Child Stimulation Month to focus on preschools, parental involvement

For more than a decade, March has been celebrated as Child Stimulation Month. According to organisers, this year’s events will stress the importance of preschool education and parental involvement.

Margaret Williams, Early Childhood Educator
“We actually have flag day, hug day, and we’re having the pre-school festival of arts this year as well. We did it for the first time last year. We’ll do it again this year. That’s from Tuesday right on to Saturday, the eleventh to the fifteenth. Last year it was very successful and so we decided to let’s do it again this year.”

Marion Ali
“What’s the message that all of these events will send?”

Margaret Williams
“Actually we’re trying to create public awareness, parental involvement as well, getting the parents to understand the importance of sending the children to preschool at the age of two years and nine months we take them. It’s best to get them in as early as possible so we can begin to work with them and lay the foundation that is needed. We’re looking now at moving across the spectrum, birth to eight to see how we could get that whole area going.”

Marion Ali
“And the children appreciate the activities…”

Margaret Williams
“Oh yes, they love that. And we invite the parents to come in see the activities that we’re doing because that get them aware of what we do in preschool. They don’t just come and play. They come and learn but they learn through play.”

A parade marking the official start of activities in Belize City will begin at the Courthouse Wharf on Monday morning. This year’s theme is: Early Childhood Education, Empowering Future Generations.