Markerville's Paula Anderson is a businesswoman who draws her inspiration from what she sees as pure, honest and real.She owns a store in Red Deer called Wicked Green. It is a business venture for Anderson that is a perfect fit for a pure and real label as it offers a wide range of natural organic products, including soaps and lotions, chemical-free toys and dishes, cloth diapers and many handmade items.But Anderson, 40, has now evolved towards a greater inspiration, which for her is even more pure, honest and real. This has led to a new venture, one that is deeply personal.Her 18-year-old son Spencer has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism characterized by pronounced challenges with social interaction. People afflicted with the syndrome are faced with restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour that include physical clumsiness and atypical use of language.ìEverything I do is inspired by Spencer. I want something for him. I want something he would find interesting, even for a career path,î said Anderson, whose son is in Grade 12 and also working at a theatre. ìSpencer is as honest as can be. I love that honesty and how true and real he is. It is something we all should be.îSpencer's inspiration has propelled Anderson to acquire the Central Alberta franchise of Bricks 4 Kidz, the popular children's educational and enrichment after-school program that was designed and created by teachers, architects and engineering professionals.ìA lot of special needs kids excel at building,î said Anderson. ìIt is something they really enjoy doing daily. Our son just loves to build.îBricks 4 Kidz's hands-on curriculum introduces children between the ages of three and 13 to concepts of engineering, architecture and mechanics using LEGO bricks.ìWhat better way is there to entertain kids than with LEGO? It's way better than just watching a video. And we don't need all those gadgets that are around today,î she said. ìLEGO is one of the first toys that was available to everyone. It's timeless and it doesn't segregate.îThe after-school program offers children integrated lessons in math, science, language arts, and social studies. Within the courses there are a variety of themes, including transportation, space, inventions, machines and robotics.Within her course structure Anderson is offering adventurous students a Mind Storm class where children have the opportunity to program computerized and motorized models. As well, Anderson has a stop-motion photography class where kids create a movie. They write film scripts, set up scenes, build models and take photos until they have enough for a movie. They even add sound effects, music, voice-overs and credits.ìThe program is sensational. The benefits are endless,î said Anderson.She said the Bricks 4 Kidz program provides educational, developmental and social benefits for children. They learn to build and create through step-by-step direction. Children are taught the important skill of sequencing, which can easily translate to other environments. Fine motor and organizational skills are developed. Program developers believe that completing a model with LEGO bricks nurtures process-oriented problem solving and helps children develop abstract thinking towards envisioning the project before it is completed.As well, social and emotional skills such as patience, communication and teamwork are emphasized during the building process. As a bonus, children develop mechanisms to work through frustration leading to the completion of a project. This helps build self-esteem.Anderson said she supplies everything that is needed for the courses, including kits and battery packs for motorized creations. Classes are taught in four- to eight-week sessions for one hour each week.Since she started the Central Alberta Bricks 4 Kidz franchise in June her classes have been held in community halls and churches. She is also available in other settings as well, like camps, field trips, preschool classes and birthday parties.The cost for an after-school class is $100 for an eight-week session. Birthdays start at $150 and a half-day weeklong camp costs $150.For more information call Anderson at 403-348-0251 or e-mail [email protected] website can be viewed at http://www.bricks4kidz.com/canada-alberta-reddeer/
