• Getting your Child Ready to Learn at Home

Tips for Helping Your Child During the Pandemic

Supporting Yourself During the Pandemic

Consejos para ayudar a su hijo durante la pandemia

Consejos para apoyarse a sí mismo durante la pandemia

Conscious Discipline: Keys for Successful Home Learning

Caring for Preschoolers at Home

Why Can’t I go to School Social Story

All About Our Day: Making a Schedule

Learning at Home: Create a Daily Schedule for Kids

Parent Toolkit

• Learning Experiences
  
  Healthy at Home Toolkit (English and Spanish)
  
  Sesame Street
  
  Scholastic
  
  PBS Kids
  
  “Talk, Read, Sing” Indoor Activities Kit
  
  Active Kids Do Better
  
  Chrome Music Lab
  
  Lakeshore
  
  Abriendo Puertas (Spanish)
  

Family Circle Activity Collection

Sesame Street Stand Up to Racism Town Hall (June 6, 2020)

• Story Time and Library Resources
  
  Reading Tip Sheet for Families (English and Spanish)
  
  Storyline Online
  
  Audible (English and Spanish)
  
  StoryTime from Space
  
  ABDO eBook Collection (English and Spanish)
  
  Amicus (English and Spanish)
  
  Arts of the Horizon
  
  Juneteenth for Mazie
  
  
• Virtual Field Trips
  
  Pre-k Pages- Daily sing-along
  
  Live Stream Zoo Visits
  
  Virtual Museum Visits
  
  Adventures in Familyhood
  
  Road Trip from Home

• Reading books with a family member
  From the time your child is born, reading out loud to them is the best way to help them learn and grow. Reading to your child for 20 minutes a day has shown to improve children’s brain development, vocabulary, memory, imagination, and family bonding. There is nothing quite like reading together as a family.
  
  
• Outdoor Play
  Don't forget to get some fresh air and sunshine! Take a walk, play catch, draw with sidewalk chalk, blow bubbles, or go on a scavenger hunt. Count the birds you can hear, the different colors and shapes you see or see what bugs you can find!
  
  
• Cook with an adult
  Make lunch and dinner together. Cooking offers an opportunity to talk about where our food comes from, following directions, measuring and counting, and family recipes and traditions.
  
  
• Sing and dance together
  Turn on some tunes and have a dance party! This is a great way to stay active and work on gross motor skills.
  
  
• Simple at-home learning experiences
  Name an object or animal to draw together, and then make up a story about it! Play different board games or with play-dough and talk about whats happening while you play together. You can event create an indoor scavenger hunt or obstacle course. It's also great to play with different toys or musical instruments (you can make instruments out of boxes or pots and pans) together - make up your own songs if you want! Our Teachable Moments videos feature crafts you can make with items around your home.
  
  
• Imaginative play
  Dress-up, play with dolls, plastic animals, or action figures, or create imaginative scenarios such as restaurant, vet, or school.
  
  
• Develop fine motor skills
  Many of your child’s daily activities—like getting dressed, eating, and writing—require control of small muscles in the hands. These skills fine are called fine motor skills. There are lots of activities that can increase muscle strength and coordination, preparing children for more advanced skills, from writing with a pencil, using a computer mouse, or playing a musical instrument. Visit this website for ideas on how to provide opportunities to develop fine motor skills at home.

As a guardian, you are not only your child’s primary caregiver but also their first teacher. You can continue supporting your child’s development as they transition from infancy to kindergarten by doing the following:

Tracking Milestones
The CDC offers milestone checklists and other web-based apps to track your child’s development. Resources can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

Preparing for Transitions
The Office of Head Start also provides resources to support your child’s transitions. Among the resources are a shared language glossary and a calendar of activities you can do at home. A full list of resources is available at: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/transitions.

Please contact Andee Cooper, Senior Team Lead of Special Services, at 918-513-1901 for developmental concerns and questions about your child’s IFSP or IEP. For enrollment specific concerns please contact your local school district:
Jenks Public Schools
Owasso Public Schools
Sand Springs Public Schools
Tulsa Public Schools
Union Public Schools

Health and Nutrition
If your child has a nutrition and, or special health care need (ex. asthma, diabetes, needs medication during the day, etc.) it is very important that you speak with the school nurse prior to school starting. You may be required to provide documentation and, or complete paperwork for your child to start school.

