聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Once again Regional Kids First set out to help promote early learning fun and accessibility in various communities across the southeast. Their day of IMPACT (Intriguing Minds: Parents and Children Together) was directed towards youth 5-years-old and younger, which sets out to promote parents and children learning together at home and preparing for Kindergarten.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 On Wednesday, March 18, the Arcola School's library was the place to be for parents and their young children. This year鈥檚 fun theme for youth to play and learn within was the jungle.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽Here Madeleine Valentine with Regional Kids First was able to bring a curriculum forward for a fun early learning day focused on ensuring youth have the developmental skills needed at their age.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽鈥淚t鈥檚 to teach the parents different milestones, things kids should be doing by the time they get to kindergarten,鈥� Karla Beatty explained.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽The library was filled with different stations focusing on four overarching themes: Physical Health and Well Being, Communication Skills and General Knowledge, Language and Cognitive Development, and Social Competence.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽With over 10 different stations set up around the library, youth and their parents visited each one. From playing games to reading to putting together puzzles, different skills were being put to use as the youth busily worked at each station.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 After visiting and completing a station, the youth then received a complementary gift including puzzle books, colouring books, finger puppets, PlayDough, and much more, all directed at helping develop skills and motor functions pre-schoolers should have.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽In order to provide such an event Valentine applied for and received a Community Initiative Grant through Kids First to give parents and their children the opportunity to take part.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 This is the second year that Arcola has hosted the event. In the past they had previously worked in conjunction with Carlyle's IMPACT day; but, Arcola now has a large enough population to support the event on its own which has been met by success.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Overall Regional Kids First looks to ensure youth are growing and are supported by caring families. A joint initiative of the Ministry of Education, Health, Social Services, and First Nations and M茅tis Relations it has seen success in community development.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽With four goals, Regional Kids First, continually looks to make positive impacts in the community. First ensuring a positive interaction between parents and children, secondly they are focused on child development and well-being, they also have resources for providing information to ensure a healthy pregnancy and birth, while they also strive to bring awareness to early childhood development which IMPACT is strongly focused on.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽"We basically look for opportunities in communities to advance learning for ages zero to five," Valentine explained. "We try and make the best of their first five years."
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Valentine went on to say that the volunteers who help are integral in the success of the IMPACT program.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 "Thank you to all of the volunteers in Arcola," Valentine said. "I put the curriculum together, but it doesn't come to fruition without them. There's lots of great early childhood volunteers here today from the school, the library, the daycare, and the community at large."
