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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2020 - Jun 30, 2021


Success StoryLaugh & Learn



Laugh & Learn

Author: Leah VanMeter

Planning Unit: Butler County CES

Major Program: Child Development General

Plan of Work: Parenting/Child Development

Outcome: Initial Outcome

In the 2024 Early Childhood Profile for Kentucky, only 40% of children in Butler County are prepared for kindergarten. This profile kindergarten readiness using measures of cognitive/general knowledge, physical well-being, self-help, social/emotional skills, and language and communication skills.

The Butler County Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Agent hosted in-person Laugh and Learn playdates monthly during the 2024-2025 program year to provide a program to foster school readiness activities through play. The program was offered monthly for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Activities were focused on gross motor skills, fine motor skills, literacy, nutrition, and listening skills.

19 children and 10 caregivers attended the program from October 2024 to May 2025, with 8 children and their caregivers attended regularly. Participants indicated that they had seen evidence of positive behavior changes and increased readiness for school. Caregivers expressed that their children were excited to attend the monthly programs and engaged in follow-up activities at home.






Stories by Leah VanMeter


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Research shows that spending quality time with children can have beneficial effect. Benefits can inc... Read More


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Per the CDC, by the time students complete high school, 2/3 of students have tried alcohol and 1/2 r... Read More


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Kentuckys Homebased Microprocessing Program (HBM) is a unique collaboration with the UK Cooperative ... Read More


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Due to the pandemic, traditional programming had to take a back seat and new programming ideas had t... Read More