The trail winds its way around Hinton Park’s sidewalks and uses learning games to build preliteracy skills crucial for school readiness. Each stop on the trail features a colorful sign with easy instructions for adults to follow with children.
Nadine Coleman, director of the Center for Families and Children, said the trail serves as a means to encourage families to take advantage of everyday learning opportunities for children. This helps prepare young children for the public education system, she said.
“This is a great way for us to work on one of the priorities we have, and that is to help everyone in this community recognize the importance of the early years,” Coleman said.
Ultimately, Coleman said, she hopes to have trails in at least two other Petal parks.
Born Learning is a national initiative of United Way Worldwide, which focuses on early childhood education as a high-priority issue.
Education is also one of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi’s priorities.
Dan Kibodeaux, United Way of Southeast Mississippi executive director, said Born Learning includes efforts that begin at birth and near completion as students are headed to college or into the work force.
“Our mantra is success by 21 … either out in the work force or in college preparing for the work force,” Kibodeaux said.
He said statistics show 90 percent of a child’s development occurs by age 3. The Born Learning Trail, he said, aids parents in engaging and teaching their children.
Kibodeaux said Hatiesburg has a Born Learning Trail but that Petal’s will serve as a model for future trails within the community.
Time and the elements have caused deterioration to the Town Square Park trail in Hattiesburg, but the ultimate goal, Kibodeaux said, is to expand throughout the United Way service area.
“We would like to replace the (trail) at Town Square Park,” Kibodeaux said. “I don’t want this to be just a Petal thing.”
The Born Learning Trail project in Petal cost $1,875 and was a joint effort among the United Way of Southeast Mississippi, Petal’s Excel By 5 Coalition, Walmart, the Petal school district and the city of Petal, Coleman said.
News link: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20111125/NEWS/111250330/1001/RSS01