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New program for parents in Sparwood
The Sparwood Public Library and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) are joining forces for Sparwood parents this January and February. They will be working together to offer the free program, ‘The Parent Network-The Early Years,’ in Sparwood.
For years, the Sparwood Public Library has hosted ‘Storytime’ for three to five year olds. Parents dropped their preschool aged children off with the library staff for an hour of stories, songs, and play. Now there will be something for the parents to do while their children are in the Storytime room. CBAL is hosting an hour of facilitated discussion with coffee, snacks and weekly topics. Parents will also be provided with an activity or craft to take home after every session.
Glenda Newsted is the CBAL facilitator who will guide the group each week. CBAL is excited to have such an experienced individual on board with this project. Newsted has extensive experience in providing direct assistance to families through family support programs and groups such as the Infant Development Program, Young Naturalists Clubs, Parent-Child Mother Goose, and Roots of Empathy. She hosted a national award winning weekly children’s radio show for two years with a 10-year-old co-host. Newsted’s background will assist her in leading topics such as physical literacy, screen-time for preschoolers, and more.
CBAL’s Elk Valley Community Literacy Coordinator, Chrisy Hill is eager for this program to start. “This program was requested by the Sparwood Early Years team last winter,” she explained, “I am thrilled to be able to adapt the CBAL programs and schedule to the specific needs of the community.”
Hill also explained how The Parent Network in Sparwood would be different from The Parent Network program run in Fernie, as the age group focus is different. The focus in Fernie is on school-aged children while the focus in Sparwood will be preschool aged children.
The Parent Network will begin tomorrow, Thursday, January 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the Sparwood Public Library and run every Thursday for six weeks.
Photo submitted
CBAL
