By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

“We had a great turnout,” said Samita Jeter, director of the Lowndes County Board of Education Head Start Program, regarding Friday’s Books, Balls and Blocks event held at the Jackson-Steele Community Center in White Hall.

About 30 parents and children participated in the event hosted by the Lowndes County BOE Head Start Program and the Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 13.

Jeter said despite the cold weather, parents from all over the county participated including the Fort Deposit, Central and Jackson-Steele Elementary areas.

She said the Books, Balls and Blocks event provided children (4 months to 5-years-old) in the community with eight activity areas of play to stimulate their development from playing with blocks, building structures, identifying colors, shapes, listening to stories, crawling through the tunnel, finding treasure in the pool of foam peanuts and art.

She said the parents, while the children were playing would observe and complete an Ages and Stages questionnaire. And she said after scoring the questionnaire, the parents would know if their child was on target developmentally or if further evaluation is needed.

Judge Adrian Johnson, chairman of the Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council said, “I would like to see this made available to all children and their parents in Lowndes no matter what childcare setting they attend, if any at all. It’s important that parents know if their children are developing age appropriately.”

Charlene Williams of Fort Deposit brought her son Jamarion Williams, age 3.

“I think it’s beneficial, educational, overall I think it is a good program,” Williams said.

She said it was good to know where her child was at developmentally, “So I know what areas I need to work with him on.”
She said at age 3 he knows a lot, dresses himself, knows his alphabet, his colors and shapes, first name, last name middle name and address.

Jacqueline Wright of Hayneville brought her son Jaquan Wright, age 3. She said she felt a lot of people need to get their children involved with the Head Start Program. She felt it did help her to know where her child was developmentally.

She said, “It lets you know about their motor skills, just what level they are at when they go to school.”