Ready Ready Covington’s free early childhood fest Saturday to celebrate learning through fun

Saturday morning will be packed with fun, learning, community spirit, and more – all part of an organized effort aimed at helping Covington children get a strong start in their school careers.

The third-annual Early Childhood Fall Fest — a free event sponsored by the Read Ready Covington (RRC) Coalition, the City’s early learning initiative – is for families with children up to 6-years-old.

It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the Lincoln Grant Scholar House, 824 Greenup St., and in Randolph Park.

“The Early Childhood Fall Fest is a fantastic opportunity for families with young children to explore, play, and connect,” said RRC Director Mary Kay Connolly. “We will provide a safe, fun opportunity for families to talk, sing, read, play, and move with their children to build connections that increase brain development.”

Research shows that 90 percent of physical brain development occurs in the first few years of a child’s life, with the most significant growth occurring during the first five years. For that reason, Connolly urges parents to read to their children and foster an excitement for learning during those critical years.

“Learning begins at birth,” said Connolly. “Children learn and grow so very quickly before they ever step foot in a school. They need home and community experiences to nurture their curiosity and provide play as learning. That is why we invite families with really little children to join us at this special experience.”

The Early Childhood Fall Fest will also feature:

• The Covington Fire Department’s Touch-a-Truck experience.

• The Newport Aquarium and WAVE Foundation’s WAVE on Wheels Tide Pool presentation, a mobile exhibit that brings the excitement of the Newport Aquarium to connect children with creatures that thrive in the rocky and ever-changing environments of tide pools (think sea stars, urchins, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, or conches).

• Live music from Charles Preston III.

• Free grilled hot dogs, snacks, drinks, goodie bags, games, prizes, and bunnies to hold (thanks to the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission).

The first 200 families who attend the festival will receive a tote bag with activities, school supplies, and the early childhood Family Guides with fun at-home and on-the-go child-friendly activities — which can also be found at www.LetsLearnKY.org .

“Read Ready Covington’s partners work hard to keep this event free so that all families with young children who are 6 and under have fun experiences and receive the available materials to help children grow and thrive,” Connolly said. “We encourage them to come play some games, participate in touch-a-truck, pet a little critter, have a little lunch, and maybe even win one of the raffle prizes to take home.”

RRC’s partners and sponsors for the event include:

• Heritage Bank
• Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission
• Head Start and Family Wellness teams
• Kenton County Public Library
• Funshine Childcare Center
• LaRosa’s Madison Avenue
• WAVE Foundation
• Covington Parks & Recreation
• Covington Solid Waste and Recycling
• Covington Public Works
• Lincoln Grant Scholar House
• NKY Health Department

Free parking is available on the day of the event at the Saratoga Parking Lot and the Covington Independent School Board Parking Lot, both on East Eighth Street between Madison Avenue and Scott Boulevard.

City of Covington

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