2015 Valleyview & Area Family Resource Guidemdgreenview.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Web...Let’s Play Mobile App!-Zero to Three (Ages 0 - 5) Let’s Play is a free app which

Valleyview & Area Family Resource Guide | 1

SEEI

NG P

LAY T

HROUGH OUR CHILDREN’S EYES

2015 Valleyview & Area Family Resource Guide

Seeing PLAY through our children’s eyes!2015 Valleyview & Area Family Resource Guide

Published byValleyview & Area ECD [email protected] www.facebook.com/ValleyviewAreaEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCoalition

Vince Gowmonwww.vincegowmon.com

M.D. of Greenview No. 16www.mdgreenview.ab.ca

Layout & Designuc communications

www.uccommunications.com

[email protected] me on Facebook!

Photography

Town of Valleyviewwww.valleyview.govoffice.com

Quotes & Text

© 2015: Valleyview & Area Early Childhood Development Coalition

Proud supporters of the Valleyview & AreaEarly Childhood Development Coalition Initiative.


5. Early Childhood Coalitions

6. What is Play and Why is it Important?

8. Different Types of Play

15. Home & Family Resources

17. Community Health Services

19. Valleyview & DeBolt Community Resources

23. Regional Services

27. Child Care & Early Learning Programs

29. Recreation & Parks

35. Quick Reference Numbers

CONTENTS

4 | Valleyview & Area Family Resource Guide

“To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” - Anonymous


Through the Early Child Development Mapping Project (ECMap) with the help of seed grant funding provided by Alberta Education, coalitions were formed across Alberta. Coalitions are groups of individuals who have come together to plan and promote community-based supports for young children and families.

Your local coalition is the:Valleyview & Area Early Childhood Development Coalition.

Early Childhood Coalitions

Our Vision“Our wish for the children in our community - Nurture happiness and contentment, live with imagination and play.”

Our Purpose• Educate community on the importance of early childhood development; as giving children a good start in life strengthens our communities and economy. • Identify and investigate community assets, so we can respond with a plan to develop, improve on, or support what is necessary in the community to achieve a solid foundation for healthy child development.• Advocate for optimum social infrastructure to meet the needs of families within the community.• Provide support and increase awareness of the importance of “play” as a learning tool.

For more information visit the Coalition’s Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/ValleyviewAreaEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentCoalitionEmail: [email protected]


What is play and why is it important?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international agreement that defines universally accepted rights for children. Article 13 of this agreement states that all children have the right to rest, leisure, play and recreation and to take part in cultural and artistic activities. –International Play Association


What is Play?Play can mean different things to different people and can be defined in many different ways.A widely accepted definition of free play is: “freely chosen, personally directed, or intrinsically motivated” (Bob Hughes, 2012).

How do children benefit from play?

Free PlayFrom learning how to share and negotiate with others, to challenging boundaries and developing creativity, through to fitness and simply having fun, children and youth most certainly need active, unstructured play. Here are a few suggestions:

• Hide and Seek• Build a fort

How can you be a champion of play?• Connect with your child. Be truly present with a child and free yourself from the distractions of a “busy” world that can often side track us from the joys of play.• Unplug from technology and be truly present to connect in playful moments.• Find moments in your day to incorporate play (running an errand, doing simple tasks, etc.).

• Pillow fight• Unstructured dance

• Nature scavenger hunt• Magic tricks


Different Types of Play

There are different types of play, and they often overlap in many areas of a child’s play routine.

Parents and adults connected with children who know to watch for these types of play will provide a

solid foundation for heathy child development.

Though the process by which a child may learn, grow and develop through play remains a

subject for further research, the importance of play is beyond dispute. This list of “Twelve key types of Play” is adapted from Vince Gowmon’s (2013) list of types of play. We hope this list will offer support so

you may connect with your child in play!

Large-Motor Play

Children love to climb, run, slide, swing, jump and engage in every type of

movement possible. Such play develops coordination,

balance, and a sense of one’s body in the

space around it.

Small-Motor Play

Play with small toys and activities like stringing beads,

playing with puzzles, and

sorting objects into types develops dexterity.


Language Play

Children develop mastery by playing with words,

rhymes, verses and songs they make up or change.

They tell stories and dramatize them. They are

fascinated by foreign languages,especiallly when they are presented playfully

in story, verse, or song.

Sensory Play

Most children enjoy playing with dirt, sand, mud, water and other materials with different textures, sounds, and

smells. Such play develops the senses.


