![\"kids-playing-chess\"](\"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/fs-sw-maricopa-2016.jpg\")
Zoe Mullins was only 4 years old when she began beating her father at chess.<\/p>\nZoe Mullins was only 4 years old when she began beating her father at chess.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that her dad is a bad player, but that Zoe is just that good,\u201d giggles her mother Lisa Mullins.<\/p>\n
Zoe attended the Goddard School in Goodyear from the early age of 3 months old.<\/p>\n
Goddard participates in Quality First, a signature program of First Things First which, partners with child care and preschool providers to improve the quality of early learning across Arizona.<\/p>\n
Finding a quality early learning center is a challenge many parents face. Quality is one of the most important factors to consider, as research shows that quality early learning settings help children develop skills that are crucial to their success now and once they enter school. Mullins, an attorney, and her husband, Courtney, a mental health professional, spent many months searching for a good fit for their daughter just before she was born.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe checked several places and we were not very encouraged,\u201d Lisa said. \u201cDuring one tour a provider even informed us that at the infant stage \u2018she was not expected to learn much.\u2019 We strongly disagreed with this analysis and thankfully found Goddard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The school offered Zoe a warm and engaging environment. This year, Zoe entered kindergarten.<\/p>\n
While Zoe is just beginning grade school, her parents are excited for Zoe\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love to see our daughter learn,\u201d Mullins said. \u201cShe began identifying sight words and reading at 3 years. Zoe is interested in science, engineering, technology, writing and creating stories. She loves to be challenged and understand how things work. We know that memorizing information is not good enough. Her learning experience is about understanding what you learn. Zoe is on the path to learning and understanding\u2014with these skills her future is limitless.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"