According to the 2017 Early Childhood Profile, only 63.4% of children in Caldwell County are ready for kindergarten. Children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children.  The Family & Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon Community Early Childhood Council and the Caldwell Family Resource and Youth Services Center to offer Laugh & Learn Preschool Playdates each month. Activities provided during Laugh & Learn gave children under the age of five the opportunity to practice a variety of kindergarten readiness skills through play. 

One hundred and six individuals participated in Laugh & Learn. Over half attended multiple sessions. During each program, participants tried healthy snacks, practiced and increased fine and gross motor skills, increased family communication, and increased knowledge of letters, numbers, colors, and shapes. Parents learned simple activities to practice kindergarten readiness skills at home. In addition to kindergarten readiness skills, children learned to share and take turns. One father of a 4 year old stated, “Laugh & Learn has provided a combination of learning, exercising, self-expression, and bonding for my daughter and me all while having fun. We finished each day with a nutritious snack which has allowed us both the opportunity to get away from the normalcy of everyday foods.”  The mother of a 2 year old made the following statement about Laugh & Learn, “My daughter has enjoyed the hands-on learning activities. Being around other kids her age has helped with her social skills and made her less shy and more confident in her abilities.”