Success By 6 Peel celebrates National Child Day with special delivery to
newborns at Peel regional hospitals

MISSISSAUGA, Nov. 19 /CNW Telbec/ - On Saturday, November 20^th, Success By 6 Peel will mark National Child Day in Peel with a special delivery highlighting the importance of children's rights to newborns and parents at three Peel regional hospitals.

"National Child Day in Peel is a time for celebrating the progress we've made in helping children realize their fullest potential," says Marilyn Dumaresq, Interim Director, Success By 6 Peel. "This year, with the implementation of the full-day kindergarten program in Ontario schools, we are focusing our celebrations on The Right to Education and The Right to Play."

The provincial government recently recognized the importance of play in education with the implementation of a play-based all-day kindergarten program in 40 per cent of Ontario public schools. Dr. Charles Pascal confirmed that full-day learning is good for young children, families, and the province in a report entitled With Our Best Future in Mind: Implementing Early Learning in Ontario released last year.

"Play is absolutely necessary to a child's development," says Shelagh Karstoff, Program Manager at Family Day Care Services, and Chair of the Peel Children's Charter of Rights Committee for Success By 6 Peel. "This National Child Day we want to focus on the importance of exposing children to early learning experiences that are fun, and that lay the foundation for their future success in school and career."

The full-day kindergarten program as it is currently being implemented provides children ages four and five with a seamless and integrated day that includes an engaging, play-based education program during the regular school day. There are currently 20 schools in Peel Region participating in this program. "Success By 6 Peel is committed to partnering with school boards and community-based early learning and childcare organizations to provide the extended day portions of the full day learning programs," says Marilyn Dumaresq. 

About the Peel Children's Charter of Rights

Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and A Canada Fit for Children as road maps, Success By 6 Peel embarked on a journey in 2006: to give all children in Peel a voice in matters that affect them. The process of developing this credo meant engaging children and adults in creating a Charter that truly reflects the diverse population of children in Peel Region and shines a light on their needs. The resulting Peel Children's Charter of Rights is recognized as a model for community engagement and children's advocacy.

About Success By 6 Peel

Success By 6 Peel is a regional collaborative with more than forty partners drawn from business, labour, education, recreation, health, human services and government. The United Way of Peel Region holds the Success By 6 Peel license and has empowered the collaborative to lead the way in closing gaps in services and supports so our youngest children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential. www.successby6peel.ca

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For further information:

Suset Silva
Communications Manager
Success By 6 Peel
Office: 905-602-3631
Cell: 416-721-5273
Email: [email protected]