New Initiative Promotes Basic Activities for Child Success

NEWS RELEASE

NIPISSING-PARRY SOUND – Parents and caregivers who incorporate five basics principles into their caregiving routines can help their children achieve better outcomes related to brain development, learning, joy and resilience. This is the motive behind The Basics Nipissing-Parry Sound, an initiative launched by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) aiming to help children from birth to age five reach their full potential.

“Eighty per cent of brain development happens within the first three years of our lives. This period is critical for a child’s growth, development, learning, lifelong health and success,” says Tracey Hall, public health nurse in the Health Unit’s Healthy Families program. “Fortunately, there are ways parents can support their child that don’t require extra time, money or fancy toys.”

Grounded in scientific evidence, The Basics principles include:

Maximize Love, Manage Stress;
Talk, Sing, and Point;
Count, Group, and Compare;
Explore Through Movement and Play;
Read and Discuss Stories.

According to the Early Development Instrument, senior kindergarten students in the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts struggle more than the provincial average when it comes to their physical health, well-being, social competencies and emotional maturity status.

“As adults, we have the power to change this path by engaging children in positive, nurturing interactions and activities. The Basics Nipissing-Parry Sound helps by providing practical resources for anyone looking to apply these parenting strategies, and breaks through systemic barriers to children's lifetime success,” says Hall.

The initiative comes with a variety of convenient resources for community organizations to share with the parents and caregivers they serve.

“Our goal is to create a Basics movement across the region to support families, organizations and whole communities,” says Hall. “Whether you connect with families in a clinic, a child-care centre, a place of worship, or anywhere else, you have a role to play in ensuring all children get the best possible start.”

Anyone interested in learning more about The Basics Nipissing-Parry Sound and how to get involved is encouraged to visit thebasicsnps.org, or contact the Health Unit’s Healthy Families program at 1-800-563-2808 Ext. 5351.

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Background

The Basics principles grew out of The Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University where developmental scientists and early-childhood experts used decades of research, to create a clear, inspirational vocabulary to unify family and community support for early learning and brain development.

The most recent Early Development Instrument (EDI) data from the 2022-2023 school year revealed senior kindergarten students in the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts were vulnerable across most of the five developmental domains when compared to Ontario.

Percentage of children not on track for the physical health and well-being domain:

Ontario: 17.6 percent
Nipissing district: 21.5 per cent
Parry Sound district: 24.1 per cent

Percentage of children not on track for the social competency domain:

Ontario: 10.1 per cent
Nipissing district: 11.0 per cent
Parry Sound district: 13.1 per cent

Percentage of children not on track for the emotional maturity domain:

Ontario: 13.1 per cent
Nipissing district: 19.6 per cent
Parry Sound district: 18.9 per cent

More information is available in the EDI 2022-2023 Data Summary Reports:

Media Inquiries:

Kylie Wurdell, Public Relations Specialist
705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
communications@healthunit.ca