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 supportive kits to learn at home from and the program is continuing through the library and monthly programs held at the Extension Office. 

The participants learned information in the top 5 categories they will be evaluated in before entering school.  (Health, literacy, learning styles, math, and social emotional development.) 

Taking this criterion and having an emphasis primarily on health, but touching on the other categories too, the school readiness event was held. FCS's steering committee was made of professional educators, children services, hospital representatives and health care representatives. Books with healthy themes teaching concepts were selected and costumes coupled with each concept was utilized in a setting where children and their families could learn together. The event was introduced through a festival type of atmosphere to make learning fun. Health, food, the human body, the brain, a virus, healthy dinosaurs, playful yoga movements, spin the wheel game for healthy snacks, the fender blender, even mother goose and a story walk were a part of the event. Covid information was provided at the registration along with face masks and hand sanitizers.  A scavenger hunt booklet was provided for each family. When each booth was viewed, and the presenter signed off on their booklet, they received even more prizes that correlated with the topic. Paint sets, writing boards, workbooks, children’s hand sanitizer dispensers and more. 

ARH provided free boxed lunches for everyone while the Johnson Central FCS Early childcare class and FCCLA students wore costumes to compliment the books and shared a summary of each. JC Health Dept Comp Care, Extension Homemakers, KDMC and ARH all played a role. A kiosk is planned to be placed at the local library so that families can continue to learn by checking out the books and reading them, which earns them more prizes and aids to learning, for all families who participate. The following are the books made available at the event and later at the local library where the books and booklets are prizes distributed as a reward from reading. 

 1) A Dragon with ADHD- Steve Herman

2) Apples and Pumpkins- Anne Rockwell

3) A Walk in the Rain with a Brain- Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

4) Bones- Stephen Krensky

5) Breathe In, Breathe Out- Pamela Hill Nettleton

6) Everyone Feels Angry Sometimes- Dr. Daniela Owen

7) Germs Are Not For Sharing- Elizabeth Verdick

8) Germs Make Me Sick- Melvin Berger

9) Get Your Dragon to Eat Healthy Food- Steve Herman

10) Hello, FALL- Deborah Diesen

11) I am Stronger than Anger- Elizabeth Cole

12) I am Stronger than Anxiety- Elizabeth Cole

13) Kindness Makes me Stronger- Elizabeth Cole

14) Listening with my Heart- Gabi Garcia

15) My Bodyworks- Jane Schoenberg

16) Not So Scary Stuff at the Doctor’s Office- Tana Holmes, LEMT-D

17) The Magic of Me- My Magical Foods- Becky Cummings

FCS Reading for Preschoolers Book Titles 

1) Germs Make Me Sick- Melvin Berger

2) I am Stronger than Anger- Elizabeth Cole

3) I am Stronger than Anxiety- Elizabeth Cole

4) Kindness Makes me Stronger- Elizabeth Cole

5) The Magic of Me- My Magical Foods- Becky Cummings

6) Hello, FALL- Deborah Diesen

7) Listening with my Heart- Gabi Garcia

8) A Walk in the Rain with a Brain- Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

9) A Dragon with ADHD- Steve Herman

10) Get Your Dragon to Eat Healthy Food- Steve Herman

11) Not So Scary Stuff at the Doctor’s Office- Tana Holmes, LEMT-D

12) Bones- Stephen Krensky

13) Breathe In, Breathe Out- Pamela Hill Nettleton

14) Everyone Feels Angry Sometimes- Dr. Daniela Owen

15) Apples and Pumpkins- Anne Rockwell

16) My Bodyworks- Jane Schoenberg

17) Germs Are Not For Sharing- Elizabeth Verdick

 The implementation of the once a month activities called "Playdates" which is a curriculum designed by a state specialist is now offered monthly.