“For children who are at risk, the gap between their performance and the performance of children who are not at risk begins to appear as early as 18 months of age on standardized tests.”
-Dr. Jack P. Shonkoff
Why First Steps?
Spartanburg County First Steps is the First Step to helping prepare your child for the future and school success. We recognize the importance of early childhood development and the need for quality early childcare and education environments. Our programs focus not only on meeting the needs for the individual development of children 0 to 5 years of age but also on strengthening adults’ parenting skills and the overall health of their families. In support of our mission, we provide programs and services for at- risk children and their families and through collaborative efforts, we continue to strengthen and expand services.
News and Views
Baby Talk: October 2019
Several years ago while attending a BUILD Initiative Round-table I had the privilege to spend the morning with Camille Catlett, a national leader and expert with more than 25 years in the field of early care and education. She was a sharing her expertise and deep...
The Basics
The Basics are five fun, simple and powerful ways that every family can give every child a great start in life! During the early years of brain growth, infants and toddlers absorb massive amounts of information from interacting with parents and other caregivers. This...
Organizing the Classroom for High Quality Learning
Research tell us that a key component of a high quality learning environment is the physical arrangement of a classroom. Community Playthings offers helpful suggestions for creating a classroom that supports creativity and exploration. Click here to read more about...