Pathways to Success

I was recently brought up to date on a facinating study and action program called the Pathways to Success Coalition.  This international study examines a country's program to prepare their youngest citizens (ages birth to six years) for their life ahead.  They look at the child's physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and thinking skills, and communication skills and general knowledge.  Thousands of kids have been tested around the world.  The results have been posted in the form of a report card. 

Those results are rather alarming for Canadians.

Canada scored a disappointing 24th among the nations of the world!  Sweden scored the highest!  Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Hungary, New  Zealand, Slovenia, Austria, Netherlands, U.K., Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, U.S.A. and Australia all came ahead of Canada!

That means that the young kids (0-6 years old) in all those countries have a better chance of success than the kids in Canada!  Maybe Canadian kids catch up when the enter grade school.  That's possible.  But I think parents would want to make sure their kids have the best opportunity for success as early as possible!

At present, we're not sure on how we address this concern.  More information will be presented in the weeks to come.  As a former educator, this whole process facinates me.  We need to make sure that young Canadian parents have all the tools and strategies available to make sure their kids are successful in the future.  Stay tuned, there's more coming!