Early childhood study has benefits
Creston Valley Advance
Nov 11 2010
By: Lorne Eckersley

Information collected in the past decade about children kindergarten is helping to shape the way services are delivered to students, Erickson Elementary School principal Nancy Devuono said on Friday….

While not all public schools in the province have participated through the entire study, Devuono said that the project has helped educators and service providers to set priorities based on the findings….

Additional services to parents with youngsters have become more accessible and convenient through the establishment of the Creston Education Centre (CEC), which houses a number of programs.

"The CEC has become a real neighbourhood hub by bringing these services together under one roof," she said.

Devuono said language and cognitive development findings have helped the community focus on literacy….

"The results have been very encouraging. Literacy and cognitive development is now a strength in our area, which wasn't the case eight or 10 years ago."…

"Vulnerable families mean vulnerable children -- they all need support. But it can't all rest on the backs of volunteers."

Fortunately, she added, an increasing number of businesses are beginning to appreciate the investment value of supporting early childhood development programs.

"Throughout society there is a growing understanding that early childhood development is a predictor of a student's success later on," Devuono said. "If children are vulnerable at kindergarten age they are less likely to succeed in later grades. There are definite connections that demonstrate the importance of investing time, energy and dollars into children at an early age."

Quality child care is an important issue in this area, she said.

"Lack of quality child care is an acute crisis for families in B.C. ….Increasing parental leave to 18 months, and government policies to reduce child and family poverty and enhance the balance between work and family life are goals that will benefit children throughout their lives…