With Halloween fast approaching, parents who find themselves short a youngster’s costume should check out a fall preschool fair and costume exchange, Saturday (Oct. 25).
The event, hosted by the Bow Valley Early Childhood Development Coalition, will take place at the Canmore Civic Centre from 10 a.m. to noon.
The fair will feature many agencies and organizations dedicated to early childhood development, including Alpenglow Preschool, Bow Valley Family Child Care Agency, Bow Valley Parent Link, the museum and library, and others.
For the costume exchange, parents can drop outgrown or unwanted costumes at the library or Parent Link prior to Saturday. Parents who then need costumes can peruse what’s available.
“The mandate is to bring together different agencies and organizations working in early childhood development,” said Coalition member Adrienne Lawlor. “We work together to spread the word about the importance of early childhood development. There are lots of resources and support in this community.”
The event is the fourth of its kind for the Coalition, which alternates spring and fall events between Banff and Canmore.
At each agency’s table will be activities for the three- to five-year-old crowd.
“Early childhood development is so important,” said Lawlor. “It’s been found that every dollar spent on a child is like spending $8 on an adult. The young are a great investment for everyone.
“And the costume exchange will help parents find affordable or recycled costumes.”
The Coalition’s focus is the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, or to about five years old – “the early days, before kids get into school. We help parents make the most of that time by putting down cellphones, for example, and interacting more with their children. Early relationships are so important and play an important part in building a strong foundation for a child.
“Early development helps with language, motor and relationship skills, so that when a child goes into the school environment, they’re ready to soak up what teachers are offering.
“Early development pays off huge in mental health and development later in life.”
