After a summer of learning and fun, the Prince Albert Early Years Family Resource Centre (FRC)’s Little Learners Literacy Camp is set to have its last day on Aug. 20th at the facility.
Savannah Lucas, mother of a one-year-old boy, has been attending the program since July.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” she said. “I put him into the class because he’s a little bit behind in his speech. So, I’ve just been trying to get him with other kids, talking, and it has really helped. In the last two months, we’ve seen great improvement in talking. We’ve seen a huge difference.”
The camp has been running since July every Tuesdays and Thursdays, with an average of six to eight families participating in each camp. Through interactive storytelling, arts and crafts, and even dancing, children learn literature in a fun and educational way.
Barb Hunter, the FRC’s program designer, said the response from parents and families have been positive.
“It’s so important because in the early years, literacy, any exposure to any forms of literacy just sets them up for a lifetime of success, whether they’re two, three, and up,” said Hunter.
She added that according to research, children learn best when they have fun.
“Research shows that’s how children learn. When the kids are having fun, their brains open up to learning,” said Hunter.
One of two facilitators of the literacy camp, Simran Kaur, said “the best part of the job is to make those connections where families feel safe.”
“I feel like even if [a child] is not participating but just being the room where there’s dancing, crafts, other activities, they see, they observe, and learn slowly, and then the confidence comes slowly,” explained Kaur. “It’s very impactful for the little ones to learn from bigger kids and for bigger kids to get slowed down looking at the babies.”
Hunter said they are hoping to extend the program.
“At the FRC, we do a lot of different programs, and a lot of them are tied to literacy. That’s one of our main focuses, is exposing families and their little ones to literacy. But it’s all done through play,” she said.
The Prince Albert Early Years Family Resource Centre’s Little Learners Literacy Camp runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m to 1 p.m at the facility with the last day set for Aug. 20.
“It’s a very good place to come and experience with your children,” said Kaur. “Please don’t feel hesitant, this is a non-judgmental space. We all can move hand-in-hand to make a bigger and safer community.”
