Born Learning campaign launches to promote Early Childhood Learning during national
Week of the Young Child, April 2-8, 2006

March 27, 2006

Children are born to learn, and everyday moments can provide a wealth
of “lessons” to help prepare young children for school.

That’s the message of Born Learning, a new public awareness campaign being launched in Northwest Washington during the Week of the Young Child, April 2-8. 

In a recent survey, Washington state teachers report that only 44 percent
of children entering kindergarten are prepared to make a strong start in school. For children from low-income homes, that figure drops to 25%.  Research also shows that children who start behind tend to stay behind, and are at greater risk of not graduating.

But simple steps that parents and caregivers can take can lay a strong foundation for later learning, noted Margy Miller, early childhood education manager for Northwest Educational Services District 189 (NESD 189).

Through public service announcements, a Web site and educational material, the Born Learning campaign offers “doable” action steps that make it easy—and fun—to turn everyday activities such as sorting laundry or grocery shopping into learning moments for young children.

In Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties, the Born Learning campaign is led by NESD 189 and United Way of Snohomish County.  Residents can log on to the Northwest Washington Born Learning Web site, www.esd189.org/nwel or call 2-1-1 for resources available locally.

Beginning April 6, they may also log onto United Way’s Parent Place, a new online database of 1,000 local resources for parents at www.unitedwayparentplace.org.

“Whether you’re looking for recreational activities, parenting classes, preschools, or library reading programs for toddlers, The Parent Place can help you find it simply by typing in your zip code and area of interest,” said Kristi Reardon, manager of United Way’s Success By 6 initiative for early childhood development.

The Parent Place is accessible to the public through United Way of Snohomish County’s web site and by calling 2-1-1. Comcast is sponsoring the United Way project, which is most comprehensive in Snohomish and Skagit counties, and growing in Island, San Juan and Whatcom.

“We invest in families and education because we view it as an investment in our community and in our future,” said Steve Kipp, Vice President of Communications for Comcast’s Washington market. “We know an investment early in a child’s life pays off with better graduation rates and a stronger workforce. Sponsoring The Parent Place is not only good for children—it’s good for all of us.”

Statewide, 38 organizations are participating in regional campaigns as part of Born Learning Washington. Nationally, Born Learning is a three-year effort that includes some $30 million worth of expected television, radio, newspaper, magazine, billboard and transit ads this year. Education materials along with action tips, information and resources are available on the national web site. National Born Learning partners are United Way, the Ad Council and Civitas.

"Everyone plays a role in helping children get off to the very best start possible," said Bob Watt, member of the Governor's Washington Learns Steering Committee, Co-chair of the Early Learning Council of Washington Learns, and Vice President of Government & Community Relations for The Boeing Company. "The Born Learning campaign is one step in getting communities to work together to ensure all young children are prepared to thrive in school and later in life."