Many parents in Kansas City have talked about how expensive daycare is, especially for infants and toddlers.
However, missing early development opportunities can make it harder for children when they start kindergarten.
A local nonprofit, Start at Zero, aims to close this learning gap by offering free educational support for young children.
Rasheedah Villarreal enrolled her son in Start at Zero right after he turned one. She says it has been a great decision.
“He was mostly at home with my mom,” Villarreal said. “I wanted him to interact with other children. I was excited that he could go somewhere once a week to learn communication skills and how to be around others.”
The program’s benefits continued when her daughter joined too.
“We did science projects, made slime, painted outside, and spend quality time together,” Villarreal shared. “My son and I are even going to see The Lion King. It’s about having conversations and bonding.”
Start at Zero works by partnering with parents and caregivers to provide early childhood education at home. The program is for children up to five years old.
“We don’t often talk about what happens before kindergarten, even though 90% of the brain develops by then,” explained Amanda Vega-Mavec, Executive Director of Start at Zero.
Start at Zero can support families in many ways, even if parents work a lot. They offer visits not only at home but also at schools, churches, libraries, parks, or other public places to fit family needs.
“We have done visits at the library and parks,” Vega-Mavec said. “We also take families on field trips as part of our group activities.”
Funding these field trips is one of the program’s biggest expenses. This month, KCTV is donating up to $1,500 to help cover those costs.
“Money for field trips helps families enjoy attractions across the city, and we are very grateful,” Vega-Mavec told KCTV.
Villarreal added, “Field trips helped our whole family fall in love with being outdoors. I thank Start at Zero for teaching us how to play and explore nature.”
Families who enroll in Start at Zero also receive free health screenings for their children.
