(December 12, 2011 – Corpus Christi, Tx.) One thousand children in classrooms across the AEP Texas service territory will soon receive backpacks full of books and other educational materials meant to further learning and childhood development thanks to the AEP Foundation, AEP Texas and the Action for Children Foundation (ACF).

Aimed to increase young children’s understanding of science before they start school, the backpacks – officially known as Adventure in Science kits – contain guidebooks full of learning activities for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and the materials necessary to complete guidebook activities.

According to ACF, today’s kindergarten students need a higher level of knowledge when starting school than past generations required, especially in the sciences.  ACF said the backpacks would give parents the information they need to prepare their children prior to starting school.

AEP Texas will distribute the learning kits to classrooms.

Distribution will begin at 1:30 p.m. today at Kostoryz Elementary, 3602 Panama Drive.

To help parents, Action for Children developed Learning Begins Right From the Start®

Adventures in Science in 2009 with funding and technical support provided by AEP.  AEP is committed to its corporate mission of supporting youth and education.

Adventures in Science is a resource kit and guidebook for families with children from birth through five, developed to introduce young children to the wonders of science by tapping into their natural curiosity. Packed in a canvas backpack, the resource kit contains science-oriented books and materials (flashlight, wand magnet, puzzle, measuring cups, bug jar, etc.) to use in guiding children’s learning. The guidebook contains more than 100 activities divided into two sections: “Learning with Infants and Toddlers” and “Learning with 3- to 5-Year Olds.” While the kits are based on Early Learning Content Standards for Science in the areas of Life Sciences; Physical Sciences; and Earth and Space Sciences, which describe what is to be learned, the materials and guidebook suggest to parents how to nurture their child’s learning – drawing from a model of play, discovery, curiosity and parent-child involvement - to create a rich learning environment indoors and outdoors.

Each Learning Begins Right From the Start® Early Learning Kit is valued at $65.  To learn more about Learning Begins Right From the Start® Early Learning Kits, which also include math and literacy kits, please call 614-224-0222, ext. 162.