Once a month the Moose Jaw Early Years Family Resource Centre (MJFRC) hosts The Joy of Growing, a family friendly and interactive program that celebrates children’s milestones using their Ages & Stages Questionnaire.
This month’s session takes place on Monday, November 25, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the MJFRC’s 1250 11th Ave. NW location.
Wanda Peakman, MJFRC coordinator tells us about the program.
“It's a morning of connection with partnering agencies in the Early Years Centre. Together we'll celebrate your child's milestones in a fun and interactive way using something called the Ages & Stages Questionnaire. It's a family friendly screening tool where they can see what their little ones are doing and celebrate their milestones.”
“It will show an area of strength, and it may show an area where additional practice needs to be done so we can send them home with resources for additional activities and if there is an area that may show the need for extra support, we can do referrals here to another organization that can support the family.”
The Questionnaire covers five areas of development providing insight into critical milestones while offering access to support if needed. The MJFRC brings in specialists to the event to make the process easier for parents.
“We might have Speech Language Pathologists in the building that day, we might have the staff from the Early Childhood Intervention program here that day, we might have an extra public health nurse in the building that day. What makes it a little bit more special is that families can connect right away to other people that can support their family.”
Peakman noted that there will be representatives from the aforementioned organizations in the upcoming Joy of Growing session. She explained that if parents are interested but unable to attend at that time, they can still take the questionnaire home and fill it out at any time.
“They also have the option to take the questionnaire home and complete it. So maybe their little one is tired or hungry that day and is not wanting to do any of the questions, the families can take it home and bring it back anytime and we can help them then.”
First time parents can greatly benefit from the information provided by the program and the accompanying questionnaire, which can answer many common questions.
“This questionnaire is put out in a nice format that helps us to become aware that what our little ones should be doing, and it also is a great day for parents to connect with other parents as well.”
“A big part of the day is connecting with other families as well as the connections built through attending the sessions that might have children of the same age or are experiencing some of the same areas of development, and it's just a great way for everyone to connect with one another. You're not alone. That's the biggest thing, we're all here, just doing our best and this questionnaire just helps us to do that.”
The Joy of Growing is just one of the many programs and activities that can be found at the Moose Jaw Early Years Family Resource Centre. Visit their website to learn more and see a full list of all upcoming programs.