Laugh and Learn Playdates

Per 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 called Laugh and Learn Playdates; meeting once a month for two hour sessions. Due to agent vacancies and pandemic restrictions the program was discontinued in 2018, but July 2022 Laugh and Learn relaunched in Carter County, reaching a new generation or preschoolers and families.

Over 80 toddlers and preschools have participated in the program over the past eight year, plus the involvement of parents and/or grandparents.  Families are recruited through word of mouth, social media, HANDS, Carter County Preschool, and Head Start. These sessions are facilitated by the Family and Consumer Sciences agent.   During each session, parents/caregivers and children have an interactive activity to reinforce positive child development in a variety of subjects and the children are allowed to interact with other participants to enhance social development. The Kentucky Early Childhood Standards are used to develop lesson plans and stations. Parents are provided with parenting literature to encourage them to reinforce the concepts at home.

 The program is evaluated by observation, testimonials, and a formal follow-up evaluation. One-hundred percent of parents have reported

1. children have been exposed to new foods with hands-on learning and tasting. 
2. a change in social skills and language development in their children.
3. more activities planned at home for their children to explore the world and understand how to incorporation different subjects in to play
4. their children have developed their social skills and interact more with peers on a regular basis.

Past participants have grown up to be successful well adjusted students.  Two original participants that attended the program from birth to Kindergarten are now identified as gifted at school in 4th grade, scored distinguished on 3rd grade K-prep, and are active 4-H members.  Many of the other hundreds of past participants are still involved in extension through Super Star Chef, day camps, and 4-H.