Tip of the Month
March is National Nutrition Month and First 5 Amador would like to share with you some great healthy eating resources! Click here for a printable flyer designed to help families make healthy choices for their children – when choosing which snacks to eat – and which to avoid!
For parents – click here to check out another printable flyer. This one is designed as a guide for adults to help with healthy snacking in the workplace.
MyPyramid for Preschoolers This is a great website for parents of children 2-5 years of age who are looking for more information on:
- Healthy eating habits
- Help with picky eaters
- Kitchen activities
- Active play every day
MyPyramid for Moms
When you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you have special nutritional needs. This section of the MyPyramid webiste is designed just for you. It has advice you need to help you and your baby stay healthy. |
Photo Contest
In recognition of National Nutrition Month, First 5 Amador wants to know: Do you think that your child could be the next
“Kid of the Month”?
Enter today for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate towards food from “Mother Lode Harvest” and free cookbooks!
Click here for more details and the contest flyer.
Please click here
for a larger image.
|
|
|
Recent studies support early education investments
This just in from Pre[K]Now and the
Pew Center on the States
 During the last two months, four new publications have been released across the United States focusing on the relationship between early education and a variety of short- and long-term benefits. Studies continue to show that participation in high-quality early learning programs leads to better adult outcomes and significant returns on investments.
Long-term financial savings:
While proposals for budget cuts loom over early childhood programs around the country, two organizations that represent the business perspective recently released individual briefs that present the economic case for at least maintaining current investments in early education. Research commissioned by the Partnership for America’s Economic Success suggests that immediate savings that result from cutting evidence-based programs like home visiting, WIC and high-quality pre-k would only end up costing governments more because of these programs’ long-term impacts on health, criminal behavior and academic performance.
For more on this study, please click here.
Immediate economic benefits:
Another recent analysis by America’s Edge shows that every dollar invested in Pennsylvania’s early childhood industry produces an additional $1.06 in economic activity. This “multiplier effect” results from goods and services purchased by schools and businesses that operate early education programs and by the employees hired by these programs. Furthermore, the brief found that the immediate additional economic impact generated by the early childhood industry is higher than other sectors, such as transportation, construction, trade, manufacturing and utilities.
For more on this study, please click here.
Success in life:
The latest findings from a multi-decade cost-benefit analysis of a large-scale, publicly-funded pre-k program show that every dollar invested in the program resulted in a return of about $11. Since the 1980s, researchers have tracked the academic and adult outcomes of low-income participants in the Chicago Child-Parent Centers (CPC) since they were three or four year olds. At age 26, these individuals were significantly more likely than a comparison group to complete high school or acquire a GED and have health insurance, and less likely to have any felony arrest, use drugs and rely on welfare. Most of the economic benefits accrue to the government and taxpayers in the form of less spending on public programs (e.g., criminal justice, health), lower personal costs associated with crime and increased tax revenues.
For more on this study, please click here.
Healthy futures:
The health-related findings above are supported by new analyses from a longitudinal study of the Carolina Abecedarian Project, which also tracked children who participated in an early childhood program — this time from infancy — to adulthood. At age 21, these children had better health outcomes (e.g., lower incidence of depression and hospitalization) and healthier behaviors (e.g., less drug use, more access to health care).
For more on this study, please click here. |
Kindergarten Bridge Program
Free, 3-week summer transition classes at all Amador County elementary schools
First 5 Amador is now accepting applications for the ninth annual summer “Kindergarten Bridge Program”. This free program is geared toward closing the achievement gap in school success. Recent studies show that children who start school healthy and ready to learn are more likely to succeed and are less likely to develop behavioral, health and academic problems. All children who plan to enter kindergarten in the fall are encouraged to apply, but priority is given to students with little or no preschool experience.
Bridge is aimed at allowing students the opportunity to become accustomed to the rhythm, routine and academic expectations of kindergarten prior to the start of the school year.
This three-week program will be held at all six Amador County elementary schools from June 13 – 30, Monday-Thursday, from 8:00-11:30 am.
When we asked parents “What was your favorite part of the Bridge Program?”, here is they had to say:
- “My child learned so much in just a short time.”
- “The excitement our daughter had about going every day. It is obvious they made it fun and yet her skills improved as well. It has been such a positive step towards preparation for kindergarten.”
- “Hearing about what he did each day, seeing the excitement & enthusiasm he had for learning, and the chance for him to share with us.”
- “Being able to get an idea of how the school routine will not only affect our daughter, but the rest of the family as well. Also, finding out what areas we should be working on at home.”
- “My son came home with great artwork that he was very proud of. I was glad to hear that he worked in stations and was introduced to the structure of a typical kindergarten day. I also hope that his new familiarity with the school will help alleviate some anxiety come August.”
- “We loved the variety. The teachers were delightful and very helpful. He learned letters, how to write his name and he loved story time.”
The priority enrollment deadline is April 29, 2011.
For applications in English: Please click here.
Para espanol, oprima aqui.
For more information about the Kindergarten Bridge Program, please click here. |
 |
|
