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Education Briefs: State of Colorado unveils new tools to support healthy development of children in early years

New tools to support healthy development of children

In the first few years of a child’s life, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second, building the brain’s architecture and creating a foundation that affects all future learning, behavior and health.

Decades of research show that when young children have positive experiences and caring and consistent relationships with adult caregivers, they build a strong foundation for lifelong learning, health and well-being.



The Colorado Department of Human Services’ Office of Early Childhood has partnered with celebrity presenters Stephen Brackett of the Flobots and radio personality Issa Lopez to created a new series of fun and engaging online videos in English and Spanish to educate parents and other caregivers about child development and offer practical tips they can use to support children’s learning.

By offering information, activities and ideas that families and professional caregivers can easily incorporate into their everyday routines, the videos seek to empower adults with the understanding that they already have all the skills they need to help their children grow up healthy and happy.



“Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Every interaction we have with children teaches them something about the world, and the Early Learning and Development Guidelines videos can make parents feel more confident in their role,” said Lieutenant Governor Donna Lynne, who also co-chairs the Early Childhood Leadership Commission.

The videos – available at EarlyLearningCO.org – are categorized by a child’s age and are based on the Colorado Early Learning and Development Guidelines, which align with the science of how best to support children in the early years.

“This video series honors parents by recognizing the challenges they face and showing them that they are not alone and also that they have abilities and gut feelings that they can trust,” Brackett said. “Where parents’ confidence might be lacking, the videos provide tools and model actions for problem solving and finding community and finding support.”

Stories in the Park

Come to your nearby park and enjoy East Elementary School teachers reading a favorite storybook for families and friends. Come yourself, bring a friend or family members to sit back, listen, have a snack and get your own copy of the book to keep. On July 18 and Aug. 15:

• 11:30 a.m. at Cedar Mountain Park,

• 12:15 p.m. at the Skate Park, 2000 Baker Drive

• 1:00 p.m. at the north end of the fairgrounds near the pavilion

Summer Brain Gain Going on now at Boys & Girls Club

Children have a fun way to grown their brains this summer at the Boys & Girls Club in Craig. The summer Brain Grain program is offering literacy and math enrichment at the club. Children ages six to eight years can participate in Hooked on Phonics and Addition/Subtraction Fact Families from 9 to 11 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Children ages nine to 11 can participate in Writer’s Workshop and Multiplication Facts from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Programs are being offered free to all children in Craig. To learn more and register contact the club by calling 970-826-0411 or by emailing kneuman@craigbgc.org.

Free Books at the Book Mobile on Wednesdays

Kids can get a free book or trade books at the Sagebrush Reading Council Book Mobile at area parks on Wednesdays. Stops include:

• 10-10:30 a.m. at the Skate Park, 2000 Baker Dr.

• 10:45-11:15 a.m. Breeze Street Park, 595 Breeze St.

• 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Woodbury Park, 1388-1398 W 3rd St.

• 12:15-12:40 p.m. City Park, 500 – 600 Washington St.

On July 12 and Aug. 2 from 9:15-9:45 a.m. the Book Mobile will stop at the Boys & Girls Club in Craig.

Bull Canyon – Maybell Adventure

Travel to Bull Canyon with Colorado Northwestern Community College Community Education program to enjoy a day outdoors and a picnic lunch. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 20. Class fee is $30 or $15 for seniors. For more information and to register contact Desiree Moore at 970-824-1135 or via email at desiree.moore@cncc.edu.

Cartooning

Students have the opportunity to learn the art of drawing cartoons, how to reproduce characters consistently and create basic plots and storylines. The programs is part of Colorado Northwestern Community College’s College for Kids Summer Camps. The Cartooning Camp will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 25 and continuing through August 10 in room 104 at the CNCC Bell Tower, 50 College Drive.


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