Celebrating Early Childhood with Outdoor Expo

Since the beginning of the month there have been a number of activities across the country commemorating child stimulation month. The purpose of observing child stimulation is to create public awareness for those who have an interest in early childhood development – particularly for those children five years and younger because these years are considered crucial in a child’s development. Today, the month-long celebration culminated in an expo. The Ministries of Education, Health and Human Development gathered at B.T.L. Park to showcase the pre-schools of the Belize District.

Lurleen Betson Gamboa

Lurleen Betson Gamboa, Education Officer, MOE

“The reason we have three line ministries here is that we are in an inter-collaborative intervention. Because when we look at early childhood development, it is from ages zero to eight. So that is the reason why the three line ministries are on the ground and so what you see today is a combination. In the different learning areas we have what is actually inside a pre-school center. So, you are seeing math corners, language arts corners, you are seeing sand and water corners and so forth. Then you actually have human development along with us and they are actually responsible for the rovers program. They are responsible for the children ages zero to two to show parents how to stimulate their young ones. We also have health being a part of it as well and how is it our parents can help in the health aspect; so that is what you are seeing here today.”

Andrea Polanco

“In terms of the things you have on display, I take it the children were as involved in creating some of these things?”

Lurleen Betson Gamboa

“Yes, most definitely. We didn’t want to come and just do a display. So, what you are seeing is a lot of interactive activities where the children are having a lot of fun doing the activities and learning at the same time. That was the whole purpose of today’s activity.  A lot of times when people look at the word play, they don’t think it is something important. But we must remember that play is the vehicle in which children learn. And when I say that I mean, how they learn is by playing. Like if you want to teach them manner or how to be respectful, if you do it through play it is going to help them in terms of learning. It is structured play because we know we want to reach a target so we use play as the vehicle to help them reach that target.”