The Plant the Seed of Learning Community Impact Partnership is working to address United Way of Lancaster County’s Bold Goal of 100% of our students being ready for kindergarten by engaging, educating and empowering parents of children from birth to age 2 to plant seeds of learning through supportive environments with meaningful activities focused on brain development through play.

During the first three years of life, early experiences especially influence brain development and provide a strong foundation for learning (Peterson, 2012). Learning early language and literacy skills are predictive of later reading development (Shanahan & Lonigan, 2016). Parental involvement in their child’s literacy practices are a more powerful force than other family background variables, such as social and level of parent education (Flouri & Buchanan, 2014). The earlier parents become involved in these practices, the more profound the results!