According to the 2017 Early Childhood Profile, only 48% of children in Calloway County are ready for kindergarten. This percentage was significantly lower than the previous year which reported 63% of children being ready to 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. 

The Family & Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with Calloway County Public Library and a Head Start classroom 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 3-6 years old. The program combines books, music, movement, yoga, and mindfulness to enhance the learning experience among participants. Each session was planned to target multiple precursors the children would need to be kindergarten ready.

Stories, Songs and Stretches was conducted at the library once a month for 6 months for a total of 38 children under the age of 5 and their caregivers. The program was offered at a Head Start classroom once a month for 6 months for a total of 23 children. At the conclusion of the series, caregivers and the Head Start teacher were surveyed. Caregivers reported that their child was repeating program activities at home such as singing, reading, yoga poses and mindful breathing. The program was a success for the Head Start as well. At the end of every session there is time of rest and silence while children listen to soft music. The first session of the program the children stayed quiet and still for only about 20 seconds. The last session of the program the children stayed quiet and still for two minutes.