Head_Start_Program

The number of new education strategies have began to burst in recent years. Teachers, parents, and child psychologists are discovering new ways for children to receive a jump start in learning the necessities of academics. I have a great interest in the study of early childhood development. A program that I have had personal experience from and support one hundred percent is known as the Head Start program. The Head Start program, developed in 1965, is a wonderful system that provides extensive education assistance, healthy nutrition knowledge, and parent involvement to underprivileged and low-income families across the United States. In the Nooksack School District, the Head Start program has three separate categories. The first, called Early Head Start, focuses on infants and young toddlers. Infants in this program are assisted in the healthy strengthening of sensory and motor skills. The Parents of the young children are very involved in this program, which helps promote healthy family functioning. The Early Head Start program slowly combines with the next part of Nooksack’s Head Start program as the infant grows into a toddler. The second part of the Head Start program is the part I have spent the most time volunteering for and studying. It is simply called Head Start. Head Start focuses on children ages from three to five. Children are taught the basics of education, nutrition, and interaction with other children and adults. When children arrive to class bright and early in the morning, they are consistently being assisted in sensory and motor development. The teachers are given a book from the National Head Start Association that is full of activities that are fun, developmentally appropriate, and that help them to stay on track with the Head Start programs desired outcomes. Depending on the age of the child, they are faced with an educational and sensory situation to help progress them in the future. For example, the children will get to play with sand or play dough to help them feel and discover different textures. Children in Head Start are given nutritious snacks and meals to ensure they are receiving everything they need to stay healthy. This also gives the kids a chance to grasp how different foods taste and feel in their mouths. Another aspect that is highly recognized is oral health. Children are taught to brush their teeth after every meal and the importance of good oral hygiene. The third and final part of the Head Start program that the Nooksack District includes is the Migrant and Seasonal program Branch. This part of the program provides children of migrant and seasonal farm workers with a jump start in a good education and help with healthy development. Many of the teachers speak both English and Spanish which allows them to teach the children to become bi-lingual. Hispanic children are exposed to both languages at a very young age. For instance, the teacher will show the child a picture of an apple. She points to the picture and says what it is in both English and Spanish. This process is repeated very many times to help ensure the child understand. Although the child may not fully comprehend, they do begin to understand that both the English and Spanish saying of the word mean the same thing. As children reach the age of five, they are able progress from the Head Start program into preschool and move on from there. The Head Start program is a successful program in the Nooksack School District because of the focus on school readiness, nutrition, and the overall development of a child. During my volunteering and observation in the classrooms that follow the Head Start program, I have learned the importance of development at a very young age. Children are always taking in knowledge and information. The Nooksack Head Start Program allows for healthy learning both educational and in everyday life.