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Delivering Support to Families with Young Learners
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Maryland schools head back to school soon! You and your child can prepare to enter school during Get Ready for Kindergarten Month this August.
Get excited and plan for this important step in their education together with these tips:
- Visit the kindergarten classroom with your child ahead of time to meet the teacher and get used to the new space.
- Get your child a check-up with their doctor to ensure they are healthy before school starts.
- Set up a morning and bedtime routine in advance so that your child can adjust to a new schedule.
- Buy school supplies. Ask the teacher for a supply list. Invite your child to help choose styles and colors.
Learn more about starting kindergarten.
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Find Family Resources at Your Local Library
Did you know that you can find resources and support at your local library? All Maryland libraries offer early childhood education activities for parents and children.
Some libraries partner with the State to provide experts who help people apply for SNAP or other benefits in person.
Visit your local library to learn more about the support they offer. Locate one near you using the online Maryland Public Library Directory.
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Free Meals for Children at SUN Meals Sites
Maryland's Summer Food Service Program provides free, nutritious meals in low-income areas to children and teens aged 18 and under when school is not in session.
SUN Meals summer meal sites are located throughout Maryland and offer on-site meals and activities for children.
SUN Meals To-Go is available at some meal sites. Families can pick up multi-day meal boxes and take them home. Registration is required.
Find a SUN Meals site near you online.
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Summer Fun with Safe Gardening Practices
Gardening with young children offers many ways to learn and grow. Doing so with safety in mind ensures a healthy, lasting impact. Through gardening, your child can develop these skills:
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Physical Activity: Improves gross motor skills (digging, watering, raking) and fine motor skills (planting seeds, pulling weeds).
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Exploration and Senses: Helps children learn about insects, soil, and plant life cycles while using all five senses.
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Educational Skills: Supports science (plant cycles), math (counting and measuring), and language (describing textures and colors).
Age-Appropriate Gardening Activities
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Age 2: Pushing child-size wheelbarrows, watering with help, and pushing large seeds into the soil.
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Age 3: Mixing soil, planting seedlings, filling watering cans, and seeing plant growth.
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Age 4 to 5: Shoveling mulch, harvesting ripe produce, weighing vegetables, and spotting garden insects.
Learn More About Safe Gardening
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Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week: August 9-15, 2026
The Maryland Comptroller's Office has announced that this year's Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week will be August 9-15, 2026.
Just in time for back-to-school season, Maryland families can buy qualifying clothing and shoes costing $100 or less, and they will be exempt from the state sales tax during this week. The first $40 of the cost of backpacks will also be tax-free.
Learn more by checking out the FAQ sheet in English or in Spanish.
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