If your child is an Alta Head Start graduate and will be entering Kindergarten in the fall, there are a lot of changes on the way for him or her to process over the summer — bigger class sizes, longer days, no more nap time and usually less communication between … read more
A retired Army Major from Maine recently made the case before his state legislature for the need for early care and education programs such as Head Start to maintain a strong national defense. We found his insights to be very compelling, so we’re producing excerpts from a Letter to the Editor … read more
The American Academy of Pediatrics says you should start reading to your children from the time they’re born. Studies show that it does make a difference. By age 2, children who are regularly read to have a bigger vocabulary and better language comprehension. Literacy experts say there’s no wrong way … read more
Like all Head Start programs, Alta Head Start and Early Head Start are guided by certain fundamental principles. These guiding principles, as embodied in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, have been fundamental to the Head Start program from its inception. They underlie the program policies and practices that … read more
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed) — developed as a partnership between the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and Ohio State University Extension — is a free nutrition education program serving low-income adults and youth in Ohio. The program is funded by the Food Nutrition Service’s (FNS) … read more
An article on the website of an organization known as Food & Supply Source caught our attention. This organization describes itself as “a one-stop food, services and supply partner to nonprofits, social and human service sector organizations throughout the United States.” The article summarized the Four Primary Benefits of the … read more
Alta Care Group administers both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Mahoning County. While these programs have similar goals, there are some differences between them. Here is a summary that will help you understand those differences. Q. Are the services the same in Early Head Start and … read more
The bitterly cold weather that hit the Valley at the end of January is a reminder that parents should know what our policy is at Alta Head Start concerning school closings. We understand that many parents still have to report to work even in the worst weather, so they may … read more
Whether its books, online postings or your own family members, there’s no shortage of parenting advice out there. That’s a good thing, but sometimes the simplest advice can be the most profound. Here are three tips from the School of India that every parent should take to heart.
Setting rules can make the child feel safe, and can help them understand how we want them to act. Here are some suggestions for setting rules from Christa Pinsonnault, Alta Head Start’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant: Choose only three rules at a time. There may be more than three … read more
Although Christmas is very near, you may still have some toy shopping to do for the children in your life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) has some things you should keep in mind — not just now, but at birthdays or any other time toys are on your shopping … read more
Your child can make a lot of points with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other family members with a homemade gift this Christmas. At the same time, making these gifts can be a fun project you and your child can do together. Check out some of the ideas at this … read more
What is Head Start all about? Here’s a simple description of our mission: Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that … read more
As the school year begins, it can be hard for children to be away from their parents, and difficult for parents as well. Children can sometimes tug at your pants, cry and throw tantrums when it’s time for you to go.
Research gathered by the National Head Start Association delivers an interesting message: if we aren’t willing to invest in our children’s education and development now — at an early age — we may face problems (and their associated expense) down the road. A summary of this research, seen in the … read more
Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand and respond to emotions in oneself and others in a healthy manner. Children who have a strong foundation in emotional literacy tolerate frustration better, get into fewer fights, and engage in less self-destructive behavior than children who do not have a strong … read more
by Sarah E. Macovitz, LSW Growing up, I was always told by my parents, grandparents, teachers and neighbors that playing outside was “good for you.” Of course, this was long before cell phones, video games or other electronic devices that keep our attention nowadays. I have been working on loads … read more
Self-regulation is defined as the act of managing thoughts and feelings to enable goal-directed actions. It describes a set of skills that should be a part of the normal development of children as they grow. By the time they’ve reached pre-school age, children should be developing the following self-regulation skills: … read more
Source: CNYCcentral.com The horrific images coming out of Texas and Florida following recent school shootings are difficult for adults to process, so how can we help our children make sense of the something so awful? “As adults it’s so easy for us to want to put our own worries or … read more
by Barbara Purdum Alta Head Start Mental Health Consultant Many parents wonder about the role of play in a preschool classroom. Play is an essential part of learning. It is fun for the children, but it also teaches them many skills and builds on their strengths and abilities. It’s easy … read more
