"A community is like a ship; everyone
ought to be prepared to take the helm."
- Henrik Ibsen
Welcome
Welcome to Issue #5 of Investing in Children's monthly E-mailer, Come Together. We're happy to welcome many new readers to this month's issue. This month, we start off by looking at school readiness and the role that an exciting new initiative could play in making the transition easier. Then, we examine a new community website called FamilyInfo.ca. Third, we profile several of the programs run by Junior Achievement of London & District. Finally, we wrap up this issue by promoting the It Starts with Kids Business Awards with a special look at effective family-friendly practices.
Once again, we draw your attention to the empty Voices section to the left. This is a spot for your reactions, thoughts and insight, so please e-mail them to info@investinginchildren.on.ca. We want to hear from you!
Stranger in a Strange Land
Creating a healthy transition to school
 Imagine
entering a new place all alone, where the imposing brick and
glass buildings tower over you, where nothing seems as comforting
as home, where people all around you are more than twice your
size, and where everything is just plain different. The sights,
the sounds, the smells, they're all unfamiliar.
It's big, it's scary, it's traumatic, and for a four year-old, it's called junior kindergarten.
But it doesn't have to be that way. By helping children and parents understand what to expect from school before they start, the fear and anxiety related to starting school can be reduced or eliminated entirely.
The importance of providing a proper and healthy transition between home care or pre-school and kindergarten is gaining more prominence in today's society. Whereas in the past, children were thrust into kindergarten to sink or swim, today a greater emphasis is placed on ensuring that children are ready for school, that they are prepared physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially for the challenges ahead.
In Zero to Six: The Basis for School Readiness, a report available through Human Resources and Development Canada, author Gillian Doherty defines five components of school readiness. They are: physical well-being and appropriate motor development; emotional health and a positive approach to new experiences; age-appropriate social knowledge and competence; age-appropriate language skills; and age-appropriate general knowledge and cognitive skills.
By reaching proper levels of development in these areas, a child will be better prepared to excel in school. Alternately, by identifying deficiencies in advance, parents can work with numerous members of the community to overcome the problem.
Ready, set, click!
 London-Middlesex
is a vibrant community with ample resources available, both
public and private, to parents and families. Here's the catch
though: how do you find out what's being offered in your area,
especially if you are new to the city?
You could drive around to a number of different locations, pick up dozens of brochures and flyers, spend hours on the phone calling numerous organizations, and ultimately you'd end up with a great jumble of information.
But that's not an effective use of your time, especially if you are caring for your young children as well.
What if you could load up a single website, select a few options, and create a customized list of programs, locations, and information pulled from a comprehensive database?
If that sounds appealing, then FamilyInfo.ca is the website for you!
To find out what FamilyInfo.ca can do,
click here.
This 10' x 7' undersea puzzle mural was created by the Arts Adventure students and displayed at Investing in Children's Art Show at the Covent Garden Market on August 24.
The complete mural can be viewed at the Westmount Shopping Centre.
Junior Achievers - and proud of it
"An idea untold is a success unborn"
These prophetic words are painted in large, willowy letters on the wall of one of Junior Achievement London's production rooms. For the many varied creations of the young participants, these words ring true.
 For
more than 35 years, Junior Achievement of London & District
has been preparing children and youth for the world of business,
teaching not just entrepreneurship skills, but leadership
and communication skills as well. It is part of an international
organization of non-profit groups and volunteers, providing
learning opportunities to millions of children around the
world.
Today, Junior Achievement of London & District is flourishing, but it wasn't always that way. In 1998, enrollment had slipped to just 350 students participating in two programs. Today, thanks to the diligent efforts of staff and volunteers, more than 10,000 Thames Valley students experience nine unique Junior Achievement programs.
What are the Junior Achievers doing? Click
here to discover.
What are Family-Friendly Practices?
Investing in Children, through It Starts with
Kids and the Special Friends of Children Business Awards,
recognizes businesses that adopt family-friendly practices,
both for their customers and their employees.
On October 21, the 2002 edition of the Special Friends of Children Awards will be handed out in a special ceremony at the Labatt Lounge in Covent Garden Market, from 4:00 to 5:30. Special Friends of Children awards are handed out in four categories: Whole-community contribution, Individual-help contribution, Excellent Mentor, and the It Starts with Kids Business Awards.
In today's bottom-line conscious business world, the idea of family-friendly employee practices might seem almost laughable. After all, these policies only cost money, and they don't increase revenues, right? That thinking couldn't be more wrong.
Family-friendly practices are a tool, a very powerful tool. They are a tool to attract the best new employees, to retain current employees and to demonstrate loyalty to hard-working employees. They are a tool to demonstrate an employer's positive social values. They are a tool to create a supportive work environment, which in turn leads to happier and more productive workers.
Looking ahead to the near future, these policies will be key to they next generation of workers, the ones who will replace the retiring baby boomers. To attract the best of this new breed of employee, employers will have to offer more than just attractive salaries. This new generation will see work differently, without the unflinching sense of loyalty that marked their predecessors. They will demand balance between the personal and professional spheres, between their employer's needs and their own.
What are good family-friendly practices?
Click here to find out.
If you would like to see your business or company profiled in this space, send an e-mail to info@investinginchildren.on.ca, briefly outlining what makes your workplace or practices family-friendly and unique.
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