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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-02-12, Page 66 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, February 12, 2014 The importance of child care Garit Reid QM! Agency The goal of The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce Child Care is to fos- ter children's growth and development along with their desire to explore and learn. The YMCA Child Care's goal is to encourage a child to become a lifelong learner. Director of YMCA Child Care Serv- ices Dennis Morrison believes in the importance of child care to give chil- dren a solid base for education before they enter the school system, as well as to nurture their physical, emotional, mental, and psychological well being. "I think child care is no longer seen as a luxury and it is now more of a necessity and many communities deem that as an essential service for attracting families and to be able to maintain fam- ilies within a community," said Morri- son. "I believe students who have been in some kind of child care are better students for the future. What I have experienced at some of our locations while speaking with kindergarten teachers at the schools in the area is teachers can tell the children who have been in a licensed child care facility previously. There is a structure with the children and they know how to social- ize, play and have a good base founda- tion of what the learning objectives are in the kindergarten classroom." YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce Child care centres are located in Hano- ver, Owen Sound, Ripley, Kincardine and Port Elgin. There are also 18 before and after school pro- grams in the area. Morrison said education and growth are important factors in the YMCA Child Care, a big part of the curriculum he and his staff use. "As educators it's our approach to be constantly educating the children in our program. Studies show the most amount of learning occurs from the zero to five years of age range. We also encourage them for school readiness so that they do have that step up when they approach that stage. This could include everything from educational learning to social learn- ing and I think we offer an excellent environment to take in PARK THEATRE x71""11"c WWI:, • G0121eR ICHI 524-7811 Fri & Sal 6:41i1 & 11:18 Sur' • Wad 7:30 Sat Sun S. Mali Mat 1:311 1;4Ig Feb. 14 - 20 THE CCM.= CLOONCv Nix 'INMAN'S arra- hi 1.irrm _pasiN doeilSMAN Fri & at 645 & g :15 Thu r 7;30 Livery Fi mfest Thurdirlh 7:11) Only Ires,u4rIrla,rola-. www.rnovidinks.ca Judi. DENCR Slew! COOGAN PH ILOM ENA brw -B04-265-3438 those experiences," said Morrison. "Our curriculum isn't all about learning to read and write, it also includes sociali- zation with other kids and the social norms for them to be able to be successful:' Morrison said the YMCA Child Care Centres are licensed facilities that use fully certified Early Childhood Educa- tors (ECE) that use their knowledge to nurture a child's education as well as make them feel comfortable being in a classroom structure. Morrison said they also have a mandate to keep children active by promoting physical play for at least two hours a day. "The role of the ECE is to provide an educational experience, a safe experi- ence and warm and loving experience for these children as well. Many of these kids who are coming into our doors are at 16 months of age, so they need to have that attachment and comfort level and our ECE's provide that," said Mor- rison. "The ECE not only provides an educational experience but also that nurturing and safe environment as well." Morrison said an important program that YMCA supports nationally is Play to Learn, which is an understanding of how play provides the foundation for learning to read and write, and for Garit Reid QMI Agency learning mathematics, science and technology. It provides early childhood educators with the skills to prepare spaces that are more conducive to learning, and the best practices to encourage quality learning experiences. Morrison said it's important to include parents in the child care experi- ence. One way YMCA Child Care staff involve parents is through documenta- tion the ECE does for each child twice a week. Parents are able to read these logs and see how their kids are doing. Involving parents who have unique skills like music is another way to bring parents into the picture. For example if Morrison knows of a parent who plays a piano or guitar, he will invite them to play for the children Morrison added. Morrison believes the YMCA Child Care centres are a good base for future education and as he said before he believes it's an essential service. He added that parents who are unable to afford the service the YMCA Child Care has a Strong Kids Campaign where peo- ple can receive subsidies on the cost of child care. For more information on the YMCA Child Care of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, visit www.ymcaowensound.on.ca/ Child-Care/?pageid=21. , 4, 4 i • r' The February February February IN Lucknow Sentinel Birthday Club Kennydi Nicholson 13, 2002 - 12 years old Tyson Ellis 14, 2007 - 7 years old Sydney Hunter 15, 2002 - 12 years old Your child can be a member of the Sentinel's birthday club call 519-528-2822 to register llicknow SIBTItillfli 619 Campbell Street 519-528-2822 J and Port Elgin. There are also 18 before and after school pro- grams in the area. Morrison said education and growth are important factors in the YMCA Child Care, a big part of the curriculum he and his staff use. "As educators it's our approach to be constantly educating the children in our program. Studies show the most amount of learning occurs from the zero to five years of age range. We also encourage them for school readiness so that they do have that step up when they approach that stage. This could include everything from educational learning to social learn- ing and I think we offer an excellent environment to take in PARK THEATRE x71""11"c WWI:, • G0121eR ICHI 524-7811 Fri & Sal 6:41i1 & 11:18 Sur' • Wad 7:30 Sat Sun S. Mali Mat 1:311 1;4Ig Feb. 14 - 20 THE CCM.= CLOONCv Nix 'INMAN'S arra- hi 1.irrm _pasiN doeilSMAN Fri & at 645 & g :15 Thu r 7;30 Livery Fi mfest Thurdirlh 7:11) Only Ires,u4rIrla,rola-. www.rnovidinks.ca Judi. DENCR Slew! COOGAN PH ILOM ENA brw -B04-265-3438 those experiences," said Morrison. "Our curriculum isn't all about learning to read and write, it also includes sociali- zation with other kids and the social norms for them to be able to be successful:' Morrison said the YMCA Child Care Centres are licensed facilities that use fully certified Early Childhood Educa- tors (ECE) that use their knowledge to nurture a child's education as well as make them feel comfortable being in a classroom structure. Morrison said they also have a mandate to keep children active by promoting physical play for at least two hours a day. "The role of the ECE is to provide an educational experience, a safe experi- ence and warm and loving experience for these children as well. Many of these kids who are coming into our doors are at 16 months of age, so they need to have that attachment and comfort level and our ECE's provide that," said Mor- rison. "The ECE not only provides an educational experience but also that nurturing and safe environment as well." Morrison said an important program that YMCA supports nationally is Play to Learn, which is an understanding of how play provides the foundation for learning to read and write, and for Garit Reid QMI Agency learning mathematics, science and technology. It provides early childhood educators with the skills to prepare spaces that are more conducive to learning, and the best practices to encourage quality learning experiences. Morrison said it's important to include parents in the child care experi- ence. One way YMCA Child Care staff involve parents is through documenta- tion the ECE does for each child twice a week. Parents are able to read these logs and see how their kids are doing. Involving parents who have unique skills like music is another way to bring parents into the picture. For example if Morrison knows of a parent who plays a piano or guitar, he will invite them to play for the children Morrison added. Morrison believes the YMCA Child Care centres are a good base for future education and as he said before he believes it's an essential service. He added that parents who are unable to afford the service the YMCA Child Care has a Strong Kids Campaign where peo- ple can receive subsidies on the cost of child care. For more information on the YMCA Child Care of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, visit www.ymcaowensound.on.ca/ Child-Care/?pageid=21.