Man in the Moon- play, laugh and learn!

Aperçu:

Little Ferns Early Learning Centre 550 7th Street, NANAIMO B.C., V9R 3Z2, 250-753-1783, amy@littleferns.ca www.littleferns.ca Submitted by Amy C Collum,M.A.Ed., E.C.E., Executive Director. Man in the Moon is an initiative born from another community based parent group entitled PARENT CHILD MOTHER GOOSE. And so MAN IN THE MOON was born! In a typical 1.5 hr session of the 10 overall sessions, we will have 2 staff ( trained in early years programming, parent education certification) facilitators who will offer dads, grandpas, uncles and young children [ages 18 months - pre kindergarten] 30 minutes early literacy "circle and sharing time" with songs, poems etc, and a 15 minutes HEALTHY FOOD HEALTHY ME break, followed by 30 minute play centres time within the Little Ferns early years classroom ( no additional rent or other associated fees will be charged). The final 15 minutes included class/program tidy up and a short gathering. Fathers will be "coached" in their parenting skills and literacy skills ( the literacy rate of young fathers [ages 15-15 years] and in particular, those who have dropped out of school, is below the National Average) as well as offered regular " Dad Tips" of how the young child typically develops. All participants will receive a certificate of participation for completion of a minimum of 50% of sessions, and all father/child groups will receive a framed "dad and me" photograph. Fathers will be asked to complete an evaluation of their experience in MAN IN THE MOON on the last session. There will be no charges to the participants. Participants can already be attending Little Ferns in other programs, including childcare, and/or can be a new family form the greater Nanaimo community. The program will be promoted at various early years and Dads, Young Parents programs and groups in the Nanaimo and District Community. Youth: although the program will welcome Dads, uncles and grandpas of all ages, it is targeting YOUNG PARENTS ages 15-25 years. This is the Canadian Standard definition of youth/young adult. This group will include the very young children of the fathers, ages birth to 4 years old. Ideally we will actively promote and hope to register young fathers ages 15-25 years who are also considered by the School District and or MCFD ( Ministry of Child and Family Development) to be at risk. We may also have registered some fathers who have been mandated to attend as part of a Ministry "transition plan": where as a child is being returned to the home. It is our intent to offer MAN IN THE MOON as a fun, educational and family bonding experience for fathers who may be in need of a positive role model and a place to safely practice being the father they want to be.