Child development class under way at Yuma library

Preparing children during the critical years from birth to age five can make a big difference in school performance, which is the reason behind an ongoing class at the main library this winter.

The Bright and Healthy Start program is a six-week class for parents, caregivers and their children. It aims to raise awareness of nurturing brain development to foster academic, health and social progress during those first few years, according to Sandra Chavez, health educator with the Yuma County Health Services District.

Bright and Healthy Start was made possible through the First Things First Initiative. It was a ballot measure passed in November 2006 supporting early childhood development through an added tobacco tax.

"We urge parents to promote their children's development so they can be ready to learn before they get to kindergarten and be ready for success for life. We're hoping parents learn just one thing here and apply it at home - that is critical."

Bright and Healthy began Tuesday and continues for the next five Tuesdays at the main library from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The public is invited to the free sessions. For further information, call 317-4580.

Classes over the next sessions cover the importance of play, guidance for positive discipline, promoting language and literacy, health and safety, nutrition, and physical activity. Classes are repeated in the afternoons in Spanish.

During the first session Chavez focused on how brain development is at the heart of learning and how to establish an environment to encourage learning.

Although most brain cells are formed before birth, connections between those cells are enriched when children are toddlers, she said.

"Early interaction with their environment is critical for children. A 3-year-old's brain is twice as active as an adult. The brain is at 25 percent of its development at birth and 90 percent by five."

So talking to children is important to help them learn communication skills, Chavez said. She recommends parents read, sing, tell stories and talk about what they do together to help children absorb new words and ideas.

"Routines are very helpful. Children become synchronized to scheduled activities. And recognize them with praise when they show interest in new objects or tasks. Mimicking children's first sounds helps them learn to talk."

The more children hear, see, touch and taste, the more they will expand on their experience, she noted.

Another critical aspect is to praise what a child does well, Chavez noted. When children feel good about themselves they are more willing to take on new challenges.

And in order to make children better problem solvers, provide them with opportunities to overcome obstacles on their own without completely doing tasks for them, such as allowing them to pour milk into a bowl or pressing a button that activates a toy.

"Kids build on positive feedback. They need positive reinforcement. Encourage them to keep trying. Sometimes it takes more than one try."

Griselda Perez, a parent of three, is looking forward to bringing her eldest son, Christopher, 5, to the next session. She said the class made her realize she needs to provide more rewards for favorable behavior, "but life happens and I get rushed especially with a new baby (2 months)."

"I do a lot of reading to my son at night. You think you're doing a good job but you can always do better. In a perfect world I would have more one-on-one with my children."

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.