WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – Wabash County Families who attend Kindergarten Roundup this year will find helpful information about education for children ages 0-5 as well as kindergartners. Members of the Early Childhood Education Coalition of Wabash County will be on hand at Roundup for Metropolitan School District of Wabash County, Wabash City Schools, and Manchester Community Schools to talk with parents about opportunities for sending children to the County’s early childhood education programs.
Early childhood education is essential. Ninety percent of the brain is developed by the age of five. The young brain is soaking up information and skills. The best time for education is before kindergarten. Early education is essential not only for children, but for families, employers, and whole communities. Research shows that quality early education has great benefits for all. Children who have attended highly rated programs from an early age are more likely to be ready for kindergarten, more likely to meet reading and math milestones in school, graduate, go to college, stay healthy, own their own homes, and avoid use of the criminal justice system, social services, and the health system.
Parents who work need reliable care for their children. All adults in 80% of Wabash County homes with young children work outside the home. Sixty percent of businesses in Wabash County said in a survey that they struggle with employee absences due to unstable or inflexible childcare. They also experience difficulty recruiting employees because of the lack of childcare. When children are in a safe and reliable place, they learn, parents work, and employers experience less absenteeism.
At Roundup, parents will be able to talk with representatives of programs, browse useful material about early education programs, developmental milestones for young children, and tips on parenting, including helpful discipline ideas, apps for phones, and websites for successful parenting.
Young children who attend with their parents will have the opportunity to look at books and play with Big Blue Blocks, enormous, lightweight blocks, cylinders, levers, and wedges to build rooms, recliners, cars, boats, or anything they can imagine.
Roundup in North Manchester will be held March 20 at Manchester Community Schools administrative offices on 9th Street in North Manchester, from 12:00-7:00 pm. Roundup for Wabash City Schools and MSDWC schools will be held at the Honeywell Center on March 20, from 1:00-7:00 pm.