Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County

Families, now that school is in session, celebrate the weekends by enjoying one of these free events happening in Palm Beach County!

-8/22: Family Studio: Celebrating Art Around the World (Norton Museum of Art, 11am or 1pm) - https://www.norton.org/events/family-studio-08-22-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com

-8/26: Toddler and Friends Storytime (Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach, 10:30am) - https://mandel-fl.whofi.com/calendar/event/321805

-8/27: Pirate Storytime (Hagan Ranch Road Branch Library, 10:30am) - https://pbclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6a05e972e8af4a2f007278d9

-8/29: Early Childhood Nutrition Resource Fair (Gardens Branch Library, 10am) - https://unitedwaypbc.org/events/hunger/early-childhood-nutrition-resource-fair

-8/29: Animal Feedings and Talks(Daggerwing Nature Center, Saturdays at 1pm) - https://discover.pbc.gov/parks/Daggerwing/ProgramCalendar.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com

-9/2: Creative Storytime with the Norton Museum (Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach, 4:30pm) - https://mandel-fl.whofi.com/calendar/event/331466

The Palm Beach County Library System has lots of free children's programming, such as story time, crafts, STEAM activities, music, and more! For additional events, continue to check out our Family Resources page at https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/family-resources!

AI is changing education, but where do our youngest learners fit in?

Coming next Thursday, August 27 on the Coalition’s Early Education Conversation: Erin Mote, co-founder and CEO of InnovateEDU joins ELCPBC’s Aruna Gilbert for a timely conversation about AI, early learning and what responsible innovation looks like before kindergarten.

Scholarships may be closer than you think! Palm Beach County families may be eligible for financial assistance to help make quality child care more affordable through the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County:

-School Readiness scholarships may help eligible families offset the cost of child care for children from birth through age 13. Eligibility is based on program requirements, income, and other qualifying factors.

-School Readiness Plus may also help families who currently receive School Readiness assistance and have had their income increase, while they continue working or participating in an approved education or training program.

-Early Head Start provides eligible families with no-cost early learning and developmental support for children from birth to age 3 in participating Palm Beach County communities.

Check your eligibility and explore the assistance available to your family! Learn more and apply by calling 561-514-3300, or visiting us at https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/child-care-resource-referral.

The Coalition was in the community! We had a great time meeting with families and discussing resources at today's Ages & Stages Playtime event at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach. We'll be back on Tuesday, 9/15: https://mandel-fl.whofi.com/calendar/event/326669; come visit us!

In the meantime, we are always available to help families at 561-514-3300 and online at https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/child-care-resource-referral.

Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach

We’re proud to support our dedicated early childhood teachers in Palm Beach County with the CSC STAR Award! This salary supplement program recognizes your commitment, longevity, and ongoing education—helping you continue to provide stable, high-quality care for our youngest learners.

Learn more about eligibility and how to apply today! https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/cscstaraward/

As we head into another school year, let’s work together to keep students safe during arrival and dismissal!

In the school car line, follow staff directions and posted signs, drive slowly and stay alert, and have children exit only in designated areas. Make sure walkers use sidewalks and marked crosswalks, stop, look both ways, and listen before crossing, follow crossing guards and traffic signals, and put phones away and stay aware of surroundings.

If your child is riding the bus, have them wait away from the curb until the bus comes to a complete stop, use handrails and stay seated while the bus is moving, and never walk behind a school bus.

💙 Slow down. Stay alert. Follow the rules. Have a safe and fun school year!

School is back in session! 🌟 We invite you to our free Transition to Kindergarten workshop—ideal for parents and caregivers with questions about Kindergarten. Discover helpful resources and engaging skill-building activities to support your child’s journey into this exciting new chapter.

🗓️ August 19 | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Sign up now: https://ow.ly/Xwf150Zulzc

The Coalition is in the community! Join us on Tuesday, August 18, at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach for a FREE event - Ages and Stages Playtime! This pop-up playtime will focus on giving families resources about gross motor skills, while children have the chance to interact and play with their peers. No registration is required!

We hope to see you there and share information about your child's social-emotional development! More information can be found at https://mandel-fl.whofi.com/calendar/event/322299?method=embed. For all upcoming events, check out our Family Resources page at https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/family-resources.

Looking for the right VPK site for your young learner? Our Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) team is here to help! Call us at 561-514-3300 for personalized support.

We’ll help you:
• Explore child care and VPK options
• Compare programs and quality
• Learn about financial assistance
• Understand licensing and accreditation
• Discover all the Early Learning Coalition’s programs and services

Let’s make this journey easy together!

Picking your child up from school or aftercare is exciting, and the first thing you want to know is how their day went! Instead of asking the usual "How was your day?" (and getting the classic "good" or "I don't know"), try going with a few different questions. A good trick is also to start with "Tell me about..." rather than "Did you...?"

The goal isn’t to get a report.... it’s to open the door to a conversation. ❤️ And remember: sometimes the best stories come later, such as at dinner, during bath time, or right before bed.

Have any tips for conversation starters? Let us know in the comments!