Translate
How Can We Help?
The Early Coalition of Palm Beach County provides services to both families and child care providers, including School Readiness child care services, enrollment in Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), and access to numerous early education resources. The Coalition is a nonprofit organization that incorporates local private and public partnerships to meet children’s needs.
The Blog
If you are the parent or caregiver for a young child in Florida, chances are you’ve heard of the Florida Prepaid College Plan. You may have seen posts about it on social media or heard about it from friends and family and may have thought - I’m not ready to think about college yet! Planning is always a good idea, and if you want to start preparing for your child’s future education, there is no better time than during Florida Prepaid’s open enrollment season. Open enrollment lasts from February 1 st to April 30 th - for 2024, plans start at $34 a month, and there is no application fee. New pricing is announced at the start of each annual open enrollment period. Interested in learning more? Check out some quick facts below! What Does the Plan Cover? A Florida Prepaid College Plan allows families to lock in college prices and prepay on a monthly or lump-sum basis. This covers the future cost of college tuition, tuition differential fees, local fees, and an optional fee for dormitory housing. Plans may be used during any academic semester, including summer terms, beginning in the summer of the student’s projected college enrollment year (generally, the year they are expected to graduate high school). If your child graduates from high school early, plans can be modified for early usage. What Schools is the Plan Eligible For? When your child is ready for college, the costs will be covered under your plan type at any Florida College or State University, even if the cost of college is higher than anticipated when your original plan prices were set. What if My Child Attends School Out-of-State or Receives a Scholarship? While Florida Prepaid Plans are designed to be used at a Florida College or State University, the plans can also be applied at other schools nationwide. If your student wishes to attend an out-of-state college or private college, the plan will pay the same amount as it would pay at a public college or university in Florida. If your child receives a scholarship, you can use that together with the prepaid plan to cover even more college expenses; or, you can get a refund for the same amount as the plan would pay at a public college or university in Florida. Every Prepaid Plan is guaranteed by the State of Florida to pay the tuition and fees covered by your plan, so you never have to worry about losing what you paid. Enrolling is easy- visit https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/ to complete an application! Your student has 10 years from their projected college enrollment date to use the plan. For example, I purchased a plan for my own child when he was a newborn. That means the costs covered by Florida Prepaid are locked in until he is 28 (18 years until he can start college, plus 10 years after that to finish college). More information and an extensive FAQ section can be found over at https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com . Family resources, upcoming events, and trainings can also be found on our website.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and as a parent, it is always helpful to be aware of the milestones to expect as your child grows. Parents and caregivers often have questions about their child’s development and milestones. Each child does develop at their own pace. However, if you do have concerns, there are developmental screening resources, as well as supports for children and their families who need them. Developmental Milestones by Age Developmental milestones are skills or actions that most children can do by a certain age. Milestones show how your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a free Milestone Tracker app that parents can download to easily keep track of their child’s development from 2 months to 5 years: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html . Resources for Learning More About Your Child’s Development You know your child best. If you are concerned that your child may not be meeting certain milestones, or have questions about the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, don’t wait. Here are some things you can do: Share your concerns with your child’s pediatrician. The Inclusion Warm line service is available to any parent and early care and education provider who requests information related to disabilities and special needs of children birth to five years old. Call 1-88-620-9190 or visit https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/inclusion ; our Early Intervention and Inclusion Services Department will provide information and resources to all who reach out. Visit www.cdc.gov/actearly or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for a free Learn the Signs, Act Early parent kit, and to get additional resources in your area. What to Ask Your Child’s Doctor When you schedule the appointment, tell the staff that you have concerns about your child’s development that you would like to discuss with the doctor. Write down your questions and concerns and take them with you to the appointment. Before you leave the appointment, make sure you understand what the doctor tells you and what to do next. If you do not understand something, ask the doctor to explain it again. Remember, developmental milestones account for an expected range of skills and shouldn’t be viewed as exact deadlines. However, if you have any concerns at all, there is no harm in setting up an appointment with your child’s doctor or visiting us at https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/inclusion for more resources. Acting early can improve your child’s academic and social success. Also, having peace of mind by knowing you are prepared to support your child will do wonders for their developmental health!
