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Healthy Child Coalition – Central Region November – December 2014

White Horse Plains Healthy Child

Committee Inc. For the past thirteen years, White Horse Plains Healthy Child Committee has been

offering parent-child programming to the communities of Elie, St. Eustache and St.

Francois Xavier.

Current facilitators Carolyn Qually and Mary-Jo Thiessen offer programming twice a

week – Tuesdays in St. Francois Xavier at the local community centre and Thursdays

in Elie at the Elie Community Club.

In recent years, Elie parents travelled to St. Eustache where weekly sessions were

held in the school. But when the school needed additional classroom space, the

White Horse Plains committee approached the Elie Community Club for permission

to again use that space.

Carolyn and Mary-Jo, both of whom brought their own children to programming

before becoming facilitators, estimate that as many as 100 area families attend

parent-child programs over the course of a year. Programs to be offered this year

include Rock and Read, Kit & Kaboodle, Stay & Play and Coffee and Chat.

They also offer several programs unique to White Horse Plains. For example, they

have recently incorporated a musical play

group run by an Orff-trained music specialist

who lives in the local area. They also ran a new

program called “Hands in Motion”, similar to

Kit and Kaboodle, but with an ASL component.

A local sign language interpreter was hired as

facilitator.

The committee has invested in sensory bin

supplies which are rotated on a weekly basis

according to themes. Mary-Jo said that the

bins are a great opportunity for developing

fine motor play, imaginative play and social

skills.

This past summer, the committee again

offered summer programming with great

success. Some days, Mary Jo said, there were

50 people in attendance.

(continued on page 4)

It takes a village to raise a child

Contact us:

Healthy Child Coalition – Central Region

P.O. Box 39 Langruth, MB R0H 0N0

Telephone and fax 204-445-2326

Email hcc.centralregion@gmail.com

Next issue will be out

January 2015

Check us out on

Facebook!

Follow our blog

“Living in the Village”

http://hcccentralregion.wordpress.com/

Want something

included in this

newsletter?

Contact Sharron

Arksey, coordinator

Reading with Mom in St. Francois Xavier

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Celebrate the arrival of the first snow!

One little snowflake with nothing to do.

Along came another and

Then there were two.

Two little snowflakes laughing with me.

Along came another, and

Then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some

more.

Along came another, and

Then there were four.

Four little snowflakes dancing a jive.

Along came another, and

Then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun.

Out came the sun, and

Then there were none!

The concept of Remembrance Day is not an

easy nor a lighthearted one for young

children to understand. Yet observant

youngsters will notice the red poppies seen

everywhere in early November. Here are

several children’s verses that may perhaps

be used at this time.

Remembrance Day

We wear a poppy

On Remembrance Day, And at eleven

We stand and pray. Wreaths are put

Upon a grave.

As we remember Our soldiers brave.

Little Poppy

Little poppy

Given to me, Help me keep Canada

Safe and free.

I'll wear a little poppy,

As red as red can be, To show that I remember Those who fought for me.

Activities for Early Winter Observe the temperature both indoors and outdoors with

an indoor-outdoor thermometer. Compare temperatures from day to day.

Play follow the leader in fresh snow, following the leader’s footsteps in the snow. Make circles, zigzags, and hop and jump.

Make a bird feeder from an empty carton or plastic container. Fill it with bird seeds and hang it from a branch, then watch the activity around it from day to day.

Observe snowflakes on a dark cloth through a magnifying glass.

Make angels or monsters in the snow.

Use blankets and furniture to make a fort inside.

Look for animal footprints in new-fallen snow.

Experience the fun of skating indoors using wax paper under your feet. Use two pieces of wax paper for each child, cut large enough that the child can place his foot on the paper.

(From “Small Steps Big Futures” Home visiting Manual.)

National Child Day November 20, 2014

National Child Day is celebrated on November 20th each year. National Child Day has been celebrated

across Canada since 1993 to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of two documents centered

on children's rights: the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1959, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of

the Child on November 20, 1989.

By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, Canada made a commitment to ensure that all children are treated

with dignity and respect. This commitment includes the opportunity for children to have a voice, be

protected from harm and be provided with their basic needs and every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Celebrating National Child Day is about celebrating

children as active participants in their own lives and in communities, as active citizens who can and should meaningfully contribute to decision-making.

2014 marks the 25th Anniversary of the United

Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Take time to celebrate children's rights on National Child Day and throughout the year!

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Starry Starry Night

Good for ages: 4 and up

What you’ll need: - empty toilet paper rolls (each roll makes about one star)

- scissors

- white paint

- glue

- clothespins

- white glitter

How to make it: Grab some old toilet paper rolls, and cut them into ¾” rings. Glue the tips of five rings

together, and use a clothespin to hold them together as they dry. Then paint each one white. While it’s still wet,

sprinkle with glitter to get the Christmas shimmer of a starry night.

Handprint Reindeer Hat What You’ll Need:

-2 pieces of brown construction paper

-Popsicle sticks

-Googly eyes

-1 red pompom

-Scissors

-Craft glue

-Red marker

How to Do It:

Cut two 3” wide x 11” long strips of the construction paper. Glue the ends of the two strips together to make a

long band. On the other piece of construction paper, trace your kid's hands, and cut them out. Wrap the band

around your kid's head and mark the right size. Trim off the excess and glue the ends of the band together. Glue

the handprints to the sides of the band to make antlers. Glue a popsicle stick to the inside of each antler for

support. Glue the eyes and nose to the front of the band and draw on a mouth.

What You Need:

Glue

Glitter

Black Paper

What You Do:

Have your children paint a winter scene on black paper using glue. Before the glue dries

sprinkle glitter all over it. This makes a lovely winter scene.

Glitter Scene

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White Horse Plains continued Program funding comes from Prairie Rose

School Division and Healthy Child Coalition

– Central Region.

Like other parent-child groups which offer

programming in more than one

community, lugging supplies back and forth

from one place to another can be a

headache. White Horse Plains has helped

alleviate the issue by storing tubs at each

location.

The move from St. Eustache back to Elie

has worked well, the facilitators said. There

are a larger number of families with young

children in Elie and now they can just walk

to programming rather than having to make the drive to St. Eustache.

Each year the committee funds a Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) play for children aged five through 12,

which has proven popular.

The committee, which includes parents, past facilitators and representatives of health and education, meets a minimum

of four times a year. Committee membership is an ongoing concern for the organization and new members are actively

sought.

Both Carolyn and Mary-Jo love their jobs and enjoy working together.

“I appreciate it very much that I can bring my kids to work with me

and that I can create joy and imagination and learning each and

every day!” Mary Jo said.

THOUGHT FOR THE SEASON

What can you do to promote world peace?

Go home and love your family.

Mother Teresa

Best wishes to everyone

for a healthy, safe and

happy holiday season

from Healthy Child

Coalition – Central

Region.

The Healthy Child Coalition – Central Region annual general meeting

was held September 18 in Carman, at which time grant cheques for

the 2014-2015 year were distributed.

Reading with Grandma – St. Francois Xavier