A great beginning to school years. Check-ups.


Parents are always looking for ways to provide the very best for their children. Palliser Regional Schools offers a proven, stress-free tool which can help children start their formal education off on the best foot possible. And better yet, it's free.


Each spring Palliser offers developmental check-ups for three- to five-year-olds new to its programs and services. Over the span of about an hour, a team of educators and developmental specialists can assess whether a child might benefit from some extra attention to certain skills that will serve them well in school and in life.


The check-up informs parents if their child is typically developing or if they might require some additional support or even some follow up with professionals like speech language pathologists and occupational therapists, says Nathan Sillito, Palliser's Co-ordinating Principal of Early Learning.


"We're trying to learn more about where a child is at with their language skills and their motor skills development," he says. "So how are they walking and running; how are they throwing; how are they holding scissors and pencils and things like that?"


The check-up also looks at school readiness through problem solving and personal-social skills including communication, adds Sillito.


Chelsie P. brought her daughter Mollie to one of the Palliser developmental check-ups and says she would definitely recommend it to other parents.


"I think it is helpful to know the progress that our children are making and if they need help in


certain areas or (if they) are at par," she says.


The child, along with their parent, visits a number of centres that look at each specific area of development. The child is directed through a number of fun activities at each centre by a teacher, educational assistant or specialist.


Having the parent in attendance can provide additional context as to the child's daily interactions with others and fine and gross motor skills, and their presence can help put the child at ease, he says. It's also an opportunity for parents to ask questions about situations or behaviours which might have surfaced at home earlier.


After they have completed all of the centres, the child's overall score is tallied up and feedback is provided to the parents. If there are minor concerns, the learning team member might suggest the child spend a little more time over the summer working on certain activities, like colouring. The check-up might also result in recommendations that the child see a specialist such as a physical therapist or speech language pathologist to get any additional support they might need.


"I definitely find it valuable because it kind of gives the parents a clue as to where your kids are at, and also an idea of what to work on at home before they come (to school)," says Amber W., who brought son Ben to a check-up.


Having a developmental check-up done at the school the child will be attending in the fall, and meeting some of the staff there, can reduce the anxiety they might otherwise feel on the first day of class.


Sillito points out, however, that the check-ups can be done at any Palliser school offering them, if that works out better for the family as far as dates. Parents are advised to contact their nearest Palliser elementary school to inquire about dates. Details will be posted on Palliser's website at www.pallisersd.ab.ca when available.


Neither are the free developmental check-ups limited to students who will be attending a Palliser school the following year.


"We have had parents who don't want to put their child in pre- school yet, they just want to see how they are doing," he says.


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