Construction Play

Building houses, ships, forts and other structures

is a basic form of play that requires both skill

and imagination.

Make-believe Play

This broad category incorporates many other

play types and is rich with language, problem-solving

and imagination. It frequently begins with “let’s pretend” and

goes on to include anything children might have

experienced or imagined.


Master Play

Children often repeat an action in play and persevere until

they master it, such as making dozens of “birthday packages” to learn to tie bows, or playing on a balance beam to become

a “circus performer”.

Symbolic Play

Children take an object at hand and convert it into

the toy or prop they need through a fluid process of

fantasy or imagination. A stick becomes a

“dragon slaying sword”!


Rough and Tumble Play

This fundamental form of play is found in animals as well as human children. Animals know

how to play roughly without injury by rounding their body gestures and not aiming for dominance.

Children can be helped to do the same if their play

becomes too aggressive.

Risk-taking PlayChildren extend their abilities

through risky play and learn to master challenging environments. They generally know how far they

can go without actually hurting themselves. Regrettably, most

current play spaces are designed to be as risk-free as possible, giving children little change

to assess risks and set their own boundaries.


Playing with the Arts

Children integrate all forms of art into their play, using

whatever materials are at hand to draw, model, create music, perform

puppet shows, and so on. They explore the arts and use them to express their

feeling and ideas.

Rules Based Play

Kindergartners and grade-school children enjoy the challenge of making up

their own rules and the social negotiation involved in adapting the rules for each play situation.


“Families that play together, stay together.” - Vince Gowmon

Bring Back Play App – ParticipACTION (All ages) This app provides tips and ideas to get outdoors and start playing today! You can search games by keywords, ages, play space, number of players or play equipment. Bring up the following website on your phone: http://www.bringbackplay.ca/

Fun ideas for learning through play at home - Learning 4 Kids (Ages 1-5+) You will find lots of FUN and Simple IDEAS to do as a family that promote CREATIVE PLAY and learning! You can search by play categories and age. Visit http://www.learing4kids.net/

Outdoor seasonal activities to enjoy as a family – Active Kids Club (All ages) Enjoying nature is a lifestyle and a way of life! This website includes Simple Outdoor Fun ideas that are searchable by the four seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall). Visit http://www.activekidsclub.com/

Things for kids and parents to do together! - National Wildlife Federation (All ages) Family fun activities such as crafts, recipes, outdoor activities, songs, printables and contests. You can search activities by age, season, type, animals and subjects. Visit http://www.nwf.org/kids.aspx

Let’s Play Mobile App!-Zero to Three (Ages 0 - 5) Let’s Play is a free app which provides parents and grandparents with fun ideas for keeping babies and toddlers entertained and learning, especially during daily routines. Parents can search activites by age, share activities via social media, and tag their faviorites. Download the Let’s Play app on iTunes.


Home & Family Resources


In innocent play, we don’t know what we don’t know, and are blissfully content

in uncertainty.

In structured play, we know that we know, and are

frightfully uncomfortable with uncertainty.

In mature play, we realize that the more we know the more we don’t know, and find wisdom and humility in living with an open and

uncertain mind.

“Sometimes you have to

drop the rake and play in the leaves.”

- Douglas V’Soske

Valleyview Hospital (4802 Hwy St E) 780-524-3356Valleyview Public Health Centre (4802 Hwy St E) 780-524-3338Valleyview Medical Clinic (4804 Hwy St E)

• Dr. L. Schweggman 780-524-4467• Dr. L. Verberg 780-524-4469• Dr. Piercey 780-524-4497

Valleyview Dental Clinic (4801 Hwy St E) 780-524-3864 Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Health Centre 780 524-3717

Community Health Services



“It’s less about finding time to play, and more about allowing yourself to be playful in this very moment.”

- Vince Gowmon

Parent Link CentreOffice located at 5001 - 42 Street, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-8672

Offers support to all families with a focus on children under 6. • Family support• Information / referrals

Green View Community Resource Centre4707 - 50 Street, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-7603Assists individuals and families.

Green View FCSS4707 - 50 Street, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-7603Website: http://mdgreenview.ab.ca/programs-services/departments/fcss/programsThrough a partnership with the province of Alberta, Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) offers programs and services that allow residents to develop their interests and to contribute to the well-being of their families and communities.

