Childrens Play & Discovery Centre An Interactive Family Learning Center

Where will it be? ON SCHOOL BOARD PROPERTY NEXT TO VIU CLOSE TO ISLAND SAVINGS & AQUATIC CENTERS

What will it look like? A free drop-in story and play time Learning takes place in what looks like a little town Children and their families aged 18 months to 6 years of age (All ages are welcome and there are activities and resources to support their needs) The program will run 3-5 days a week with a facilitator trained in early childhood education & open at other times by organizations Gives families a place to play, talk and read with their children around a theme provided or through their own exploration Play based learning that enhances early literacy, social & physical development Caregivers stay with their child and support their learning Free books and resources to continue learning would be available for families to take home

Why create an Interactive Play Centre? Research shows that children who engage in complex forms of socio-dramatic play have… - greater language skills than non players, - better social skills, - more empathy, - more imagination, - more of the subtle capacity to know what others mean, - are less aggressive, - show more self-control, - demonstrate higher levels of thinking. Brown, Stuart (2009) Play, How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Penguin Books

Fire Station Parents and children who play together create healthy, strong relationships which are the basis for future relationships.

Story telling

Rescue Center Restaurant

Construction Station

Boats and Piers

Who will use the site? We all will...

Interested Community Groups Daycares School visits – kindergarten and grade one classes Programs such as: o Dads nights o "A great idea! Something to do with my kids in the evening that gets us out of the house for some special time together." o Cook up a Bed time story o Children and parents come for an after dinner play followed by a nutritious snack and a bedtime story Cowichan Tribes Intercultural Society Literacy Now Cowichan – i.e. Teen Mom Program Vancouver Island Health Authority Infant Development Aboriginal Success By 6

Sample Schedule… Monday – Mother Goose 9:00 – 10:00 am Center open 10:00 – 2:00 pm Literacy Now Cowichan / learning Links– Teen Mom Program 3:30 – 5:30 pm Tuesday – Community Schools Visits (Daycares, Preschools and K/1 classes book in for a play experience) Wednesday – Center open 10:00 – 2:00 pm Cook up a Bed Time Story 5:30 – 7:00 pm Thursday – Community Partners Programs (Happy Friends, Play and Learn, etc) -- Dads Night Out 5:30 – 7:00 pm Friday – Center open 10:00 – 2:00 - Happy Friends Program 4:00 – 5:00 pm - Fun Family Night 5:30 – 8:00 pm (2 nd Friday of the month) Saturday - Mother Goose and Play Time 9:00 – 11:00 am

Community Partners Partnerships DollarsIn-kind Aboriginal Success by 6Coast Salish Mural $2,000 RonaLumber, supplies Ministry of Children and Families $ Parkside Academy (StrongStart Funding) Employee 4 days a week x 8 weeks Summer program Cowichan Family Life Employee benefits Furniture, books School District 79 Wages Early Learning Coordinator Furniture, teaching supplies, District literacy teacher, Professional development, Learning Links Clerical Success by 6 – United way Seed money to start the project $17,000 (2012) $13,708 (2013) Duncan Rotary and Daybreak Rotary Storage bins Vignette sponsors Vancouver Island University (VIU) Carpentry support

So what do we need? Community Sponsors to sponsor a play area or vignette. Or Supplies for mini-vignettes~bins to for play areas ex. Camping, Grocery Store, Safety/Transportation, Bait & Tackle, Pond Life/Gardening Each bin to have real life play items, books, etc.

Play Stations Play Stations 1Fire House 2Treehouse with Cave 3Restaurant 4Construction Station 5Hospital/ Rescue Center 6Boat with Climbing Stairs/Ramps 7Coast Salish/Storytelling 8Light Table Exploration

Time Line Community Partnership meetings o Began in February, 2013 Determine location/move portable Engage community sponsorships o May-December, 2013 SD79 renovate portable/ install each of the play center vignettes o January/February, 2014 Grand Opening o February -2014

Thank you!