Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Heather Toombs
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Teachers in the Oldham County school district have been concerned about the lack of student manners in the lunchroom. As a result, Lagrange Elementary partnered with the Oldham County Kentucky Family Consumer Science Agent to teach manners to elementary children K-1rst grade. The La Grange elementary librarian shared that the typical lunchroom experience was extremely loud; children had physical contact with each other and left litter on each table once excused.Oldham County Cooperative extensio
Author: Kate Thompson
Major Program: Child Development Programs
In Campbell County, an average from all the school districts showed that only 59% of students were kindergarten ready (Kentucky School Report Card, 2021). Kindergarten readiness means the child is academically, socially, and emotionally ready to start school. Another important focus for children to be ready for school is having healthy relationships and strong families. According to the University of Kentucky’s publication, “Family Vitality: Characteristics of Strong Families,&
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Child Development Programs
According to Kentucky’s 2022 Early Childhood Profile, 42.9% of children in Marshall County are ready for kindergarten. Children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and dropout of high school than more advantaged children. The Marshall County Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) hosted in-person Laugh & Learn playdates at two local library bran
Author: Kelsey Sebastian
Major Program: Child Development Programs
September 28-29, 2022 Pumpkin Days was held at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability. Youth in Preschool, Headstart, Kindergarten and 1st Grades attended from multiple different counties where they rotated through educational stations, played games, took a hayride to the pumpkin patch and were able to select their own pumpkin to take home. Different SNAP approved pumpkin recipes were made by numerous different SNAP-Ed Assistants, Program Assistants and Agents for the kids i
Author: Vicki Boggs
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Laugh and Learn 2022 In Leslie County, less than 50% of our children enter kindergarten prepared. Ken­tucky defines readiness holistically and has broken it down into five domains: physical and motor development; social and emotional development; approaches to learning; language development; and cognitive development. A child's readiness score is determined by measuring a student’s cognitive, physical and language development.The first 5 years of development are crucial for a
Author: Rachel Hance
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Kentucky 4-H believes that all youth should have opportunities for positive youth development in our four guiding concepts: mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity. The 4-H sewing project fosters mastery by learning to operate a sewing machine or serger, sew a straight seam and smooth curves, and construct casings; belonging by being part of a group; independence by learning skills that can be used throughout life; and generosity by sharing sewn items with others and helping others
Author: Lynnette Allen
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Life skills continue to be identified as essential programming that families and youth in Breckinridge County need to be productive and contributing citizens. Upon the request from middle school resource teachers and to assist with life skill development for middle school resource students, the Breckinridge County FCS agent meets monthly with a group of 18 students for the Functional Friday lessons. FCS and 4-H Extension curriculum and publications are utilized to teach lesson topics
Author: Brenda Cockerham
Major Program: Child Development Programs
The governor’s office has established five categories of school readiness for preschoolers. It is believed (for researched based reasons) that children who have a good start in school, being better prepared for school, are more likely to have greater success through their lives. FCS and a health steering committee worked together to host an event they called "Fall Fun for Healthy Kids". Sixty five attended and assisted in the event, 10 preschoolers in foster care received support
Author: Kenna Knight
Major Program: Child Development Programs
In 2020 while looking for innovative ways to reach youth and conduct programs amid a pandemic, StoryWalks® were adopted in Pendleton County due to the program's flexibility. Early childhood literacy and kindergarten readiness were our primary focus. Kentucky has reported that only 52% of children attending kindergarten are considered ready, and in Pendleton County, is only 41.1%. Kindergarten readiness, early childhood literacy, increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and increa
Author: Kate Thompson
Major Program: Child Development Programs
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 64% of fourth graders in Kentucky are not reading proficiently. In Northern Kentucky, only 53% of students were kindergarten ready (Kentucky Center for Statistics, 2019). On the other hand, a positive aspect in early childhood development is when children are educated about community partners. This can provide positive benefits such as a sense of belonging to a place and community, learning who to go to when they need help, while
Author: Elizabeth Evans
Major Program: Child Development Programs
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 64% of fourth graders in Kentucky are not reading proficiently. In Northern Kentucky, only 53% of students were kindergarten ready (Kentucky Center for Statistics, 2019). On the other hand, a positive aspect on early childhood development is when children are educated about community partners, it can provide positive benefits such as a sense of belonging to a place and community, learning who to
