INNISFAIL – A local coalition continues to help families with young children.
Envision Children First, Innisfail’s Early Childhood Coalition, held its annual Fall Family Festival at the Innisfail and District Historical Village on Sept. 8.
"This is our third year for the fall festival. It's growing every year and we're seeing more families come out, participating in all the different activities, " said Carol-Lee Lowe, with the Henday Association for Lifelong Learning. "The activities are designed to (incorporate) the different domains within early childhood."
The event included a variety of games and activities that help promote learning through play, said Lowe, adding the fall festival also helps bring exposure to the coalition and what it does.
“As a coalition, we’re trying to bring support to parents. We do parenting workshops throughout the year and host other activities and events to bring an awareness of how important early childhood and those early years are,” she said.
Five domains they promote include communication skills and general knowledge, physical health and well-being, language and thinking skills, social competence and emotional maturity.
Activities at the festival included games, face painting, a petting zoo, pendulum painting and a doll making craft, among others.
Mayor Jim Romane and Coun. Jean Barclay were also on hand giving out hotdogs to families.
"We've got children's entertainment. Mary Lambert is here and she's got the kids up dancing and playing,” said Lowe. “We also have a bingo scavenger card that's encouraging families to look for clues and different things inside the building."
In addition to the Henday association, other organizations that partnered with Envision Children First include the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre, Parent Link, and the Innisfail Family Day Home Society.
"We have people on our board from community members that are interested in early childhood," said Lowe. "We're trying to build on that as well so community daycare centres and playschools have been invited to sit on our board as well."
One family came from Spruce View for the festival.
"I think it's wonderful. It's great for small kids, they're having a great time with the petting zoo, the music and the face painting," said Carrie Nanninga. "The kids have a great time. They asked to come to this and we'll do it again."
"It's wonderful to see families out,” said Lowe. "We want to keep it growing and bring more families back to the fall festival."