Family Learning InitiativePh: 780-524-4323Offers pre-literacy skills based programs to families with children ages 0-5 in the Valleyview area. Programs will enhance your children’s literacy skills and prepare them for their achool-aged years while having fun! Progams are free and include snacks. Transportation and child care can be arranged if needed. All programs involve parent participation. The following programs are being offered:

• Rhyme Tyme

Heart River Housing5213 - 48 Street, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-5554

• B.O.O.K.S. • Books for Babies • LAPS


Valleyview & DeBoltCommunity Resources

• Developmental screenings • Parent education• Early childhood development & care programming


South Peace Family LiteracyPh: 780-897-4365 | Email: [email protected] parents of children 0 to 6 years with accessible information and ideas that will help them foster their children’s literacy and language development in an inexpensive and creative manner in Ridgeview/Debolt area. Programs are available to families who live in the South Peace Region. Programs offered include:

• Rhymes Alive!• Educational presentations to parents of preschool children

Playgroups Valleyview Indoor Playground5206 - 50 Street, Valleyview | Tuesdays from 9:30 am until 11:30 am

The DeBolt Centre (Indoor Playground - Moms and Munchkins)Ph: 780-957-3958

ChurchesMany local churches provide a variety of services and programs for families with young children. Please contact your local town office to find out more about the places of worship in your area.

Libraries & Museums DeBolt & District Pioneer MuseumLocated on Virginia Avenue, DeBolt | Email: [email protected] access and community programming.

DeBolt Public LibraryPh: 780-957-3770 | Website: deboltlibrary.ab.ca

Valleyview Municipal Library & Gallery4804 - 50 Avenue, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-3033 Website: www.valleyviewlibrary.ab.ca

• Beyond the Book • Baby, Books & More


“Give children toys that are powered bytheir imagination, not by batteries.”

- H. Jackson Brown

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels.The trouble-makers. The round pegs in a square hole.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them,glorify, or villify them, but the

only thing you can’t do is ignore them.Because they change things.

They push the human race forward.

And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough

to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

- Apple Computers

Alberta Health Services - Community Health ServicesNurses provide a broad range of programs that promote health and prevent illnesses in the community. Programs and services provided include:

• Aboriginal Services• Adult Health• Chronic Disease Management• Communicable Disease Control• Dental Program• Drop-in Service• Family Health Immunization Clinics• Environment Public Health• Genetics Program• Health Promotion and Wellness• HealthLINK

Valleyview Public Health CentreLower level, Privincial Building (50 Street, Valleyview) | Ph: 780-524-3338

Grande Prairie Public Health CentreMain Floor, Provincial Building (10320 - 99 Street, Grande Prairie)Ph: 780-513-7500 | Toll free: 1-800-732-8981

Alberta Health Services - Community Mental HealthProviding counselling for adults and children with mental health issues. Adult/child walk-in is available.

• Valleyview Mental Health Services | Ph: 780-524-5096• Grande Prairie Mental Health Services | Ph: 780-538-5160 or 780-538-5162

Alberta Health Services - Early Childhood Intervention ProgramProvides support and information for families in a variety of settings and locations; family home, playgroups and community settings. They work together with families concerned with their child’s development and/or children at risk for developmental delays (premature, prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol, diagnosed disability).

• Valleyview Health Centre | Ph: 780-524-3338


Regional Services

• Healthy Family Program• Lactation Consultant• Nutrition Program• Postnatal Home Visits• Prenatal Classes• Preschool Public Health• School Health• Sexual Health• Speech/Audiology• Travel Immunization Clinics


Alberta Health Services - Addiction ServicesAdult outpatient counselling for people (or their family members) struggling with alcohol, drug, or gambling addictions, accessed through intake.

• MITAA Office in Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-2909• Grande Prairie Office | Ph: 780-513-7500

Healthy Families - Valleyview & AreaLower level Provincial Building, 50 Street, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-3338This program provides individual in-home support for parenting, attachment, developmental milestones, understanding temperament, understanding and coping with behavior, effective discipline, routines and community resources. Supporting families with children from birth to five years of age.

“It is a happy

talent to know

how to play.”

- Ralph WaldoEmerson

Metis Local 1990Suite 320, 9804 - 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie | Ph: 780-538-9333Website: www.grandeprairiemetislocal.orgEffective parenting programs.

Northwest, AB. Child and Family Services Region 8Adoption/foster care/kinship care, child intervention, family enhancement, child care licensing, subsidy/support.

• Valleyview (#201 Provincial Building, 50 Street) | Ph: 780-524-4106• Grande Prairie (10113 - 99 Avenue) | Ph: 780-538-5122

Odyssey House10123 - 107 Avenue, Grande Prairie | Ph: 780-532-2672Odyssey House’s mission is to have women, children, and their families free from family violence. They are an emergency shelter that provides accommodation and support services to women and children in need. Outreach services provided.

