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The WCSS office is still closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and in compliance with Phase 2 of the stay at home order from NC. |
Please visit our website for:
- More free and fun activities for you and your child
- Food pantries and diaper access
- Financial resources for small businesses
- COVID-19 testing sites
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If you need to contact a WCSS team member, please see our staff page for email information. |
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10 Things to Do this Summer - For FREE! |
Summer is a great time to get outside with children and explore the Triangle. Summer during a pandemic adds an entirely new aspect to planning, though. We teamed up with Wake Connections partner, HIPPY, to brainstorm the top 10 FREE ways you can still have fun & keep the learning going this summer! |
***Please make sure to follow social distancing and other health and safety guidelines.*** |
I. Camp Out
- Indoors or outside, children will love staying up late to sing songs and listen to stories! Build a pillow fort inside or set up a tent in the backyard and share snacks or a picnic at home!
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II. Wake County Parks
- Wake County has 10 public parks spread from Apex to Zebulon, just waiting to be explored! In addition, many cities and towns in Wake have local parks as well.
- Once you’ve visited all these, here are more family-friendly hikes across the Triangle!
- Pro Tip: Playgrounds, events, and rentals are still not available due to COVID-19. Make sure to follow all local and state guidelines as these restrictions are gradually lifted.
- Pro Tip: Wake Parks from Home has videos, games, and more from park staff to have fun even when you can’t visit the parks!
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III. See the Trains at Union Station
- See a different kind of transportation in Raleigh as trains chug in and out of Union Station.
- Pro Tip: There are several different points where you can see the trains arriving. Make sure you time your visit with the train schedule.
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IV. Recipe Challenge
- Challenge your family to cook a new recipe using just what’s on your shelves or highlighting veggies or fruits in season. Find something to make you think your children will enjoy or teach them an old family recipe.
- Pro Tip: Use WCSS’s Pinterest boards for ideas about spring and summer recipes and healthy snacks!
- Pro Tip: For added fun, you can pretend you’re at a restaurant, where your children are the chefs and waiters.
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V. Fireflies
- Summer is the best time to see fireflies light up the night. Sit outside with the lights off and count how many fireflies you see. Science & math learning!
- Pro Tip: Many natural centers are offering virtual firefly programs right now. Check out the Fireflies on the Prairie program at Prairie Ridge Ecostation on Friday, June 5.
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VI. Plant a Garden
- Show your kids how to pull up weeds, tend the soil, and water their plants. By the end of the summer, your family will have a beautiful garden and a reminder of all the good you can grow when you work together!
- Pro Tip: Let your children choose which seeds to plant to feel more involved.
- Pro Tip: Get gardening advice from NC State Extension 4-H.
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VII. Star in a Play
- Theaters may be closed, but the show must go on! Have your family act out one of their favorite stories and let everyone in the family play a character. Dress up and put on make-up, try funny accents, and be ready to be silly with your kids.
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VIII. Play with Water
- Always a family favorite on a hot summer day, break out the bathing suits and the hose! Set up the sprinkler, fill up water balloons and squirt toys, and don’t worry about getting too wet! If you invest in sponges and soap, you can even get the car cleaned while you play!
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X. Stargazing
- Anywhere you can look up at the sky at night, you can go stargazing! Check local sites like Dorothea Dix Park and the Morehead Planetarium for guided virtual activities, but the sky is always open and free for viewing!
- Pro Tip: Look for an app on your phone to help identify what stars and constellations you’re seeing.
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Some of the above content provided by our partner: |
Wake Connections is a one-stop coordinated intake system for families in Wake County. One click gets you connected to HIPPY and other Wake Connections programs. |
Featured Book: A Lullaby of Summer Things
Written by: Natalie Reif Ziarnik
Illustrated by: Melanie Valentine
Highlights: Sights and sounds of a summer twilight mingle with recollections of a lovely day at the beach as a household settles in for the night.
Best for: Pre-K, ages 3-5
Wake County Public Library Programming: WCPL libraries may be closed, but you can still have fun with reading! The Storytime Anytime series has interactive videos for all ages!
Literacy Tip: Writing doesn't have to be with a pen and paper. Try writing outside this summer in the sand, mud, or with chalk!
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Want FREE books for your child under 5? Join the Imagination Library today!
P.S. Don't miss the last Goodnight with Dolly on Thursday, June 4th, at 7pm!
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Each month we celebrate the child care facilities that have recently obtained or retained a five star rating!
Congratulations to:
Since assessments have been postponed until further notice, the NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) has Environmental Rating Scale resources for ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and family child care homes available for your use! Scroll to the bottom for a new series about the Activities subscale of the FCCERS-R.
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Hot days call for cool snacks! This fresh cucumber salsa will have you feeling cool as a cucumber in no time! |
Visit CCSA's training calendar for all upcoming events.
Provider's Almanac
June 9, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
Erasing the Fear: How to Assess Your Program Using the Family Child Care Rating Scale
June 11, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Virtual/Online
Click here to register.
It Can Work: Creating an Inclusive Environment
June 15, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Telephone Seminar -Call In Number
Click here to register.
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Yoga & Wellness for Early Childhood |
Recruiting for High School Class of 2034! |
Will your child turn 4 by August 31, 2020?
Apply for Pre-K now! Even though our office is closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we're still taking applications! One application allows your child to be considered for NC Pre-K and Head Start, which are FREE and prepare children for Kindergarten in a high quality classroom setting.
Click here to print the application and for more information.
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Did you know WCSS is a nonprofit and relies on support from members of our community like you? Visit our website today to see how you can make a difference for each child, in every community in Wake County. |
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Questions? Contact us today 919-851-9550 |
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