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 child's readiness and lifelong success. To improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness the Leslie County Family and Consumer Sciences Program hosts a monthly Laugh and Learn Playdate for pre-school youth. Laugh and Learn is not only for the child to participate in developmentally appropriate activities, but also for the parents/caregivers to learn that interactive play with their children at home will encourage learning and readiness. Posters are hung at each station identifying what the child is engaging in along with ways parents may interact with their child to encourage development. Instructions for how to set up the activity at home using items on hand is included.

2022 Laugh and Learn Playdates had 29 participants with an average attendance of 16 each session. Eleven adults and 18 children participated in this program. As a result of this program 90% of the children knew their full name or were able to write it correctly, 85% of parents or caregivers reported their child could follow simple rules and routines with little reminders, and 100% reported an improvement in the ability to play with other children.  Most of the parents or caregivers have reported seeing an increase in creative play from their child when at home, often related to the Laugh and Learn theme from that month. Regarding physical activity, over 90% of participant’s parent or caregivers noticed their child continuing in tasks that were challenging.  In addition to individual behavior change over 80% reported an increase in their child’s willingness to try new healthy foods, and 100% reported their family conducted activities learned from Laugh and Learn at home. Regarding increasing literacy,100% reported increasing the amount of time reading together.

At the completion of the program, participants gained/shared…

Many Laugh and Learn attendees are children who stay with a parent or grandparent during the day and have limited interactions with other children. One boy initially came to Laugh and Learn and would stand in the corner for a big part of the playdate. Now he plays and talks with children and adults at the playdates - a huge success.  His grandmother commented she has seen this outside of the playdates as well. 

Other parents/caregivers thanked us for the ideas of how to create play stations at home using supplies they already have on hand. She commented since initiating their own learning stations that her child plays independently so much better.  Plus, when they play together, she is more imaginative and demonstrates something learned like sorting, classifying objects and more.

Laugh and Learn is certainly an innovative way to enrich the learning and development of our youth with strategies that improve their chances of strong and successful beginnings  in school for a better life.