I had the opportunity to participate in the PNC Grow Up Great Advisory Board meeting last week. It is always a wealth of information, so I thought that I would share some of the key points with you.
PNC celebrated its 19th annual Great Month, which occurs every April. A host of in-person and virtual activities occurred across the PNC footprint. Some included a Donors Choose flash fund with 1.9 million in teacher requests filled, 10,000 Can Do Cans were assembled by volunteers, 218 trikes and 218 wagons were built, school supply drives were conducted across all markets, to name but a few of the programs.
Sesame Workshop announced a multiyear focus on children’s emotional wellbeing with research-based resources and Sesame content. Their strategies support all families from celebrating joyful, everyday moments to teaching children the skills they need to understand and manage their feelings. They also are addressing how to help caring adults recognize the signs of more serious mental health challenges.
Steve Barnett summarized a National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) Fall 2022 survey. The survey asked 1,000 parents of children ages 3-5 about their children’s experiences with preschool, and childcare with results compared to pre-pandemic data. Some of the findings were:
- Preschool enrollment has come back but not in the lower income groups (under 25,000K). 82% of families identified costs, and the absence of childcare.
- Concern remains regarding the continued drop in parents reading to children and the potential impact on early literacy. 85% read to the child pre-pandemic and 73% in Fall of 2022. White families dropped from 91% pre pandemic to 78% Fall 2022. Hispanic families read 77% of the time whereas in Fall 2022 53%
- Educational level appears to impact reading as 47% with less than high school read to children vs 85% with a BA or higher read.
- 50% of children do not play outside every day. Why? Perhaps, Dangerous neighborhoods?
- How states set priorities for ECE can depend on the wealth of the state.
- Equity and justice in the community: Your neighborhood should not determine your success.
PNC voluntarism continues to grow exponentially. Great Month 2023 saw a 95% increase in employee voluntarism compared to Great Month 2022. The impact on employees and participating organizations is significant.
The collegiality of the meeting always leaves me with more food for thought……