Early Years Support for Parents

Image: Province of Ontario 

Yesterday, the children and I celebrated our return to my home town with a visit to the Ontario Early Years Centre at the local YMCA. The centres are resource and play rooms staffed by early childhood educators where parents, grandparents, other caregivers and day care providers can take children under 6 years of age to play, participate in song and story activities and to educate themselves about community resources and parenting issues.

While my children were impressed with the selection of farm animals, trucks and the puppet theatre, I was impressed by the helpful staff, the posters about free pre-school dental examinations, vaccination clinics, resources for dealing with postpartum depression and the availability of parenting materials of all kinds.

What was mother refreshing, though, was the mix of parents and children. From young moms, to middleaged dads, to immigrant grandparents, everyone was taking a role in ensuring that the children of our community develop their abilities. The fact that the centres can be used for free is a definite bonus for everyone.

While I’ve found a supportive group of mothers with children where I live in Germany, I found it with luck and through meeting the right person. I can’t imagine being the mother alone who hasn’t made the right contact and found the right community. Making the effort is worth it. For news mothers and for their children, no matter how small the baby.