TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - It's called the Early Beginnings Resource Center, and it's located inside the Early Childhood Education Center in Tupelo.
The purpose of the center is to give parents an opportunity to help their children up to age five develop a strong foundation for learning.
Anita Buchanan with the Early Childhood Education Center in Tupelo said, "The vast majority of our program is based on literacy enrichment. There are lots of opportunities for pre-reading skills and pre-math skills. We have computers. We have Lego's. We have puzzles. It's just a wealth of materials for children."
The center works much like a library.
Parents can check out materials to take home or bring their children here to see what materials work best for them.
Even if a child isn't enrolled in school yet, the materials are available for any resident of Tupelo.
Parents who use the center say they've already seen a difference in their children.
Parent Tameka Armon said, "We've seen improvements in his learning, his social skills, his math and his communicating with us as parents."
Parent Hollie Bowlin said, "I'm hoping for her to have a good foundation once she starts kindergarten. I want her to be a step ahead and her foot in the door. It will make it easier for her once she starts kindergarten."
Educators at the center say this extra bit of help can go a long way in a child's overall success throughout school.
Reyna Shackelford with the Early Beginnings Resource Center said, "It's tremendously important parents check out these materials and take them home so their children can continue learning. Teachers can't do it all. Parents are the child's first teacher."
The educational items can be checked out for up to two weeks at a time.
The hours vary each weekday at the center.
Twice a month educators host a parent workshop there.
Call the Early Childhood Education Center in Tupelo for more information.
