Education
OPEN YOUR HEART
LEND YOUR MUSCLE
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Early Childhood Development
The foundation for learning is laid in the first few years of life. Babies are born “wired to learn”. A child’s first years are a period of extraordinary growth in all domains of development – physical, intellectual, social, emotional and linguistic growth. According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, 80% of brain growth occurs by the age of three and 90 percent by age five. The 40-year High/Scope Perry Preschool research shows that investing $1 in a child’s success early on saves $17 down the road, with tangible results measured in lower crime, fewer single parents, and higher individual earnings and education levels.
Objective |
Strategies |
Resources |
| Children are healthy | 1: Support preventative & primary healthcare that provide free/low-cost services to un-/under-insured children | Advocacy Funding |
| Children develop on track |
1: Engage parents, grandparents, caregivers and communities in creating quality early learning opportunities for young children
2: Implement an assessment tool to identify potential delays and assess social and emotional competence 3: Ensure children enter Kindergarten with the necessary readiness skills |
Advocacy Collaboration |
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2-1-1
For help with a problem or to help others, dial 2-1-1, UWMC's free and confidential community service line, 24 hours a day or visit the NJ 2-1-1 website www.nj211.org and search their online database.
Born Learning
Want to find out how young children learn? Or get ideas for using everyday activities as learning moments? Born Learning helps parents, grandparents and caregivers enrich early learning.
Learn more about the UWMC Born Learning program
Five Ways You Can Live United
1. Read to children in your family, at your library, or with a local non-profit engaged in child care or literacy
2. Bring a child in your life to a bank to have a tour and open up a savings account.
3. Volunteer to prepare tax returns for low-income families
4. Buy pedometers for your friends and have a fun competition for who can walk the most steps.
5. Purchase personal care items such as deodorant, toothbrushes and soap and drop them off at the local homeless shelter