Monday, July 30, 2012

Play and Learn Program

Press Release

Contact: Child Care Answers Resource and Referral Agency

Phone: 317-636-5727 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date/Time: July 30, 2012

Play and Learn Program Prepares Children for Kindergarten

Not all children have the opportunity in Central Indiana to attend preschool or a high-quality child care. The childhood years leading up to kindergarten are a vital part of a child’s brain development and learning patterns. For those children that are at home with their caregivers Child Care Answers offers a Play and Learn Program designed with the purpose of helping caregivers interact in an educational way with children to ensure children are prepared to enter kindergarten.

The program is offered weekly in neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis, generally held in IPS schools giving the children and families a chance to become familiar with the local school. During the sessions parents and caregivers are set in an environment allowing them to play with their children, interact with other adults, relax, and have the opportunity to ask questions and referral information.

Each session includes an art activity, sensory activity and math building activities. The goal of these activities is to give the parents an opportunity to see simple activities to help build kindergarten readiness skills while playing with their children. While also offering a chance for the children to have positive social interactions with other children and teach valuable social skills such as playing together and sharing.

These sessions are offered daily throughout Indianapolis and are completely free to parents, caregivers and small home child care providers. For more information about the program contact Leslie Wildhauer at lesliew@childcareanswers.com or 317-926-3401 extension 307.