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,” relationships that include good communication skills, fun times, time together, involvement with friends and community, commitment, and a healthy lifestyle are some essential characteristics of strong families (Rupured and Quick, 1997).   In order to improve the kindergarten readiness rate and build healthy strong families, the Campbell County Extension Service taught the monthly series- Flowerbuds at the Extension Office and Leap at Campbell Ridge Preschool.

The Campbell County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Horticulture Assistant to teach the monthly Flowerbuds series, which provided educational family time for 17 preschoolers and their caregivers.  The caregivers of the children included fathers, mothers, and grandparents. Flowerbuds met monthly for an educational story time and hands-on activities such as tasting a variety of fruits and vegetables, engaging science lessons, making art projects, and growing plants. The Kentucky Early Childhood Standards, the University of Kentucky’s Leap curriculum, Plate it Up recipes, Nutrition Education Program recipes, Laugh and Learn, and Stories, Songs, and Stretches lessons were utilized. A lesson on bullying was also taught by the Family Nurturing Center using puppets and storybooks.  A nine-month follow-up evaluation showed the following as a result of the program:

1. 100% of the caregivers said the series helped them bond with their child.  
2. 100% said they learned new ideas on ways to interact with their child.
3. 100% said Flowerbuds helped their child with kindergarten readiness. 
4. 100% said they were making healthier snacks for their child. 
5. 100% said they were gardening/working with plants more with their child. 
6. 100% said they were doing more hands-activities with their child.
7. 100% said their child was able to follow simple rules and routines and focus and listen more.
8. 100% said their child played well with others. 
9. 89% said they had read more with their child.
10. 89% said their child had improved their ability to write, draw, or use scissors.
11. 80% said their child continued doing tasks that were challenging. 
12. 80% said their child willingly tried new foods.

 Some of the comments from the caregivers about the program were the following:

1. “Flowerbuds has helped provide structured learning to help prepare my children for school.” 
2. “My child now loves to be digging in the garden.   He is able to identify different fruits and vegetables from attending Flowerbuds classes.” 
3. “Each topic covered really stuck with my children, giving them confidence to share their knowledge with others.”

The Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service also collaborated with Campbell Ridge Preschool on a nine-session curriculum called Leap (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschool/Primary) for Health to 40 children aged 3-5 years. Storybooks were used to teach children the importance of staying healthy, being physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables, and improving literacy. Each session included reading the story, tasting foods introduced in the story, and a reinforcement activity such as discussing how to brush one’s teeth. At the end of the ninth session, 97% of the children could identify spinach as a vegetable, 94% could identify mango as a fruit, 97% said exercising was important, and 100% knew that they were to brush their teeth at least two times every day. 

Flowebuds Farm Lesson-Partnered with Ag Agent, Michelle Simon