Boston Children's Museum

Together with its partner, Countdown to Kindergarten, the museum will collaborate to help at-risk children prepare for the public school system and the transition from preschool to kindergarten. The project also plans to involve parents, kindergarten teachers, and preschool educators to address the key issues of communication, support, and readiness. The first part of the project will articulate a set of "readiness expectations" through three symposia with early educators. The project will also create and implement engaging activities to help children develop the skills needed to reach readiness. Welcoming and supporting activities for parents to participate with their children as families are also a significant aspect of the project. Throughout the project preschool and kindergarten educators will design and implement readiness activities. Finally, the model will be disseminated to other children's museums to help them build connections among educators and the families of young children