WHY ISÂ THIS SO IMPORTANT?
Research says that education is the key to the fight of upward mobility and a lifetime of success. However, many low-income and minority children are born losing the fight before they even begin to understand what the fight is. Here's What the Data Says...
As early as one-year-old, children from low-income, minority households fall behind children from wealthy households in educational attainment. This 'achievement gap' continues to widen throughout a child's educational journey.
Low-income children begin kindergarten an average of 12-14 months behind wealthy children (U.S. Department of Education), are 10.2% less likely to finish high school, and are 11.2% less likely to complete college (Eng, 2012).
In Ohio, these educational disparities may stem from a lack of school readiness at an early age. Low-income minority children in Ohio are less likely to be read to at home than high-income white children, and they often have less access to stimulating activities like educational toys and preschool programs.
​Unfortunately, these disparities can impact other areas of a child's life by impacting their job outcomes, residential area, and health outcomes in adulthood.
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But there are ways to help!
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According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading to children for at least 15 minutes a day starting from birth helps to increase their cognitive development by stimulating key language, social, and literacy skills.
A national survey found that only 46% of parents read to their children each day; and only 34% of parents read to their children for 15 minutes or more (DPFC, 2016). Many parents felt that they could not find time in the day to actively read and engage with their children, so the key is finding a routine that works well for each family.
Creating home environments full of talking, singing, and playing also helps to build strong brain connections that create a foundation for future learning.