Quality early learning experiences for all children are a key driver of school readiness, vital to improving high school graduation rates and critical to a community’s economic success. A child’s early years, from birth until school age, are a unique period of growth and development. In fact, 85 percent of the brain’s development happens before kindergarten. Research in neuroscience shows the critical impact that relationships between children and caregivers have on the developing brain during the first months and years of life.  Positive early learning experiences, at home and in other settings, can make a significant difference for children from the moment they’re born.

 The Hickman County Family and Consumer Sciences program collaborated with the Hickman County Board of Education, Hickman County Family Resource Center and Nutrition Education Program Assistant to reach parents of children, ages infant through five, about school readiness, child development, and nutrition through Born Learning Academy at Hickman County Schools.

Eleven families met for six sessions using the Born Learning curriculum. 100% of participants reported that they learned 10 or more strategies around building routines and learning, reading together at home, building language opportunities, understanding sleep and nutrition needs, and practicing social skills. Through the Healthy Choices for Everybody sessions taught by the Nutrition Program assistant, 100% of the families reported making an improvement in the nutritional quality of their diet.