About Us

"The most important thing for parents interested in the intellectual development of their children, who have young children, is to take care of their emotional development." Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D*

The goal of the Ready for Life project is to make a difference in the lives of children ages 0-5 by providing parents, caregivers and the community information about early childhood development research in useful and enjoyable ways.

The project launched in January 2000 with the documentary Ready for Life. Ready for Life focuses on emotional health - the foundation for a successful transition through the core developmental stages of infancy and toddlerhood. An intimate portrait of real children in their own world, Ready for Life conveys important information about such developmental concepts as attachment, temperament, identity and empathy. In addition, the program examines the process of caregiving and how caregiving has an impact on the emotional well being of a child.

The Ready for Life team has developed a series of curriculum modules to address key elements of emotional development: Temperament; Attachment and Socialization; and Early Literacy. Combining video vignettes, interactive games and practical information, the Ready for Life curriculum modules are effective professional tools for use with families or caregivers. Participant materials are available in English and Spanish.

Ready for Life trainings have been conducted throughout the United States for parents, teachers, childcare providers and other community professionals. At times, Train the Trainer workshops are available. For more information on trainings and workshops, please contact us at readyforlife@kera.org. Materials are always available for purchase by both trainers and participants. Please visit the Order Materials page for more information.

Ready for Life is a special project of KERA. For more than 40 years, KERA has used the power of media to serve communities with quality programs and services in support of its mission: to touch people's lives. KERA strives to make a difference in the lives of North Texas children and their families by providing useful and relevant information through television programs, educational materials, and outreach initiatives. About half of KERA's operating budget comes from individual contributors; please support KERA

The Ready for Life Team:

Danny Henley Director of Education
Mary Greene Senior Outreach Coordinator
Paige Griffin Outreach Coordinator

Contact the Ready for Life team

Many thanks to the following organizations for their generous support of the Ready for Life project:

*Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., is the Provincial Medical Director in Children's Mental Health for the Alberta Mental Health Board and the Senior Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy. Formerly, he served as Chief of Psychiatry at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Perry is a featured expert in Ready for Life.