Feb. 25, 2026
It might have been the middle of the cold and snowy season, but there was plenty of warmth and good cheer at the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Early Head Start program site on Oxford Street recently.
Eleven children and 14 parents were in attendance for the annual Winter Wonderland event, which has been organized annually since 2021.
A federally funded program, Early Head Start provides child development services and family support for pregnant women and families with children up to 3 years old. Services provided include early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support. Early Head Start also connects families to community resources and meets the needs of children with disabilities.
“Early Head Start is about building strong foundations for children and families during the most critical years of development,” said Khadijah Muhammad, EHS Director. “By combining education, health, nutrition, and family support, we partner with parents to nurture their child’s growth while also strengthening the entire family unit.”
Activities at the Winter Wonderland event this year included story time, music time, DIY decorative snow-making, designing mittens and picture frames (with photos printed onsite). Early Head Start staff spoke about the benefits of reading to children, and the positives that come with music and movement. After activities, everyone enjoyed lunch.
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Parents left the event with self-care goodie bags in hand as well.
“Our Winter Wonderland family engagement event is about connection, joy, and learning,” said Muhammad. “Even in the middle of winter, we create warm, engaging spaces where families can bond, children can explore through play, and parents leave feeling supported and valued. Seeing families laugh, create, and learn together is what makes this work so meaningful.”
Those interested in Early Head Start enrollment can view the application link or contact Lisbel Madera at lmadera@healthfederation.org or 215-223-5200 ext. 155 for more information.
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About the Health Federation of Philadelphia
The Health Federation of Philadelphia is a public health nonprofit that promotes community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services.
The Health Federation of Philadelphia serves as a keystone supporting a network of Community Health Centers as well as the broader base of public and private-sector organizations that deliver healthcare, public health and human services to vulnerable populations.
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This website is supported by Grant Number 03CH012936 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations