Activating Our Passport to Early Learning Education

The earliest years of education for children matters. And while it has taken as long as until 2021 for America to highlight a promising early learning policy, there is renewed hope once more, that the foundational significance of early learning education will finally have its spotlight.

While President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan will contribute to restoring a healthy mind frame around why early learning initiatives matter institutionally, it’s leaders like Neal Shenoy, Founder and CEO of BEGiN, the parent company of HOMER, who have been championing space and innovation for early learning education in the home.  

“Early learning to some degree is the preventative medicine to education because you’re starting early, setting a strong foundation, and that’s going to create far better outcomes and far better trajectories for young children,” he shares.

So why is the most innovation in education really only happening in post-secondary and K-12 sectors?

“That makes sense,” Shenoy shares, “because you’re talking about older learners and a very established need. From test prep and college admissions to high school grades, professional lead skilling, and accreditation, you’ve seen in the past few years, a tremendous capital flow into those segments of education. But what you haven’t seen is that same level of innovation and scale brought to early learning,” he details.

Yet there’s hope. “We’re now starting to see a shift towards focusing on early learning. I think part of what’s catalyzing that shift is the pandemic,” says Shenoy.

“Parents of early learners appreciate the critical role they have to play as a family or parent in complementing the school. Schools can do a certain job but we as parents and families have to support and scaffold that child and in many instances, parents are a child’s first teacher. What’s really been underscored is the role of the home in learning relative to the role of the classroom or school.”

And while there has only been one company to date that has been apparent in the early learning space, another is quickly entering the scene.

BEGiN, an award-winning education company focused on early learning, has a mission to offer children the best start possible through memberships that combine digital, physical, and experiential learning. It’s a company that prides itself not only by offering access to early learning content but by offering all-inclusive solutions from HOMER, KidPass, codeSpark Academy, and now Little Passports.

Because as we know, not all content is created equal. From books to toys to activities to big and little screens, children are inundated with information whether parents are being intentional about it or not. So how can we ensure that the content they consume aligns with what we want our children to learn about and hold value in?

“Parents are looking for comprehensive solutions that engage their children in learning,” says Shenoy. And the recent acquisition of Little Passports does just that.

Not only does Little Passports support BEGiN’s mission, but it also adds extra elements of cultural learning and inclusivity through enriching globally-inspired activities, hands-on projects, and relatable characters. Essentially, Little Passports is a subscription for your child to travel the world and learn about different cultures.

The one-of-a-kind activity kits are delivered straight to your home. It ignites imagination and opens the door to a new way to see the world and explore science. It’s also designed in conjunction with professional educators, award-winning writers, and kid testers.

“It’s more important than ever that families have a multitude of enrichment options to help their kids develop critical skills while opening their minds, inspiring their curiosity, and igniting their imagination,” said Amy Norman, Founder and CEO of Little Passports.

“BEGiN is innovating on solutions that empower kids to develop both foundational skills and an array of interests that are so critical to becoming well-rounded individuals.”