As parents, we want our children to be happy, healthy, and life-long learners. A great way to grow those little minds is by reading to them! Research in early brain development shows that there are some things parents and caregivers can do right away when it comes to introducing your child to books. You can start by letting babies simply hear your voice, and then by giving your baby durable board or bath books to hold. Even if the books end up in your baby’s mouth (which they probably will), this will encourage their interest and allow them to turn the pages by themselves. Below you’ll find more information on what babies learn when we read to them. Start Reading at an Early Age When you read aloud to your baby, it may not seem like much is happening; in fact, you are building language, imagination, literacy, and social-emotional skills! When you read aloud to your baby, they may begin to babble and imitate your words, as well as smile at the sound of your voice! Reading aloud together also counts as a great bonding experience, and introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colors, and shapes. The more stories you read to your baby, the more words they will hear, and the better they’ll be able to communicate! Parents and caregivers can also: Talk to your baby about what they see around them, whether you’re at home, running errands, or on a walk. Soon enough, they’ll start to connect the words with the objects you point out. When taking a break from reading, try rhyming, singing, or just cuddling with your baby throughout the day. This will teach them that words can be used in many fun, different, and playful ways! Make reading part of your nighttime routine. Reading a book before bed can help to soothe your baby, especially if you read a calming story in a low, comforting voice. Finding the Right Book for Your Baby While it doesn’t matter what you read to your baby, there are certain books that little ones seem to prefer. Here’s what to look for when picking out a book for your baby: As mentioned above, durable board and bath books work best for babies who have curious mouths, new teeth, and lots of drool. Books that have plenty of color, simple objects, and pictures of faces can be more appealing for babies. Books that contain familiar, repetitive, and rhyming text work great at piquing and holding your baby’s interest. How Does Early Reading Help Your Baby’s Development? Every time you read to your baby, they will learn new words and how they are used. They will learn that they can explore books by tasting and touching them, and that if they do something, another thing will happen; for example, if they point at a picture, mom or dad will tell them what the picture shows. Listening is a big part of learning and understanding language, and reading together with your baby will help them connect books with positive experiences. As they grow, they will be likely to pick out books and read on their own! Remember, reading for a just a few minutes at a time is okay, and don’t worry if you don’t finish the story! Babies and young children can only sit still for a short time. Let them decide how much or little time you spend reading together. You don’t need to read every page- you can switch books or stay for a few minutes on your baby’s favorite page. Let your child explore books in ways that interest them, and let the experience be a great one! Happy reading! For free resources and activities on reading aloud to babies and young children, visit https://www.readaloud.org/index.html . For more resources and tips, please connect with our socials and the Powerof15 reading campaign: https://www.readaloud.org/whyanationalcampaign.html
“It is excellent because it provides our children with the necessary knowledge to enter kindergarten ready. My children have learned a lot and have provided me with support tools for the home so that the work is carried out as a team.”
Yajaira Lora,
Parent (on VPK)
ELC Resources
Contact Us
Locations
Boynton Beach Administrative Office
Hours: 8:30am to 5pm (Monday-Thursday)
8:30am to 12pm, calls until 5pm (Friday)
2300 High Ridge Road, Suite 115
Boynton Beach, Florida 33426
Palm Springs Office
Hours: 8am to 5:30pm (Monday-Thursday),
8am to 12pm for calls only (Friday)
1630 South Congress Avenue, Suite 300
Palm Springs, Florida 33461
Riviera Beach/Port Center Office
Hours: 8am to 5:30pm (Monday-Thursday)
2051 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Suite 300
Riviera Beach, Florida 33404
If you require Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations to participate in any ELCPBC event or activity, please notify Christie Young, Single Point of Contact, by phone at 561-214-7424 or by email at christie.young@elcpalmbeach.org within at least seven (7) days of the event. Accommodation will be provided at no extra charge.
Copyright © 2023 Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County. All Rights Reserved. The Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization.