P.A.C.E. (Providing Assistance, Counseling & Education)10031 - 103 Avenue, Grande Prairie | Ph: 780-539-6692P.A.C.E. provides a variety of services in Valleyview and area including crisis intervention, family support, educational workshops, and counselling services involving sexual abuse, sexual assault, child abuse, and trauma. P.A.C.E believes that everyone dealing with or experiencing crisis and trauma has the right to access skilled, caring and professional services.

Western Cree Tribal Council - Child, Youth and Family EnhancementSturgeon Lake Cree Nation Main Office Ph: 780-524-5978 | Grande Prairie Sub-Office Ph: 780-532-3009Visit www.westerncree.ca/child.html for more information.A tripartite agreement was signed by the Federal Government, Provincial Government and Western Cree Tribal Council in 2000 and officially became operational in 2001. The Tribal Council consists of Duncan’s First Nation, Horse Lake First Nation and Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. The program oversees all child welfare inquiries for the three Nations. The Child Youth & Family Enhancement Board is established with members appointed by the Chiefs from all three Nations. Working together to enhance the ability of families and communities to develop nurturing and safe environments for children, youth and individuals.


“If we are not preparing children to live from their heart, then we are missing the purpose of education and life.”

- Vince Gowmon


Northern Gateway Public Division #10 (Whitecourt Central Office Ph: 780 778-2800)• Oscar Adolphson Primary School | 5209 - 48 Sreet, Valleyview | Ph: 780 524-3144

Holy Family Catholic Regional Division #37 (Peace River Central Office Ph: 780-624-3956)• St. Stephen’s Catholic School | 5109 - 44 Street, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-3562

Peace Wapiti Public School Division #76 (Grande Prairie Central Office Ph: 780 532-8133)• Ridgevalley School | Ridgevalley | Ph: 780-957-3995

Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation• Sturgeon Lake School | Ph: 780-524-4590

Rosedale Christian School• Ridgevalley | Ph: 780 957-2543

Alberta Education provides information on Early Childhood Services as well as links to many resources. To assist you in learning about ECS in Alberta visit http://education.alberta.ca/parents/ecs.aspx

For a list of licensed/approved child care and early learning programs please visit www.nwalliance.ca. On this website, the Valleyview and DeBolt area programs fall under the High Prairie Area (green tab). You will find specific programs listed on the left of the web page under Program Listings.

Choosing a quality program that meets your family’s and child’s needs is an important decision. We recommend you spend time learning about and researching your options so you can feel confident and comfortable with your decision. To assist you in choosing quality care please visit: http://humanservices.alberta.ca/family-community/child-care-resources-for-parents.html

Early Childhood Education

Choosing ECS Programs

Choosing Quality Child Care & Early Learning Programs(day care, family child care, preschool & out-of-school care)

Child Care &Early Learning Programs

“As we grow up, we lose our spontaneity and freedom.

Look at how children behave: They twirl around street posts and

skip over lines while the rest of us walk straight down the sidewalk.

They dance carefree to a buskers music while the rest of us

stand and watch. They engage strangers like friends

while we offer only a generic courtesy.

They speak up fully and emotionally, while we keep our voices and

emotions in check. They dream up ideas such as being a butterfly and

flying across the sky, while we limit life to what’s ‘realistic’ and

practical. They colour monkeys purple when we only know brown.

Clearly their playground is much bigger than ours.”

- Vince Gowmon

Recreation Facilities

DeBolt and District Agriculture Society and Community Centre217 Alberta Avenue, DeBolt | P.O. Box 388, Debolt, AB, T0H 1B0Ph: 780-957-2923 OR 780-957-3752Amenities include a curling rink, fitness centre, indoor playground, kitchen, meeting rooms and offices.

Polar Palace (Recreation Centre)4429 - 52 Avenue, Valleyview | Ph: 780-524-5158Arena and curling rink, outdoor pool, splash park, Green Valley skate park, and recreation programming.

Ridgevalley ArenaLot 1 Ridgevalley Road, Ridgevalley

Sturgeon Lake Recreation CentreSturgeon Lake Cree NationIndoor/outdoor arena surfaces, skate park and community centre.

Recreation & ParksWhere families play...

