Janet Howard, program director for “Bringing Out the Best” and a member of The Basics advisory committee spoke with WFMY about the rapid pace of brain growth before age 3 and the importance of everyday interactions to help children learn during that time. She also talked about creating and maintaining a routine to help children Maximize Love, Manage Stress during uncertain times, like the COVID-19 pandemic. The segment can be seen here.
Author: wpx_forcefie
The Basics Guilford initiative to help set students up for success in school and life
JAMESTOWN, N.C. — Setting up every student for success is the goal behind a new initiative in Guilford County.
Today the Cemala Foundation along with Ready for School, Ready for Life announced a new effort called The Basics Guilford.
‘The Basics Guilford’ debuts: Five ways to help young children thrive
GREENSBORO — For anyone who has ever wondered what to say or do with a baby or toddler, local early education advocates are offering a simple plan.
The Cemala Foundation and the new local nonprofit Ready For School, Ready for Life, are teaming up with other business and nonprofit groups to promote the “The Basics Guilford.”
The Cemala Foundation and Ready for School, Ready for Life Bring National Early Childhood Initiative to Guilford County
(Greensboro, N.C.) April 10, 2019 — The Cemala Foundation and Ready for School, Ready for Life are pleased to announce the launch of the Guilford Basics, a local version of a national initiative designed to help ensure all children are prepared to enter school ready to learn. The program supplements the work in early childhood development already being done by Ready for School, Ready for Life and other local nonprofits.
Research shows that 80 percent of a child’s brain development happens before age 3. To better engage these youngest learners and prepare them for school, the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University created the Basics — five free, simple yet powerful things adults can do with the children in their lives on a daily basis to help lay the foundation for future success. The Basics are:
- Maximize Love, Manage Stress
- Talk, Sing and Point
- Count, Group and Compare
- Explore Through Movement and Play
- Read and Discuss Stories
With this local launch, Guilford County becomes one of more than 30 communities nationwide to have adopted the Basics; other communities include Boston; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Yonkers, New York.
“I first learned about the Basics a few years ago, and have been impressed with the difference they have made in the lives of young children in other communities,” said Susan S. Schwartz, executive director of The Cemala Foundation and co-chair of the Ready for School, Ready for Life board of directors. “Guilford County already has so many outstanding organizations working to improve the lives of children and families. We believe Guilford Basics is the perfect complement to this existing work by providing simple things all adults can do with the young children in their lives to help them grow and thrive.”
The Cemala Foundation and Ready for School, Ready for Life will now work with doctors’ offices, childcare centers, places of worship and nonprofits focused on children and families to help educate parents and caregivers on the Guilford Basics and how to incorporate them into a family’s daily life.
Guilford Basics was officially launched this morning at an event on the Jamestown campus of Guilford Technical Community College. The event was attended by dozens of county business, governmental and nonprofit leaders as well as faculty and staff in the school’s early childhood education program.
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The Guilford Basics are five evidence-based parenting and caregiving practices that can be used in everyday life to benefit young children of all backgrounds across Guilford County. While the program is being coordinated locally by The Cemala Foundation and Ready for School, Ready for Life, the Guilford Basics is part of a broader, national network of communities striving to help all children thrive. More information can be found at guilfordbasics.org.
The Basics Guilford Launch Aired on Greensboro Television Network
The Greensboro Television Network aired The Basics Guilford launch event. The segment highlighted Susan Schwartz, executive director of The Cemala Foundation, Scott Kinsey, president and CEO of Kindermusik International and Adriana Adams, early literacy implementation manager at Ready for School, Ready for Life.
Each speaker conveyed the importance of implementing The Basics in Guilford County.
“We’re bringing the Basics to Guilford County because it is the perfect complement to the vast array of work that is already being done in our community,” Kinsey said.
