INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — With schools closed, families have had to adjust to e-learning.
“There’s a major technological gap in our country and people that don’t have access to computers and internet those are the children who are going to fall behind their peers who are actually using the computer at home with their families,” said the Director of Public Relations at Waterford.org Kim Fischer.
That’s why the education-based nonprofit Waterford.org is a launching a summer program for children under the age of five. It basically condense their yearlong program into a few months. The only eligibility requirement is the family is 200 percent of the federal poverty.
“This summer program is a new thing for us,” said Fischer.
Upstart is a 25 minute a day program, five days a week. Parents said the flexibility of being able to engage in those 25 minutes a day at whatever time and on whatever day best suits both them and their children is extremely helpful.
“We are hopeful that with that amount of time these kiddos are going to walk into kindergarten much more ready to go than they would have without it,” she said.
The online software program uses song, dance and storytelling to help kids learn. It includes "adaptive software that the child uses, it kinda learns right along with the child. But then we give parents push notifications to let them know what they’re child is learning and how they can continue to engage with their children offline. It’s a really important part of this process. We also give parents a personal coach. So, if they have questions, if they have concerns they can reach out to their coach at anytime and get answers to those questions," said Fischer.
In Indiana, 26 percent of households do not have internet access and 15 percent do not have a computer or smartphone. That technological gap becomes bigger when you zero in on rural Indiana (map).
“As a single mom, on top of my work, we were going to the library everyday to do his (Axton’s) 30 minutes a day,” said Greensburg mom Monica Schaffer. Her son is graduating from Waterford.org’s yearlong program this summer before starting kindergarten in the fall.
“When they (Waterford.org) found out I was going to the library to get his schoolwork done they paid for me to get internet while he’s in the program,” she added.
With libraries closed due to the pandemic, Schaffer said that without the program providing a laptop and internet she would have “been at a loss.”
Schaffer has workbooks and flashcards that she gets from “Walmart and the dollar store” for her son. And she says this program has been a huge help. Her bedtime routine with her son used to be mom reading a story to her son. Now Axton reads a book to mom, and when he finishes, as a reward mom reads a bedtime story to him.
Waterford.org said their goal is to help set up families and children with the best possible foundation possible. Many parents are working at home due to the pandemic and some may not have a computer.
Wateford.org said they understand that these parents and families can benefit from digital access.
“We only have the child only for 25 minutes a day, five days a week. So, if a parent can benefit from having that computer in the household, we support that. We just ask the parents make sure they carve out 25 minutes a day for their kid. But yeah, we support parents using the technology to get ahead in any shape or form that they need,” said Fischer.
The program covers everything from math, to science, to reading and critical thinking.
My son “can count to 10, he can count to 20, and he’s only five,” said Isabella Bedel.
Isabella was a little skeptical of an online learning program, but said after seeing her son count and sing the days of the week, she realized “it works!”
Both Schaffer and Bedel sit with their sons while they’re on the computer.
“We don’t just put him on the computer and walk away because there are times you need to stop him, slow him down. And ‘ok, you need to think about this answer,’” said Schaffer.
“Because kids, they go fast sometimes and they just want to click stuff,” she said laughing.
Bedel said the program mentors are extremely helpful. When she found her son needed additional exercises on a specific lesson, the mentor sent her worksheets.
To register for the summer program and see if you qualify you can visit https://www.waterford.org/summer-program/ and click “register.”