Teachers recommend the best method for teaching children of preschool age
the necessary social skills is to expose them to settings where there are
other children. "In today's competitive world, parents feel pressured to push
their children to get an early jump-start on academic skills," said family
therapist and parent educator Sheri Glucoft Wong.

childhood ideas

"Our children are continually bombarded with different media influences
that may shape the way they learn and perceive the world around them," said
Nina Shokraii Rees, assistant deputy secretary, Office of Innovation and
Improvement, U. Department of Education. More information about PBS is available
at http://www. PBS is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. In fact, parents who focus too much on
academic and technical skills like number and letter recognition in
preschool -aged children may inadvertently be overlooking the fundamental
building blocks toddlers need to get along with others and do well in school,
according to a national survey of 350 preschool teachers conducted by Horizon
Research Corporation. The new program allows teachers to focus on
the specific developmental milestones for each age group, and provides parents
needed support and guidance related to the development of their children.

About Gymboree Play + Music:
Gymboree Play + Music(R) offers children ages newborn to 5 years the
opportunity to explore, learn, play and have fun in an innovative parent-child
program.

Media Contact:
Sara Black/Michele Nachum
Manning Selvage + Lee
323.

kafe feature

S.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet ,
averaging more than 30 million unique visits and 380 million page views per
month in 2004.
Teachers indicated that parents who support their children's verbal
communications, ability to follow directions and participate in group
activities will help their children get the most out of preschool and will
help cut down on behavioral problems inside the classroom and out.

parent early

Summit attendees will hear from nationally renowned education experts who
will consider how media -- television, video games , computers and the Internet
-- shape and influence children's abilities to process and retain information
in their preschool and early elementary years. Keynote speaker Dr. Department of Education to ensure that parents and children have choices
in media that will strengthen children's learning skills and enrich their
minds.com
michele.

journals feature

Aiming to examine the impact of
media on children's literacy skills, the invitation-only event offers
participants an opportunity to learn about and exchange information on current
research, insights and future projections as well as lay a foundation to forge
new partnerships among the public broadcasting, reading research, technology
and entertainment fields. Reid Lyon,
chief of the child development and behavior branch at the National Institutes
of Health, will specifically outline current information about how children
learn and the impact of using scientific evidence to influence the development
of educationally-oriented television shows .S. "We think this seminar is a
wonderful opportunity to pull together the best and the brightest in the early
learning, media and technology fields to address the important questions
facing educators , parents and caregivers.

Update: National Survey of 350 Preschool Teachers Finds Social Skills Trump Academic Abilities

reviewed preschool

S."
Since its founding, Gymboree's philosophy has been to focus on the whole
child to encourage physical, cognitive and social/emotional skills in a
nurturing and fun environment.

ideas preschool

Michael Cohen, president of The Michael Cohen Group based in
New York City. Programs supported by Ready
To Learn include ARTHUR, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, DRAGON TALES, and BETWEEN
THE LIONS, which are broadcast via the PBS.

parent bi

By bringing together the
best minds studying media and education , public television's Ready To Learn
team from around the country, as well as representatives of others engaged in
children's media, we hope to build on that learning and work together with the
U.
Department of Education.
The issue, according to 80% of the preschool teachers surveyed, is that
parents need support and guidance when it comes to learning how their children
develop, and are overemphasizing scholastic skills versus social development.
To find out about the new Gymboree Learning Program or to find a location and
register for classes, parents can visit http://www.

early preschool

S.

About the U.

magazines practice

, The U.S. "Studies have shown that media
can be a powerful teaching tool, specifically that carefully constructed,
educational programs improve pre-reading skills. Character Development - Not Reciting ABCs - Is Key to
Toddlers' Success in Preschool

SAN FRANCISCO, Learning numbers and ABCs
are not the most important lessons young children should master before heading
off to preschool, a new report finds. Examples include playgroups, parent -child development classes
and play dates."

Gymboree: A Solution for Socialization, Parental Support
For 30 years, parents have trusted Gymboree Play + Music -- the pioneer of
the parent -child play program industry -- to provide a warm community where
they can encourage their child's development.
"Gymboree programs are one way that kids can feel seen and appreciated for
their own creative expression and also understand what it means to be doing
that in a setting where other kids are doing the same.

feature bi

The services and materials include local
workshops for parents and teachers , free children's books, television
programming, related newsletters and innovative Web sites for parents,
teachers and children.
The teachers surveyed also said that societal pressures have undoubtedly
influenced parents' thinking and behavior as it relates to the development of
their children.black@mslpr.

parent practice

"
The new Gymboree Learning Program includes the classes that have been
popular with parents for decades, plus an expanded class offering for toddlers
and pre-school aged children -- classes include Fitness Fun, Global Kids, Yoga
Fun, Art, Music, Baby Signs and Mommy and Baby Fitness.

emphasizes reporting

Gymboree is the pioneer and worldwide leader of
interactive parent-child early learning programs and has more than 500 sites
in 23 countries.

