kids — and adults, too! It's important to think about what words to use for each situation. You must consider who you are talking to and what the other person is doing and saying. Plus, you need to balance both talking and listening. It's a lot to keep track of!
Thankfully, the show "Tiny Time Travel" has fun examples to help kids learn how to communicate in different situations. In this show, best friends Tony and Tyler use their time machine to go back in time — just a tiny bit — so they can fix problems by helping people communicate better.
Playful activities, along with watching “Tiny Time Travel,” can help your child communicate with other people. Here are seven communication activities kids can explore with friends and family.
How to Inspire Generosity in Children
It's important to help our children understand the need to give back, provide, share, and act generously. If we (as parents) act generously in front of children, they will learn how to give more freely.
Pet Story Time
READING IDEAS FOR LITTLE ANIMAL LOVERS
Sharing the planet with animals gives children chances for adventure and for learning about the world! We can learn about love from the pets who live with us, we can learn about nature by exploring the different environments animals live in, and we can learn about science by talking about the ways animals live and survive. But there are also opportunities for laughs and imagination.
Check out this reading list by Indiana artist and children’s literature specialist Addie Hirschten.
Frozen Paint Summer Activity
Enjoy this “how-to” article for making a frozen paint summer activity. This perfect outdoor art project provides a sensory, science, and creative way to explore paint. This activity works for toddler to big kids.
Statewide Resources
Supporting the whole family
Families, teachers and children are better together. That’s why the Child Care Resource and Referral Network is proud to serve as a navigator for families, expertly assisting them in finding high-quality child care and connecting them with additional opportunities to meet their needs.
Is your family struggling to make ends meet? Could you or someone you know use assistance with paying for utilities, accessing a food pantry, or connecting to job training or employment services? Call 800-886-3952, ext 2. to learn more!
For personalized support in finding a child care program that best meets your family's needs,
contact CASY, Child Care Resource and Referral, Family Engagement Specialists
at 800-886-3952 and choose option 2.
Our Family Engagement Specialists will follow up with you by the next business day when you submit the online form.
Do you prefer a language other than English? ¿Habla español? Ou pale kreyòl ayisyen? ဗမာစကား ပြောတတ်လား။ Our family specialists can support you in any language, whether via emails or texts, communication over the phone or a conversation in person. We can provide information in any language you need on finding quality child care, paying for care and connecting to resources your child needs to grow, learn and develop. For free, personalized information on child care and other resources, complete our online referral request form or connect with your local child care resource and referral agency for assistance.
CCDF Income Updates
As of April 1, 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) has increased. You may now be eligible for child car assistance. Visit these links for more information.
Income Guidelines to be approved for CCDF:
https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/files/Income-Get-on-CCDF.pdf
Income Guidelines to stay on CCDF at recertification:
https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/files/Income-Stay-On-CCDF.pdf
Click below to find your county's CCDF Eligibility Office
Attention Parents of 4 Year Olds
On My Way Pre-K awards vouchers to 4-year-olds from low-income families so that they may have access to a high-quality pre-K program the year before they begin kindergarten. Applications for the 2024-25 On My Way Pre-K vouchers will be available beginning April 1, 2024. Any child who will be 4 by August 1, 2024 (and not 5), is eligible to apply for this funding to support a high-quality pre-kindergarten program that best fits their family’s needs. Help your child gain critical skills — apply at OnMyWayPreK.org.
Email: ccrr@casyonline.org
Website: http://casyonline.org/
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47802
Phone: 800-886-3952 ext. 2