ST. PAUL – Many families gathered at the École du Sommet gymnasium on Jan. 31, seeking consultation with health and educational professionals about their children’s development.
The annual "Off on the Right Foot" program is made possible through the collaboration of community organizations and with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Pauline Szucs, coordinator at Franco-Accueil, said the program is designed to support families with children aged 0 to 5.
The program gives parents “an informed idea as to where their child is developmentally,” and if there are any concerns, “then they have the opportunity to talk to our specialist from AHS (Alberta Health Services) to get referral or guidance counsellors as to where to go get support in order to help their child.”
An “Ages and Stages Questionnaire” (ASQ) was also available, used to measure the “communication, problem-solving, fine motor, gross motor and personal social skills that children should be hitting in their development” for children ages 2 to 5, according to Szucs.
In addition to the AHS, several community organizations and specialists were also onsite to provide parents information on “supports that are within our community,” said Szucs.
When asked why the program and the event was created, Szucs said that, “as a parent myself, it’s always nice to be informed as to where our children are developmentally.”
“So, when offering a program like [Off on the Right Foot], we’re allowing our parents to get an insight into their child’s development, and also to be okay where their child is,” said Szucs. She explained that if a child may not be “hitting the right markers,” there is always room for growth.
There is “always room and guidance in our community” to help children continue to grow and develop, and it is important for parents to hear that “they are doing a good job,” Szucs said.
“Parents are taking a really big role in developing their child and teaching them the skills they need,” she said. So, “they need to know that they are doing a good job and that they are good parents.”
When asked why it is important for parents to need to know they are doing a good job, she said that parents often forget, and are often “very hard on ourselves.” Thus, the need to be sometimes reminded they are doing the best that they can with the resources that they have, “and to not beat yourself up.”
“There’s no guidance when you become a parent. That’s why parents need to know that there isn’t a perfect way to be a parent,” she said. She reiterated by emphasizing that the important thing is, “you’re doing the best that you can.”
“The fact that they came here and they’re doing the steps... to support their child – they're doing a good job,” said Szucs.
This year's event had around 25 children attending, and Szucs expressed her excitement about the turnout, considering the event had not been held for two years due to COVID.
She believes that events like "Off on the Right Foot” are important for families to become more informed and to know that they are doing a good job, no matter what their expectations may be.
