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, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Graves County Public Library to implement Laugh and Learn Playdates. 

Through this program, participants work on improving early childhood development skills and increasing kindergarten readiness. 38 adults and 46 children participated in this program. As a result of this program,  87% of children knew their full name, 62% of parents or caregivers reported their child could follow simple rules and routines without reminders, and 83% reported an improvement in child’s ability to play with other children. In regard to physical activity, 66 % of participant’s parents or caregivers noticed their child continuing in tasks that were challenging. In addition to individual behavior change 68 % reported an increase in their child’s willingness to try new foods, and 66% reported their family conducted activities learned from Laugh and Learn Playdates at home. In regard to increasing early literacy, 52 % reported increasing the amount of time reading together. 

At the completion of the program, participants shared...

Thank you so much for the different kinds of activities so I could see the areas we need to focus on more at home.

I would have never thought the pumpkin muffins would be such a hit, we have made them several times at home.

I never knew what types of things I needed to work with my child on to get them ready for Kindergarten, these programs have opened my eyes.