Author: Whitney Morrow
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Laugh and Learn PlaydatesPer the Early Childhood Profile only 42.8% of Kindergarteners were considered kindergarten ready in 2022. Parents identified the need to have positive child development activities for age’s birth through five years. There are no other programs in Carter County available for young children and they felt they had limited opportunities to develop social skills. In April, 2013 the Carter County Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences began a program
Author: Asa Conkwright
Major Program: Child Development Programs
In the state of Kentucky 44% of children enter into kindergarten unprepared. Kindergarten Readiness is assessed through multiple factors such as: health and physical wellbeing, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, language and communication development; and general knowledge and mathematics. To address this important issue, the Grant County Family and Consumer Sciences Program partnered with the Grant County Public Library to host a monthly "Laugh and Learn Playdat
Author: Alexandra Sallie
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Over the past five years (2015-2020), Kentucky has reported that only 52% of children attending kindergarten are actually prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Bath County residents, the Family and Cons
Author: Shonda Johnston
Major Program: Child Development Programs
In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. Data indicates that less than 45% of incoming kindergarteners are actually 'ready' for what kindergarten has in store for them. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Clark County residents, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent part
Author: Joan Bowling
Major Program: Child Development Programs
According to the Kids Count Data Center close to 40% of children in Kenton County who enter kindergarten do not meet readiness standards in five domains: physical and motor development; social and emotional development; approaches to learning; language development; and cognitive development. A child's readiness score is determined by measuring a student’s cognitive, physical and language development.The first 5 years of development are crucial for a child's readiness and lifelong s
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Four River Counties Community Early Childhood Council is of vital importance to the rural area of Far Western KY by serving Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman Counties. Extension FCS Agent serves as the council chairman. Early Childhood grant advocates for the young child and their families by increasing parent knowledge, improving school readiness, and collaboration to meet the needs of the families. According to the 2022 Early Childhood Profiles Fulton County was below the state
Author: Katelyn Squires
Major Program: Child Development Programs
According to stateofbabies.org, “Kentucky is the home to 160,287 babies, representing 3.6 percent of the state’s population. As many as 48.0 percent live in households with incomes less than twice the federal poverty line (in 2020, about $52,400 for a family of four), placing them at economic disadvantage.” Based on statistics like the one above, Green County offers a Community Baby Shower to expecting mothers and mothers with children under 12 months old. At the 2023 Annual Co
Author: Elizabeth Maxedon
Major Program: Child Development Programs
The problem Kentucky has reported that only 24.9% of children attending kindergarten in Spencer County are prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Spencer County residents. The educational program res
Author: Jennifer Bridge
Major Program: Child Development Programs
The recent pandemic had a direct impact on school readiness and social interactions of children ages 0-5 with children falling behind the norm for progress in this area. To assist parents and caregivers the family and consumer sciences agent partnered with the school district family resource center coordinators to offer a twelve month Laugh and Learn Playdates series. This theme based program exposes preschool children and their caregivers to fun activities which promote fine and gro
Author: Marla Stillwell
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Kentucky has reported that only 24.9% of children attending kindergarten in LaRue County is actually prepared and equipped to succeed. This means that 75.1% of children entering kindergarten annually are not prepared. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase k
Author: Denise Wooley
Major Program: Child Development Programs
Over the past five years (2015-2020), Kentucky has reported that only 52% of children attending kindergarten 42.2% in Graves County are actually prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Graves County residents,
Author: Rachel Hance
Major Program: Child Development Programs
It is through our valued partnership with the Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council that we, the Logan County Cooperative Extension Service, seek to improve school readiness in Logan County by educating, encouraging, and engaging families. Kindergarten readiness means that each child enters school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s success. The kindergarten screener measures readiness in five important domains,
Author: Nancy Doyle
Major Program: Child Development Programs
It is through our valued partnership with the Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council that the Simpson County Cooperative Extension Service, seek to improve childhood literacy, reading and learning and encouraging family interaction and involvement. To promote family involvement and improve childhood literacy, the Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council held the 2023 Simpson County Imagination Library Event reaching 369 registered attendees, partnere
