Empowering Generational Greatness

The science and story behind EGG Toolkit

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Our Story
Experts

The Brain Science Behind EGG

How we boost brain power and why early childhood is the time to act.

What is Executive Function in Early Childhood?

Executive function (EF) is a set of brain skills children use to focus, manage emotions, follow directions, and adapt when things don’t go as planned. These skills are essential for children to “learn how to learn,” build relationships, and navigate daily life.

How EGG builds executive function in young children

EGG helps children build executive function through three key tools:
1. Internal State Language
Children use words to express their feelings, thoughts, and needs. This supports emotional awareness, self-control, and stronger relationships.
2. Narrative
Children tell stories about emotionally significant experiences including what happened first, next, and last. This boosts memory, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
3. Mindfulness
Children learn to make healthy choices, like calming their bodies, waiting their turn, and focusing attention. These practices foster resilience and self regulation.

Why Ages 3 to 5 are a Once-in-a-Lifetime Window for
Building Executive Function

Between ages 3 and 5, brain development is at its peak for executive function. The right support during this once-in-a-lifetime window can shape how children manage emotions, engage in learning, and relate to others for the rest of their lives. Without it, many fall behind even before kindergarten begins.

Developing an early childhood intervention for trauma

How Trauma and Toxic Stress Disrupt Early Learning and Behavior

Two out of every three U.S. children experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) like family stress, poverty or racism. These stressors disrupt healthy brain development, especially executive function skills–making it harder for children to build the focus and resilience they need for success in school and life.
ACEs can include abuse, neglect and aspect’s of a child’s environment that impact their safety, stability, and sense of belonging. Graphic source: Minnesota Department of Health

Advancing Equity by Strengthening Executive Function Skills

The Family Partnership created EGG as a trauma-informed, culturally responsive curriculum to close opportunity gaps and
promote healing when it matters most. EGG equips early childhood professionals to help children build executive functions skills
in the context of trusting relationships, proven to protect the brain from the effects of trauma and toxic stress.

Why Strengthening Executive Function is Urgent in Early Childhood Education

Research from the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) at the University of Minnesota shows that EGG significantly improves emotional language, storytelling, and behavior—core components of executive function. But the impact goes far beyond the classroom.

In a time of rising behavioral challenges and widening opportunity gaps, early educators need tools grounded in brain science and equity. EGG equips you to meet this challenge. Bring EGG to your program and give every child a stronger foundation for lifelong success.
Are you ready to use the power of brain science to build focus and resilience in young children?
Contact Us

The History of Hatching EGG

Rooted in practice, backed by science.

EGG Begins with an Idea

Empowering Generational Greatness (EGG) was created by The Family Partnership in collaboration with leading researchers in brain science, trauma, and early childhood development.

For over a decade, early childhood professionals in our own preschools saw how trauma and toxic stress made it harder for children to self-regulate, engage in learning, and build strong relationships. We also saw what works: with the right support, 90–100% of children in our preschools graduate fully ready for kindergarten—compared with just 52% of their peers in low-income households.

We knew children needed more than a traditional curriculum, brain-based approach that supports healing and builds lifelong skills. So we partnered with The Harvard Center on the Developing Child and the University of Minnesota’s Center for Early Education and Development (CEED).

Through years of research, field testing and iteration, EGG emerged as a trauma-informed, culturally responsive curriculum proven to strengthen executive function skills in 3- to 5-year-olds. Today, EGG is transforming preschools, home visiting programs, and parenting groups; helping educators and caregivers reduce challenging behaviors and create joyful, supportive environments where every child has the opportunity for a strong start, no matter their income or origin.
“One of the nicest things for me as a teacher is having consistent books being recommended to me instead of finding books on my own. EGG is well-organized, so I know what I’m reading next week and can prepare questions to ask for different skill levels.”
teacher having books recommended and well organized
-Lead Teacher at a nonprofit school in Minnesota
“The activities are easy and broadly applicable across the skill levels of my students.”  
activities applicable across the skill levels of my students
-Lead Teacher at a nonprofit school in Minnesota
“The kids love the mindfulness activities with EGG. So we repeat those. We incorporate them before naptime, after naptime, before or after we go to the playground, or before we go home.”
kids love the mindfulness activities
- Teacher
“With support and structure, even three-year-olds can learn body-based skills for finding their calm.”

