By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Cobden Agricultural Hall was filled with the sound of children playing, talking and laughing Tuesday morning as the participated in the Toy Bus program.
There was also the sound of the occasional adult saying no, leave it alone, do you want to paint, go for a ride, etc… all in the name of fun.
Three times a week, the Toy Bus is in Whitewater Region providing much needed activity for children not yet in school and who are accompanied by an adult, whether it be a parent or caregiver. Toy Bus staff are graduates of the early childhood educator program and strive to provide a rich early learning environment that stimulates learning in every experience, noted bus co-ordinator Kim Grosklag.
This year, the Toy Bus is 25 years old and on Tuesday, Nov. 20 it was National Child Day — so there was extra fun during the morning’s activities.
Following an hour of play time, children gathered on the floor mats to sing songs, accompanied by Cobden guitarist Peter Frolander. They had a lot of fun singing the songs, and doing the actions to favourites such as Dressing the Penguin and Itsy Bitsy Spider.
Then, it was time for more fun, as each child had their hands painted and pressed onto a large sheet of paper. This was followed by morning snack.
In 1991, the United Nations Convention ratified the Rights of the Child. Canada made a commitment to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect and that they have the right to be protected, to receive basic care and to be heard.
In 1993, Community Action Proram for Children sites were created and tehre are currently 440 sties across Canada, with the Toy Bus being one of them, noted Ms. Grosklag.
The Toy Bus, which is free for any child 6 years old and younger, is in Cobden each Tuesday morning from 10: to 11:30 a.m. at the Cobden Agricultural Hall and again each Thursday morning, same time, at the Cobden Pentecostal Church.
Each Wednesday, it’s at St. Andrews United Church in Beachburg from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Ms. Grosklag encourages parents and caregivers to come out and meet other parents and caregivers while your children explore and experience activities, and interact and play with other children.
