PlayDate

The first five years of a child’s life are a time of enormous social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. For children to grow into successful adults, they need a supportive and healthy early foundation. We know that nearly 50% of the children in the Louisville community are not prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn, and we know that children who start out behind, tend to stay behind.

In an effort to increase kindergarten readiness and grow STEM educational experiences for our community’s early learners, the KSC partnering with GE Appliances, is hosting FREE Playdates the 3rd Thursday of every month beginning in February 2018. Exclusively for future scientists ages 0 to 4, the free Playdates take the big kids out of the equation, ensuring the little ones have space to freely investigate, build, experience and learn to play.

Each month will explore a different theme and introduce ways for caregivers, parents, and teachers to extend on the exhibit’s experiences at home or in the classroom. Using books as a platform, we have developed activities that utilize the unique properties of Science in Play to encourage higher level thinking skills such as wondering and asking questions and linking cause and effect. Take home “Do Science Cards” will be included with simple activities a parent or caregiver can do with their child to reinforce those new skills using common household or easily obtainable objects in places they go every day. These experiences are not only designed for the child but also to empower caregivers and parents to be an active participant in the child’s learning.