Children with strong language skills not only find it easier to express themselves and connect with others - they arrive at school ready to learn and excel in multiple academic subjects. * Gardner-Neblett, N., & Gallagher, K. C. (2013). More than baby talk: 10 ways to promote the language and communication skills of infants and toddlers. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, FPG Child Development Institute. Source

Active play is essential to a child’s health. It’s also been linked to academic success later in life. * Carlson, F. (n.d.). What Is Big Body Play and Why Is It Important? source * Abadie, B. R., & Brown, S. P. (n.d.). Physical Activity Promotes Academic Achievement and a Healthy Lifestyle when Incorporated into Early Childhood Education. Forum on Public Policy. source

Children learn to solve problems creatively and cooperatively through play, developing social competence that is key to academic success. * Wallace, K. (2015, July 16). Kindergartners' behavior tied to adult success. source * Damon E. Jones, Mark Greenberg, and Max Crowley. Early Social-Emotional Functioning and Public Health: The Relationship Between Kindergarten Social Competence and Future Wellness. American Journal of Public Health: November 2015, Vol. 105, No. 11, pp. 2283-2290. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302630

By playing pretend, children develop language, literacy, imagination and creativity, as well as social competence that lasts a lifetime. * Gopnik, A., & Walker, C. M. (2013). Considering Counterfactuals: the Relationship between Causal Learning and Pretend Play. American Journal of Play,6(1), 15-28. source

As children express themselves through music and art, they also learn to accept change, solve problems, persevere and self-regulate - all qualities proven to enhance academic outcomes. * Creative Arts Expression. (2015). Retrieved January 03, 2017 source * Itkowitz, C. (2016, March 2). Harvard researchers discovered the one thing everyone needs for happier, healthier lives. source

We nurture children to develop healthy relationships with adults and peers because, as common sense dictates and research proves, positive relationships are the key to a happy, healthy life. * National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2004). Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships: Working Paper No. 1. source

Messy play is more than just "making a mess." Enabling children to touch, see and interact with their environment enhances cognitive development and improves their understanding of the world. * Messy Play. Barking & Dagenham. source

From early childhood right through higher education, happiness and learning go hand in hand. Children who are happy to be at school are poised to have a lifelong love for learning! * Jones, V. (2016, March 3). Because I'm Happy. source