by Dr. Karen Quinn
Success By 6, the early childhood initiative of the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County, is pleased to announce that it has recently embarked on a multi-year community campaign called The Basics. The Basics are five, simple powerful ways that every family can give their child a great start in life! Here are these five important principles:
Maximize Love, Manage Stress
Talk, Sing and Point
Count, Group and Compare
Explore Through Movement and Play
Read and Discuss Stories
Science shows that 80% of brain growth occurs in the first three years of a child’s life. The Basics principles, developed by The Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University, condenses years of educational research on how children learn and grow into simple, but purposeful, interactions parents and other caring adults should have with children every day to encourage healthy brain development. The Basics is so simple that families can use these principles anytime, anywhere!
Success By 6 will promote these five principles to all families with children, birth to age three, across all sectors of the Carlisle Area School District and South Middleton School District communities, starting with early childhood education. Other community sectors will include 1) health centers, pediatricians, and hospitals; 2) schools; 3) employers; 4) government and social services agencies; 5) faith-based organizations; 6) homeless shelters; 7) barbers and salons; 8) public libraries; 9) and housing developments. Over the next several years, Success By 6 will develop partnerships in each of these community sectors to help us share this important message with families – healthy brain development and a great start in life start at birth. Children thrive with The Basics Five!
The Basics Campaign is part of a larger Success By 6 First 10 Schools and Communities initiative. Success By 6 partnered with early childhood educators, public school teachers and administrators, and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities to spearhead The Basics Campaign. For more information and free materials on The Basics, please contact Karen Quinn at karen@uwcarlisle.org or by calling United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County at 717-243-4805.