by Barbara Purdum Alta Head Start Mental Health Consultant We talk a lot about Resilience in Head Start. Resilience is the ability to cope with stress, traumatic events, and other difficulties in life. We strive to build the resilience of our children and families. A recent study conducted on the … read more
by Barbara Purdum Alta Head Start Mental Health Consultant “Children grow in their ability to handle separations when we let them know that it’s okay to feel sad and angry at first…and that little by little, they’ll feel better and find different things to enjoy…. It is only when children … read more
by Barbara Purdum Alta Head Start Mental Health Consultant Our school year is well underway, but some children still have a hard time separating from their parents in the morning. Here are some tips to help ease the transition to school from home and from school back to home. Let … read more
It’s rewarding and enjoyable to be a parent, but not always easy. The challenge is to raise healthy, well-adjusted children in a loving, predictable environment. This Triple P discussion group will help you deal with one day-to-day challenge all parents face — taking your child shopping with you. The class … read more
If you’re a parent of children ages 0 to 12 years, you can benefit from this free class. In it, you’ll learn how to: encourage behavior you like; deal with problem behavior; become confident as a parent; be realistic about parenting; and take care of yourself. The class will be … read more
Sitting down to eat as a family is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. It’s a time for adults to role-model manners such as saying “Please,” “Thank you,” “May I have the…” “This is delicious!” “You worked hard to make a great meal for our family!” … read more
Each of our Alta Head Start sites has a Parent Café or Parent Cart where families of children accepted into our Head Start program can use a computer to access the internet for parent-child activities, job searches, agency registration assistance, résumés or any other activity that will assist you or … read more
A new series of the Incredible Years® Early Childhood Parent Group is getting underway soon, and it presents a great opportunity for parents of children ages 3-8 to learn: Why play is more than just having fun How praise and rewards improve behavior Tips on teaching your child to listen Ways … read more
If you’re a parent or caregiver who: is interested in promoting your child’s development and potential, or may have concerns about your child’s mild to moderate level of behavioral problems, or simply wishes to prevent behavior problems from developing …you’ll want to be a part of a free series of … read more
The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) is an observation instrument that assesses the quality of teacher-child interactions in center-based preschool classrooms. CLASS® includes three categories of teacher-child interactions that support children’s learning and development: Emotional Support assesses the degree to which teachers establish and promote a positive climate in their classroom through their … read more
The Alta Head Start program goes above and beyond the National Head Start requirements for Teacher qualifications by employing a large majority of Lead Teachers with Bachelor’s Degrees in Early Childhood Education. Every Teacher Assistant has, at a minimum, a Child Development Associate (CDA). In addition, the majority of our Lead Teachers … read more
A new edition of this important guide to volunteering with Alta Head Start has been published. It contains valuable information about the many activities you can take part in both in the classroom and at home to help Alta Head Start in its mission to support the social, emotional, behavioral, … read more
As we get ready to return to school in the next few weeks, it’s time to help your child adjust to new routines. Summertime brings sleeping in and staying up later. Now we want to begin the transition back to our school-year rituals. For some families it will be the … read more
Here are some books you and your child can read about going to preschool: Maisy goes to preschool / Lucy Cousins What to expect at preschool / Heidi Murkoff Rosie goes to preschool / by Karen Katz My new preschool / Moira Butterfield, Estelle Corke My preschool / Anne Rockwell … read more
You can enhance your child’s school readiness skills by doing these crafts: Fruit Kabob: Prepare a plate of bite-size pieces of soft fruits such as bananas, cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, unseeded watermelon, honeydew or any other favorite fruit. Give your child a straw and have him or her put the fruit … read more
Alta wishes to welcome you and your family to our Birth to Five Head Start Program. We hope to partner with you as your child begins their educational journey. We are excited to be a part of that journey with you! Head Start is different from other preschool programs, as we … read more
It’s summer — that time of year when Head Start teachers bid farewell to children, hoping their gleefully escaping learners don’t forget everything they’ve learned during the program year. It’s also the time of year when nervous parents take on the challenge of keeping their children physically busy and mentally … read more
Memorial Day marks the end of another school year and the unofficial start of outdoor summer fun. Public pools open and slip ‘n’ slides are rolled out to the soundtrack of ice cream truck jingles and kids’ laughter. Along with accidental belly flops, dropped ice cream cones, and unseen rocks … read more
