November 2022

November is Idaho Nonprofit Awareness Month which is a great time to talk about how Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers are not only quality early childhood programs, but also a nonprofit serving low income families and children who would otherwise not have access to programs like ours.

At Giraffe Laugh, our purpose is to ensure school readiness, empower families and build strong futures. We do this no matter what a parent’s economic situation is because we know that the most growth happens for impoverished children.

When children start behind in school they stay behind, and it’s important for our world to encourage educational, nurturing and stimulating environments for children no matter where they spend their days. In Idaho, half of all children enter kindergarten unprepared. An example of being unprepared means a child can’t name ten letters of the alphabet or write their name.

Strengthening families and embracing each of them in the process empowers the adults in a child’s life to provide the best case scenario at home and at school. Parents need support in times of need, connections with other adults and resiliency to bounce back when they encounter issues. Parents need to understand child development to encourage healthy relationships in their family life.

Nutrition is one arm of building strong futures for kids and families. 1 in 10 children go to bed hungry every night in Idaho. With food pantries, meal service each day and nutrition curriculum we tackle food insecurity and access. Beyond that field trips, enriched opportunities such as ballet and swim lessons level the playing field for young children before they launch into the public school system.

Lastly, this is the month of THANKS and GIVING. We thank each and every one of you for your gifts of talent, time and treasures to our nonprofit. Have a wonderful holiday with your family.

To learn more about Giraffe Laugh, visit https://www.giraffelaugh.org/about/.