According to the Early Childhood Profile, there are 1,043 children ages 0-5 living in Magoffin. Of this 1,043 children only 123 children age 4-6 are enrolled or eligible for Head-Start. The Supplemental Nutrition Education Assistant Senior has been partnering with the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator/ Family and Consumer Science Educator to present a program that will help other children experience activities that will be vital in preparation for Kindergarten.

In an effort to address the issue of little to no preschools in Magoffin County, the Magoffin County Cooperative Extension Service offered a program called Patchworks Playdates; meeting one time a month for two hour sessions. Over twenty youth are active in the program, along with their parents, caregivers, and/or grandparents. During each session, parents/caregivers and children have an interactive cooking and craft activity to reinforce positive child development. The children are allowed to interact with other participants to enhance social development. The program focuses on literacy and better nutrition through activities with the Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschoolers curriculum, science activities including water play and growing plants, art, music, and physical activity. Parents are also provided with a monthly newsletter, nutritious recipes, and parenting literature to encourage them to reinforce the concepts at home.

The program is evaluated by observation and testimonials. One hundred percent of children have been exposed to new foods with hands-on learning and tasting. Parents have reported a change in social skills and language development in their children. Fifty percent of the participating families have had no prior experience with Cooperative Extension. As a result of this program, a new Extension Homemaker club was started to help the children who have aged out continue their involvement with Extension programs.  This program will continue in the future and long-term outcomes with be evaluated.