The Town of Valleyview provides modern and maintained playgroundsat the following locations:

• 5410 - 46 Street, Valleyview• 4306 - 54 Avenue, Valleyview• 4526 - 47 Street, Valleyview• 4901 - 52 Street, Valleyview

Rural Community Centres

Community of Sunset HouseP.O. Box 56, Sunset House, AB, T0H 3H0 | Ph: 780-524-5240Offers playground, outdoor skating surface and community centre.

Community of SweathouseP.O. Box 155, Sunset House, AB, T0H 3H0 | Ph: 780-524-4495Offers playground and community centre.

Sturgeon Heights Community CentreRR 1, Site 2, Box 21, Crooked Creek, AB, T0H 0Y0 | Ph: 780-957-2401 OR 780-957-2357Offers ball diamond, camping area, playground and community centre.

Hamlet of Little SmokyP.O. Box 45, Little Smoky, AB, T0H 3z0 | Ph: 780-524-3884Offers outdoor skating surface, playground and community centre.

New Fish Creek Community HallP.O. Box 1656, Valleyview, AB, T0H 3N0 | Ph: 780-524-3758Offers ball diamond, camping area, playground and community centre.

Puskwaskau Community HallRR 1, DeBolt, AB, T0H 1B0 | Ph: 780-957-2731


Local Camping & Parks

Hubert Memorial ParkVirginia Avenue, DeBolt.Community park and playground.

Legion Park4429 - 52 Avenue, Valleyview.Offers walking paths, gazebo, and cenotaph (borders splash park).

Trout Pond and RV Sites5602 - 50 Street, Valleyview.Provides fishing pond, live performance area and accommodates a 12-stall RV Park.

Sturgeon Lake CampgroundLocated 1 km west of Williamson Lake Park on Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.Offers campground for overnight camping.

Gundy Ranch Golf CoursePh: 780-957-2150Nine-hole golf course with grass greens close to DeBolt. Club rentals, licensed clubhouse with kitchen, fully serviced camping sites.

Greenview Golf Resort70527A Range Road 244 | Ph: 780-524-3673The Greenview Golf Resort is located a half-hour west of Valleyview (Highway 43 to Township Road 704). It is a public nine-hole course situated next to Sturgeon Lake. Amenities include RV sites, camp sites and club house.

Valleyview Riverside Golf CourseLocated 6 km south of Valleyview and 6 km east of Highway 43 | Ph: 780-524-2449Nine-hole public golf course situated alongside the Little Smoky River. Amenities include a fully licensed clubhouse and pro shop, driving range, practice green and RV camping.


Alberta Parks

For more information on Alberta Parks and conservation areas in Valleyview and the DeBolt NW Alberta area visit www.albertaparks.ca or visit www.albertadiscoverguide.com

East Dollar LakeLocated approximately 30 km north of Valleyview. Day use only. Fisheries access site.

Swan LakeLocated 33 km southwest of Ridgevalley. Fishing; day use only.

Waskahigan River CampgroundSeasonal campsite along the Little Smoky River. Located several kilometres from the hamlet of Little Smoky.

Williamson Lake Provincial ParkOvernight camping and day use, park, playground, fishing, swimming. Located 20 km west of Valleyview on Highway 43.

Young’s Point Provincial ParkLocated on the north shore of Sturgeon Lake 23 km west of Valleyview and a short distance off Highway 43. Offers day use, group use, boat launch, campsites, trails for summer hiking/ biking and winter cross country skiing.


“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

- Angela Schwindt


“There is no WiFi in the forest, but I promise you’ll find a better connection.”- Unknown


QuickReferenceNumbers

Child Abuse Hotline1-800-387-5437

Children’s Helpline1-800-422-4453

Alberta Health Services Health Link 1-866-408-5465

MD of Greenview #16 780-524-7600

Town of Valleyview780 524-5150

Sturgeon Lake Band Office780 524-3307

Valleyview and Area ECD Coalition would like to thank

all the local families who participated in the project and graciously allowed us

to use their photos in this guide. “There is no WiFi in the forest, but I promise you’ll find a better connection.”

- UnknownValleyview & Area Family Resource Guide | 35


“In this rapidly changing world we live in, the wisdom of play has a lot to offer. Play invites a

new kind of leader, a new way of engaging others, a new way of team play, and a new way of

creating possibilities for everyone from our children to the community at large.”

- Vince Gowmon

Documents

2015 Valleyview & Area Family Resource Guidemdgreenview.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Web...Let’s Play Mobile App!-Zero to Three (Ages 0 - 5) Let’s Play is a free app which