About The Gymboree Corporation:
The Gymboree Corporation's specialty retail brands offer unique,
high-quality products delivered with personalized customer service.6000
sara.

journals parent

Department of Education
and PBS are hosting a Ready To Learn summit titled "A Child's Life: Learning,
Literacy and the Role of the Media," to be held on Feb. 3-4, 2005 at the
Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, MD."
Funded by the U.org), continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted
learning environments for children.nachum@mslpr .

learners lesson

About PBS
PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise that serves the nation's 349
public noncommercial television stations, reaching nearly 90 million people
each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to
television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and
dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award
competitions. PBS is the leading provider of educational materials for K-12
teachers, and offers a broad array of educational services for adult learners.
Parents looking for suggestions on how best to prepare their children for
preschool are encouraged to visit one of the 500 Gymboree locations worldwide.gymboree.

magazines feature

"
Additionally, the summit will be moderated by prominent education
researcher Dr.
PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online
(http;//www .

peer early

Featuring Renowned Early Childhood Education Experts on the
Impact of Media on Children's Learning and Literacy Skills

ALEXANDRIA, Va.S.S. For a location near you, call 1-866-349-GROW, or visit
http://www. The Gymboree Corporation also operates online stores at
http: //www.

feature magazines

"Knowing that children spend more time watching television than anything
else, it is critical to understand media's impact on children's learning,"
said Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of PBS. Secretary of Education is authorized to award grants to
develop, produce, and distribute educational and instructional video
programming for preschool and elementary school children and their parents in
order to facilitate student academic achievement. Our classes were developed by early childhood experts and include an
array of early learning choices that encompass physical, cognitive and social
skill development.

learners participation

Department of Education, the Ready To Learn service is
a national effort to improve the school readiness of young children through
quality educational children's television programming combined with extensive
outreach services and materials offered by public television stations in local
areas throughout the country. Ready To Learn Television grants
are administered by the Office of Innovation and Improvement at the U.gymboree. As of
October 1, 2005, The Gymboree Corporation operated a total of 655 stores:
577 Gymboree(R) retail stores (549 in the United States and 28 in Canada),
62 Janie and Jack(R) retail shops and 16 Janeville(R) stores in the United
States .com.866.

kindergarten practice

U.S. Department of Education and PBS Co-Host Education Summit on Children Media and Literacy

Cohen will present innovative market and public opinion
research to help identify potential solutions. Through PBS Ready To Learn, nearly one million parents
and teachers have helped prepare eight million children for success in school.pbs. The program's benefits are that children
become engaged and active learners, and are exposed to important social
interactions and activities such as sharing and exploring with other children
of the same age. Plus, parents feel comfortable to let their child explore
new activities in a community in which they feel safe.

childhood magazines

"This survey demonstrates
that parents can have a more important influence on their young children's
eventual school success by supporting basic social and character development
and by providing them with opportunities to play and learn in cooperation with
others.
"Each level of the program is designed to let kids express themselves and
to explore the full range of their stage of development," said Glucoft Wong .com, or call
1-866-349-GROW.

practice early

Department of Education
Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by No Child
Left Behind, the U.

zines peer

The summit also offers several sessions featuring other highly acclaimed
educational and children's media experts to address the complexity of today 's
media, such as its contributions, current role and position, trends and
potential obligation in facilitating language and literacy development for
young children.janieandjack.

Sites listed in this category should feature journals or e-zines related to Early Childhood Education.

journals teach

Still the leader in early
learning programs for children zero to five, Gymboree (Nasdaq: GYMB) launched
its new Gymboree Learning Program based upon the Gymboree Learning
Continuum -- a developmental grouping in six-month increments through which
children progress as they grow.com.com

learners reviewed

It is a pivotal time in this
country to measure and analyze the impact of our changing media landscape on
children and literacy, and it is essential to set the right course for the
future.pbskids.
"Gymboree is not about pushing kids to be exceptional or advanced, it's
about helping kids get the most out of where they are," said Glucoft Wong.
"Children need to know two things to feel good about themselves and to get
along in the world: that they are unique and special, and that they are just
like everybody else.