Local senior kindergarten students struggle with physical health, well-being, social competencies

‘Eighty per cent of brain development happens within the first three years,’ says public health nurse Tracey Hall. A new local program is making it easier than ever for parents to nurture their children’s potential.

The local Health Unit says senior kindergarten students in the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts struggle more than the provincial average when it comes to their physical health, well-being, social competencies and emotional maturity status.

So it has launched an initiative aiming to help children from birth to age five reach their full potential.

“Parents and caregivers who incorporate five basic principles into their caregiving routines can help their children achieve better outcomes related to brain development, learning, joy and resilience,” says a news release. “This is the motive behind ‘The Basics.;”

“Eighty per cent of brain development happens within the first three years of our lives. This period is critical for a child’s growth, development, learning, lifelong health and success,” says Tracey Hall, public health nurse in the Health Unit’s Healthy Families program. “Fortunately, there are ways parents can support their child that don’t require extra time, money, or fancy toys.”

The most recent Early Development Instrument (EDI) data from the 2022-2023 school year revealed senior kindergarten students in the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts were vulnerable across most of the five developmental domains when compared to Ontario.

“As adults, we have the power to change this path by engaging children in positive, nurturing interactions and activities. The Basics Nipissing-Parry Sound helps by providing practical resources for anyone looking to apply these parenting strategies, and breaks through systemic barriers to children’s lifetime success,” says Hall.

Grounded in scientific evidence, The Basics principles include:

Maximize Love, Manage Stress;

Talk, Sing, and Point;

Count, Group, and Compare;

Explore Through Movement and Play;

Read and Discuss Stories.

The initiative comes with a variety of convenient resources for community organizations to share with the parents and caregivers they serve.

“Our goal is to create a Basics movement across the region to support families, organizations and whole communities,” says Hall. “Whether you connect with families in a clinic, a child-care centre, a place of worship, or anywhere else, you have a role to play in ensuring all children get the best possible start.”

Percentage of children not on track for the physical health and well-being domain: