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Contact: Kelley Nave, APR, at (423) 752-0322, (423) 304-3579 or kelleynave@uwchatt.org
For Release: Immediately Upon Receipt
United Way of Greater Chattanooga Launches Born Learning Trail
to Promote Early Childhood Learning and Family Fun
Learning happens everywhere a child goes, but parents, grandparents and caregivers may not always know how to support that learning.
That isn’t the case with the new Born Learning Trail at Imagination Station Playground in Collegedale, Tennessee. When Mom, Dad, Aunt Judy or Grandpa takes their toddler to the Born Learning Trail at the Imagination Station Playground in Collegedale, they’ll be able to play fun games together that will prepare the child for success in school.
That’s because on Thursday, October 4, the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and 15 ACE hardware volunteers created an interactive early learning trail at Imagination Station Playground to help parents, grandparents and caregivers turn everyday excursions into fun learning moments.
The Born Learning Trail is a series of learning activities that any adult can play with young children at the Imagination Station Playground in Collegedale. It is the FIRST Born Learning Trail in the state of Tennessee and it’s sponsored by ACE Hardware.
Based on the latest early childhood research and approved by national early learning experts through united Way of America, the Born Learning Trail is designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development and to help caregivers understand how to best support early learning in everyday, outdoor moments.
There are nine signs on the trail that feature activities such as Watch! Stop! Learn! Play! This game encourages the caregiver to follow the child’s lead, building the child’s curiosity and confidence and reinforcing the learning already underway.
“The Born Learning Trail promotes interaction between adults and children – a vital component of early childhood learning,” said Lu Lewis, associate director of Project Ready for School. “Research tells us children are literally ‘born learning.’ That means five years of education take place before they ever enter kindergarten. We know that what happens in a child’s early years matters – for success in life and for school readiness. And we want to help parents, grandparents and caregivers use everyday outings – including trips to this new Born Learning Trail – to support that learning.”
Parents who are interested in enrolling their children in Project Ready for School or who need materials, information and resources about early childhood learning can call the United Way of Greater Chattanooga at (423) 752-0300 or visit their web site at www.uwchatt.org to learn more.
ACE Hardware is a strong supporter of the Born Learning Trail. “We hope the Born Learning Trail will help our community do more to get kids off to the right start,” said John Rutter, marketing manager of ACE Hardware.
United Way of America research has found:
- that many parents undervalue their role in preparing young children for school;
- that parents and caregivers don’t know exactly what actions to take to prepare young children for school; and
- that parents and caregivers feel like they don’t have time to do what’s needed.
The Trail is part of United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s Project Ready for School, designed to help parents, grandparents and caregivers prepare their children for success in school and life by providing their children with early learning experiences and being involved with them. It’s installation was marked with a grand opening celebration at the Imagination Station Playground on Thursday, October 4 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Through Project Ready for School partners, United Way provides the tools that parents need to prepare their children for future success. These include:
One hundred percent (100%) of contributions to United Way of Greater Chattanooga helps make a real difference in our community – Chattanooga, Marion County, North Georgia and Northeast Alabama – by creating lasting change and producing results. Whether it’s supporting the most vulnerable, helping children succeed in school or helping families and individuals build stable and independent lives, United Way works to make this community the best at helping everyone achieve their potential. That’s what matters.
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