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Fairfax Futures
School Readiness Network News
Greetings!
The need for high-quality early childhood education draws new champions and ideas into our national dialogue about strengthening America. In this issue, we highlight early childhood education as it relates to obesity, college graduation rates, and economic stimulus. Working with Fairfax County Public Schools and the county's Office for Children, we also offer you two new ways to learn about school readiness close to home. "Paving the Way to Kindergarten" draws on lessons from the Neighborhood School Readiness project, in which local child care, preschool and elementary school programs team up to support children's transition to kindergarten. Fairfax Futures published this resource-rich guide through funding from the Freddie Mac Foundation and has received a grant from the Early Care and Education Funders Collaborative to support the project in 2009. The April 25th School Readiness Symposium is shaping up nicely. Speakers include Stuart Brown of the National Institute for Play and Roberta Golinkoff, author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards and other books. This year's topic: Play! Stay tuned for details. Best wishes,  Vera Steiner Blore Executive Director
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Neighborhood Transition Teams
Fairfax Futures presents "Paving the Way to Kindergarten" hot off the press. The guide provides information and resources to help early childhood educators and parents work together to smooth the transition to kindergarten and includes a Transition to Kindergarten Community Calendar. Download your copy here.
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Get on the Move!
Habits that lead to obesity start early. Researchers recently found that children enrolled in 24 preschool programs were inactive for most of their preschool day. Even when the children played outside, about half of their activities were sedentary. Teachers in the study rarely encouraged physical activity. But children were more likely to be active when play equipment and open space were available.
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