Marbles rolls out new at-home activity packs designed for preschoolers

“Play is how children learn best, and it’s a critical time to continue working together as a community to ensure that every child has access to playful, age-appropriate learning,” said Marbles CEO Sally Edwards in a press release.

Marbles partnered with PNC, a longtime museum supporter, on the kits, which are designed for kids ages 3 to 5. According to the press release, each pack features themes that range from Storybook Science to Math Marvels. They include the materials and instructions for each of the activities, along with access to interactive videos featuring a Marbles early learning educator, who walks kids through the activities and reinforces the learning goals.

While completing the activities, kids can build on the skills that are required for school success when they enter kindergarten, including fine motor skills, sensory exploration and early reading, math and science knowledge.

Young kids, according to a recent PNC Foundation-commissioned study from the National Institute for Early Education Research, are missing out on learning those early skills that are critical for school success. The study found that only 10% of 3- to 5-year-olds enrolled in preschool before the pandemic received a robust replacement for in-person preschool attendance during the early months of the pandemic, according to the press release.

“The circumstances surrounding the pandemic have made it difficult for some children to engage in these crucial activities, so we are grateful to work with Marbles to help create and deliver resources that can help children learn and grow," said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas, in the release.

The packs will be distributed free to preschool program that serve low- and moderate-income children in the area. Marbles and PNC are working with Wake County Public School System and Wake Up and Read to identify recipients, according to the release.