Laughlin Children's Center

08/18/2025

📚Back to school tips from The Village Preschool!

Here are a few ideas to help your little one get ready for school, especially if it's their first year:

1. Make a book at home about the new preschool experience your child is about to begin. Perhaps take photos of the school or of your child in front of school and add text like: “This is Sammy at school. This is her favorite t-shirt. This is Mommy picking up Sammy when school is over.”

2. Read books about the routines around going to school

3. Join a library story time and practice having a child engaging in activities outside of the home

Learn even more tips from the resources below:
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/13-tips-starting-preschool
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/adjust-to-preschool.html
https://www.readbrightly.com/9-books-to-help-get-your-kids-ready-for-preschool-or-kindergarten/

08/15/2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Chrissy Dale as our new Executive Director! 🎉

Chrissy joins us with over 20 years of experience in education, counseling, and nonprofit leadership, most recently serving as CEO of the Institute for Therapy through the Arts in Evanston, IL. Her deep commitment to children, families, and equitable access to care makes her the perfect fit to lead Laughlin into its next chapter.

Selected from a national search and highly competitive pool of candidates, Chrissy brings vision, heart, and a wealth of experience that aligns beautifully with our mission.

Please join us in giving Chrissy a warm welcome to the Sewickley and Laughlin community!

08/14/2025

Looking to boost your child’s language development through books? Our SLPs at Laughlin Children’s Center have some favorites that do just that!

Some of our their favorites include repetitive books such as:

🐻 Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?

🐈 Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

🦙 Is Your Mama a Llama?

🙃 Silly Sally

🪰 There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Our therapists also love Jane Chapman’s “Bear” books like Bear Wants More and Bear Sees Colors — perfect for engaging all ages with rhyme and repetition!

And don't forget Llama Llama Nighty-Night which is great for practicing /l/ sounds, sequencing, and bedtime routines!

Learn more about speech services at Laughlin here: https://laughlincenter.org/speech-services/

07/24/2025

We're Hiring! Join The Village Preschool Team

Do you love working with young children and believe in the power of learning through play? The Village Preschool, part of Laughlin Children’s Center in Sewickley, PA, is looking for a part-time Preschool Teacher’s Aide to join our warm, creative, and collaborative team!

At The Village Preschool, our teachers bring learning to life with engaging, developmentally appropriate activities and a dynamic curriculum that nurtures the whole child. As part of a licensed private academic institution, we also offer exciting opportunities like language enrichment, story time with the Sewickley Library, and collaboration with in-house experts in speech, occupational therapy, and psychology.

If you're passionate about early childhood education and want to make a difference in a supportive, community-driven environment — we’d love to meet you!

Learn more & apply today:

07/15/2025

🎉 Join Us in Empowering Children's Futures! 🎉

For over 70 years, Laughlin Children's Center has been a beacon of hope for children across Western Pennsylvania. Each year, we provide over 10,000 vital appointments to nearly 2,100 children, offering services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, and academic tutoring.

Your support is crucial. With an annual budget of $2.7 million, we rely on philanthropic contributions to bridge a $1.8 million gap.

Ways to Give:

💻 Online: https://laughlincenter.org/annual-fund/
📞 Phone: Call us at (412) 741-4087
✉️ Mail: Send checks to 424 Frederick Ave, Sewickley, PA 15143

Every donation, big or small, makes a direct impact. Together, we can ensure brighter futures for our children. Thank you for being a champion for their futures!

07/14/2025

Looking for the perfect preschool for your little one?

The Village Preschool at Laughlin Children’s Center offers small class sizes, play-based learning, and experienced, caring educators. Proudly PA licensed, we’re here to nurture your child’s growth.

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is now open! Schedule a private tour today to see how we can be the perfect fit for your child. Learn more here

Providing young children with a solid start to their school experience in a nurturing, developmentally appropriate atmosphere where we focus on the whole child and it’s fun to learn.

07/09/2025

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Training is a fun, interactive workshop for adults who work with children of all ages.

CARE teaches the “3 P’s” — Praise, Paraphrase, and Point Out — to strengthen adult-child connections and encourage positive behavior. It also covers effective command-giving and selective ignoring strategies.

This training is ideal for:

-Parents & Foster Parents
-Clinicians & Counselors
-Teachers & School Staff
-Child Care Providers
-Clergy & Caseworkers
-Community & Medical Professionals

New for Teachers: This workshop now qualifies for Act 48 credit!

Learn more or register here: https://laughlincenter.org/event/care-training-workshop-july-17-2025-900am-1200pm/

07/07/2025

Whether you're swimming, at the playground , at the zoo, and more, you can play this fun game to work on speech skills this summer:

1. Write down a list of describing words (fuzzy, bumpy, flat, broken, hard, light, etc.)
2. Have the child find items that fit the adjective (or take pictures)
3. See who can find the most!

To learn more about our speech services at Laughlin Children's Center visit: https://laughlincenter.org/speech-services/

06/23/2025

Occupational Therapy-Approved Summer Sensory Fun! 🌊🌿

Looking for creative ways to keep your little ones engaged this summer? Try these sensory activities that spark curiosity, support development, and are just plain fun!

🖐️ DIY Water Bead Bin – Cool, squishy, and colorful! Great for tactile exploration and fine motor skills.

🍋 Lemonade Scented Play Dough – Mix up some homemade play dough with a citrus twist for a zesty sensory treat!

🌻 Nature Scavenger Hunt – Take a walk and use all five senses to explore: listen to birds, feel textures, smell flowers, and spot vibrant colors.

💦 Ice Excavation – Freeze small toys in a tray of water and let kids use warm water or tools to rescue them. A cool way to beat the heat!

🪵 Mud Kitchen Magic – Set up a mini mud kitchen with old utensils, water, and soil. Let them mix, squish, and pour to their heart’s content.

👃 Scent Matching Jars – Fill small containers with summer scents (lavender, vanilla, mint) and have your child guess the smells. Great for building vocabulary and awareness!

✨ These hands-on activities aren't just fun—they help build sensory awareness, creativity, and focus. Perfect for outdoor play and messy memories! 🌈