Resources » CARES Parent Education Series

CARES celebrates parents as a child’s first and most influential teacher.

What is CARES?

CARES, Children Acquiring Rich Experience and Skills, is a research-based program that shares information with parents about child development.  The program offers rich experience based on a developmental continuum that will help children experience success in school.

The program focuses on:

•   social-emotional development
•   physical development
•   language and early reading
•   math and reasoning skills

Young children learn best by short and frequent repetition in a secure environment with people they love and trust. That’s home! They also learn by being actively involved and engaged. CARES encourages you to talk, sing, read, and play with your child in simple ways that foster essential skills. These rich, high-quality experiences can support foundational learning for your child, preparing them for success in school and life.

Why is CARES important?

From birth through age five, the foundation of a child’s brain architecture is developed, and the rate of learning is unparalleled to any other time in development.  The power of interactions and play experiences of the early years is unimaginable-your enjoyable playtime builds the skills and brain architecture that your child will benefit from throughout life.

Where does this program come from?

The CARES program is adapted from READY! for Kindergarten, a program of the Children’s Reading Foundation located in Kenneqick, Washington.  Local funding and support is provided by the Kellogg Relmagine Early Years grant and the Traverse Bay Intermediate School District.