Early Head Start helps children and families get ready for school

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Income-eligible families now have an opportunity for their young children to take part in a program designed to teach them the skills needed to be ready for later schooling, while also providing support for the rest of the family. Since the early fall Penquis Child Development’s Early Head Start program has offered these free services three days a week at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    GETTING AN EARLY HEAD START — Children ages 6 weeks to age 3 from income-eligible families can have the opportunity to take part in Penquis Child Development’s Early Head Start program, which meets Tuesday through Thursday mornings at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building in Dover-Foxcroft. To apply, or for more information, please call 973-3567.

    “We opened in September,” said Marilee Page, who is a co-center coordinator along with Cathy Wiehn. Page said Early Head Start serves infants and toddlers from qualifying families from as young as 6 weeks up to the age of 3, after which Penquis Child Development Education Manager Erin Carroll said they can take part in Head Start through the age of 5 before starting pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.   
    Page said they began by reaching out and going to where potential families they could serve were, and at the present time they have seven of the eight programs slots filled. While Early Head Start can have a waiting list of potential families who have filled out the applications, the participants do change by aging into Head Start or for other reasons, and opening become available. Families do not need to be working or going to school in order to take part.
    Early Head Start meets Tuesdays to Thursdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at 48 Morton Avenue. “We meet 12 months a year,” Page said, whereas other programs for children may only run from September to June.
    “We serve low-income children and families, with a focus on school readiness,” she said. Each day the children enjoy a variety of active, play-based learning experiences designed to help the youngsters gain social skills and make friends.
    Wiehn said each day includes breakfast, “muscles and movements” physical activities and art and music. She said the children learn how to be a part of a group with the various activities, which can include time in the adjacent gymnasium or enjoying the outdoor playground equipment or going on walks in the warmer months.
    “We work on math and literacy development every day,” Carroll added about another educational aspect for Early Head Start participants.
    With its small enrollment, each attendee is able to receive plenty of attention. “Every child is being watched in every activity,” Page said. She said this information is utilized in regular conferences with parents to help keep them informed on their children’s progress.
    For more information, or to apply, on Penquis Child Development Early Head Start, please call 973-3567.