Why are Judy Centers important?

Research confirms that high quality care and education are critical to a child's future school success. A child's early experiences set the stage for future learning. Judy Centers work with all the environments children may be in before entering school, including Head Start, child care, nursery schools, and children at home with a parent or other relative. If all caregivers are knowledgeable of child development and engage in appropriate activities with young children, the children will be better prepared for school. Working with children birth to 3 years of age also allows Judy Centers to identify children with developmental delays or other special needs. This is extremely important because early intervention can give a child and his family the services and support necessary to ensure that by the time he or she enters school, the child can develop to his or her potential.