Charlie’s County Market in Shawano will feature learning activity signs for young children throughout the store starting this month.
SMART, which stands for Super-Market Activities Really Teach, is a local program designed to take full advantage of the many learning opportunities a grocery store provides so that families can turn an everyday errand into something fun and engaging.
While different than the Born Learning Trails installed this summer in Shawano parks, SMART is a home-grown program that is based on the Born Learning philosophy of turning “everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.”
Jamie Bodden, public health director for Shawano and Menominee counties, said the community benefits from teaching children in a variety of ways at a young age.
“Having a community that supports and nurtures children in and out of the classroom demonstrates a greater commitment to our little ones,” Bodden said. “Even little things like a supermarket scavenger hunt can have lasting impacts for a young child, and it is exciting to have Shawano as a community promote early learning and be a city that values health and wellness.”
Born Learning, a campaign available through the United Way, offers take-home guides for parents to use in daily activities such as riding in a car or doing household chores. SMART takes these guides one step further by making them available and visible to the whole community, promoting an environment that nurtures early learning and supports young families.
The SMART signs at Charlie’s are geared toward toddlers to kindergarten aged children, when early learning activities have the most impact on child development. SMART signs will be placed in the produce, dairy, bakery, and canned goods sections at Charlie’s.
Signs will be changed each month and feature 12 learning concepts, including shapes, letters, colors, rhyming, counting and more. Each sign has specific activities for young children to do, but also tips for adults about the importance of early learning.
The content of the signs were created by four local teachers: Kris Going, Joann Edwards, Colleen Smurawa and Sally Slezewski.
The idea for SMART came from Born Learning committee members Donna Thomas and Ed Grys, with the desire to continue the success of the Born Learning Trails into other parts of the community.
“The SMART signs are intended to help promote positive and educational concepts in the everyday environment,” Grys said. “Studies have shown early education of kids age 0 to 5 can be of great benefit to them as they enter the formal school setting.
“There is often a great disparity in vocabulary and real-life experiences between kids entering school. It is hoped that SMART will be one more opportunity for learning as children are out and about.”
Grocery stores, with plenty of colors, letters and shapes to use as learning tools, were targeted as a location for SMART.
When approached as a potential partner, Charlie’s, owned by Charlie Harvey, quickly agreed.
“His store was the first to come to mind to try an activity like SMART,” Grys said. “He is cooperative, accessible and community minded. If the concept is successful, we may seek to install it in other stores as well.”
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