About Children First
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Children First Successes
a good beginning lasts a lifetime
How is my Child Developing Pamphlet
Ready, Set, Learn: A Family Early Literacy Program
Roots of Empathy Training
South Fort George Family Resource Centre
Families Count Program
Parent-Child Mother Goose Program
Past Events supported by Children First
FASD Day, September 9 2006.
Learning Language and Loving it
Community Mapping Workshop - Click to view more information on asset mapping.
Porter Community House Volunteer Training
Preconception Poster Campaign 2005-06
Queensway Garden
Queensway Garden is an agency-based community garden focusing on providing clients of local agencies with an opportunity to learn about gardening and increase access to healthy and affordable local food.
The Garden started in 2003, with a grant from Children First, and has grown into a successful and sustainable project.
In 2005, the Garden served over 700 people, both through direct participation and indirect beneficiaries!
The Garden's continued success is maintained by the dedicated agency partners and community participants.
Read more about community gardens.
Click here to see the current garden plot layout for 2008.
Wee Sprouts
Wee Sprouts, sponsored by Children First, is a field trip activity for preschool children at the Queensway Garden. The field trip usually lasts about 90 minutes, and is a free, facilitated outing.
The Program is made up of 4 components:
- Welcome songs or rhymes.
- A garden tour
- Planting a seed, watering,weeding and harvesting.
- A follow up craft activity in the garden Preschool teachers have a choice of four craft activities, including rock painting, a bug hunt and craft, creating garden ornaments, or creating individual craft gardens.
There is also enough flexibility in the program to do a customized craft or activity that may fit in with current curriculum. There is no better way to teach children about nature, the environment,science, health, or any other topic, than to get them out into a hands-on, and interactive experience.
For more information on the Wee Sprouts Program,
or to book a tour for next season contact:
Danielle Sykes, Nutrition Educator, Children First
phone: 649-7072, danielle.sykes@northernhealth.ca
How is my Child Developing Pamphlet
How is my child developing … This is a question many parents wonder about.
Many times, parents are searching for an easy resource to help them understand and know more about their child’s development. Over the past two years the Children First, Children and Youth with Special Needs subcommittee has been working on a variety of parent education materials. The committee has created a resource directory, poster and pamphlet for parents, early childhood educators, physicians and anyone else curious about child development.
The greater knowledge a parent has the better chance for their child to be healthy and successful. Healthy and successful children will then have the tools to become healthy adults. Let’s all work together to create a healthy world!
The creation of these materials was a collaborative effort with Children First, the Child Development Centre, School District #57, Northern Health, Infant Development Program, Aboriginal Infant and Family Development program just to name a few. The publishing of the pamphlet was supported with funding from Children First with additional publications made possible through financial support of PGCommunity Foundation in collaboration with the Child Development Centre.
Please contact us for some of these helpful pamphlets.
If you have any questions about these parent education materials please feel free to contact:
Kathy Basaraba, Children First Manager at 565-2596
Prenatal Registry
A Program for Pregnant Women in Prince George!
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Active Parenting
Bedtime battles, temper tantrums, homework hassles, peer pressure, drugs, and violence. It is not easy being a parent today. Yet one of the myths our society clings to is that training is not needed for parenting — that it should come naturally. ”It is important to emphasize that parenting is the most important and most difficult job that we will ever have,” says Dr. Michael Popkin, author of the Active Parenting Program.
Children First has partnered with Parent Support Services to ensure the Active Parenting program continues and is just one of several parenting programs offered through Parent Support Services.
All sessions are free, transportation and child minding are available in some programs. Parents will be able to identify family problems and then learn communication skills for solving and preventing them. Please make sure these supports are still available.
The Active Parenting Groups are small. Each group session is designed to be fun and interactive. The focus is on the “how to” practical skills and techniques of parenting. Follow up informal support groups will be available after the classes end.
For more information contact:
Julie Bergen
Parent Resource Coordinator
Phone 250-561-0607
parentnorth@shaw.ca
VIew the Parent Support Services of BC website here.
