The Anguilla Early Childhood Association (ECA) has launched the activities for this year’s Early Childhood Month. The launch ceremony took place on Monday, 6th March, 2023 at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, under the theme “Educating Young Minds in an Ever Changing World”.
The theme is meant to highlight the important preparatory aspect of Early Childhood Education and the need for it to continue to be flexible and responsive to prepare the youngest members of society to eventually become successful adults.
The ECA whose membership ranges across play schools, preschools and kindergartens, collaborates with the Department of Education to celebrate Early Childhood Month every year in March.
The launch was chaired by ECA Vice President Teacher Cherise Webster, and included the invocation by Teacher Julet Simon, welcome by President of the ECA Teacher Aliethea Richardson, introduction of guest speaker Teacher Thelma Griffin and vote of thanks by Teacher Sandra Hodge.
The feature speaker and author, Mrs. Turkessa Simon, shared an anecdote about her son pretending to talk on a toy phone to his grandparents to demonstrate key areas of early childhood teaching and learning.
These included the characteristics associated with fellowship and empathy for others, (as her son inquired about his grandparents’ welfare), how to access services (he pretended to order food to welcome his grandparents), to establish healthy boundaries (he hung up the play phone on someone because he was driving and could not talk and drive).
Mrs. Simon, using the example of a child’s play mimicking adult behaviour, said that the adults in children’s lives provide the foundation for well-functioning members of society or antisocial miscreants.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers congratulated the early childhood educators for their work. She highlighted the use of technology to find creative solutions for education while balancing against the negative effects of prolonged screen time.
The Education Minister also raised the issue of gender difference and parity with respect to children and what might be the ramifications for the manner of accepted dress or criteria for entry into school.
Education Officer, Preschool and Primary Education, Mrs. Susan Smith said she wished: “to commend the Early Childhood Association for continuing the collaboration to celebrate Early Childhood Month.”
“This month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of Early Learning,” she noted, while reiterating that: “The Department of Education remains committed to the advancement of Early Childhood Education and therefore we will continue to provide the necessary support to facilitate student engagement.”
The kindergarteners and preschoolers who performed the various musical renditions including accurately and lustily singing the National Song in its entirely, were commended by those present.
Others in attendance included Permanent Secretary Dr. Bonnie Richardson-Lake, Chief Education Officer Mr. Bren Romney, other Education Officers and Dr Janis Strasser, Early Childhood Educator.
The launch was followed by a stimulating presentation by an Occupational Therapist from St. Martin Ms. D’Antoinette Roger-Sortan.
She invited the teachers to consider “Managing Classrooms with Misunderstood Children”. It engendered heated discussion as teachers shared varying approaches to helping children grow and learn. It was agreed that in the end the most important thing was finding solutions for the children.
In addition to the celebration of Anguilla’s children, Early Childhood Month is also an important time to focus on professional development for early childhood educators.
Other activities have been planned for Early Childhood Month.
Members of the general public are reminded to support the future of Anguilla and the teachers during the month of March and throughout the year.
