New preschool learning program to start Thurs.

Ken Johnston

In the past year there has been a strong move by the provincial government to aid families in developing good learning at preschool ages.
This year the Early Years centers began opening up across the province and now the Rainy River District’s Family and Children’s Services (FACS) will be adding their resources to the new cause.
Carolyn Pelletier of the Rainy River FACS office, said that they picked up on a program known as “You Make the Difference.” The program originated on the Wapole First Nation in Southern Ontario.
It is a community based education program that teaches parents of preschool children how to better key in on ways to raise the bar on their child’s learning levels.
“It helps parents to use every day experiences to help tune into kids and to help them with their learning,” explained Pelletier.
The YMD program is a result of more funding being pumped into FACS for this purpose. Previously they only had .4 positions to focus on the learning needs of preschoolers. Now they have been given .8 (4/5ths) of a position.
Working with the Toy Library Coordinator, Gabe Langlais, Pelletier is planning to host an open house for interested parents this Thursday from 1:15-3:15 p.m. at the Toy Library.
They are hoping to sign up about six parents to participate in the free of charge program which will run for six weeks starting Nov. 7th.
The Toy Library will provide care for the kids while the parents take the YMD program. “We are really excited about the program and hope that we can offer it twice a year,” said Pelletier. Anyone interested in attending it are asked to call Pelletier at 852-3387 or Langlais at 852-3362 to sign up.