When three-year-old Ollie enrolled in Head Start, it wasn’t because his mom, Kirstan, was worried about academics. At just three years old, he was already well ahead for his age. “What he really needed was to work on his social skills.” Says his mom, Kirstan Fisher, who is also employed in the preschool program at Futures. “I knew preschool would be the perfect place to learn how to interact with others and get into the groove of school and kindergarten.”
For the first two years of his life, Ollie had mostly been at home. He was playful with his siblings, but with other children he preferred playing independently or playing beside them rather than with them. Kirstan hoped preschool would help him learn how to share, communicate his needs, and develop social skills before kindergarten.
It did exactly that.
“He’s become a social butterfly,” Kirstan said. “He has learned how to play with friends, not just alongside them.”
Today, Ollie enjoys spending time with classmates, participates in activities with others, and has grown more comfortable communicating and engaging in group settings. For Kirstan, watching that transformation has been especially rewarding.
As a parent, she encourages families not to assume they won’t qualify for Head Start.
“I’ve had a lot of families say they don’t think they’ll be eligible,” she said. “I always tell them to reach out and ask. Even if a child doesn’t qualify, Futures can connect families with other resources. People don’t always realize everything that’s available.”
Kirstan enrolled Ollie after seeing the impact the program had on her older children. Although her family exceeds the income guidelines, Ollie met other qualifications and was able to attend half-day preschool.
“It’s not just for children with special needs,” Kirstan said. “It’s for all children. I try to encourage people to give it a chance because people don’t realize all that Futures offers.”
Stories like Ollie’s have shaped our first 50 years — and inspires our next 50. Learn more or donate today at www.futures-unlimited.org.