WIESBADEN, Germany - The first group of graduates of the Strong Beginnings program received their certificates June 5 at the Hainerberg and Wiesbaden Army Airfield Child Development Centers.
The pilot program is designed to ensure little scholars arrive at kindergarten prepared for the challenges ahead.
Child, Youth and School Services officials introduced the program in January, recognizing that parents wanted more for their children's early education.
The curriculum focuses on helping 4-year-olds master the basic skills necessary for their first years of school such as identifying numbers, colors and letters and learning to write.
"It is so amazing what it has done for small children," said Angela Davis, WAAF CDC director. "They were learning to self-serve themselves going through the line in the cafeteria like they would do in kindergarten; they learned to ask open-ended questions. A lot of the program was hands on with the children during small group time when they would write in their journals and work on things like matching letters and shapes."
In the past the CDC workers were not allowed to "teach" the children in their care, but that changed when it became apparent parents were taking their children elsewhere.
"They found that compared to stateside programs CDCs were losing customers because parents were sending their children to preschools that were actually teaching them something," said Hainerberg CDC Strong Beginnings instructor Amy Gnam. "Before we weren't really allowed to teach the children, and they looked into what could be done to bring back people."
Gnam added that the program is similar to the Head Start program in the United States or the Sure Start program offered by the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. "We do just about the same work as the schools," said Gnam. "This program is good because we can identify those children who may need assistance with recognizing numbers and letters before beginning kindergarten and help them be able to write their names."
Gnam said many of the children in the class were already interested in learning the basics; they just had to learn to sit still and concentrate on the lesson. "It was hard for them at the beginning because they had to learn how to sit still compared to when we have circle time. Small groups meant they had to sit still," said Gnam. "But then they really got interested. It was really great to see them succeed in learning how to write their letters."
Davis said parents responded enthusiastically to the program, too, even if it meant helping their 4-year-old with homework.
"I tried to make it fun for him," said Staff Sgt. Omar Romero of the one-on-one time he spent with son Sebastian on homework. "It was a good program. They taught him to write his name."
Romero said he is confident Sebastian is ready for kindergarten.
But watching his son enjoy cake during the after-graduation party the single dad said he is not sure if he personally is ready for kindergarten. "I'm excited, but nervous," said Romero. "I'm almost afraid for him to grow up because right now we're so close."
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