School readiness is a term that means children possess the skill, knowledge, and attitude necessary for maximum learning. Reports indicate in the state of Kentucky, only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten.  The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension (FCS) realized a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skill sets and educating parents and caregivers on ways to help their children develop such skills. In early 2019, FCS teamed up with the author and creator of Stories, Songs, and Stretches!®, Katie Scherrer, to see if they could increase kindergarten-readiness in Kentucky by equipping county agents with the curriculum.

The program brings together children ages 3 to 6 and their adult caregivers (either parents or classroom teachers) to engage in a 45-minute program that shares books, music, movement, yoga poses, and mindfulness. Forty county agents were trained and are qualified to teach this program in their county. Since the training, several agents have conducted the programs individually and through partnerships with other agencies in their county. For instance, a Calloway County FCS agent partnered with the public library once a month for 6 months providing the educational experience to a total of 38 children and their caregivers, and a Head Start classroom for 6 months for a total of 23 children. All participants reported the program as a success and caregivers reported repeating program activities at home such as singing, reading, stretching poses, and mindful breathing.

Similarly, a Barren County FCS agent conducted Stories, Songs, and Stretches at Glasgow Preschool Academy and Highland Elementary with over 250 participants in 2019 and early 2020 with positive reports from teachers and students. Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm expressed over the program, the Barren County agent continued to present the program online during the Coronavirus Pandemic on two separate occasions. Fourteen children and their families were introduced to mindfulness practices as a direct result of this distance learning opportunity.

Furthermore, FCS agents from Metcalfe County, Fulton County, and Whitley County conducted their own Stories, Songs and Stretches programs reaching a combined 120 children and 14 adults. Reports of increased family participation in programing since September 2019, increased time spent together with child and caregiver, and increased time reading together are indicative of the positive difference this curriculum is making in the lives of those families who attend. These successes have further motivated the identified county agents to continue to teach Stories, Songs and Stretches in their counties. We look forward to several counties joining in the work of increasing the number of children who are "school-ready."