NEWS
Community Playthings: Dramatic Play Aids Children’s Social and Emotional Development
Using the imagination and pretending to be others - whether fantastical characters from movies or more practical societal roles - is a rite of passage in childhood.
Using the imagination and pretending to be others - whether fantastical characters from movies or more practical societal roles - is a rite of passage in childhood.
A recent article by Community Playthings notes that this type of activity - known as dramatic play - is important for children’s social and emotional development.
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Dramatic play is when children engage in pretend scenarios in which they take on different roles and often use props or objects to represent others. This type of play helps children with social and emotional development, language and literacy skills, cognitive and fine motor skills, and empathy.
Dramatic play can involve anything from acting out scenes from a favorite book or pretending to work in a hospital or restaurant.
As Community Playthings notes, “Dramatic play is a powerful tool children use to make sense of events in their lives, to better understand themselves, and to explore the emotions and perspectives of others.”
Along with the benefits involving social and emotional well-being and various types of development, the article notes that dramatic play is fun.
It also offers children a safe and creative space to process, understand, express complex emotions, and adjust to change. In the process, it benefits their mental health, fosters the development of executive function skills, encourages mental flexibility, and often helps to develop empathy when presenting varied viewpoints.
To learn how to support dramatic play, read Community Playthings’ article, “The Importance of Dramatic Play for Young Children.”
Frick Environmental Center to Hold Grand Opening for Sensory Nature Trail
The Frick Environmental Center will hold a grand opening for its Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail on Thursday, May 15.
The Frick Environmental Center will hold a grand opening for its Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail on Thursday, May 15.
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The ⅓-mile accessible trail is a new space that is designed to create an inclusive, nature-rich experience for people of all abilities. It features hands-on sensory discovery stations and gathering spaces for relaxation and reflection.
The grand opening, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon, will kick off at the Frick Environmental Center with a ribbon cutting and remarks from community leaders at 10:15 a.m.
Attendees will be able to engage with naturalist educators along the trail and experience interactive learning opportunities. Light refreshments will be served.
Designated accessible parking for the event will be available under the solar array. General parking is available near the Frick Environmental Center entrance and along Beechwood Boulevard.
Those interested in attending the event can register online.
Resources for May Observances
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.
Here is a list of resources for May observances:
Month Observances
MAY IS ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH
Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Talking to Kids About Asian American Identity & Racism, Immigrant History Initiative
AAPI Books for Kids of All Ages, Chicago Parent
100 Brilliant Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) Children’s Books, Imagination Soup
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, History.com
MAY IS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Jewish American Heritage Month Starts May 1, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Jewish American Heritage Month, Britannica Kids
Weeks of Recognition
MAY 5 - 11 IS CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK
Children’s Book Week Poster and Activity Pages, Every Child a Reader
125 Kids Books We Love, New York Public Library
Days of Recognition
MAY 8 IS NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY
Family-Based Mental Health Services, Community Care Behavioral Health (UPMC)
Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage?, National Institute of Mental Health
Teacher’s Guide to Anxiety, The Child Mind Institute
MAY 9 IS NATIONAL CHILD CARE PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY
Self-Care Tips for Family Services Professionals and Home Visitors, Head Start ECLKC (Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center)
Remember to Take Care of Yourself: Six Ideas for Family Child Care Providers, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Social Media Toolkit, National Association for Family Child Care
75 Staff Appreciation Ideas, Brightwheel
Take Action to Fix Child Care and Keep Classrooms Open, Trying Together
MAY 11 IS MOTHER’S DAY
Celebrate Mother’s Day in Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh
10 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids, Artful Parent
33 Mother’s Day Preschool Activities: DIY Gift Ideas, Games, and More, Teaching Expertise
Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together
Find Local Child Care, ELRC Region 5
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Hold Audition for Community Youth Scholarship
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will hold its annual Community Youth Scholarship Audition on Friday, May 2.
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will hold its annual Community Youth Scholarship Audition on Friday, May 2.
