“Positive” was the word of the week at the 14th Annual Best Beginnings Early Childhood Conference as representatives from the Department of Human Services talked to parents and teachers about developing children’s literacy, language and social skills.
Over 1,000 people attended the conference at the University of the Virgin Islands Thursday and Friday, and also Monday and Tuesday at the UVI campus on St. Croix.
During the conference, entitled “Quality for Every Child across Early Childhood Settings,” about 25 breakout sessions throughout the day allowed teachers, parents and speakers to ask questions and act out real-world scenarios involving classroom activity and behavior. Lecturers encouraged attendees to share stories, successful solutions and especially ongoing problems, to learn more about appropriate responses and how to progressively help children over time.
"We’re discussing comments and concerns that have been addressed to Human Services," said quality improvement specialist Karida Green. "We’re training to learn things about the curriculum and bringing in innovative ways to teach."
Several of the presentations focused not on what children need to work on, but what care providers must improve, whether it’s ways to successfully put a child in time-out or how to individually cater to each child’s needs.
"We as teachers have so much to offer, but we are not patient enough, we are not confident enough. We’ve got to humble ourselves so children can bring us up to speed. What the child knows, you build on," said Antoinette Boissiere, education coordinator at Human Services.
"Sometimes if we don’t build the person, it would be futile to build the education," she said.
Sessions also emphasized the significance of physical and mental health, creativity, cognitive development, behavioral challenges and more.
"We focused on a lot of concerns of the community like childhood obesity and raising healthy kids in a healthy environment. These are hard economic times and we want to teach people ways to stay inspired and empowered," said Green.
Human Services psychologist James Kloss explained that care providers need to "teach behavior as social skills [children] need to succeed."
"Behavioral problems are opportunities to engage them," he said."There are no perfect children."
Teachers who attended will receive credit towards yearly professional development courses, but attendees felt the conference was informative and worth more than just credits.
Ellecia Nickeo, a parent who assists at the Virgin Islands branch of Jacob’s Ladder, noted, "We can take this back to children and schools, and teach them to be better students."
"And us to be better parents," chimed in Jacob’s Ladder teacher Blanda Nercisse.
"And grandparents," added another Jacob’s Ladder teacher, Laverne Mattias.
"And great-grandparents!" all three ladies laughed as they noted that educating children will always be important – and universal.
