In recent years, Grayson County has realized below average kindergarten readiness rates. In 2016 and 2017 only 36.7% and 39.6%, respectively, of children entering school in Grayson County were considered “kindergarten ready”. Learning starts at a very early age and it begins in the home. However many parents are not aware of the impact of early child development and learning to the success of the child in school and life. To address this issue, the Grayson County Family and Consumer Science Extension Program partnered with the local Early Childhood Council and Lawler Elementary Family Resource Center to offer a program geared towards young families, focused on child development and early learning.

The United Way Bornlearning Academy has been implemented through this partnership. Bornlearning Academy lessons are focused on families with children age birth through five years. The purpose of sessions is to provide families with information and resources to help them successfully prepare their child for kindergarten. Topics are focused on building relationships, building children’s language skills, nutrition and health, how children learn, and routines and learning on the go. This program is research based and designed to give parents the tools and knowledge they need to ensure their child enters kindergarten fully prepared and ready to learn. It also teaches parents that for young children, play is learning, and age appropriate materials and expectations are important to know and understand. This program provides them with all of that information. Perhaps the best part of the Bornleaning program is that the whole family is involved. They enjoy a meal together then come back together after the educational portion of the evening to participate in hands on activities and learning, it is truly a family affair!

The FCS Extension Program contributes to this program by actively participating in the planning and implementation of each session. Extension publications and materials are used at each session, and the FCS Extension Educator co-teaches many of the sessions throughout the program. This particular Bornlearning Academy is one of the best in the state with high family participation rates, an average of 16 parents attended each session. Below are some of the data collected from participants.

At each session 100% of participants reported that they found the material presented to be helpful and about 75% reported that they planned on using materials and techniques learned with their children at home. Many participants (an average of 79%) reported actually using ideas learned at the Bornlearning academies with their children at home.

This program continues to expand and grow. It is in its third year of implementation and participants are asking for more information and additional programing similar to this program. The same group of partners is working to provide more, similar programs to the families of Grayson County.