Read To Grow JoCo’s Kindergarten Readiness Nights Described By Parents As: “A Perfect Learning Night”

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. – Read to Grow Johnston County recently hosted its fourth annual Kindergarten Readiness Nights, preparing 171 rising kindergarteners for the upcoming school year. Families were able to practice the lunch line, tour a classroom and a school bus, and engage in interactive learning stations designed to promote the skills children need to be successful in kindergarten.

Read to Grow aims to show parents simple, practical ways to develop essential skills through everyday activities that support kindergarten readiness. These events were held in collaboration with four Johnston County Public elementary schools and their Nutrition Department, Johnston County Health Department, Gunter Family McDonald’s, and PET Dairy.

Each learning station represented a key developmental area from the North Carolina Let’s Get Ready Guide, including brain development, social-emotional development, math, language, health and physical development, and play. Families counted rocks in toy dump trucks to practice math skills, built language skills by spelling with playdough letters, and navigated an obstacle course to promote physical health. They painted family portraits with watercolors to support brain development, practiced belly breathing using a sock puppet to learn calming strategies, and spent time playing memory games together.

Each event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 99 percent of parents agreeing they felt better prepared for their child’s kindergarten entry after attending.

“While a child identifying letters in the alphabet and naming colors are important skills, there are other things they must demonstrate to be successful,” said Read to Grow Coordinator Heather Machia. “They also need to know how to rhyme, follow instructions, and solve problems with friends. By providing simple activities for parents to develop their child’s abilities, parents feel more confident, and children are more prepared for success in school and life.”

Read to Grow consists of a wide variety of community members, including business leaders, faith community members, families, Partnership for Children of Johnston County, Johnston County Public Schools, and Johnston County Health Department. As a collaborative group, Read to Grow works to connect resources, develop initiatives, and achieve the targets and milestones set to impact the three pillars of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR): school readiness, chronic absenteeism, and out-of-school learning. For more information or to get involved, contact Heather Machia at 919-397-7822.