New, Innovative Early Learning Readiness Program Teaches Caregivers to Provide Better Development Opportunities to Preschoolers

For many working parents, preparing young children for kindergarten can be daunting, especially when that child spends an average of 33 hours each week being looked after by a grandparent, other relative, friend or babysitter. Not surprisingly, most of these informal caregivers focus on loving care and generally do not have early childhood development expertise. To improve school readiness among children up to 5 years old, particularly from underserved and low-income communities, the Y has launched a national pilot initiative called the Early Learning Readiness Program for Informal