The Providence kitchen staff is busy getting ready for Valentines Day! On February 14th, 550 heart shaped cookies will be delivered to our 6 locations for students to decorate.

By the end of the school year, Providence kitchen staff will . . . → Read More: Valentine’s Day at Providence]]>

The Providence kitchen staff is busy getting ready for Valentines Day! On February 14th, 550 heart shaped cookies will be delivered to our 6 locations for students to decorate.

By the end of the school year, Providence kitchen staff will have baked and distributed over 15,000 cookies. Combined with loaves and muffins, they will have prepared approximately 30,000 baked goods and used enough fruit and vegetables to fill one double car garage from floor to ceiling!

Many kids, especially boys are not particularly motivated by fine motor activities, which play a large part of the kindergarten/grade . . . → Read More: Preparing Your Child for the Big Jump!]]> With many schools having open houses starting this month parents are starting to think about kindergarten and grade one!  Some school readiness skills can be easily practiced at home to prepare your child for the big jump!

Many kids, especially boys are not particularly motivated by fine motor activities, which play a large part of the kindergarten/grade one day.  Fine motor activities however, can be very fun!

Getting kids involved in cooking/baking activities encourages fine motor skills by working on controlled scooping, pouring, stirring and kneading.  Utensil use such as a plastic knife, preschool scissors, cookie cutters and pitchers are all good tools for developing fine motor skills. 

Playing with playdough using a variety of playdough tools like rollers, cutters, tweezers and tongs are also great ways to work on hand skills.

Buying large coloring sheets from the grocery store and putting them up on the wall or an easel is a great and motivating way to work on tracing, coloring and refining pencil grasps.

Paper and pencil tasks can also be done in many different positions, not necessarily sitting at a desk!  Try lying on the floor propped up on elbows or attaching painting or coloring sheets on to the wall or easel.

Thanks to Arcis Seismic Solutions who joined the children and staff at the McKenzie Towne School to present a cheque for $20,000.  Brad Torry, President and CEO believes that every child deserves the best opportunity to succeed in life, and the efforts of Providence’s Early . . . → Read More: Thank You Arcis Seismic Solutions]]>  

Thanks to Arcis Seismic Solutions who joined the children and staff at the McKenzie Towne School to present a cheque for $20,000.  Brad Torry, President and CEO believes that every child deserves the best opportunity to succeed in life, and the efforts of Providence’s Early Intervention programs are paramount to providing this to the children.  Arcis has been supporting Providence for many years through donations, special events, and volunteering.

The Alberta Edition of Safe and Secure: Six Steps to Creating a Good Life for People with Disabilities is available, free of charge, at all London Drugs pharmacies.  It is an excellent resource and guidebook for creating . . . → Read More: FREE Parent Resource]]>

The Alberta Edition of Safe and Secure: Six Steps to Creating a Good Life for People with Disabilities is available, free of charge, at all London Drugs pharmacies.  It is an excellent resource and guidebook for creating the future that you want for your child with a disability.