Family-friendly activity guides in English, published by Best Beginnings and the Alaska Departments of Education & Early Development (DEED) and Health & Social Services (DHSS), are now available to parents and child care providers.
The guides include fun, brain-building activities and come in two versions: one for ages 0 to 3 and one for ages 3 to 5. They can be ordered by calling (907) 465-4862 or by completing a Request_Form.
The English Guides are the latest in a multi-language series based on Alaska's Early Learning Guidelines endorsed by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development.
Geared toward specific developmental stages and divided into 6-month age increments, the guides are designed to assist parents and adults who work with babies, toddlers, and preschool children in offering activities that encourage healthy brain development.
The guides include activities to address the five areas of child
development. Research shows that children’s brains develop at an incredible rate
from birth to age 6, and the type of learning that takes place in
the early years has a profound effect on how children fare later in
life.
Suggested early learning activities in multiple languages are also posted regularly on this Web site, making it easier for families to access the information at their convenience.
In 2007, the Alaska Children’s Trust, with funding from DEED and additional support from ConocoPhillips Alaska and BP Alaska, awarded Best Beginnings a four-year grant to produce guides in languages other than English based on the state’s Early Learning Guidelines.
So far, more than 1,363 guides in Spanish have been distributed statewide; a Yup’ik version is now available.
This article appeared in the Best Beginnings July 2009 E-newsletter. Please refer to our Content Reproduction Policy if you are interested in reproducing content provided on this Web site.
