Kindergarten Gear Up

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Kindergarten Gear Up In San Diego County, approximately 40 percent of children do not attend preschool. Research has proven that preschool benefits all children, especially children coming from low-income and/or disadvantaged communities. In 2017 five libraries within the San Diego County Library system piloted “Kindergarten Gear-Up,” a 10-session program that incorporates activities to promote early language and literacy development in children. As a result of a $35,000 grant from the California State Library, the San Diego County Library, in partnership with San Diego State University, developed Kindergarten Gear-Up for children not enrolled in preschool programs to develop the knowledge and skills they need to successfully enter kindergarten. Program content includes learning numbers, shapes and colors, following direction, and taking turns. While children participate in the program and learn to work independently, caregivers are exposed to “Parent Gear-Up” to learn about school readiness from local area experts. Over 1,000 children and caregivers have attended the pilot program thus far. Community surveys and focus groups indicated that families were applying new skills learned in the program and that the program was meeting a need for addressing Kindergarten readiness. San Diego County Library seeks to expand the program to all 33 branches in its library system.