Office for Children
Fairfax County Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Pkwy., Suite 920
Fairfax, VA 22035
Media contacts: 703-324-7162 or 703-324-8042
TTY: 711
Office for Children’s Display
Can Help Parents in Springfield and Tyson’s Corner
An estimated 12,000 Fairfax County children start kindergarten each year. Parents can help their children get ready for school by doing simple activities together using ordinary household items. Some of these activities are illustrated with a special exhibit that will be displayed at the Kingstowne Library and the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library during the month of May.
“Parents can help their children learn science, math and reading
concepts while making dinner, shopping for groceries, or even doing
laundry,” says Betsi Closter, who directs School Readiness initiatives
for the Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Office for
Children.
Parents who visit the Kingstowne or Tysons-Pimmit library branches in
May can take home free copies of “Helping Your Child Love to Learn” while
supplies last. The booklet was published by Fairfax Futures, a nonprofit
organization that supports the Office for Children’s school readiness
efforts. Fairfax Futures’ booklet can also be
read online at www.fairfax-futures.org.
“Research shows that preschoolers who have quality early learning
experiences start kindergarten with stronger academic skills, which can
lead to higher test scores, higher graduation rates, and higher income as
adults,” says Fairfax Futures’ Executive Director Vera Steiner
Blore.
Child care professionals who help care for and educate infants, toddlers and preschoolers can support parents’ efforts at preparing children for school success by reading the library’s copy of “The Early Learning Guidelines.” This manual, published by the Office for Children, can also be read online.
