Inspiring Children to Learn With Technology Games

Mayor Taveras joins Inspiring Minds, Education Leaders to distribute playful word builder

To encourage young students to continue learning outside of school, Inspiring Minds and Merrill Lynch Bank of America teamed up to give 300 Providence public school kindergarteners "Fridge Words: Magnet Word Builder" by Leap Frog. The educational game provides children with a fun, technology-based learning toy that reinforces reading skills.

"I want to thank Inspiring Minds and Bank of America Merrill Lynch for providing 300 Providence Public School kindergarteners and their families with this fun learning activity they can enjoy together at home. It is important that our students have the tools and support they need after the school day is complete. Nurturing our children's love of learning and expecting the most out of them - especially in the first years of their education- is one of the most important things we can do to change our communities and better the world," said Mayor Taveras.

Seventy-eight kindergarteners from the Asa Messer Annex were among the recipients of the Leap Frog games, designed to help children develop rhyming skills and teach word building for three-letter words. Three other Providence elementary school kindergarten classes will be receiving the magnetic word builders.

"Few of our inner city children have access to computers or other technology most of us have at home," said Inspiring Minds Executive Director Terri Adelman. "This distribution expands our young students' resources beyond 'gently used books' and introduces them to the technology age."

Commissioner of Elementary & Secondary Education Deborah Gist and Providence School Department Executive Director of Elementary School Initiatives Gary Moroch were also at the distribution event. The games were generously provided by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Merrill Lynch Women's Exchange group.