As many parents will attest, learning takes place in a multitude of ways.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 part of the objective behind the Family Learning Tour, a free, multi-faceted event that sends parents into the West Shore community with their children to discover new activities and resources.
Under the theme of LetB次元官网网址檚 Play Together, this SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 (Jan. 23) fourth edition of the Tour offers a range of family friendly creative outlets, ranging from working together on art of various kinds, taking apart electronics and building with Lego, to playing, listening and dancing to music.
Past events have given Your Literacy Connection Westshore, which oversees the event, a good sense of the type of information and activities people are looking for.
B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 come up often is getting families out together in the community, trying something new that they can actually take home with them, whether a resource or something they havenB次元官网网址檛 tried before,B次元官网网址� says Shantael Sleight, the organizationB次元官网网址檚 literacy outreach co-ordinator.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 those little tidbits that plant the seeds for something more to grow.B次元官网网址�
While programs for younger children and their parents are regular features of the Tour, itB次元官网网址檚 equally important to provide activities for teens and tweens, she says.
For example the Digilab session, being hosted from 10 a.m. until noon at the Juan de Fuca branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library in Colwood, includes insights into moviemaking and building.
B次元官网网址淭eens are actually the ones making the program plan,B次元官网网址� Sleight says. B次元官网网址淲hether itB次元官网网址檚 art or communications or building or music B次元官网网址� they do the planning and deliver the workshop as well.B次元官网网址�
The projectB次元官网网址檚 community partners, who also include the West Shore Parks and Recreation, the Greater Victoria YM-YWCA, Pacific Centre Family Services, Victoria Conservatory of Music and Peninsula Co-Op, understand the concept of making learning fun and not something you have to drill into young people, she adds.
B次元官网网址淭here are subtle ways you can get across learning and knowledge which is not intimidating.B次元官网网址�
Thus, the emphasis this year on play.
That can include something as simple as baking a recipe with your parents and learning about measuring cups, which, contrary to the beliefs of some youth, counts as math.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 embedded in what youB次元官网网址檙e doing; itB次元官网网址檚 not like homework,B次元官网网址� says Sleight. Also an artist, she will host an all-ages creative session involving tinkering and exploring art materials from 11 a.m. until noon at the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre gym at 345 Wale Rd. B次元官网网址淲e need the structure and formal systems, but we also need to put some value on what weB次元官网网址檙e learning on a daily basis.B次元官网网址�
The number of Family Learning Tour sites has been pared down to nine this year to allow families to get to more of them.
The Tour runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find locations and session details at sookewestshoreliteracy.ca by clicking on the Family Learning Tour link.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
