Columbus Kids is promoting a stronger partnership between early learning professionals and parents and, ultimately, increasing the likelihood that more children will be ready for kindergarten.

 
  Learning Checkups for Preschoolers
 

Checks for school readiness
 

Links families to resources
 

Provides learning activities
 
Gaining Valuable Perspective
"Because the parents are completing the Learning Checkup, our teachers get a more well-rounded view of what the kids are doing at home," says Amy Hillard, center director of Columbus Early Learning Centers @ Northside. "We are able to add the perspectives together — what we see at school and what the parents are seeing at home."

Tailoring Activities to Needs
That comprehensive vantage point allows the teachers to adjust their curriculum for individualized lesson plans that focus on specific needs. "The key is early identification," notes Hillard. "If the assessments show that Johnny is behind in gross motor skills, we will tailor our activities and pull kids out in small groups to learn skills when they need extra help."

Achieving Win-Win Solutions
Hillard reports that parents are positively responding to Columbus Kids and are eager to receive resources with tips on how to work with their children to get them ready for kindergarten. "It’s pretty much a win-win for everybody," she adds. "It’s easy to do, doesn’t require a lot of time and is helpful for the families."

For more information on Columbus Kids, visit www.columbuskids.org or call 614-241-3089.

Columbus Kids is a collaborative effort led by the United Way of Central Ohio that involves more than 100 community partners. It is funded by the Columbus City Schools, Columbus City Schools Education Foundation, Columbus Foundation, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Nationwide, The Limited Foundation and individual donors.