Summer programming offered through ECC, McMan
By Medicine Hat News on July 4, 2019.
The Medicine Hat Early Childhood Coalition and McMan Parent Link Centre are teaming up this summer to offer programming for families with young children. Play sessions for parents with children from ages 0 to six will be offered Tuesdays at the Southview School playground and Thursdays at Central Park, both from 10-11 a.m. The program, which runs from July 11 to Aug. 22 – with a July 25 hiatus for the Stampede Parade – has been operating for several years now. Early Childhood Coalition chair Jennifer Usher told the News the program originated to fill a gap once the Roving Gyms program wraps up at the end of March. “We decided why not get outside, play with the children in the community and offer that time for families to get out and free play with their kids,” said Usher. There are four themes of play for the young families to choose from: “Let’s Move,” “Let’s Pretend,” “Let’s Build” and “Let’s Get Messy.” “We just really wanted parents to connect with different kinds of play,” said Usher. The Tuesday session is hosted by Parent Link, which will have activities based around each theme throughout the day, while the Thursday session – hosted by the YMCA – will alternate a different theme each week. Those looking for a more complete schedule can do so at the Medicine Hat Early Childhood Coalition’s Facebook page. 10-9
