According to the 2017 Early Childhood Profile, only 39% of children in Fulton 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 Fulton County Preschool to offer the Stories, Songs, and Stretches! program.  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 preschool weekly for six weeks for seventy-one children under the age of 5. 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-eight percent have noticed an improvement in their child’s gross motor skills, social skills, and ability to express emotions.  Sixty-four percent have also increased the amount of time spent reading together as a family.