Ready, Set, Learn: A family Early Literacy Program
This is a weekly program which consists of 10 sessions in elementary schools and community locations. It is free, and is open to all parents and children 3-5 years old. Each week focuses on stories, songs, crafts, a parenting question of the day, and a healthy snack. The program was developed through partnership with community groups, School District 57 and Children First staff.
Families interested in participating in the program are encouraged to call their nearest elementary school to find out more information or to register. To locate a school in your area, call the school district office at 561-6800 or use the website www.sd57.bc.ca or call Child Care Resource and Referral at 563-2483 for more information on community programs.
Early Years Health Fair: Next Fair will be held in June 2009 at Exploration Place
To help parents learn more about the growth and development of their young children ages 1.5 to 5 years, Children First hosts an annual Early Years Health Day. This is a great opportunity for parents to engage in an informative and fun event that focuses on their toddler or preschooler.
A fun and informative event! Health and child development professionals are available to discuss any issues or answer questions you may have about your child. Speech development, dental hygiene, nutrition, social skills and child care are just a few of the areas covered by local professionals. Children can participate in activities, enter draws for prizes, and enjoy a fun outing with their family.
Childcare appreciation Gala
The Childcare Gala is an annual celebration of the dedicated women and men who care for our children every day so we can pursue jobs and careers. Ten awards are presented to local providers in recognition of their excellent contributions to children, families and the child care field. Over 150 guests have attended the gala each of the past three years.
For information or tickets to the May 2009 Gala, please call Child Care Resource and Referral: (250) 563-2483
Here are the 2008 award recipients:
Outstanding Family Childcare Award, sponsored by Community Futures of Fraser Fort George - Joanne Caira
Outstanding Group Childcare/Preschool Provider, sponsored by CCRR - Audrea Schoengut
New Faces Award, sponsored by UNBC Child Care Society - Sydney Rustemeyer
Dedication to Childcare Award, sponsored by Children First Prince George - Brenda Veller
Varma Crofts Award, sponsored by the PG Child Care Association - Sharon Beetlestone
Inclusion Award, sponsored by CDC - Cindy Gosnell
Lighting the Way Award, sponsored by PG Native Friendship Centre - Candis Johnson
Anne-Marie Prediger Activist Award, sponsored by Early Childhood Educators of BC Caledonia Branch- Lee-Ann Maxwell
Outstanding Support Staff Award - Nicki Pratt
Student Initiative Award, sponsored by College of New Caledonia - Athena Carr
From 2007 gala. Left to right: Jennifer Yarmish, Diane Gabrielson, Penny Dimor and Linda McClelland.
South Fort George Family Resource Centre
The South Fort George Family Resource Centre offers many programs and services. Some programs offered include:
- Northern Health clinic
- Drop in health clinic: Monday - Friday 9am -12 pm
- Parent/ tot drop-in Wednesdays 10-11:30
- Well Baby Clinic
- For more information, or to see more programs call 565-7332 or visit the website.
- Structured for Success project
- Information and supports for parents affected with FASD who are raising children.
- For more information, or to see more programs call 561-5645 or visit the website.
- Daycare
- Community Association
- and much more!
Call 614-9449 or visit the South Fort George Family Resource Centre website for more programs and more information.
Families Count Program
The Families Count Program has been running for seven years. It is a family support program delivered by a Public Health Nurse and a family visitor. It includes a weekly two-hour group involving play for the children and classes for the parents. Intake is available to parents from their third trimester of pregnancy until when their infant is 3 months old, and continues until the child is five years old.
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No cost
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Initial weekly visits, home-based visiting program
Contact 565-7369 if you are interested in the program.
Roots of Empathy Training 2003
The Roots of Empathy program, arranges for mothers, fathers and babies to visit classrooms once a month throughout the school year so that students can observe the baby’s development, and become familiar with their needs.
In fall 2003, 12 schools in
