Excellence in Children's Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL) Program
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VPM has expanded the Learning Neighborhoods initiative to a third school in 2024.
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There are many different kinds of play: imaginative and pretend play, creative activities such as drawing, all sorts of games, and physical play, such as rolling a ball or dancing. Movement and play are good for children’s bodies and brains. Movement and play keep children healthy and build their coordination and strength. Children also explore and learn about the world through movement and play. -
Becoming good at math begins long before a child enters school. Each one of us is born to be a “math person.” Even babies can do simple math, such as noticing amounts and patterns. Toddlers love learning math concepts and games, such as comparing sizes and shapes. These concepts help them make sense of the world.
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Babies are learning language from the moment they are born. At first, to a newborn baby, speech is just sound. Then, day by day, they learn that the sounds have meaning. This process depends on how much people talk to them. Every time you talk, sing, or point to what you are talking about, you’re providing clues to the meaning of what you are saying. You are providing important information to their brains about how language works.
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Children thrive when their world feels loving, safe, and predictable. When you express your love and respond to their needs, you teach them that they can count on you. Over time, showing love and responding to your child helps them learn to manage their feelings and behavior. As they grow, feeling secure in their relationships gives them the confidence they need to explore, learn, and take on life’s challenges.
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VPM hosted its first in-person PBS KIDS Edcamp in July 2019, at the Sarah Garland Jones Center in the Church Hill area of Richmond. This successful event was attended by a diversity of childcare providers and educators from our community.
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Dr. Shantelle Brown, from HOPE Pharmacy, shares with kids some important tips on how they can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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Virtual summer camp options for kids who love theatre, dance, art, writing, and technology!
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VPM is committed to providing commercial-free, family-friendly program options so that all children have access to trusted educational programs and activities during their at-home school day.
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Daniel Tiger and the First Lady of Virginia have a message for the kids!
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During COVID-19, here are some ideas on how you can keep your kids busy, keep exploring, and stay positive.
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These are strange times and sometimes you and your kid both just need a break. Below are a few of my favorite pieces of media for tiny humans. -
Art is so important for small children. Art gives littles the ability to hone skills they are already working on, like fine motor skills, in a low-stress environment.
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It's fairly easy to make your own sensory box at home. All you need is a plastic bin - like a storage bin!
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Science with littles is generally pretty simple, but still important. Most of the experiments or activities here deal with very basic cause and effect.
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Math may look different for littles than it does for older children or adults, but it is just as important.
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This quick and easy experiment will show your child the importance of handwashing and is so much fun they’ll ask to try it over and over again.
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Imagine having a dog bigger than a house! In the original story that has sparked the imaginations of young readers for generations, a little girl named Emily Elizabeth gets a tiny puppy who grows up to be the biggest dog in the whole world. With his larger-than-life stories and his huge heart, Clifford the Big Red Dog has entertained children since 1963. He’s big, he’s red, but most important, Clifford is a good friend who’s always ready to play and help.
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Go on adventures with Molly of Denali from PBS KIDS! In this app, kids ages 4-8 can play with Molly and friends in her Alaskan village, Qyah. Children can go on dog sledding missions, fish, create beading projects or help run the Denali Trading Post. The Molly of Denali app teaches children to use familiar texts such as books, diagrams, and captioned photos to solve problems, accomplish tasks, and help Molly’s friends!
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from September 15 to October 15, by reading about the histories, cultures and contributions of Latino Americans. These titles tell the stories of famous Latinos whose legacies we continue to celebrate and discuss.
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Splash and Bubbles for Parents is an app that provides families with conversation starters, videos, and activities to explore ocean science together. Developed in collaboration with early childhood and marine biology experts, the app can be used as a second-screen experience while watching the PBS KIDS series Splash and Bubbles.
