Pajama Program - Official

No matter how old you are, there’s nothing like a fresh pair of pajamas. 😍

Because of YOU, more than 8 million children (including those that Family Service Association of Bucks County, PA supports) have experienced the comfort brought by cozy new pajamas. 🙌 Thank you!

Back-to-school season is almost here! 🚌 It can be hard for kids to readjust to the new routines they'll have when school is in session.

Here’s a tip to make the transition smoother: Start gradually adjusting bedtimes and wake-up times a few weeks before school starts. Shift the schedule by 15-30 minutes earlier every few days.

Eventually, find a consistent schedule (even on weekends!) to help regulate your child’s internal clock. Starting now will help your child begin the school year well-rested. 💤🚀 Tomorrow starts tonight!

Did you know that one of our biggest partners is Carter's? For the past 15 years during the holidays, customers are prompted at checkout to donate to Pajama Program, in addition to Carter’s generous donation of cozy pajamas.

Because of Carter’s and their customers over the years, Pajama Program has received a total of 2,400,000 pairs of pajamas to help children create comforting bedtimes. 🛏️✨ We’re so grateful for this collaboration!

Is your business looking to do good, too? We partner with businesses of all sizes! Learn more: https://pajamaprogram.org/partnerships/

What comes to mind when you think of summer treats? If you said ice cream or ice-cold sodas, you’ve named one of the factors that can interfere with sleep!

SUMMER SLEEP TIP 🔆 Try to limit sugary or caffeinated treats, especially in the evenings.

BONUS: Stay hydrated throughout the day, but limit drinks before bedtime to prevent nighttime awakenings!

Want more sleep tips? Subscribe to our email newsletter: https://pajamaprogram.org/join/

Who knew that a pair of pajamas could be so powerful? 😴

Thank you to Serenity House Colquitt County for being there for children and families facing adversity in Georgia—and thank you to our community for making these pajama and book distributions possible!

When kids miss out on sleep, they miss out on their future. Many children today struggle to get a good night’s sleep due to factors like housing instability or poverty.

The domino effect of missed sleep includes delayed development, poor mental health, and difficulties in school. For a child facing adversity, a bedtime routine can provide a sense of comfort and stability. 🛌

This is where your support comes into play! Every dollar donated provides pajamas, teddy bears, and books to help kids get tucked in and wake up ready to achieve their potential. 💙 Donate today: https://pajamaprogram.org/?form=donate

Will you run a pajama drive in your community this summer? 👕👖 It’s simple to get started!

When you collect new pajamas and books, you can work with us by finding one of our local community partners in your area to donate them to.

By providing a comforting bedtime routine, you’ll help kids sleep well and get ready for what tomorrow brings.

Volunteer with us to make a difference: https://pajamaprogram.org/in-kind/

SUMMER SLEEP TIP 🔆 Consistency is key for a reliable internal clock for your children. Try to keep their bedtime and wake-up time the same every day—even during summer break. It will help them fall and stay asleep despite the summer heat!

BONUS: Relaxing activities can help kids wind down. Read a book, take a bath, or listen to calming music to get them in the mindset for rest. 🪐

More free time in the summer = more screen time for kids. 📱 Kids with working parents or living in low-income communities may have limited access to outdoor activities and safe play areas, which further increases reliance on phones or tablets for entertainment. But this can make it harder to fall (and stay) asleep…

Do you limit your kids’ screen time during the summer? If so, what limits do you set?

Cozy pajamas and a storybook are the building blocks for a bedtime routine.

📚 For $27 a month, you can give pajamas and a storybook to a child facing adversity so they can sleep deeply and dream big.

Join The Loop, our monthly giving community, to make a difference every month: https://pajamaprogram.org/loop/?form=loop

SUMMER SLEEP TIP 🔆 The heat can make it tough for kids to sleep well in the summer. Try to keep your environment cool. Use a fan, air conditioning, or breathable bedding. Cooler temperatures promote better sleep!

BONUS: Use soft sounds to create a relaxing atmosphere. A gentle fan, white noise machine, or calming scents (like lavender) go a long way.

💤 What else has worked for you to help your kids stay cool at night?

Children in group homes, foster care, and homeless or domestic violence shelters often struggle to get the recommended amount of sleep.

Imagine—if a shelter’s lights turn off at 10 pm, but a child needs to go to bed at 8 pm, how will they be able to sleep well?

Missing out on sleep creates a snowball effect that impacts every area of a child’s well-being, from brain development and mental health to memory and language learning.

