DEL News

Public wants to do more to make Washington child-friendly state, poll shows

OLYMPIA – What have you done to help a child today? It’s a question we at the Department of Early Learning (DEL) ask ourselves every day to remind us why we’re here: to help Washington children realize their full potential.

Now, we’re asking the rest of the state. DEL polled adults throughout Washington to learn more about their views on a child’s earliest years, and what people are willing to do to help create a state where all children are healthy, safe and ready to succeed.

The poll reveals most people want to help make Washington the most child-friendly state in the nation and want more information on how to help. According to the poll, Washington citizens believe it is a community responsibility to be involved with children by acknowledging children they see and taking a more active role in the lives of children they know.

The wide-ranging poll also explored Washingtonians’ views on child development, DEL’s responsibilities and where families seek parenting information. Among the findings:

  • 95 percent of those surveyed believe children begin learning at birth or during the first year.
  • 84 percent believe getting along with other children is a very important factor in kindergarten readiness, while 57 percent believe knowing the alphabet, colors and numbers is very important.

  • Parents trust themselves, their own parents, relatives and friends most (50 percent) for parenting information. Other trusted sources of parenting information include books (13 percent) faith communities (12 percent) and doctors, nurses, and health aides (8 percent).

  • More than 90 percent believe providing early learning information and resources and licensing child care are among DEL’s most important tasks.

We at DEL will use the poll results as we work strategically to build public awareness of the importance of a child’s earliest years, and support parents as children’s first and most important teachers.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation of the Public Awareness Poll Results.

For more information:

DEL Communications Manager Amy Blondin
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)
amy.blondin@del.wa.gov