According to the Early Childhood Profile, approximately 49% of children in Caldwell and Crittenden counties are not ready for kindergarten. With most children aged 0-5 in the area not enrolled in childcare, families need access to alternative educational programs that build kindergarten readiness skills.

To address this need, the Caldwell and Crittenden Family and Consumer Sciences Agents partnered with the George Coon Public Library and the Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon Regional Collaborative to offer Comics and Capes: A Super Family Adventure in each county.

The Family and Consumer Sciences agents developed a variety of kindergarten readiness activities, which were facilitated by twenty community partners. In addition to leading these activities, the community partners shared information about their services. Participants visited booths where they could practice different skills, engaging in hands-on learning experiences.

The event also featured a StoryWalk®, encouraging literacy and physical activity. Nutritious snacks were provided to support physical development, and each family received a collection of educational items, including at least one book, to continue practicing kindergarten readiness skills at home.

A total of forty-six children and thirty-six adults attended the event. All children engaged in activities that strengthened fine and gross motor skills, counting, and letter recognition, while also nurturing creativity and imagination.

Following the program, thirty-two families completed a survey:

• 100% expressed an intention to read with their child at home.
• 97% planned to incorporate movement into their story time.
• 94% intended to attend future literacy events in the area.
• 94% reported learning new activities to support their child’s development and felt highly confident in their ability to practice kindergarten readiness skills with their child.

One child excitedly told his father, “Daddy, you should have come. It was the best thing ever!” Multiple parents later shared that their children played with the reinforcement items all weekend and enthusiastically requested to read their new books.