Nudge, Nudge—Codazo, Codazo: Helping Parents Prepare their Kids for K


It’s only been a few months since Georgia launched GaReady4K—a free text-messaging program designed to help parents and caregivers prepare their children for success in kindergarten—and 3,500 families already have signed up. Now we’re excited to offer GaReady4KESP—the Spanish version of this research-based resource.

Participating families receive three short text messages each week: one highlighting an essential literacy skill, like rhyming or letter recognition; a second with an activity to develop that skill; and a third with suggestions about how to continue nurturing growth in that area.

Recent studies have found that text message “nudges” are effective in increasing parental engagement in home literacy activities and with children’s schools, resulting in measurable progress by children whose parents were enrolled. A New York Times article also explored the potential of literacy-focused text messages to reduce education disparities between children from low-income and higher-income households.

GaReady4K is made possible by a partnership between the Georgia Department of Education and Stanford University.

If you are the parent or caregiver of a preschooler and would like to receive texts in English, text gaready4k to 313131.

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To receive texts in Spanish, text gaready4kesp to 313131.

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Please help us give all preschoolers in Georgia access to this new vital resource in language nutrition by sharing it with your network and community.