Category: News

Angie Roberson, project director for UNC Greensboro’s EQuIPD, was interviewed by WFMY. She spoke about how parents can use The Basic “Count, Group and Compare” to introduce children to early math skills. The segment can be seen here.

Dr. Christine Murray, director of the UNC Greensboro Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships,spoke with WFMY about why parents may be feeling stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic and some of the warning signs of burnout. She also talked about how parents can use The Basic “Maximize Love, Manage Stress” to help them cope. The segment can be seen here.

Heather Adams, the director of engagement & literacy initiatives with Ready for School, Ready for Life, was interviewed by WFMY’s The Good Morning Show. She spoke about how parents and caregivers can use The Basic Read and Discuss Stories with their children to help develop early language skills and a love of learning. The segment can be seen here.

Gillian Goodman, the lower school director for Greensboro Day School spoke to WFMY about how parents and caregivers can Talk, Sing and Point with their children to help with early language development. The segment can be seen here.

Monica Moore, the preschool director for the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, was interviewed by WFMY about ways parents of young children can use The Basics while at home this summer to keep their children entertained and engaged. The segment can be seen here.

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.

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.

Read more and watch the video at Fox 8

(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 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.