The Child Care Council of Westchester Inc. is pleased to partner with United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Inc. on Born Learning, an innovative public engagement campaign that helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children. 

Born Learning is designed as a tool for long-lasting community change that supports young children.  It has three cornerstones:

• Awareness:  Providing important information about how young children learn
• Education:  Providing easy, fun action steps that parents, grandparents and caregivers can use very day
• Action: Providing a visible platform for public policy and action

The goal of Born Learning is to inspire everyone who impacts young children to make the best possible decision to boost school readiness.  Born Learning provides the tools to make long-lasting community change.

May Born Learning Tip: Taking a Walk

Connection to learning: Taking a walk is good exercise for you and your child, plus it can also be a special time together. Focus on the present moment and being with your child, not on all of the things you have to do when you get back. Look at the walk through your child's eyes. How might a bug or a big crack in the sidewalk look to your child? What sounds do cars or birds make? Is the sun shining? Is it cloudy, warm or cold?

For your young baby (birth to 8 months) 
Name things that your baby looks at or is interested in - from street and business signs, to animals, flowers, bugs, cars, trucks, people or other sights. Take time to let your baby watch things until his or her interest shifts. Notice how intently your baby studies things.

For your older baby (9-18 months)
Your older baby may want to reach out and touch - the grass, flowers, rocks.  Be sure you talk to your child about his/her interests.  Be sure to tell him/her the color of each flower and let your child smell the fragrant aromas.  You can make a game out of smelling the flowers that is sure to delight your child.

For your toddler 
If your toddler likes to run and jump and practice moving around, make games of doing this. Help your child learn to be safe by stopping at corners and driveways and showing him or her how to look both ways for cars.
For your preschooler 

Ask questions about what you see on your walk that seems to interest your child. These questions can include the past, present and future. For example, if you and your preschooler see a dog, ask if he or she remembers seeing that dog before, what the dog is doing, or what they think the dog might do if the dog were bigger or smaller, or faster or slower.  Make up rhymes o

Click here for an archive of monthly tips.
Click here for workshops.
Click here for Portable Born Learning Trail & Hopscotch Mat Available for Your Program!
Click here for Born Learning materials that you can use with your child/ren.