Drumheller’s preschool aged children are at higher risk in their physical health and wellbeing than the provincial average, according to a report released this week by the Drumheller and Area Early Childhood Development Coalition.
The report, which assessed 97 kindergarten students in Drumheller and Morrin schools in 2016 for their level of development using the Early Development Instrument assessment, suggests 19 per cent of students were categorized as ‘vulnerable’ for problems in later childhood and 13 per cent ‘at risk’ in their physical health and wellbeing, which assessed students’ gross and fine motor skills, energy levels, independence in looking after their own needs, and daily living skills. This is compared to the provincial averages of 13 and 10 per cent, respectively.
“Going out and talking to our stakeholders, some of them were not surprised,” says coalition coordinator Shauna Watson. “While seven out of 10 of our children are entering kindergarten optimally developed, we have about three out of 10 that are struggling with tasks in school.”
“We know from talking with the schools there appears to be general concern around social and emotional issues that is hindering them in their academics and learning what they need to know,” Watson says.
Drumheller Family Literacy coordinator Louise Henrickson says the study is cause for concern for parents as children who are not physically or mentally well are less capable in all areas of their lives, not just school, and vulnerable to problems later in childhood. Physical and mental wellness is the foundation of any person, she says.
One of the most important things for families and the community to be aware of is that investing into the early years of a child’s development is the key things to understand.
“We want to educate the whole child in all areas of development and we want to do it before they get to kindergarten. When you look at the research of how important the first five years of life are for children, when they get to kindergarten it might be too late to address these issues,” says Henrickson. In the first five years of a child’s life their brains are rapidly developing and acquiring knowledge at a significantly higher rate than later in their development.
“If they can’t sit in a chair, or hold a pencil, if they can’t take turns with others then these are problems which affect their whole life, not just academics,” says Henrickson.
The report, which was completed using teacher assessment, also evaluated students for their social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication and general knowledge. Drumheller and area’s kindergarten student results were consistent with Alberta averages in emotional maturity, and out performed the average in their language and cognitive development, with 84 per cent of students being in the highest percentile, compared to the provincial 74 per cent. Drumheller children were found to be lower than the provincial average in their social competence (curiosity, eagerness to try new experiences, ability to control their own behaviour, and respect, play and cooperate with other children), with 24 per cent of students ‘at risk’ and six per cent ‘vulnerable.’
Coalition members Diana Rowe and Linde Turner shared the report’s findings with members of council on June 18 and requested continued support from the town in sponsoring the indoor ‘Free Play’ program which runs at the Badlands Community Facility from October to April on most Sundays. The Early Development Instrument results are conducted by some school divisions voluntarily across the province, the data being collected and shared between Alberta Education, Alberta Health, and Alberta Community and Social Services. Once results were released, coalitions across the province were required to report the findings to stakeholders and leaders in their communities and collect feedback.
Activities like free play, where the child is initiating activities in an unstructured way with guidance from an adult who is responding to the child’s cues, are some of the best ways to promote physical health, social skills, cognitive and intellectual development, and emotional health and wellbeing in children, both Henrickson and Watson say.
Recommended activities include developing healthy eating habits, promoting gross and fine motor skills by allowing them to draw or craft things, providing or requiring children to have significant outdoor play and physical activity every day, creating opportunities for less screen time, and physically interacting with children by making eye contact and having conversations. Promoting the ability for the child to self-regulate their behaviour and emotions is key.
Parents seeking more information can find the Drumheller and Area Early Childhood Development Coalition’s resource brochure at the Drumheller Public Library. The group will also be hosting their Early Years Fair on October 3 at the Badlands Community Facility from 2 to 6 p.m., where over 20 exhibitors will be presenting resources and material for parents.
The next EDI evaluation of Drumheller students will be conducted in 2019.
