Will you be voting for kids?
With the provincial election approaching quickly, here are some fast facts about child development you can use to start a conversation with candidates and party representatives to help figure out which is the best checkbox for your vote.
Fast facts about early childhood development in our province:
• One in four Lethbridge children are struggling in their development by the time they go to kindergarten;
• A higher percentage of young children in Alberta are experiencing developmental difficulties compared to the Canadian norm;
• Alberta Early Childhood Coalitions, such as Lethbridge Early Years Coalition, provide local, grassroot responses to help better prepare kids for school;
• A child who doesn’t have a 5,000-word vocabulary by kindergarten is less likely to attain grade level reading by Grade 3 — an important determinant for high school completion
Investing in early childhood development impacts the economy. Did you know:
• A one per cent increase in the high school completion rate in Canada would save $7.7 billion annually in social assistance, costs of crime and lost earnings;
• For every dollar spent on early education, there is between a $2 and $7 return on investment.
• Greater skills development in early childhood makes it more likely that children will succeed in education, raising employment prospects and reducing duration of unemployment.
Ask candidates and representatives how their party plans to improve school readiness and their commitment to invest in early childhood development initiatives.
You can learn more about the critical importance of the early years at Lethbridge Early Years Coalition’s upcoming
workshop: “Social Play, the Brain and Resiliency” by Dr. S. Pellis, Faculty of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 6:30–8 p.m. Register for this free community presentation at www.lethbridgeearlyyears.ca.
The Lethbridge Early Years Coalition consists of agencies, organizations and community members working together to better the lives of young children and their families in our community.
If you are passionate about children and their future, would like more information about Lethbridge Early Years Coalition, or have any questions, please email us at: lethbridgeearlyyears@gmail.com.