FOR FAMILIES

Children are born able to learn. They naturally love to explore and understand the world around them. The READY! for Kindergarten® school readiness program empowers parents and caregivers to succeed in their role as children’s first and most influential teachers. When parents learn how to “play with a purpose,” they help to instill joy and zest for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Why is Kindergarten Readiness Important?

From birth to age five, a child learns at a speed unmatched for the rest of his or her life. Those early learning experiences can influence success in school and beyond. You, the parent or caregiver, are a child’s most influential teacher!

But did you know:

• Every year, 40% of children walk into Kindergarten one to three years behind. These students struggle to catch up and unfortunately, most never do.

• Students who start Kindergarten behind form the largest group of dropouts

• Children who enter Kindergarten underprepared have less than a 12% chance of attending a four-year university.

There is something you can do about it!

Your child’s learning journey begins long before they start school – it starts in your home. From birth to age five, children are learning every waking moment – through reading, talking, and purposeful play, you can help your child grow strong and bright.

What Does READY! For Kindergarten® Offer Parents?

READY! For Kindergarten® is the national model for school readiness, engaging parents and caregivers in their child’s learning from birth to age five. We help you build strong engagement and teach you new skills to help nurture your child’s development in ways that foster early literacy, early math, and social-emotional skills.

 The READY! for Kindergarten® program provides targets (age-level learning goals), training (ways to “play with a purpose”), and tools (take-home materials and toys) to make learning at home fun, easy and effective.:

• The READY! curriculum is based on 26 important child development milestones called targets and includes skills in three categories: language and literacy, math and reasoning, and social-emotional.

• READY! activities fit naturally into everyday settings and routines.

• Take-home materials and toys include books, toys, games, puzzles, music, and more!