We have just published our seventh annual Data Book: The State of Children in Memphis and Shelby County, and it's available online now. Over these seven years, the Data Book has become the definitive source of facts about the forces, trends, and factors affecting the healthy brain, social, and physical development of our youngest children. More than anything, the data over these years have confirmed that the focus on optimal brain development for children – particularly from birth to age 3 – was right on target.
It's a simple statement of fact, backed by the findings by hundreds of researchers over many years and the experiences of tens of thousands of educators. They are two words that should be at the top of the list of priorities for the U.S. government, Tennessee government, and our local governments. Those two words are also the title of a new infographic that makes the case for the importance of Pre-K and the dramatic returns on investments that it delivers.
As a brand new school year starts across Shelby County, almost 15,000 five-year-olds will venture into kindergarten for the very first time.
Rotary Pushes for Fatherhood Involvement
July 30, 2012
Dads and their children are set to take over the Memphis Zoo this week for Fatherhood Friday, an initiative organized by the Memphis Rotary Club, an organization of businessmen and women committed to improving the community through service activ
Pre-K Matters
July 25, 2012
You could probably guess that sending a child to pre-kindergarten results in better kindergarten readiness, improved vocabulary, and enhanced reading skills.
But did you know that the benefits of Pre-K go far beyond their school years and into their adult lives?
Starting at age four, nationwide studies reveal that investing early in a child's education by sending them to pre-kindergarten yields a long list of benefits that go beyond test scores, and into the very fabric of their — and our — futures.
Kindergarten Readiness Begins At Birth
July 9, 2012
It's the first day of kindergarten – is your child ready to learn? That's the question The Urban Child Institute is aiming to help parents address with the release of their new "Kindergarten Readiness Begins at Birth" handbook. In it, the organization summarizes best practices to promote optimal brain development during early childhood, and outlines ways parents can work to ensure their child develops basic mental, emotional, and social skills needed to succeed in school.