Penn State University: WPSU creating ‘Cozy Corners’ activity centers to help engage young children

WPSU is creating activity centers for young children in public spaces at five community service providers around central Pennsylvania.

“The areas will be set up so that children can engage in productive, independent play while waiting with their parents or caregivers,” said Sarah Hamilton, WPSU education program manager. “This is a way to support the family and the child.”

The early learning initiative will be launched with an opening reception at CenClear’s offices at 60 Industrial Park Road in Clearfield on June 27.

The activity centers, called PBS KIDS Cozy Corners, will open in June with initial funding provided in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The areas will include a table and chairs, a PBS KIDS rug, PBS KIDS activity sheets, books and other resources to support language development, social emotional learning and STEM engagement.

The centers are intended to help parents and caregivers keep their children engaged in activities while they attend consultations and meetings.

The Cozy Corners will open at these locations:

Community Learning Workshop, Clarion

Riverview Intermediate Unit 6, Clarion

PA CareerLink Mifflin County, Lewistown

CenClear, Clearfield

Child Advocates of Blair County/Blair County Head Start, Altoona

Blair County Head Start will be a “Cozy Corners on the Go” site, supplied with bins filled with books, toys and other resources that case managers can take with them when they visit families or go with clients to medical appointments or court hearings, Hamilton said.

“They can use them on the drive or in the waiting room,” she said. “We want to support them through those new and, potentially, stressful moments.”

Similar initiatives have been started by other PBS stations elsewhere in the state, Hamilton said.