The Power of Play Being Recognized: Minister

Just over midway through the Provincial Government’s three-year commitment to its early childhood learning strategy, Learning from the Start, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, says it is evident that people have a greater understanding that the foundation of all learning begins at birth and continues through the early years.

“People get it – it’s very simple,” said Minister Jackman. “Talking and physically interacting with infants and toddlers; using everyday activities as a fun way to learn, and providing opportunities for children to use their imaginations to discover the world around them, are all ways in which young children develop the personality, knowledge and skills that prepare them for success in school, and in life.”

Among the initiatives undertaken over the past year are the launch of the Power of Play multi-media campaign in May; celebrating the province’s first Play and Learn Week in November, and the pilot distribution of parent resources kits for children aged two months, four months and six months old.

Minister Jackman noted that the kits – including books, play items and music CDs, activity guides and parent information – were piloted in 20 child health clinic sites throughout the province this past year, and that feedback has been very positive. By the end of March 2013, these kits will be phased in at all clinics across the province. Kits for children aged 12 and 18 months will be piloted next year, and those for ages 24 and 36 months the following year.

“In 2011, we committed $4.8 million over a three-year period to support additional early childhood learning initiatives designed to give every child the best possible start in life,” said Minister Jackman. “Our early focus has been on providing support to parents in their critical role as their child’s first teacher, and to highlighting awareness about the importance of play-based learning. We are receiving tremendous feedback to those efforts from parents and caregivers, teachers, health care professionals, and the public at large.”

Meanwhile, this past year also saw the further development of a comprehensive website, developed in partnership with the Departments of Health and Community Services, and, Child, Youth and Family Services, which provides a wide variety of early childhood subject matter. A recent addition to the website is an interactive map which shows the location of, and contact information for, early childhood programs and services in communities across the province.

Minister Jackman said there are more positive initiatives on the horizon, as the Provincial Government continues its systematic approach to enhancing early childhood learning programs and services. For information on early childhood learning and development and Learning from the Start initiatives, visit the website at: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/earlychildhood/index.html. 

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 

2012 12 28                               1:20 p.m.