Data indicators for Children Primed for School represent a crucial aspect of child, family, and community well-being that our Collaborative examines annually to guide our collective efforts. One area where Whitfield County lags behind the state average is the percentage of children aged 3 to 4 years who are not enrolled in preschool, with only 29% of local children falling into this category.
Many of these children are likely at home being cared for by their parents, who are often a child’s first and best teachers. To support parents and caregivers of our youngest community members, we can provide them with the Basics Strategies developed by Harvard Professor Ron Ferguson. These Basics consist of five simple yet effective, science-based strategies designed to enhance early brain development in children from birth to age five.
One of our Systems Change initiatives in our FY25 Annual Plan focuses on promoting the Basics and other Kindergarten Readiness strategies within the community. This year, we have partnered with the Whitfield County Health Department. Caregivers visiting the WIC Office have been introduced to the Basics Principles and offered a free book that includes a QR code linking to the https://thebasics.org/Brain-Boosts/ webpage. Parents interested in receiving additional support can sign up for Basics Insights text messages, which deliver two free weekly messages with a developmental fact related to their child’s age and a practical tip to implement.
The Basics Strategies include:
- Maximizing Love & Managing Stress
- Talking, Singing, & Pointing
- Counting, Grouping & Comparing
- Exploring Through Movement & Play
- Reading & Discussing Stories.
These principles foster diverse pathways in a young child’s brain, which will be further strengthened once they enter school.
On Saturday, January 25th, families enrolled in the Basics Insights messaging service were invited to a class centered on Talking, Singing, and Pointing. Parents and their children participated in activities they could easily replicate at home, leaving with valuable resources and strategies they intended to use. We have three additional Basics Classes scheduled in the coming months.
This initiative is supported by community partnerships with Dalton/Whitfield Family Connection, United Way of NWGA, Early Childhood Initiative of NWGA, Dalton/Whitfield Public Library, and a Sandra Dunagan Deal Center Implementation Research Grant awarded to Dalton State College. The insights gained from implementing the Basics at the Health Department will help us understand how to replicate this work in other sectors. Dalton/Whitfield Family Connection is eager to contribute to this important effort.