November 21, 2007
December 1st is First Steps Resource Center Open House

Kinley Wooten, two and half years old of Patrick, plays with one of the Story Time to Go ABC kits during a recent trip to the First Steps Resource Center.  Wooten’s mother, Nikki, uses the Resource Center to check out materials to prepare Kinley for school, as well as to use in the nursery at the YMCA of Chesterfield  where she works part-time.

Chesterfield County First Steps Resource Center will hold an open house on December 1 from 9:30 am – 11:30 am.  Annual membership fees will be waived as a gift to those attending.  Santa will also be at the event to visit with members and their children.    

Parent, grandparents and early childcare providers are invited to the open house to learn about the center, receive new memberships or to renew memberships.  Existing members will be able to renew their memberships for free and all members will have the opportunity to visit with Santa.

The First Steps Resource Center is on the campus of Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw and is a service of Chesterfield County First Steps.   

It was established in 2006 to increase access to play -based learning materials for parents, grandparents and child care providers of pre-school children in Chesterfield County.  All materials are designed to help children from birth to five years of age reach their first day of school healthy and ready to learn.

“During the center’s first year, we’ve had the privilege of having an impact of more than 300 parents, teachers and children in the county,” said Karen Odum, executive director of Chesterfield County First Steps.  “We’re holding the open house and offering gift memberships to celebrate that accomplishment and to introduce this service to any parents, grandparents or teachers who want to help a child be ready for first grade.”

After becoming members, visitors to the center can check out educational, play-based materials in science, math, art, music, literature and dramatic play.

Usual membership fees vary; but parents and guardians pay $5 per year and individual child care professionals pay $10 per year.  Child care centers pay $25 per year.  There is no charge for currently enrolled NETC students.

The center recently received a $3000 grant from Target to fund the Story Time to Go program.  This program encourages creative learning through take home, hands on interactive kits. For example, the ABC kits include alphabet cards, books, puzzle, stencils, puppet, stamp and dough cutter all dedicated to that individual letter.