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Teacher even three year olds
- Teacher
“It takes work to implement any new curriculum, but EGG is worth it. You're going to see the difference in the classroom once your kids are more regulated.”

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Egg is worth it
-Lead Head Start Teacher, San Antonio
“I’ve definitely seen improvements in language, including the younger kiddos who have speech delays.”

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ive seen improvement in language
-Teacher, San Antonio, TX
“I heard the kids using more vocabulary and being more in-tune with how they felt.”

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using more vocabulary and being more in tune
-Teacher, San Antonio, TX
“This toolkit is specific enough for new teachers and flexible enough for experienced teachers.” ‍

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specific for new teachers and flexible for experienced teachers
- Administrator, San Antonio, TX

2015

2015

The Big Idea Forms

John Everett Till, CSO of The Family Partnership and EGG co-creator attends an international brain science learning cohort through Aspen Institute, recognizes the powerful potential of buffering children against ACEs, and begins to develop idea for EGG

2017

Curriculum Design

Chris Wing, PhD, CCC-SLP and EGG co-creator, teams up with John to begin curriculum design thanks to generous funding from: Martin Peyer, Sheltering Foundation, Weyerhaeuser, Foundation, Medica Foundation

2017

2018

2015

The First Pilot

The Family Partnership’s two therapeutic preschools test EGG's first pilot.

We partnered with The Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota to help build the curriculum.

2019

Theory Development

The EGG team developed theory of change in partnership with Harvard Center on the Developing Child - Frontiers of Innovation.

2019

2020

2020

Continuing Expansion

The Family Partnership expands pilots to San Antonio, TX.
In response to Covid, TFP innovated to develop virtual adaptations of the curriculum for our pilot partners. Other pilot opportunities emerged at this time that required different types of delivery. In response, we developed adaptations for Home Visiting Programs and Parenting Groups.

2021

Innovation Award

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits awarded the EGG curriculum with their Innovation Award. The first preschoolers to participate in EGG graduate kindergarten-ready!

2021

2022

2022

Scale and Market

The Family Partnership prepared to scale and market EGG.
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EGG was also accepted into Promise Venture Studio’s Promising Ventures Fellowship Program.

2023

Minnesota Grants

The state of Minnesota passed legislation in 2023 that included $300,000 to help TFP expand pilots in six sites across Minnesota in urban, suburban, and rural settings.

2023

2024

2024

EGG across Minnesota

The Family Partnership launches Eight Pilot Sites Across Minnesota

2025

Parent Aware Approval

EGG Toolkit becomes Parent-Aware approved.

2025

The
Future

The Future

Looking Forward

We are thrilled to announce that EGG Toolkit will now be distributed nationally by Reflection Sciences.

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Our Roots, Purpose, and Pursuits

The Family Partnership

At The Family Partnership, we are on a mission to build strong families, vital communities, and better futures for children.
We envision a Twin Cities where all children and families, regardless of income or origins, reach their full potential. The Family Partnership will be the leader in closing opportunity and achievement gaps for children and families living in poverty by providing high impact, multicultural services, building powerful community partnerships and changing public policy.
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Meet the Experts

The team behind the Toolkit

Chris Wing, PHD, CC-SLP

Co-Creator

Speech-language pathologist and language development expert, co-creator of EGG. Expert in language, behavior, and trauma-responsive strategies.

John Everett Till, MSW

Chief Strategy Officer

Chief Strategy Officer at The Family Partnership and co-creator of EGG Toolkit. Executive function specialist and national thought leader on early childhood and family well-being.

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