Learning starts at an early age. However, many children from low-income families do not have the proper language and literacy skills they need when they enter kindergarten. They typically fall further behind every year, and many of them do not graduate from high school. Children, regardless of their economic background, deserve the same opportunities to learn.
United Way of Madison County believes in supporting program that encourages early brain development. Programs, such as the child care services at the Huntsville Child Care Center, gives every child in Madison County an opportunity to excel.
For more information about early brain development, please visit the Born Learning web site.
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Meet Erick and Tommy.Both were born learning...like all children.
But their early experiences put them on different paths.
Now one has a foundation for success - in school and in life.
The other does not.
That critical path is laid in the first few years.
| Erick |
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Tommy |
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| Age 0 -3 |
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| Erick's mom is single, young and a high school drop-out, but she has help. Erick's grandmother also takes care of him. |
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Tommy's parents are high school drop-outs, both working at low-paying jobs. A neighbor, Adele watches Tommy during the day. |
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| About half of America's children - and many of the youngest and poorest - are cared for by family, friends and neighbors. |
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| Age 3 - 6 |
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| Erick's mom reads to him and uses daily life to create learning experiences for him. She encourages him to ask questions. |
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Adele allows the TV to become a babysitter for Tommy, punishing him for asking questions during her soaps. |
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| The more young children are spoken with, the bigger their vocabulary gets – and the stronger their pre-literacy skills become. |
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| Age 9 – 14
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| Erick's grandma gives him opportunities to learn, and Erick begins to excel in school. |
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With no help from home, Tommy begins flunking his classes at school and smoking marijuana. He makes other bad lifestyle choices. |
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Children learn to read in the early school years, but after 3rd grade they’re reading to learn. Those who started behind are often even farther behind by middle school. Many never catch up.
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| Teen Years: |
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| With support from his mom and grandma, Erick begins planning for college. |
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Tommy drops out of school and begins selling drugs to make money. He is soon arrested and sent to the juvenile detention center. |
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Don’t both boys deserve the same opportunity to succeed?
It starts with early learning.
Children who succeed in school – and life – need good early learning experiences (along with nurturing adults, good health and supportive communities.)
What happens in the early years is part of what makes the difference between success & failure.
And it could mean the difference to our community’s long-term future, because early learning prepares tomorrow’s workforce.
Are we doing what we should to grow this resource?
Get involved.
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