Danielle’s two-year-old son, Will, was unable to express himself verbally, but she didn’t know why or what to do. At United Way’s Play and Learn, Danielle learned how to boost Will’s development and get him ready for kindergarten.

Danielle thought teaching her two-year-old son Will, would come naturally.  “Being a first-time mom, I had no idea what to expect,” she admits.  And she’s not alone, only 59 percent of kindergartners are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten.

A friend told her about Play and Learn, a United Way strategy that gets children ready to begin school through educational play and rich interaction.  United Way’s goal is to have 75 percent of children entering kindergarten ready to learn by 2013.

At Play and Learn, instructors from Children’s Service Society recognized Will was behind on his verbal skills.  “Verbally, Will has been a bit slower developing and I knew he wasn’t expressing himself the way he should have been,” says Danielle, “but I didn’t know how or why or what to do about it.”  Instructors helped Danielle find the help she needed, and now Will is back on track.  “I think we’d be five steps behind if he wasn’t able to progress as well as he has in this program.”  

Danielle also learned the importance of play in gathering the skills to prepare Will for kindergarten.  “I wasn’t directing him enough and involving myself in the play.  It was good to come see what other parents were doing and learn from their examples what I could do.” Structured play sessions helped Will learn how to interact.  “When we fist started coming, I had to basically restrain him and say ‘You’re going to sing these songs.’ Now, he runs over to get in circle time and he’ll sit and sing songs and interact.”  It’s those very skills that will help Will make a smooth transition to kindergarten in a few years.