According to Pat Schultz, media representative for Camp Verde Kiwanis and co-organizer of the club’s first-ever Education Readiness Fair, 90 percent of a child’s critical brain development occurs before the age of 5.
“Teachers and educational leaders know learning begins on day one,” Schultz stated via press release. “They know you are your child’s first teacher.”
Camp Verde Kiwanis President Betty Chester, an educator with a doctorate in education, knows just how demanding the first five years of a child’s life can be — for both the child and his or her parents. Preparing for school, in particular, is a challenge that must be met head-on.
Seeing the need for increased early childhood educational awareness in the community, Chester founded the Education Readiness Fair. According to Chester, there are already plenty of resources for older children, but early-age children are often left entirely at home or in day care.
“There’s such a need for the community to be involved with activities for young children,” Chester said. “This is taking it to the really young child. Sometimes, we don’t know what people can be doing with their very young children.
“The whole purpose of Kiwanis is to serve the children of the whole world.”
Though Chester admitted that the fair is “certainly a new endeavor,” she said that the community has come out with vocal and material support. The town offered its gym facility and meeting rooms, and to date 17 stakeholders have pledged to participate.
“Dentists, educators, even people from the hospital and other children’s services — we have great resources,” Chester said. “”We do have many specialists in our community, but this will bring them together and be a pretty powerful force in alerting the public.
“Parents can have a whole view of what’s available to them.”
According to Chester, many of the truths about raising young children are not self-evident: Take the case of television. It might seem wise to allow access to educational programs, but many do more harm than good.
“There are so many other alternatives to promote development.”
The Educational Readiness Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 5. The event is free. Children under 5 also will be eligible for a free book, though quantities are limited.
For additional tips on kindergarten readiness and early brain development, visit First Things First at azftf.gov. For additional information on the fair, call Betty Chester at 300-1077 or Pat Schultz at 567-7261 or pj.schultzcv@gmail.com.
