Born Learning - Washington

What happens in a child's early years matters - for success in life and a strong start in school. Yet for parents, caregivers and child care providers, it's hard to know exactly how best to guide a child's development, or help the child get the best start in school. And it's hard to find time in an all-too-busy day.

Click here to see this quarter's key efforts.

Born Learning - Washington aims to help! This public engagement campaign, shows you how to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities for children from birth through age five. And it gives you tools you can use in your community.

The campaign is brought to you by a partnership of statewide and local organizations.

Contact your local campaign (see list below), or check the resources our statewide partners offer. Also see the national Born Learning site for easy-to-use tips and tools.

Local campaigns

Contact the following locally-led campaigns for information about activities in your area.

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Key efforts this quarter

Parents and caregivers of young children are learning easy and fun ways to support young children's learning. In the first quarter of 2007, the Born Learning campaign reached parents and caregivers through:

• More than 160 outreach actions including 1,440+ face-to-face contacts in meetings and presentations in English and Spanish about Born Learning campaign efforts, messages, and materials.
• Born Learning public service announcements airing on radio and cable TV in several parts of the state.
• News stories and editorials in major local papers, plus articles and ads in organizations' newsletters.
• Distributing Born Learning and partner organizations' materials in English and Spanish - 6,450 pieces.

The campaign is also recruiting champions who will take action to make early learning a top priority. For example, in the first quarter of 2007, 38 champion actions were reported across the state ranging from a community college president advocating for early learning to be included in community economic planning to pediatricians planning an advocacy event for medical professionals.

Local campaign highlights

• Born Learning Clark County is reaching families through articles that child care providers use in their parent newsletters. Collaboration with local housing authorities is also reaching many parents right where they live. Parents of new babies are finding Born Learning materials in the “Hello, Baby!” bags they receive at the hospital. And families newly enrolled in Head Start are receiving Born Learning Playbooks during home visits.
• Born Learning Northeast Washington: Parents and family members of 230 babies who attended a Baby Shower and Health Fair snapped up copies of the Born Learning Playbook and poster, along with free children’s books. Child care providers in Spokane who attended recent trainings and those who receive the Eastern Washington Family Child Care Association newsletter are brimming with tips to share with parents from Born Learning’s “learning on the go” and other parent tools.
• Born Learning Northwest Washington: Lunch-and-learn sessions at 20 companies are giving employees who are parents and grandparents a convenient way to get information. Mothers in the WIC program in San Juan County, and ECEAP families in Skagit County are receiving the Born Learning Playbook. Trainings for “trusted messengers” that young families turn to for information have resulted in new collaborations among churches and libraries, and an early learning focus for a two-hour, twice weekly Spanish-language radio show. Legislators and other elected officials were among the 70 people at a legislative reception with a Born Learning focus.
• Born Learning South Central Washington: Families visiting any of the Yakima Valley Regional and Kittitas County library branches can pick up a Make Reading Fun tip sheet. Mothers using maternal/child health services at a Yakima hospital are getting the Five Key Ideasfor New Parents sheet. Health care professionals at a Docs for Tots meeting, and business and civic leaders attending local Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce meetings have all heard presentations on Born Learning. A special corps of veterans handed out 2,000 Born Learning information sheets to local families on Veterans’ Day.
• Born Learning South Sound: To see the campaign’s four-minute video click here. Educators and program coordinators of parenting classes have learned about the parent tools that Born Learning offers and how to introduce them to parents. The campaign connected with 300 parents, family and caregivers at the Chehalis Tribal Health Fair. The Early Childhood Coalition held a leadership luncheon, which attracted 250 business leaders and policymakers to hear speakers discuss the crucial role early learning plays in the community’s success.
• Born Learning Southeast Washington: Parents who attend “getting ready for kindergarten” classes, and classes for new parents at Walla Walla Community College are getting tips and tools from Born Learning speakers on helping their children learn. The campaign is also working with the Washington State Migrant Head Start Council and with local churches and co-op preschools to get materials into parents’ hands.