Health information for each school district can be found at the links below:
Jenks Public Schools
https://www.jenksps.org/vnews/display.v/ART/591da76e5afd3

Owasso Public School and Sand Springs Public Schools
Please contact the Owasso Public Schools and Sand Springs Public School districts directly for specific health policies, procedures, and required forms.

Tulsa Public Schools
https://www.tulsaschools.org/parents-students/student-and-family-support/health-services

Union Public Schools
https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/1967/union_nurses.pdf

For food allergies, intolerance, or nutrition information please select the link below for your child’s district. 

Tulsa Public Schools 
https://www.tulsaschools.org/parents-students/meals/nutritional-info

Sand Springs Public Schools
https://www.sandites.org/o/sand-springs-public-schools/page/child-nutrition--38

Union Public Schools
https://www.unionps.org/index.php?pageID=425451_3

Jenks Public Schools
https://www.jenksps.org/vnews/display.v/ART/5047bc87ad071

Need ideas on how to pack a safe school lunch for kids with food allergies? Visit  https://allergyawesomeness.com/food-allergy-school-lunch-ideas/

Please contact Angela Morris at 918-382-3309 or morris.angela@captulsa.org for other nutrition questions or concerns.

Learning Activities and Guides

Our Inclusion & Special Services Team want our families to know they are supported during this time. We have created a general list of some of our favorite resources and helpful guides for parents who have children with special needs to use and reference while our schools are closed.

• SoonerSuccess has several great resources for families
• This YouTube channel has several animated social stories
• Strategies to Improve Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Toilet Training and Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Google Drive from Oklahoma Severe Profound Sped Teacher
• Supports for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities from the Arkansas Division of Early Childhood
• Supporting Parents to Promote Infant-Toddler Development
• The Division for Early Childhood has pre-recorded videos, social stories and guides for parents raising children with special needs
• The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCMPI) provides tip sheets, handouts and videos for families
• Oklahoma Autism Center and the Office of the Administration for Children & Families has developed webinars for parents to help support children by creating structure and routine and tips for de-escalating behavior
• Super Sensory Summer Survival Kit
• Indoor Games and Activities to Get Children Moving
• At-Home Learning Activities for Families of Young Children Guide (Ages 3-5) (Emergency writing, reading and mathematics)
• Fine Motor Ideas and Hints for Families Working with your Children at Home
• Tips for working with a late talking toddler with a short attention span on the Teach Me To Talk YouTube channel

Tips for Building Fine Motor Skills at Home (ages 3 and up) from Tulsa Public Schools:

• Broken crayons are not trash. Using a smaller writing instrument is encouraging finger hold. There is not enough for your child to fist hold as they are writing
  
• Tongs or strawberry pickers encourage the pincer grasp. Try picking up crumpled paper, small toys, and macaroni
• Wad up store advertisements and junk mail. Use the paper balls to play basketball. Toss into box or play catch
• Play dough is great for rolling, poking, and cutting with child safe scissors. Make your own dough at home using this no-bake recipe
• String macaroni (use dental floss or shoe lace if you do not have yarn)

State Resources and Applications

We want families to know there are state funded resources available to help while schools are closed. If you have questions about an application process please call Andee Cooper, Senior Team Lead of Special Services at 918-513-1901.

• The Oklahoma State Department of Special Education continues to update service questions and answers on their website.
• If you are a family with a child with a Developmental or Intellectual Disability you may qualify for The Family Support Assistance Program. It is a $250 cash subsidy to help meet the needs of your loved one with special needs. Click here to apply.
• If you have a child with a disability and they are 4 or older and not toilet trained, Medicaid (SoonerCare) will cover the expense of diapers, wipes and bed pads. They will also, be delivered to your doorstep each month. To apply call: 1-866-895-9956.
• If you have a child with a developmental disability and you are in need of an occasional break, the state of Oklahoma has a respite voucher that you may qualify for. The caregiver you choose to watch your child must be over the age of 18 and have a social security number. Click here to apply.

Please visit our Resources Page for more information on where you can access information on important phone numbers and services, meals, baby supplies, and more. This page will continue to be updated throughout the closure.

For updates from CAP Tulsa surrounding the COVID-19 emergency in our city, please visit our COVID-19 Updates page.