Children’s Enrichment Program

The Children’s Enrichment Program (CEP) is the signature program of The Craddock Center. Throughout our three-state Southern Appalachia region, our arts specialists delivered regular half-hour music and movement instruction, storytelling, and puppet shows to 64 classrooms and approximately 1,200 children. CEP Artists also go into schools 3 times throughout the year and put on wonderful puppet shows for the children!

Our program is delivered free of charge to schools in the area, with priority given to schools with the highest percentage of children on free or reduced lunches. Storytellers also bring to life engaging, language-rich stories, often with Appalachian themes, for children. Our CEP artists use props, voices, sign language, and movement to share their talents and create learning experiences that build school readiness, emerging literacy skills, and creativity.

When our CEP program is evaluated, teachers report seeing children engage in role playing and modeling. These activities develop critical book-handling skills. We also hear from teachers that social skills are nurtured by our arts specialists.