Pajama Program is one of the ONLY organizations doing this urgent work. Join us! 💫 Sign up for our email list to help create good nights for good days: https://pajamaprogram.org/join/

More than two decades ago, our founder, Genevieve Piturro, was reading to kids at a local homeless shelter and realized that some didn’t have any pajamas to wear at night. Every child should have this simple, everyday comfort—so she decided to do something.

Pajama Program was born as a grassroots movement to engage local volunteers across the country to provide new pairs of pajamas to children experiencing poverty. Since then, we’ve provided 8 million new pajamas and storybooks, collaborating with thousands of organizations and volunteers along the way.

Here’s to millions more pajamas and books, and many more years of good sleep! ✨

Spotted 👀 Pajama Program was featured in the latest issue of Livonia TODAY magazine showcasing our work in the Detroit area!

We’re grateful to partner with the local Head Start preschool (Starfish Family Services) to reach children facing adversity with pajamas, teddy bears, and storybooks—and training for their guardians—to support a comforting bedtime routine.

With a good night’s sleep, all children can thrive. Thank you Today Publication for the feature, and to YOU, our amazing supporters, for making it all possible!

Read more: https://pajamaprogram.org/nonprofit-organization-provides-sleepwear-necessary-education-for-kids-and-families/

Who doesn’t love a teddy bear?! Snuggling with one helps children relax by feeling safe and secure, which helps them fall asleep more easily.

For $14 a month, you can give a child experiencing poverty living in a homeless shelter, group home, or foster care family a cuddly friend that brings peace in an uncertain world. 🧸

Join the Loop, our generous community of monthly donors, to help children get the sleep they need to dream up their futures. Make your pledge today: https://pajamaprogram.org/loop/?form=loop

Bedtime routines are powerful! A simple bedtime routine can help kids:

✔️ Sleep soundly
✔️ Regulate their emotions
✔️ Boost their attention span
✔️ Improve their behavior

Did you have a bedtime routine as a child? If so, what was your favorite part?

There’s nothing like a pair of fresh pajamas to help a child sleep deeply! We received this note from The Welcome to America Project, which helps refugees from countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine settle into their new Arizona home.

YOU make pajama distributions like this one possible. Thank you for your big heart! 🫶

Sleeping well is harder during hot summer nights—and it’s even harder for children experiencing poverty, who are more likely to live in housing without A/C.

Without quality sleep, a child can’t engage fully in the next day’s activities. Over time, their health and development is impacted.

Will you help children facing challenges beyond their control develop better sleep routines? Donate today to make a difference this summer: https://pajamaprogram.org/?form=donate

P.S. Cooling centers are open during summer months in most cities. Find one near you! ❄️

Sleeping in the summer can be tough. Travel, summer activities, and the heat make it harder to fall asleep.

SUMMER SLEEP TIP 🔆 Use blackout curtains. Longer daylight hours make it harder to fall asleep. Take matters into your own hands—create your own dark sleep environment.

Do you use blackout curtains to help your kids sleep better? If so, how have they worked for you? ⬇️

Sleep may be free, yet not all children experience it equally. All kids need a good night’s sleep to thrive—it helps with emotional regulation, physical growth, and brain development. 🧠

By teaching adults how to help kids get restful sleep and giving them some comfort for bedtime (think pajamas, teddy bears, and storybooks), we can level the playing field.

Our Pajama Program community is made up of thousands of people, just like you, who want to create a world where every child wakes up ready to fulfill their potential. Want to join us? 💪 Learn how you can make this happen: https://pajamaprogram.org/ways-to-give/

This past school year, you helped us more than DOUBLE the number of teachers trained compared to the previous year. 🙌

More educators empowered with tools to promote healthy sleep habits means more children who get the rest they need.

Because of you, every child, regardless of their circumstances, can sleep deeply and dream big. 💤 Thank you!

Bedtime routines can be tricky. 💤 Consistency is key, yet children’s bedtimes tend to get delayed during the summer.

Longer days and summer activities are common reasons why. Plus, it’s hard to sleep if you’re hot and sweaty!

TAKE OUR POLL: Do your kids have a different bedtime routine in summer? ⬇️

1) Yes, they go to bed later
2) No, their schedule is always the same
3) Sometimes, it depends on the day
4) We don’t have a routine

Struggling with bedtime? You're not alone! Pajama Program and Fred Rogers Productions are here to help!

‘Getting kids to bed can be a challenge, but it’s crucial for their growth and development.’ Carol Ripple, Ph.D., Senior Advisor at Pajama Program, emphasizes the importance of a good night's sleep. ‘Kids have a much harder time reaching their potential if they are not getting the sleep that they need.’

