Learning happens everywhere a child goes, but parents, grandparents and caregivers may not always know how to support that learning.
That won’t be the case at New Monrovia Park, where over a dozen volunteers painted the town “read” to promote literacy. United Way of Martin County in partnership with the Martin County Board of County Commissioners and the Martin County CRA created an outdoor interactive early learning trail to help parents and caregivers turn excursions into fun learning moments.
The Born Learning Trail is a fun, easy way for parents, grandparents and caregivers to use outings to build critical learning skills for school readiness. A series of signs offering educational games (approved by experts) guide adults on specific ways to create learning games outdoors and suggest tips to use at home.
“The Born Learning Trail promotes fun and games – important components of early childhood learning,” said Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, President/CEO of United Way of Martin County. “Children are literally ‘born learning’ and we know that what happens in a children’s early years matters for success in life and for school readiness.”
According to the most recent data, only 51% of Martin County students are reading on level by third grade, lower than the state average of 53%. Additionally, only 57% of Martin County children are considered ready for kindergarten. The Born Learning Trail is designed to help adults interact with children to boost language and literacy development.
Last year, United Way of Martin County installed three Born Learning Trails in the City of Stuart at Flagler Park, Shepard Park and the Guy Davis Sports Complex.
For more information about the Born Learning Trails, visit www.UnitedWayMartin.org or www.Facebook.com/UnitedWayMartin.
About United Way
United Way of Martin County’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create long-term social change and provide support to Martin County residents by investing in programs that strive to: enhance healthy living, improve education and support financial stability.