Recent News / Blog

As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to explore new ways to support your child’s learning and growth from the comfort of your home. The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida (ELCNWF) is excited to introduce Marco Polo for Families, a free mobile app designed to engage children aged 3-7 in fun, educational activities.

This innovative program is here to provide essential learning resources that are as entertaining as they are educational, making early childhood development accessible and enjoyable. If you’re looking for an easy way to support your child’s learning journey, the Marco Polo app is the perfect solution. Whether you’re at home or on the go, Marco Polo offers a variety of engaging content that will help your child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

What Is Marco Polo for Families?

Marco Polo for Families is a user-friendly app that gives families the opportunity to access interactive lessons, games, and activities geared toward enhancing early childhood education. The program is designed to work seamlessly with busy family schedules, offering flexible learning experiences that can be done at home or on the go. Best of all, it’s free to use for families in our service area, thanks to ELCNWF. We serve Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties.

By registering for the program through the QR link pictured below and entering the class code 6959, you will unlock a world of learning resources directly on your phone or tablet. These tools are perfect for children ages 3-7, helping to nurture important skills in areas like literacy, math, problem-solving, and more.

Family Engagement: Learning Together

At the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, we know that family engagement is key to a child’s success. When families get involved in their child’s learning, it can have a lasting impact on their academic growth. Marco Polo for Families is more than just an app—it’s an opportunity to make learning a fun, interactive experience that parents and children can enjoy together.

The app’s activities are designed to encourage collaboration between you and your child. Whether it’s solving puzzles, exploring new concepts, or playing educational games, you’ll be right alongside your little one, making memories and reinforcing important lessons. And with the app’s simple, easy-to-navigate interface, you won’t need to be a tech expert to enjoy the experience.

Thanksgiving Break Challenge: A Fun Way to Connect

To help families make the most of the Thanksgiving break, we’re excited to introduce a Thanksgiving Break Challenge that incorporates the Marco Polo for Families app. This challenge is designed to encourage families to explore the app together while also enjoying the holiday season.

We’ve attached a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge board filled with fun, learning-based activities. As you and your child complete tasks throughout the break, mark off the squares and see how many you can complete together. It’s a great way to turn family time into valuable learning moments!

How Does the Thanksgiving Break Challenge Work?

1. Download the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Board: The challenge board is attached below for your convenience.
2. Complete the Activities: Use the Marco Polo for Families app to explore different activities on the board. Each activity is designed to be quick and fun, with tasks like “Practice counting with your child,” or “Read a story together.”
3. Check Off the Tasks: As you complete each task, mark it off on your Tic-Tac-Toe board.
4. Track Your Progress: The more tasks you complete, the more learning your child will experience over the break!

Remember, in order to access the content via the QR codes or hyperlinks on the challenge board, you must have registered for the Marco Polo for Families app and entered the class code 6959. If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t worry—it’s easy! Just follow the registration steps and start enjoying the app today.

Get Started Today!

Unlock your child’s potential with Marco Polo for Families! To get started, simply register for the app, enter the class code 6959, and you’ll have access to a wealth of resources at your fingertips. The app’s interactive lessons and fun activities are designed to support early learning in a way that is both educational and enjoyable for children.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to help your child grow and learn during the Thanksgiving break and beyond. Ready to embark on your learning adventure? Download the app today and start exploring all that Marco Polo for Families has to offer!

The Board of Directors of ELCNWF will meet on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CT

Conference Call

Link to Join Meeting: JOIN MEETING NOW

Meeting ID: 281 596 132 75

Passcode: 2QXxwC

Purpose: TO REVIEW AND MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING COALITION BUSINESS

For meeting information, please contact Suzan Gage (850) 693-0808

CHIPLEY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida is bringing back its ArtKidDoo children’s art festival.

The festival will be held on Saturday, February 17, at Chipley’s Shivers Park from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event is free and will be offering hands-on arts and crafts as well as snacks, refreshments, games, and entertainment provided by local vendors.

For more information about the event watch the interview from NewsChannel 7 at 4.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – ArtKidDoo is coming back bigger and better than ever!

The popular children’s event returns to the area after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

ArtKidDoo is an event collaborating with the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, childcare providers, local businesses, non-profit as well as civic organizations to help encourage awareness of the arts for young children.

The children’s art festival will be held on Saturday, February 17 at Shivers Park in Chipley from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“We absolutely believe that it’s important for children to have access to that kind of messy play and creative learning time,” said Lindsay Holmes, the Education Services Director with the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florid

The one day is completely free to the public and will offer hands-on arts and crafts as well as snacks, games, and entertainment that is provided by local vendors.

“Early learning is the first step to life, and that’s what our organization does,” said Tami Valdez, the Communications and Development Director for the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida.