Leading up to becoming a father nine months ago, it seemed that everyone had tips, advice and words of wisdom. I accepted these with the full knowledge that until I was a father, I wouldn't truly know what I was in for. And understandably, that led to a lot of nervous excitement. Similarly, I started my job at Metro United Way in July of 2014 without truly knowing what I was in for. Until I immersed myself in the crucial work of MUW, I didn't truly understand what changing the odds for our kids and families meant. I also didn't realize that having a baby and working at Metro United Way would create such a profound connection to and passion for the work.

In my time with Metro United Way, I've learned a lot about early childhood education, development and the profound implications for the child's future that early education has. I was startled to learn that nearly 50% of our community's children are not prepared when they enter kindergarten, with that percentage being much higher in certain zip codes. I was especially interested to learn that preparation for kindergarten starts at birth! No pressure or anything...

It wasn't enough to just keep my new baby boy Aaron happy, fed and his diaper changed, but I developed a feeling of pressure to make sure Aaron was ready for kindergarten when the time comes five years from now... As a start, my wife and I signed up for Metro United Way's Ages & Stages Questionnaire program. Designed to help monitor your child's early development and make sure they're on track, the questionnaires are easy to fill out, something we complete together and each questionnaire submitted comes with a free book delivered in the mail!

It's easy to get lulled into thinking that we have five years before we have to think about kindergarten and everything that comes along with it: questioning if he's ready, learning the school system, the enrolling process, buses and much more. However, preparation has already started whether we realize it or not. Reading to Aaron, which he loves, is teaching him valuable skills and he's developing a love for books already (even if a lot of that love is the taste of books...). Playing with blocks, puzzles and other toys develop crucial cognitive skills, creative expression, physical motor development, social and emotional development and more. We’re creating the foundation of knowledge in Aaron’s brain that he can then build upon and thrive in the future.

In the coming months and years, Aaron will go through countless mental, physical, social and emotional changes, and our number one job is to make sure he gets off to the best start possible. Programs like the Ages & Stages Questionnaires help ensure that happens, which is extremely comforting. Metro United Way and their early childhood programs are there to help every step of the way because educational attainment offers the greatest opportunity for our community's children to succeed; and isn't that what every parent wants?

Alex Clark is the e-Communications & Website Manager at Metro United Way. He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky before graduating from Indiana University in Bloomington and spending three years living in New York City where he met his wife, Stephanie. Alex is also a musician who plays regularly in bands around Louisville and writes music for television, radio and advertising to boot. He's married to Stephanie and is the proud father of Aaron (see cuteness above).

Feel free to email Alex at alex.clark@metrounitedway.org.
Twitter- @alexmclark