Flowers of appreciation

Tomorrow, (Tuesday, October 20) KIDS COUNT will honor West Virginia's 2,400 professional childcare providers by sponsoring a statewide "Take a Flower to Childcare Day." We encourage parents, young children and community leaders to show their appreciation for childcare providers by showering them with flowers of appreciation! Roses. Daisies. Carnations. Lillies. Real flowers. Silk flowers. Homemade paper flowers. Anything goes!

The goal of this celebration of our area childcare professionals is to raise awareness about the important role childcare providers play in the healthy development of young children, the stability of working families and the future of the state's economy. Researchers at Marshall University found that for every dollar West Virginia spends toward a high-quality early childhood development system, the state can expect a $5.20 return through higher academic achievement and future earning power and fewer juvenile delinquents and high school dropouts.

Take a Flower to Childcare Day is part of KIDS COUNT’s Kids First Communities Campaign, a statewide effort to build broad public support for new state dollars to improve childcare. In the Kanawah Valley, the YWCA Child Enrichment Center serves as the regional leader of the Kids First Communities campaign. If you don't have a childcare provider but simply wish to show your support, we would welcome your flower at the YWCA Child Enrichment Center at 201 Donnally Street in downtown Charleston. Join us in recognizing the importance of early childhood development and showing childcare providers how much we appreciate them!

Education = Empowerment

An important tool to empower women is providing educational opportunities for women. The YWCA places a strong emphasis on education in every stage of life and in each of our programs. We understand the importance that early childhood education plays in determining the future path of a child's educational career. That's why we focus on school readiness at the YWCA Child Enrichment Center.

"Investing in early childhood development -- programs like Head Start, prekindergarten, preschools, family child care homes and child care centers -- is probably more important than any other current economic development effort," according to a 2005 study funded by the Benedum Foundation.

By providing affordable quality child care, the YWCA is supporting single mothers as they pursue educational opportunities so that they can increase their earning potential and create a more stable home environment.

Through the YWCA Sojourners Job Readiness Center, any homeless person can study to earn his or her GED; apply for college; and learn job training and computer skills. In the last fiscal year, more than 500 people participated in the educational programs at the Sojourners Job Readiness Center.

Education doesn't end once you've earned a GED or college degree. Through Sojourners, Resolve and McCormick Homes programs at the YWCA, our participants learn important life skills -- like balancing a budget; understanding lease agreements; and how to earn and maintain gainful employment.

Learning is a life-long process and that's what we support here at the YWCA, because education is the cornerstone of women's empowerment.

Focus on early childhood education

This is our first post by a guest author. Lisa Travis is the YWCA Marketing Committee Chair, mother of 4-year-old Mia and 1-year-old Max, and works full-time as the Marketing Director of Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC.

As the mother of a 4-year-old, the issue of early childhood education is near and dear to my heart. And my heart beats especially fast to know that West Virginia is ahead of the curve on preschool education and the availability to all children – not just those that can afford it.

Six years ago, West Virginia state lawmakers set a benchmark that every 4-year-old would have access to pre-kindergarten by 2012. Even though these children will not be required to attend, the abundance of opportunities has been and will be made available. Just this past year, Kanawha school officials say 1,200 children were enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program and they expect that number to be around 1,500 this year.

I am hesitant about overzealous parents trying to “one up” each other and force our children into activities they either don’t want to do or aren’t ready for. But, preschool is not one of those “activities.” There is a growing amount of research that shows the importance of early brain development. According to a study by the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, every $1 spent on quality early care saves $7 to society as the children grow into adults. Children with quality early care are more likely to get more education, stay out of jail when they get older and have a greater commitment to marriage, the study indicated.

Early care and education programs, and particularly comprehensive, holistic early care and education programs, are shown to benefit communities on not only a social/educational level, but also as an economic development tool.

According to The Economic Impact of Early Child Development Programs in West Virginia: Executive Summary, prepared for the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the evidence is in and it is overwhelming. The authors state, “Early childhood development (ECD) programs are a major tool to be used in the economic development for a state or region. The payoff for investing in ECD is probably higher than for any other economic development expenditure.” That’s an impressive statement. Getting our children ready for society benefits them, our community and our state.

As a working parent, I understand how hard it is to find the time to get my child ready for even the basics. Expectations in kindergarten can be tough. Preschool and quality day care can help soften that blow. Not to mention the social attributes. Just being ready for a school setting can work wonders.

The holistic approach – caring for our children with educational tools AND nutritional attributes – is one that I am pleased to see in many of the day care centers and preschools throughout the state. When looking at a child care center, I look for children that are happy, healthy and energized. I look for that in the teachers as well. I know the YWCA strives for that holistic balance at the Child Enrichment Center as well as numerous facilities throughout our community.

The most impressive thing I have encountered was my sister-in-law’s response when she learned about West Virginia’s new preschool law. As a teacher in Austin, Texas she assumed West Virginia would be at the bottom of every list – especially educational. Her proactive email to me spoke wonders. “Yeah for West Virginia! Your children really do come first.”

Yes, they do.

Stop the summer brain drain

School's out! And many parents are concerned about how to enrich their children's lives over the summer and stop what experts call "the brain drain." According to Dr. Ruth Peters, a contributor to MSNBC, all students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.

For local parents, there is an answer to the summer brain drain. The YWCA Child Enrichment Center's (CEC) Summer Camp Program. In addition to the usual summer activities, like swimming, bowling and hiking, the summer campers at CEC enjoy education lectures from guest speakers; field trips to places like Build-A-Bear and The Clay Center; and instruction in language, art and performance. One of the highlights of summer camp is the Kanawha County Library's summer reading program. Each week, the library makes books available to summer campers and they earn rewards for their efforts.

The $85 weekly summer camp fee includes breakfast, lunch, snacks and all activities and field trips. Register your child today and continue his or her enrichment and learning opportunities the YWCA's Child Enrichment Center. Call 340-3560 to enroll or for more information.