Check out some tips for parents: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/get-ready-for-bedtime-with-these-tips-from-donkey-hodie

P.S. Stay tuned for more resources from Donkey and friends coming your way soon! Donkey Hodie

How long should your child's bedtime routine take on average? While every child has unique needs, there is an ideal duration for a healthy nightly bedtime routine. This period fosters good habits such as hygiene and provides important bonding time. Share your bedtime routine with us! What works best for you?

We’re hiring! Want to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children across the nation? We're looking for a Government Relations Director & Grant Writer, someone who knows the local NYS and NYC funding landscape and is someone who can lead Pajama Program’s grant efforts. Visit pajamaprogram.org/careers to learn more and apply.

Happy Juneteenth!
Pajama Program is proud to celebrate Juneteenth. Our mission is to promote equitable access to healthy sleep so all children can thrive, and we won't stop until ALL children can have .

Due to structural racism that has persisted over centuries, the children we support are predominantly Black and Brown. Racism feeds sleep disparities, and these disparities significantly contribute to racial health gaps in the U.S.

Today, we celebrate the powerful resilience of the Black community and the Black and Brown children who continue to show strength in the face of adversity.

Senator Mary Cavanagh's recent visit to Gompers School in Detroit brought some attention to our shared dedication to children's well-being. Through initiatives like parent workshops, preschool curriculum enhancement, and Storytime Plus sessions, we are working together to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. Senator Cavanagh’s visit emphasized the power of community partnerships and the importance of healthy sleep habits in fostering brighter futures for children.

Read more about this inspiring story and our ongoing commitment to promoting equitable access to healthy sleep here: https://pajamaprogram.org/senator-cavanaghs-reading-session-intersects-with-pajama-programs-sleep-health-education/

(Pic: teachers, Brittany Parker and Nina Shirley, Pajama Program Director of Learning & Development Ann Raftery, Senator Mary Cavanagh)

Detroit Public Schools Community District Michigan Senate Democrats

Senator Cavanagh's Reading Session Intersects with Pajama Program's Sleep Health Education - Pajama Program In the heart of Detroit’s Brightmoor community you’ll find Gompers School, where education isn’t just about learning, but about forging pathways to brighter futures. Recently, Senator Mary Cavanagh shed light on this hub of learning with a special visit, showcasing the seamless blend of commun...

Pajama Program believes that every child has the right to a Good Night for a Good Day. Yet, many children in the U.S. are not getting the healthy sleep they need to fulfill their full potential due to circumstances beyond their control. That’s why we focus on bedtime!

Founded in NYC in 2001, we have been providing millions of new pairs of pajamas to children experiencing poverty and hardship nationwide. Our work has expanded to provide additional tangible materials for bedtime (pajamas, storybooks, and teddy bears), and education to children and the adults in their lives about healthy sleep.

We imagine a world where every child wakes up ready to fulfill their potential. With your help, we can reach more children and their families nationwide.

Sign up to volunteer at our NYC Center or make a donation to support the work we do: https://pajamaprogram.org/donate

—"Thank you so much for the wonderful day of learning today. The information, resources, and delicious lunch were incredible!”
—"This professional development was absolutely excellently organized, planned, and engaging!”
—“Seminar was great and very interesting.”
—“So helpful!”

Thank you to all the amazing Pre-K – 2nd grade teachers and educators from the NYC area who joined us on May 29 and June 10! Your dedication to learning and engagement made our FREE research-based seminar on early childhood sleep health a fantastic success.

We're grateful to collaborate with Scholastic in providing impactful professional development sessions, emphasizing the crucial role of healthy sleep for young children. Your commitment to your students' well-being and education is truly inspiring! If you missed any of these sessions, stay connected with us to learn about our upcoming professional development opportunities by emailing Joel Nuñez, National Education Director at: [email protected]

Seminar Reminder: Calling all Pre-K – 2nd grade teachers in the NYC area! Pajama Program, in collaboration with Scholastic, invites you to a FREE research-based seminar about early childhood sleep health.

Join us on Monday, June 10th at Scholastic for this impactful professional development opportunity. Educational professionals will walk away with:
Free pajamas for students (select sizes and quantities available).
Free lesson plans for use in the classroom.
Free resources to share out with families.

A great opportunity to network with educators from across the city and surrounding communities.

Sign up here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-childhood-sleep-health-seminar-tickets-882187455427?aff=oddtdtcreator