Webster Ready Start’s Brain Building Play Day drew a large crowd of families on Friday, March 20, at the Minden REC, as children and parents participated in activities focused on early childhood development.
The free event, designed for children from birth to age 4, featured hands-on activities, crafts, and the Wee Play Mobile, along with opportunities for families to connect with local early learning programs. Organizers said the goal was to increase awareness of the importance of early childhood education and to help ensure children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.
Attendees included representatives from early learning centers, Head Start programs, and Webster Parish Pre-K, all of which provide services for young children at various developmental stages. Community partners were also on site offering resources and information for families.
Children took part in a variety of activities throughout the day, with many enjoying the teddy bear clinic provided by Minden Medical Center, where they could bring their new teddy bears for a check-up experience.
Parents appeared engaged with the information provided, particularly on topics such as limiting screen time and establishing structure at home.
“I came to Webster Ready Start for the first time, and this has been a very enlightening and, in my opinion, a very fruitful affair,” said Priscilla Stewart, a parent who attended the event. “I have enjoyed the things that I have heard. One of my biggest takeaways is about limiting screen time and forming a structure and the importance of that because it promotes education. This was a great event and an excellent community resource.”
Organizers said the event continues to grow each year, both in attendance and in community involvement.
“Each year this event gets bigger and better thanks to all of the effort of our centers and community partners,” said Olivia Sebald, Ready Start Network Community Liaison. “Families really enjoyed our focus on brain development this year. Parents expressed how much they appreciated learning about the importance of sleep and the dangers of screen time during the first 4 years. They also enjoyed accessing so much community support in one location. Of course families always leave with a new book and a toy, but this year a new treat was getting a teddy bear to take to the teddy bear clinic provided by MMC on their way out. Some families signed their children up to attend one of our programs next year, and some just enjoyed the learning experience. Either way, we are building brains, and we count that as a success for everyone!”
Webster Ready Start’s mission is to increase community awareness of early childhood education and provide access to high-quality learning experiences for children from birth to age five. They will be holding a registration event in Springhill Park for children in North Webster Parish on March 27 from 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM. For more information, visit their website at websterreadystart.com.
