Grant Gives the Gift of Learning

Early childhood educators have long known that play is a child’s work. When children are actively and meaningfully engaged in play, they make great strides in all areas of development.

Two United Way of Central Ohio initiatives will have the opportunity to support and enhance the play and learning of thousands of young children in central Ohio thanks to a $1.3 million award from the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services.

Columbus Kids: Ready, Set, Learn! and Start Smart used the major gift to purchase and distribute a variety of materials to early learning centers and families in Franklin County. These materials, which will greatly enrich the learning experiences of children in our community, include:

• 10,300 books
• 500 parent education kits designed to help families prepare their children for kindergarten
• 12,000 fine motor skills play kits
• 12,000 problem-solving play kits
• science and early learning curriculums for centers serving 7,000 children

The money has also provided materials for parent education workshops for approximately 300 families, and was used to purchase a variety of materials and supplies for enhancing the learning environments in almost 100 early education programs. Fifteen early learning centers serving 3,000 young learners will receive new playground equipment that will support the development of gross motor skills, and encourage outdoor play and activities.

Results from assessments of 1,330 preschoolers conducted by Columbus Kids have shown that the primary challenges facing children in the Columbus City School district are delays in fine motor skills and problem solving.

"The focus of our work is to prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed," said Cindy Sturni, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives for United Way. "This gift from Franklin County is significant in helping Columbus Kids and Start Smart accomplish their missions."

The money has also purchased educational and developmental materials that will be used as Columbus Kids and Start Smart continue to reach out to families and support quality early education in central Ohio.

United Way is excited that its longstanding partnership with Franklin County has enhanced efforts to ensure that all children in our community receive the quality education they deserve. Investing in early childhood services has a far-reaching impact on children, families, schools and all of us in central Ohio.

Columbus Kids: Ready, Set, Learn, a groundbreaking community collaborative program managed by United Way of Central Ohio, is designed to identify, screen, refer for intervention and track all 2 ½ to 4-year-old children who live within the Columbus City School district to help prepare them for success in kindergarten. There are more than 16,000 children in the district who fall into this age range.

Start Smart is a public-private partnership designed to prepare young children to enter kindergarten physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively ready to succeed. Increasing the quality of early care and education centers in Franklin County and promoting parent education are the two primary areas of focus for this project.