In September 2013, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, announced the formation of “Too Small to Fail,” a venture with the goal to help kids birth to age 5 be better prepared to succeed in the 21st century.
Clinton’s involvement in early education has shined a light on a glaring problem on pre-K education. In just the past few months a number of reports have been released indicating that the first eight years of a child’s life are essential for healthy development, and that many kids aren’t getting the nourishment they need.
According to research, “about 90 percent of a child’s brain develops in that time… And 85 percent of a child’s intellect, personality and social skills are developed by that age.” The earlier children are exposed to rich learning content, the better positioned they can be for lifelong learning and success.
But by the age of two, children from under-resourced households have heard 15 million fewer words than children of the same age from high-income households. This “word gap,” as researchers are calling it, puts children who are already disadvantaged financially at a higher risk for falling behind in school.
Clinton’s “Too Small to Fail” aims to address this issue and encourages more parental involvement with education, as well as more flexibility at work so parents are able to spend time speaking and reading to their kids.
At Waterford Institute, we place a huge emphasis on supporting our earliest learners with research-based educational tools. Every child deserves a chance at success; young learners truly are “too small to fail.” We also encourage parental involvement for the success of children, as well as continued learning beyond the classroom. Our products align with “Too Small to Fail” in the following ways:
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One of our Pre-K programs, UPSTART, prepares children for school and gives a jumpstart on reading.
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Empower teachers to tailor lessons to students’ needs.
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Use research-proven software to help any child learn.
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Help reduce the word gap.
If you want to learn more about how Waterford can help and relate to the “Too Small to Fail” initiative, get more info on our products online or contact us.
