Information regarding the state of children in Rimbey and the level of early childhood development they’re sitting at has been released to the community for further action.
The first step of the Early Child Development Coalition is to release the information to the public, “and then the community will decide how to address the numbers that are a little too low, or a little too high depending on how you look at it,” said Leanne Evans, program co-ordinator.
The Family Fun Fair, geared to educate the public on early childhood development, featured different stations where young children and youths could exercise their five areas of development.
“The kids enter the room and get a passport. It’s an adventure, journey, Indiana Jones type thing,” said Evans.
Each child who was given a passport worked their way through the five areas of development activity stations, designed to assess and exercise what each developmental covered.
“Today is the release of this information to the community,” said Evans, referring to Rimbey’s youths’ results in the five areas of development—the Early Development Instrument (EDI) information.
“Rimbey did well, basically. It’s all in perspective,” she added.
“One of the most important things is to raise awareness,” she added.
In the area of emotional maturity, 78.07 per cent of youths covered in the results are developing appropriately, 10.53 per cent are experiencing difficulty and 11. 04 per cent experience great difficulty.
Emotional maturity means a child can express emotions and empathize appropriately, and not be too impulsive or fearful.
For social competence, 81.58 per cent are developing correctly, 7.89 per cent have difficulties and 10. 53 per cent experience great difficulty.
Social competence covers the areas of includes a child’s curiosity, respect for others, self-control, self-confidence and the ability to follow rules.
From the EDI results, 82.46 per cent are developing properly in the area of physical health and well-being, 10.53 per cent experience difficulty and 7.02 per cent experience great difficulty.
The area of physical health and well-being covers the skills of coordination, such as climbing stairs, catching and throwing a ball and holding a pencil. It also looks at the child being well rested and properly nourished.
The development area of communication skills and general knowledge includes the ability to tell stories, understand and follow directions, communicate needs and wants and age appropriate knowledge of the world.
The results indicate 83.33 per cent of the children are developing appropriately, 7.89 per cent experience difficulty and 8.77 per cent have great difficulty.
Language and thinking skills covers an interest in reading and writing, counting to 10 and knowing 10 letters and sorting.
In the area of language and thinking skills 71.93 per cent are developing appropriately, 15.97 per cent are having difficulties and 12.28 per cent experience great difficulties.
The five areas of development were determined by the Alberta Government.
“The EDI addresses those five areas because it was determined they were important for children starting kindergarten to be well rounded,” said Evans.
A questionnaire regarding the five areas was developed by the Offord Centre for Children Studies, a part of McMaster University. The questionnaire was given to kindergarten teachers to take, evaluating each child.
The Family Fun Fair also introduced parents to early child development resources, such as baby brain maps, online workshops providing explanations of early development and ECMap, a project contracted by Alberta Education until 2014 to build community coalitions and respond to locals’ needs.