The Wingham Advance-Times, 1973-05-17, Page 19TAKING PART In special activities canbefun et the Listowel Day Care Centre
, especial-
ly when cookies and cold drinlzs'are included as they are. here with Carol Ann Theodorff,
,Stephanie Ludington, Robbie Morley and Paul, Nichols. • (Staff�'Photo)
The chatter of children mingles
with the low voices of adults, as
approximately 20 children, rang-
ing in ages , from three to five
years, busily engage themselves
in_ a variety of activities, while
their instructors move among
them, helping, offering advice,
and at times just watching.
The place is the Wingham pay
Care Centre, located in the for-
mer post office on Josephine
Street. The. centre, in operation
for a little short of a year, is
under " the supervision of Mrs.
Jane Lane, a former supervisor
at the Parent Co-operative Nur-
sery School in Goderich and a
graduate of the two-year Early
Childhood Education Course at
Lambton College in Sarnia.
Working along with Mrs. Lane
N are Mrs. Audrey Fitch of
Wroxeter and Miss Judy Jamie-
son of Whitechurch.
The intent of the centre is to
provide pre-schoolers with an op-
portunity to work and play with
other children of the same age,
while allowing them a chance to
express themselves in play and
other areas such as music and art
work.
Provincial Project
Last summer the provincial
government financed the crea-
tion of the centre and from its
opening has covered 80 per cent
of the operating costs, the town
meeting the other 20.
Miss Lane explained that the
centre has something to offer, to
both parents and children.
"Initially it gives children a
places where they can have fun,
learn and be properly supervised
while their mothers are working,
as children of working mothers
have priority in registering here.
Also I have talked with teachers
• df kindergarten who say that
Children move more easily into
primary school after attending a
one-year program."
"That is, it provides them with
the opportunity to adjust more
• easily to a group situation, such
as they wilt find themselves in
when "they enter a regular school
program."
Although the centre is operated
from 13 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mrs. Lane
pointed out that they will take
children as early as 7 a.mif a
parent requests that they do"so.
The cost is $3.00 per day for
children who attend all day; $1.50
for half a day and $2.00 for chil-
dren from kindergarten, who
have lunch and spend the atter-
noon at the centre. All the chil-
dren are given a hot meal at
lunch time.
There are • 45 youngsters en-
rolled at the centre, although
some are there for only half days
and others only a few days a
week. With the present staff,
which also includes Mrs. Mary
Campbell, who does the cooking,
and Connie Burke, who works
part-time and is a student at F. E.
Madill Secondary School, the
maximum number of children
that can be cared for at one time
is 30.
Interesting Program
The program includes what is
referred to as outdoor play, a
period of free choice play, a
snack in'both the morning and the
afternoon and circle time. During
the free play period the child
F 1
chooses from a variety of activi-
ties, with dolls, blocks, puzzles,
toys, painting, gluing, modelling
and water play.
It . was pointed out that the
variety in activities is . presented
to bring out the. most in Creative
expression for each child. Learn-
ing to share with others and tidy-
ing up around the centre are con-
sidered an integral part . of their
activities. a„ .
The children learn to mix, for
example, at circle time when'
they get together to sing songs,
tell stories and converse with one
another.
The combination of children
playing, working, and learning
together at an early age, adds an
atmosphere of warmth to what
appears as a satisfying experi-
ence, for both children and teach-
ers.
As; you:enter,the building,
dren's voices filled with ; hal
ness oud contentment
heard, '*.
It is lunch hour at'the eta'
gay Care' Ceantre aid g'a+
being sung, not said, b► abaa!
wo-and three-year- olds gem
t, the miniature` flinch table'.
"Oh, is re r+
and so`I thank, the Lord for' giv
me thethings#+; t euf"
the rain mid tilts apple seed.
Lord is good to e ' the child
sing.Th°
e centre, "a free conte
structure, revolves armed.
circular, :brightly lighed
area, complete "with monkey'
and assorted miniature .to
Rooms of assorted, shapes
sizes aresituatedFaroul d the;p
area ^ °
Ayoung'woman with Sparkl
eyes and: a warm smile
you at the entrance to til?
Her mis Michel ]
the 20-,ynaeare=old actinge su
You enter her,office where, a .'
assures you ;it will be quieter
office is a:large, separate roam
complete with modeern desk: a
several chairs. The phone °
os'
and Miss Lapierre• swe1
"Listowel Child -,ala Fare;}:
Centre, Miss Lapierre ,:seal
Today? No, I don'e' ; ink soy
We've planned a lengthy pros
gram for the children. I` may be;,
' late."
She niches her phone,cail"anc
y
T
in tf ighl
;,0401c,
�
concern '"is 0�`' �1C
children;" She explains "It h
always been that way."
�a.
All around her are signs. `of 'a
shild's presence: a broken dell, a
teddy bear and, on the wall,
posters.
One reads, "To pull the blinds
of habit from the eyes, to see the
world without names for the first
time, to wander through its my-
stery, to wander at every age and
stage at one with it—t
"I like that ver she sa s.
"Children do see things in a
beautiful. light."
Lambton Graduate
Miss Lapierre is a graduate of
the Early Childhood Education
course at Lambton College. Be-
fore entering the course she
worked part-time throughout
high school and a summer at the
Day Nursery in Wallaceburg.
"I've always wanted to work
with children, to communicate
with them on their level," she
said.
Along with four or five assis-
tants; Miss Lapierre has de-
signed a program for the chil-
Oren, Who range in om two
fa five years, e4, re is open
,Live days a week, from 7:00 a.rn,.
6 p.m., to children.enroiled' itn
the day care centre program. The
nursery school program., also
Of-.
fered at the centre, runs from
0:45° a.m. to. 11:15 a.tnr, five day
week.
The nursschool , is a
tate enrich ,t program
socialization induction," .said
Miss Lapierre. "Most parents. of
the nursery school. , pupils, feel
;they need the company of other
children during t'he, week.',"
The cost for youngsters visiting
• :the centre five days a week in the
nursery schoolprogram is•$2O
mper
onth; a three-day .week.., is *`5
;per month and a two-day week is
• $10 per Month. Full day •care is
x:.,$3.25 per day; half-day and lunch
is $2.25 per day; `half-day $1.75.
"We encourage parents to
ring their child at least a couple
days per week," said Miss f;,a-
Pierre. "The child can relate to
's oundings more easily and
i benefit more .from the full
rogram offered."
Theram ro encourages
Theprogram g
"little" people to relate to each
•
other, to con
.share: eyrie
and outside the ventre,, ;
"One day a little boy came w
anti 'told of a sad eXtlericnce his
mother hadrend to him tram a
newspaper:' said Mise, L ap%+ +e,,
",fie other children showed real
concern and keeninterest in what
the :little boy had to say, his w ,:
a new experience for`'me,", she
said, "I'd never seen 'it. happen,
before."...
She is eager for the.program to
grow. " Might •now we have u
schedule'outlined , each day, for
the .,children. It . is filled with
games in 'groups, crafts,'show
and tell, sing-songs,und othejr in-
dependent activities." •
A special feature 'occurs•, each
week,when the children meet'in
the circular -play area and dis-,
cuss a particular topiie. O.ne week
the topic was Indians. "The chil-
dren learned all `about the: way
the Indian lives.
"The children are eager," Said
Miss Lapierre.. "They are eager
to learn and to radiate their true
feelings. I love them and my,
work for this reason," she said .
"1 want to share their eager-
ness."
THAT OLP!IROCKIN
strange when your only a,tittle, ilri * !" alb
as is indicatedby ALdiga
Care Centres
MAYBE NOT YET Leonardo de Vinci, but one never knows. Leanne Simpson and Angela
Coulter try their hand at the fine art of painting at the Wingham Day Care Centre.
(Staff Photo)
The'use of games in the learn-
ing.process is very important to
Mrs. John •Ridgeway and her
staff - at the Mount Forest Day
Nursery. Games are used for al-
most all learning experiences
there.
The new Day Nursery, located
in a former nurses' residence on
Dublin Street, has been in opera-
tion since September. " The town
decided to build the centre after
the provincial government an-
nounced it was willing to look
after the $90,000 price tag which
included purchase and renova-
tion.
The nursery accommodates
two different kinds of children.
