Message from the Director
SCHOOL READINESS! The new "word" in the field of early education and care seems to bring new meaning to the role caregivers and teachers of young children. While the words change, the role of the caregiver, teacher, and parent HAS NOT changed. Children are "born learning"; the child does not wait until kindergarten. Rather, the young child's brain is literally exploding as the child touches, sees, hears, feels, and tastes his or her world. The primary adult in the child's life really acts as the facilitator of learning. Helping the child experience their world and extending the child's vocabulary and understanding of the world surrounding the child.

Young children learn through and because of trusting relationships with those adults in their life who consistently and appropriately meet the child's needs. By meeting the child's needs, the adult builds a sense of trust with and between the young child. This very sense of trust is the emotional foundation that paves the road for future success in formal education setting. It is the relationship in the life of the child aged birth to five years rather than academic exercise, which creates a higher probability of school success.

The term SCHOOL READINESS is new but what young children need to be healthy and spontaneous learners is NOT NEW. These children continue to need caregivers THAT teach and teachers THAT care. The need for our programs to create safe, healthy, and appropriate learning environments, implement consistent curriculum, support the education of their staff, and ensure the active engagement of the child's parents continues to take the forefront of the delivery of Coalition's services.

TODAY, whether you are parent or teacher- stop and remember that a hug, a trash bag made into a kite, and a magnifying glass and an ant hill still encourage the mapping of the young child's brain and the development of a sense of trust. The wonder of learning and trusting relationships draw the road map for all of our children to enter school ready to learn.

Lynne Eldridge
Executive Director
Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida