Kids On The Go’s Rochester Programs Help Children Build Skills, Confidence, and Independence

Thanks to support from Eagles for Children, Kids On The Go was able to expand its Rochester programming this past summer, providing children with meaningful opportunities to strengthen academic, communication, and hands-on skills in a supportive environment.

The expanded programming included Write It Your Way!, a skill-building program designed to help children develop and practice important writing and communication skills. The impact was evident in just six weeks, with parents reporting noticeable improvements in their children’s abilities and requesting that the program be offered more frequently.

For Mychael, the program provided an opportunity to work on skills that directly complemented what she was learning in school. Her mother, Kenyetta Stanford Jones, saw significant progress in Mychael’s editing skills and use of speech-to-text technology.

“For the first time, her communication to her family via text messages, was consistently coherent!” Kenyetta shared.

Mychael has strong comprehension skills but experiences delays with fine motor skills, making it difficult to keep up with her peers and requiring additional assistance. Through Write It Your Way!, she was able to practice skills that were especially important to her day-to-day communication and learning. Her mother credits the summer program with contributing to a significant improvement in her speech-to-text abilities.

The program also provided individualized support from staff who understood Mychael’s unique strengths and challenges. Her instructor, who had previously worked with Mychael as an occupational therapist, was able to build on that familiarity and challenge her while recognizing her personality and capabilities. Her mother received regular updates on Mychael’s progress throughout the program.

“I am convinced that her work this summer with Ms. Pillars contributed to such a huge improvement!” Kenyetta shared. “Thank you for offering such a great skill building class, I hope that it becomes available every quarter!”

Kids On The Go’s Rochester programming also provided opportunities for children to learn through hands-on activities and connect with their peers. For Kyrin, the Better Letters and Multisensory Art camp offered a chance to build learning skills, develop greater independence, and explore activities using his hands.

His mother, Wanda Clemons, noticed growth throughout the program and appreciated the welcoming environment created by the Kids On The Go team.

“This program was an excellent fit for Kyrin. I saw growth along the way with his learning skills and being a bit more independent,” Wanda shared. “He learned so many different activities working with his hands.”

Beyond the skills they developed, the programs gave children an opportunity to feel comfortable, supported, and connected. Wanda noted how much Kyrin enjoyed being around the other children and praised the staff for making both children and parents feel special.

For families like Mychael’s and Kyrin’s, small-group programs can provide an important space for children to learn at their own pace, practice new skills, build confidence, and feel safe while doing so. The strong response from parents demonstrates the value these programs bring to children and their families.

Following the success of the summer programming, Kids On The Go has heard from parents who would like to see opportunities like Write It Your Way! and Better Letters and Multisensory Art offered more frequently and throughout the year.

Eagles for Children’s support helped make the expansion of Kids On The Go’s Rochester programming possible, giving children access to targeted skill-building opportunities, supportive relationships, and experiences that help them grow. Together, we are creating spaces where children can learn, build confidence, and discover what they are capable of … for the kids!