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Children, ages 7 to 9, are invited to audition for full scholarships for the 2025-26 school year. Students must be within that age range as of Sept. 1, 2025.
The audition process will be a fun, age-appropriate dance class. From the audition, 15 students will be selected by a panel of ballet educators to participate in a Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Summer Workshop from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on June 9 to 12.
The selected students must be available to attend the workshop. After the workshop, seven students will be selected to receive the Community Youth Scholarship for the 2025-26 school year.
For the audition, participants should wear fitted, athletic clothing, such as leotards or tights, or opaque leggings and a T-shirt. Socks or ballet shoes are recommended. No outside shoes or bare feet will be permitted. Hair should be secured away from the face. Further hair guidelines are available on the theater’s website.
Financial eligibility limits are based on the income levels for reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, plus 35%. Income level eligibility for the scholarship is:
Household of 2: $52,822
Household of 3: $66,559
Household of 4: $80,292
Household of 5: $94,031
Household of 6: $107,767
Household of 7: $121,504
Household of 8: $135,240
Caregivers must provide proof of income eligibility. Acceptable documentation includes federal income tax return for 2024 showing the student as a dependent, or confirmation of eligibility for any of the following: Section 8 housing, WIC, SNAP, PA medical or cash assistance, LIHEAP 1 or 2 assistance, refugee/immigrant assistance, or free and reduced price meals at your child’s school.
The audition will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 2 at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Studios, located at 2900 Liberty Avenue. Registration is available on the theater’s website. The deadline to register is Wednesday, April 30.
More information can be found in this Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre flier.
RAD Staycation to Provide Free Trips to Popular Pittsburgh Attractions
RAD Summer Staycation will provide free admission to library-card holders at numerous popular attractions in Pittsburgh this summer.
RAD Summer Staycation will provide free admission to library-card holders at numerous popular attractions in Pittsburgh this summer.
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Last summer, the Regional Asset District (RAD) provided more than 53,000 free-of-charge visits to a variety of popular cultural institutions in Pittsburgh. Among those where free admission will be available in 2025 include:
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Carnegie Museum of Art
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Science Center
National Aviary
Heinz History Center
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The Frick Pittsburgh
Mattress Factory
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum
The Andy Warhol Museum
Free admission offers for library-card holders have begun to appear on the RAD Pass’ website. Others will begin to post their offers in May and June. RAD Pass users are encouraged to check back for new opportunities - especially on Mondays and Tuesdays.
RAD Summer Staycation reservation spots will be added regularly through August. Users are asked to read offers carefully as some attractions offer two- or four-packs for admission.
To book tickets, RAD Pass users should log in to RADPass.org with their Allegheny County library card number and PIN and browse for passes by date or name. They should reserve their pass and then print it or download it to their mobile device.
More information can be found on the RAD Pass website.
The Creativity Project to Host Summer Camp Workshop
The Creativity Project will hold a summer camp workshop in late April to allow educators, camp directors, and program leaders to examine their approach to summer camp.
The Creativity Project will hold a summer camp workshop in late April to allow educators, camp directors, and program leaders to examine their approach to summer camp.
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The workshop will emphasize nurturing curiosity, imagination, and child-led exploration, and participants will learn to redefine curiosity in their summer programs. This will involve shifting from structured crafts to more open-ended art and play experiences that engage children in deeper learning.
Participants will discover how to curate a selection of accessible, inexpensive materials that promote innovation, storytelling, and exploration. They will also learn strategies that foster creativity without over-directing, allowing children to develop confidence and problem-solving skills.
The workshop will explore how hands-on, sensory-rich activities support social-emotional learning, collaboration, and a sense of wonder. It will involve a discussion on how to adapt activities to different age groups and developmental levels, while fostering inclusive, engaging experiences.
Participants will leave with a variety of ready-to-use ideas, flexible structures, and prompts to transform their summer programs into a hub of creativity.
The workshop will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30.
The fee to attend the workshop is $25. Those interested in attending should enroll now.