The first 5 years of development are crucial for a child's readiness and lifelong success. To combat the issue, the Hardin County Family and Consumer Sciences Program hosts a monthly Laugh and Learn Playdate for youth 5 and under and their caregivers. The point of Laugh and Learn is not only for the child to participate in developmentally appropriate activities, but also for the parents to learn HOW to play with their children at home that will encourage learning and readiness. Posters are hung at each station identifying what skills the child is utilizing or enhancing at each game, and ways that parents can interact with their child to encourage this even more. Instructions for how to set up the game at home using previously owned or recycled materials is posted as well. 

The intent of Laugh and Learn Playdates are to see children and families doing more meaningful playing together to encourage more readiness. 

More than 25 children consistently attend Laugh and Learn each month, sometimes having close to 40 children in attendance. More than 80% of the parents or caregivers have reported seeing an increase in dramatic play from their child when at home, often times related to the Laugh and Learn theme from that month. 

More than 40% reported an increase in speech and language skills since attending Laugh and Learn.

76% reported an increase in social skills since attending Laugh and Learn.

Many of our Laugh and Learn attendees are children who stay with a parent or grandparent during the day and have limited interactions with other children. One boy in particular initially came to Laugh and Learn and would stand scared in the corner the entire time with one toy. He did not want to talk to other children, and would rarely even talk to his mother during the playdate. Now, he has been attending for 3 years, and he plays with, talks with, and strikes up the first point of conversation with both children and adults at the playdates - a huge increase according to his mother. She said she has seen this outside of the playdates as well, that when they are out in public he is more likely to strike up a friendship or conversation than ever before. 

Another parent thanked us for the ideas of how to create play stations at home. She said since initiating their own station set up, often times using recycled materials as is encouraged at Laugh and Learn, that her child plays independently so much better, allowing her to work more often. Plus, when she does play with him, he is more imaginative, plays better, and is more likely to allow her to play with him instead of telling her how to play like he did before. 

Another child struggled to speak. Her grandmother would bring her to Laugh and Learn Playdates hoping that talking to other children would encourage more language development for her. The little girl now not only talks, but speaks much more clearly than when she first started attending.