Childhood development workshop planned for Snoqualmie Ridge
October 2, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Parents check out resource tables on Early Childhood Education at the Giraffes conference. Contributed
Parents of young children are invited to attend a free child development workshop at Cascade View Elementary Oct. 11. The workshop, “Children and Giraffes: Tall Orders in Development,” will feature classes on subjects from brain development to early literacy.“Parents just love them,” said Tim Ryan, the program’s facilitator. “They’re good topics that are relevant to new parents.”
The workshop, which will start with coffee, muffins and juice, will be held from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 34816 S.E. Ridge Street. Childcare will be provided. To RSVP, contact Tim Ryan at 206-280-3458 or tryteo@comcast.net by Oct. 4.
Participants will be able to attend two of the four offered workshops. Each class focuses on the birth to five years age range.
Patricia Anderson, a former professor of educational psychology who runs a blog called “Mother’s Mentor/Father’s Friend,” will lead a workshop on brain development.
Her class will explain how the brains of young children develop in the first two years. Anderson said exposing your baby to different experiences is key to healthy development.
“Until something happens that triggers a connection between neurons, there is potential,” said Anderson. “That’s how the brain develops; there is a physical change. We actually rewire the brain after each time we learn something new.”
Luckily, many new experiences are also free experiences. Simply talking to your baby can help with brain development.
To read Anderson’s blog, visit http://mothersmentor.blogspot.com.
Parents keen on early literacy can meet Maren Ostergard, early literacy and outreach librarian with King County Library System. Ostergard emphasized that parents should concentrate on how they read rather than what they read.
Parents can stimulate children “by asking questions about stories and engaging children in conversations about the book,” Ostergard said.
Kerry Beymer, family support program manager at Encompass, will lead a positive parenting class.
“Every time you go to one of these workshops, you’re going to learn something and apply it to your family in some way,” said Beymer. “It’s great to have free childcare and learn a few things.”
Participants can attend a developmental school skills class and a make-it, take-it workshop, as well. Information about community resources and door prizes will be readily available, as well.
“It will be a real hands-on workshop,” said Ryan, who added this was the first workshop in the Valley since one offered at Mount Si High School in 2006.
Families and Children Early Support — a coalition of health, education and human services agencies and organizations, sponsored the giraffe workshop. United Way of King County and SOAR — Helping Kids Reach for the Sky, also donated funds.
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