
The Basics is a FREE program in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Basics campaign consists of five evidence-based parenting and caregiving principles that promote high-quality cognitive and social-emotional development among children 0-5.
Based on these five pillars, The Basics campaign supports community-level initiatives to improve early childhood outcomes, including kindergarten readiness. The Basics provides handouts, videos, and implementation guides to help communities teach parents and caregivers about the five pillars and their importance to children’s growth and learning.

Watch a short overview of The Basics
Originally developed in Boston as the Boston Basics, this campaign is currently in use in over thirty communities around the United States, including Montgomery, Howard and Charles counties, and is also being implemented in other countries. The Collaboration Council is working with community partners to implement The Basics in Montgomery County.
The Basics in Montgomery County currently focuses on zip code 20877.
Parents and caregivers of children age 0-5 in zip code 20877: Would you like to be part of The Basics in your community?
Send us an email at info@collaborationcouncil.org with your name, contact information, and the ages of your children age 5 and under.
EXPLORE THE 5 PARENTING & CAREGIVING PILLARS



MORE INFORMATION & RESOURCES
Download Basics Flyer in English
Download Basics Flyer in Spanish
Promoting The Basics at Gaithersburg Book Festival
Communities use three strategies to implement The Basics:
Community Outreach and Awareness to spread The Basics to all areas of the community where parents and caregivers pay, play and pray.
Spatial Targeting to pick specific neighborhoods to saturate all areas with The Basics messaging and training.
Sectorial Targeting to focus most strongly on reaching parents and caregivers in a few highly targeted sectors such as healthcare, family service providers, and employers.
For more information and resources, visit The Basics Community Toolkit.
“Parents were able to see that almost everything they do at home can be turned into a learning moment/opportunity for their children.”
“I realize how important The Basics are and I can confidently convey this to parents.”
“I can use simple everyday items I have at home to incorporate The Basics into my parenting practices.”
“Parents are expressing their interest in child development and consider The Basics a holistic experience.”

Implementation Partners:
- Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services
- Sheppard Pratt
- Montgomery County Public Libraries
- City of Gaithersburg
- Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program
- Montgomery County Department of Recreation
- Housing Opportunities Commission, Fatherhood Initiative
- Montgomery County Public School & their Pre-K and Heat Start Programs at Emory Grove Summit Hall, Washington Grove, Gaithersburg, South Lake Elementary Schools
- Identity, Inc.