Children, parents see benefits of Play 2 Learn in Caldwell

When you look inside the early education classroom at Lincoln Elementary School in Caldwell, you often see a roomful of families engaged with a variety of playing and learning activities. More importantly, what you truly are seeing is families having fun and learning together.

Daughter Alessandra is joined by parents Magaly Carrillo and Daniel Mora at a recent Play 2 Learn program session at Lincoln Elementary School in Caldwell.

Early education programs can look very different, and the Play 2 Learn program offered at Lincoln Elementary aims to make learning fun for young children and helps parents understand how they can help their child continue learning outside of the classroom.

“We’re creating a system for early learning where every child has the opportunity to come experience play-based learning,” said Kari Palmer, the Early Learning Project Manager for Caldwell School District.

Play 2 Learn is a play-based program that focuses on building positive and supportive parent and child relationships. The district modeled its program after one operated by Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia. The program is for children from birth to age 5. Unlike traditional early education programs, where parents drop off the children, Play 2 Learn requires a parent or guardian to attend the weekly 90-minute session.

“The whole goal of Play 2 Learn is for the parent and child to come and play in a space that’s designed for them to connect and to learn how important play is,” Palmer said. “Talking, reading, role playing and using imagination and hands-on, messy play is crucial for healthy brain development and school readiness. The whole goal is to teach parents that the power of play is part of school readiness. Children can learn by having early learning experiences that are engaging and fun.”

Attending the program was an eye-opener for some of the parents.

“Play 2 Learn has given me the confidence to be a better version of myself as a mom,” said Estephanie Menjivar, who brings her two children to Lincoln Elementary. “I used to feel silly playing with my kids. Now I understand how fundamentally crucial it is to just play with a purpose.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY EDUCATION

Early education programs are important because they help provide a base for lifelong learning, behavior, and health. The early years (birth to age 5) are when brains develop rapidly, and quality early education programs can help promote cognitive, emotional, and social growth. There is no other time in a person’s life when the brain develops as rapidly as those first five years.

A mom and son play together during a Play 2 Learn class.

These programs not only help cognitive, emotional, and social growth, they help prepare children for kindergarten. Data shows that children who attend quality early education programs are more likely to graduate high school, attend college or trade school, and achieve higher earnings.

“Early learning is a priority, and although it may sound cliché, quality early learning is a game changer,” said Dr. N. Shalene French, the superintendent of the Caldwell School District.

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health supports early education programs because it understands the link between early education and health. The Foundation has provided grants to 25 Idaho schools or districts to launch or expand early education programs, including a grant to the Caldwell School District that was used to start its Play 2 Learn program.

The Foundation provided more than grant funding. It hosted a four-part learning series with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC) for school administrators and staff to learn best practices for creating or expanding early education programs. All schools that received funding attended the series. The learning series showed the attendees that there are a variety of ways to provide quality early education for children.

The State of Idaho does not allow school districts to use any of their appropriated funding on early education programs for children younger than age 5, with a few exceptions.

This means school districts must think outside the box to meet the needs of Idaho children and parents, who understand the importance of early education. The Play 2 Learn program in Caldwell is a great example of meeting families’ needs. The program began as a weekly program, but the demand had the district add another day, and a waitlist has been created for additional families to participate.

“The demand for additional Play 2 Learn opportunities requested by our parents testifies to our parents’ desires to support their children as learners,” Dr. French said.

The Play 2 Learn program helps children and parents bond over learning.

The Play 2 Learn program has been so well-received that it expanded into the Nampa School District for the 2025-26 school year through the Canyon County Early Education Collaborative, which is supported by IAEYC. The Wilder School District and Snake River School District are launching a Play 2 Learn programs for the 2025-26 school year, thanks to grants from the Foundation.

RAVE REVIEWS

“Honestly, the moment I stepped into this classroom, I knew this was the environment I needed my son to be in,” said Heather Ordonez of the Lincoln Elementary classroom.

Ordonez’s son, John, has a neurodevelopmental syndrome. Doctors told her that it was important for the nearly 2-year-old boy to be exposed to learning as soon as possible. Play 2 Learn launched just in time for them to attend. She tried two other programs that fell short of her expectations.

“The more early intervention that I can give to him, the better he’s going to be,” Ordonez said. “An environment like this is exactly where he’s going to thrive. Without something like this, he’s just going to regress.”

The Play 2 Learn classroom is set up with different centers so families can choose their favorite activities. There’s an area for blocks, science, art, and dramatic play. The room contains sensory options, including sand and water, plus a library.

“The most incredible thing about this program is the opportunity to play and use the different skills and toys that Kari brings to the table,” said Amber Nagengast, who takes her almost 3-year-old son, Leo, to Play 2 Learn. “It’s been a game-changer for both me and my son.”

Leo wasn’t speaking much, and his doctor recommended an early education program.

“He told us it would behoove us to try to put him in a place where speech would develop at a rapid pace,” she said. “That’s been the case. When he’s around children, he feels motivated to talk.”

PARENTS BENEFIT, TOO

Magaly Carrillo is a stay-at-home mother. She brings 3-year-old Alessandra to Play 2 Learn for her daughter’s benefit, but it’s been great for mom, too.

With a variety of centers in the Play 2 Learn classroom, children get several different experiential types of activity during their 90-minute sessions.

“These are great opportunities for us to get out of the house and learn,” Carrillo said. “It’s given me an opportunity to know more moms and dads, and that’s awesome.”

Nagengast said she’s grateful for meeting other parents.

“I’ve met multiple moms through this program that I actually ended up having relationships with outside Play 2 Learn,” she said. “It was a great way to connect with other parents, and it was a fun way for my son to make friends. I just love the community aspect of it. It’s been a game-changer for both me and my son.”

For Palmer, Play 2 Learn offers something for everyone.

“I think it’s huge and so crucial for our community. There is a sense of community within our families. They call to check on each other, they are having playdates outside of school. They really support each other, and it’s heartwarming to watch.”