Those who attend all day are
referred to as day, care children
and those who attend only in the
morning are called nursery
school children.
The purpose, expressed by
Mrs. Ridgeway, is "to .provide a
safe, healthy environment for
children of working mothers and
a nursery school as well." Chil-
dren from two to five years of age
are eligible to attend during the
hours their mothers are working.
Children come to the centre as
early as 7:30 in .the morning, and
some stay as late as 5 p.m. The
shifts are staggered to accommo-
date the long hours.
This flexible time scheduling
means children are coming and
going all through the day. Cost
for the day care children is $15
per week.
Nursery School children attend
from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. This
program is designed for children
from three to five years of age.
The fee for the nursery school is
$20 per month, but is reduced to
$15 if the mother is willing to
assist for one morning a week.
Learn Together
Although the day nursery is
serving two kinds of children, all
of the youngsters are engaged in
the same activities. The children
are divided into senior and junior
classes according to age but even
these two groups come together
for some play.
Day care . children continue
With activities in the afternoon as
they did in the morning and be-
cause day care children only at-
tend when theirmothers are
working, youngsters are arriving
or leaving at any time of the day.
Program is Varied
The activities in which the chil-
dren are involved are extremely
varied. They include outdoor
active play, creative activities,
educational material, circle acti-
vities, records, regular wash-
room routine, painting, sand and
water . play, snacks and rest
periods.
All of these games and activi-
ties are designed to help the chil-
dren develop special skills. The
most important lessons are the
social skills or the ability to work
with and enjoy the company of
children their own ages. All day
long teachers are helping the
children to share belongings and
play together.
In addition to social skills,
games are planned to help chil-
dren develop in other areas as
well. Playing with blocks, paint-
ing, and playing with small toys
will strengthen their smaller
muscles of the fingers and hands.
Outdoor play with large blocks,
and climbing activities will help
larger arm ,and leg muscles.
The ability to distinguish color,
shape and size are aided by art
activities and play toys. The
child's natural interest in the
world around, him leads, to ex-
periences in science and other
specific learning fields.
Another important task for'the
teachers at the nursery is the ex-
tending of the child's attention
span so that by the time be
reaches elementary school he
can • concentrate long enough to
learn .more advanced ideas.
• Funis the Key
Although the aims of the pro-
gram seem very cut and dried
and are learning oriented, people'
in the nursery school field are.
quick to point out that all of these
skills are learned indirectly
through games and activities
which the children find both ex-
citing and fun.
"The children are not aware
that they are learning," states
Mrs. Ridgeway, supervisor of the
day nursery, "because they are
playing games that are fun."
Mrs. Stan . Middleton, assistant
supervisor, agrees with Mrs.
Ridgeway and adds, "Even if a
mother is prepared to have the
educational toys and spend the
time with the youngster, the nur-
sery still should be considered
because children of the same age
are here with whom they can re-
late and learn social skills."
Teachers are Trained
Middleton ,`hold . certificates in
early childhood ed ation. Alm:
are , assisted by two ;full-time
workers. SSome trai n�ng is: given
to the mothers Who work at
•
centre on a part-time basis. •
centre
Thirty presentlchildry.en'Of arthe esuseing the
,
attend kindergarten in the morn-
ing and attend the centre. inthe
afternoon. Sixteen, are attending
the nursery school ,and, the 're-
mainder are day care -children.
Enrolment grew quickly . at the
centre when it was opened in Sep-'
tember and has remained close to
30 ever since.
The hydrangea comes in
shadesof pink and blue. Pink-
flowered
inkflowered hydrangea, require a"
soil rich in phosphorous and
nitrogen and low in potash if the
plants • are to do well. Blue -
flowered plants need high potash,
low phosphorous and nitrogen.
Keep hydrangea in a cool location-
(65 degrees) and protect blooms
from hot sunlight. They can be
carried over anoer year, but
require special ca .
PLAYING HOUSE—The toys in the senior kitchen of the nursery are all designed to take
Tots of rough treatment. Play In this setting helps the youngsters learn to play together at
one activity. Mount Forest children Katherine MacDonald and Leslie,Sbindt, try some of
the attractive toys, (Staff Photo)