New West Family Place has found a way to connect with kids and parents during the COVID-19 crisis.
While the local nonprofit has had to halt its regular programs for families with children 0-6 years because of the health-care crisis, it’s found a way to offer some of its services and programs online.
On April 6, Family Place launched Live Circle Time, which allows families to enjoy nursery rhymes, presentations and story time like those offered at Family Place – but in the comfort of home. Anyone wishing to attend Live Circle Time can find it on Facebook Live on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m.
“We are getting tons of engagement from our Live Circle Times – we have over 300 views and have at least 30 people ‘in the room’ live when we do it,” said Dana Osiowy, executive director of New Westminster Family Place. “Those are big numbers for us.”
For more info, go to the New West Family Place Facebook page or www.newwestfamilies.ca.
Family Place is also offering a Family Fun Feature each weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. on its Instagram and Facebook feeds. It will feature an activity, such as a craft, a game or a science experiment, that has been created by the early childhood educators at Family Place.
“We would love to have anyone with preschoolers join us for our programs – we are also doing Coffee Time support, a date for parents to get together with Reshina and each other to talk and decompress,” Osiowy said in an email to the Record. “Hopefully this helps relieve the pressure for families a little bit!”
Technology is providing a way for New West Family Place to continue to connect to parents while its doors are shuttered. The Nobody’s Perfect parenting program (where facilitators help guide parents discover positive parenting strategies) and the Coffee Time (where parents can meet up virtually with fellow Family Place Members) are both being offered on Zoom.
To register for Nobody’s Perfect, a free program running one hour a week for six weeks starting April 16, go to Eventbrite.ca and search for Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Program. To take part in the Coffee Time meet-up, email [email protected].
