What is Understanding the Early Years?

In the South Okanagan Similkameen, Understanding the Early Years was a partner with Communities for Kids and Success By 6® from October 2005 to December 2008.

Understanding the Early Years (UEY) is a project that helps communities across Canada find out more how children develop and learn in the first six years of life.  Why?  Because research shows us that a good start in the early years sets the foundation for success in school and in life.  Therefore, the more that we know and understand about how children develop, the more that we can help them to be secure, happy, and healthy. 

Parents are the most important people in children’s lives.  However, parents often need help from relatives, neighbours, friends, child care providers, educators, coaches, faith communities, community agencies, businesses, government, and others.  It really does take a community to raise a child!  A UEY Coordinator helped to bring people together to share details about what helps children develop.

Information provided by teachers of kindergarten students, parents and grandparents of young children, and community members, as well as a list of all the resources available to families with young children, was used to determine how well a community is supporting its youngest members.

Based on that information, a UEY Coordinator then helped communities to develop an action plan to continue with what they are doing well, and to work on areas that need improving.

When parents get the information and support that they need, children thrive, and so does the whole community.

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