TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— The United Way of the Wabash Valley has awarded $61,601 to two Success by 6 programs in the area. These programs are aimed at strengthening early childhood development and aim to benefit children across the Wabash Valley.
The United Way gave $39,689 through its On the Path to PTQ grant program to five home-based childcare providers. On the Path to PTQ is a program to support those providers and improve their quality of care, and help them progress in the state’s Path to QUALITY (PTQ) system. The PTQ system is how the state rates early care and and education and the improvements needed.
The PTQ system allows families to identify quality childcare programs through a rating of one to four, where one means licensing compliance and four means national accreditation. Providers that participate in the United Way’s grant program can receive up to $10,000 for classroom improvements, professional development, and steps toward the level four accreditation.
The locations who received the grants are:
- ABC Preschool and Daycare
- Sammie’s Sunshine Academy
- Kidzplay
- Little Duckling Childcare
- Bailee’s Buddies
“Licensed home providers are essential to our region’s early learning ecosystem,” said Executive Director Dorothy Chambers. “We’re investing in their growth so more children can benefit from stable, enriching, high-quality early learning environments.”
Lastly, through the Successful Parenting Initiative, the United Way gave $21,912 to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. This money will be used to start an innovative research-backed program for families with children aged 3 to 18 months. The program will teach parents/caregivers the benefits of guided play. Guided play is an evidence-based approach to learning that supports brain development during the quickest part of children’s cognitive growth. The program specifically serves families enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, to give easier access to high-quality developmental opportunities.
“We know that early exposure to STEM concepts and adult-guided exploration lay a foundation for lifelong learning,” said Michele Bennett, Community Impact Specialist at United Way. “This program gives families the tools to grow and learn together.”
Guided play blends child play with parental direction. According to the news release, research shows that when a caregiver participates by asking open-ended questions and models curiosity, children develop stronger language skills, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The new program at the museum will coach parents to become active learning partners with their kids.
Key features of the program are:
- Family engagement events at the Children’s Museum, featuring interactive play stations aligned with early STEM, literacy, and social-emotional learning.
- · Take-home kits with “guided play” activity cards, prompts, and short videos created by local university students to reinforce learning at home.
- · Access Pass sign-ups, helping low-income families afford Children’s Museum visits all year long.
- · Special events, including a holiday Family Night and storytelling sessions with guest educators.
“With support from United Way, we’re empowering parents and caregivers to be confident co-learners,” said Holly Curtsinger, Director of ISU’s Early Childhood Education Center and co-chair of Success By 6. “It’s not just about helping children succeed in school—it’s about nurturing the parent-child bond and building strong, stable families.”
