According to the 2017 Early Childhood Profile, only 38% of children in Knox County are ready for kindergarten. “School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment.   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.  It evident that activities supporting school readiness are needed.

The Family & Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Corbin Public Library to offer the Stories, Songs, and Stretches! program twice a month.  This yoga-inspired program is designed to promote early literacy, physical literacy, and social-emotional learning among children ages 3-6.  The program combines books, music, movement, yoga, and mindfulness to enhance the learning experience among participants.

Stories, Songs, and Stretches was conducted at the library twice a month for four months for forty-three children under the age of 5 and their caregivers.  All participants attended more than one session. Thirty-two percent attended four or more.   At the conclusion of the program series, caregivers were surveyed.  All surveyed caregivers stated that they have noticed their child repeating program activities such as reading, singing, jumping, counting, yoga poses, and mindful breathing, at home. Seventy-six percent have noticed an improvement in their child’s gross motor skills, social skills, and ability to express emotions.  Eighty-three percent have also increased the amount of time spent reading together as a family.